Half Japanese Albums (12)
What The Critics Say
Don't look now, but Half Japanese may have blossomed into a bona fide rock band. Hello, the group's second issue for Alternative Tentacles, highlights the rock side of this noise rock ensemble more than any of their previous albums. Distortion pedals are turned low, the indecipherable lyrics are enunciated clearly; it's one of the least outrageous Half Japanese albums yet. The Fair brothers really rock out on "Patty," and "Mississippi," well, you could even call it poppy. The line-up for this incarnation includes Jason Willett, Gilles V. Rieder, and John Sluggett. ~ Kieran McCarthy, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Jad Fair's voice waxes between an unstable nasal falsetto and Lou Reed on the 64-minute title track. The rhyming stream-of-consciousness lyrics serve as a psychological chronicle of "falling in like" with someone. Nine additional tracks of sparse lo-fi music and Fair's near conversational observations are "remixes" of "Heaven Sent" and seem to tell the crumbling tale of like waning into disinterest. Spend an hour and some minutes in Jad's dream. ~ Thomas Schulte, All Music Guide
'Bone Head'
Release Date 3/25/1997
Tracks 21
Label Alternative Tentacles
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What The Critics Say
On Bone Head, Half Japanese continues with their formula of quirky guitar riffs mixed with Jad Fair's offbeat lyrics and vocals. Early on, the album includes a wealth of references to the strange and bizarre, including Frankenstein on "A Night Like This" and "Sometimes." The band's musical approach is unconventional and Fair's vocals remain wonderfully unusual, stuck in the punkish style of letting it all hang out despite vocal limitations. Fair's lyrics remain light and optimistic, especially on tracks like "Song of Joy," "Kiss Me Like a Frog," and "Celebration." Mostly, though, the music is edgy and goofy in an utterly original way. On "Rhumba," a flurry of eccentric sounds creates a wonderfully cerebral instrumental, which is followed by the frantic "Intergalactic Aliens." The band is at the top of their game on the sequence of "Now I Know," "Brand New Sky," and "Should I?," with Fair's nasally tinged vocals dancing on top of the band's thoughtful and often freewheeling instrumentation. An alternate version of "Song of Joy" follows. The album ends with a cover of Primal Scream's "Movin' on Up." The trio also includes guitarist John Sluggett and drummer Gilles Reider. Tim Foljahn of Two Dollar Guitar and Steve Petter guest on some songs. The album was recorded in Switzerland and was released by Alternative Tentacles Records in early 1997. ~ Stephen Cramer, All Music Guide
'We Are They Who Ache With Amorous Love'
Release Date 7/17/1995
Tracks 20
Label Tec Tones
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What The Critics Say
This album is aptly titled: on Hot, Jad Fair straightens out his overt quirkiness into pure white punk riot ("Drum Straight"), shimmying garage rock ("Well"), bouncy indie pop ("True Believers"), and ominous metal ("Part of My Plan"). The result is (gasp!) a highly listenable record. The direction on the album has a lot to do with the creative energy of this Half Japanese lineup, which consists of guitarist John Sluggett (who plays drums for Moe Tucker), Mick Hobbs, Jason Willett, and Gilles Rieder. This is a nice mix between in-your-face noise and thoughtful, not too schticky indie pop. ~ Erik Hage, All Music Guide
'Boo! Live in Europe 1992'
Release Date 5/31/1994
Tracks 24
Label T.E.C. Tones
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'Music to Strip By'
Release Date 2/25/1994
Tracks 22
Label 50 Skidillion Watts
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What The Critics Say
Produced by Kramer, Music to Strip By finds Jad Fair working without brother David for the group's most coherent and accessible outing to date. Scattered among the usual chaos ("My Sordid Past," "Stripping for Cash," "Sex at Your Parents' House," "Ouija Board Summons Satan") are telling covers of Fats Domino's "Blue Monday," Willie Dixon's "Hidden Charms" and "La Bamba." ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
This 1993 recording from Jad Fair's Half Japanese is the album that pushed the group from the obscure fringe of the U.S. post-punk underground into a full-blown indie rock legend. Aided by the fact that Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Teenage Fanclub were all singing praise for the group, it was now finally time for a wider public to grasp the concept of one of the greatest unsung heroes of American underground rock. The 1989 documentary film about the group, The Band That Would Be King, is a must-see that has the ability to make even the curious listener fall in love with the band. For Fire in the Sky, Jad Fair enlisted guitarist/producer Don Fleming, bassist Jason Willett, and longstanding drummer Gilles Rieder on what was the band's most straightforward pop album to date. "Eye of the Hurricane" is one of Fair's shining moments, which is utterly infectious, as is "Turn Your Life Around," which features a guest appearance from Yo La Tengo guitarist Ira Kaplan. Amongst the songs is a handful of covers, including Daniel Johnston's "Tears Stupid Tears" and Roky Erickson's gorgeous "It's No Wonder." Fire in the Sky is an excellent place to start for those curios to explore the expansive catalog of Half Japanese. While it is one of their more delicate and precise performances, it's not by any means indicative of the earlier period of the band, where their approach was more ramshackle noise- and punk-inspired improvisation. The CD version contains a bonus track -- a version of "I heard Her Call My Name," in which Jad Fair proves himself to be the most qualified heir to the Velvet Underground's sound. ~ Skip Jansen, All Music Guide
'The Band That Would Be King'
Release Date 1/1/1989
Tracks 42
Label 50 Skidillion Watts
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What The Critics Say
This 1993 new edition of The Band That Would Be King comes with 11 previously unreleased songs and a second and outstanding version of "Sugarcane." The album is a perfect medley of humorous lo-fi rock & roll hit singles and little experimentations. The band for this album lined up Jad Fair, Don Fleming from Gumball, and Mark Jickling, credited here as Mr. J. Rice. Icing on the cake: Kramer, Georges Cartwright, Fred Frith, and John Zorn are in on this. ~ Romain Guillou, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
While Charmed Life is the band's most accessible record, it doesn't even come close to the mainstream's concept of what constitutes pop music. Yet when Jad Fair sings about love and joy on Charmed Life, he is as straightforward and direct as he ever gets. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
