Andrew W.K. has resurfaced to share his first new album in five years, Temptation to Exist.
Serving as the hard-partying rocker’s first release since 2021’s God Is Partying, the new project is thoroughly a jazz album, not unlike André 3000’s recent left-turn effort, New Blue Sun. The tones on Temptation to Exist are smooth and meditative, often rooted in piano and regularly blooming into cinematic arrangements. Those who are looking for W.K.’s typical hard rock and life-of-the-party stylings will have to look elsewhere.
It’s not the first time Andrew W.K. has taken to the piano for an experimental effort, previously mining similar territory for his 2009 solo piano album 55 Cadillac. He opted for an informal announcement, with the project appearing first on the fan-run platform AWKSHARE on Thursday; his Instagram page, which also appears to be fan-run, confirmed the album with a post featuring the project’s artwork earlier today. As of this writing, W.K. has refrained from putting the record on major DSPs, with the album only being available to stream in full on YouTube Music. Stream it here.
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of W.K.’s beloved debut album, I Get Wet. Consequence recently named the record one of the best albums of 2001, praising its electric energy, party-starting hooks, and pure ethos.
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Temptation to Exist Artwork:
Temptation to Exist Tracklist:
Michael’s Theme
Nightmares
Edge of Interior
Between Veils
No Clue
Manhattan Beach
North Hollywood
Double Boulevard
For Steven
Insomnia