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Still creating some of the most engaging recordings of their lives, and that's truly something to believe in.' AllMusic - ¦Visit product page →
New studio album from Michigan's greatest outsider combo. An inspiration to Kurt Cobain, post grunge deep thinkers and veterans of the 'Can't Play/Will play' fraternity.
Pop music for those outside of pop music. Songs for those still bedevilled by one liners and abrasive melodies. Thematically succinct tales of puppet people, vampires and the walking dead juxtaposed with discerning love songs and eternal affection.
'Half-Japanese are a respected institution. They've been making noise since the late '70s.' Pop Matters
'Innocent abandon is still at the heart of the band' Pitchfork.
An off-kilter classic that shouldn't sound right but ultimately does, in the best tradition of The Residents, Richman, Johnston, Brian Wilson at his most bamboozled and any number of out there talents. Uncategorizable, joyous, detuned, quizzical, alluring, childlike, charming, innocent, questioning - invincible.
Jad Fair of Half Japanese has previously collaborated with Teenage Fanclub, Moe Tucker (Velvet Underground) and Daniel Johnston.
EU tour planned for Q2 2019.
Tracklisting:
1. Swept Away
2. Love Explosion
3. The Puppet People
4. Return Of The Vampire
5. Or Ever Will
6. No More
7. All At Once
8. The Walking Dead
9. Forever In My Heart
10. What Are You Gonna Do?
11. It's Here
12. Invincible
13. No Wonder
14. It Has Me
15. Indestructible -
Formed in the mid-70s, and setting the standard for post-punk ever since, Jad and David Fair and Half Japanese return with a new volume that finds us twenty years into their story. The 90s would see them under a new spotlight as Kurt Cobain used his celebrity to tell anyone that would listen about their greatness, and had the band tour with Nirvana. They would respond with three of the most wild and varied albums in their career.Visit product page →
Continuing their Fire deluxe reissues of the entire Half Japanese catalogue, Volume Three: 1990-1995 is the third of four volumes containing three LPs/CDs.This next set of Half Japanese LPs begins with 1990's explosively, noisy and chaotic (sometimes improvised) We Are They Who Ache With Amorous Love'featuring their cover of the Them garage rock classic 'Gloria' and two tracks 'Titanic" and "Hand Without a Body' that were co-written with the like-minded Daniel Johnston.
Two years later the notably more delicate and, dare we say, jangly, Fire In The Sky'(1992) arrived at a pivotal time for the group when they gained notable recognition from the likes of Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Teenage Fanclub and Yo La Tengo (whose Ira Kaplan guests on the record). This highly anticipated third installation closes the trio with 1995's Hot'which became MTVs album of the week on release, with Michael Goldbery writing 'Hot, mixes Sonic Youth-style noise, Stooges primitivism and '60s pop with excellent results. 'Lucky Ones' is a simply charming number ('A good thing just got better/ As better as better can be') reminiscent of Jonathan Richman, while 'Drum Straight' is dose of feedback drenched skonk and 'Vampire' rocks hard liken the Sonic's 'Bull In The Heather.'
Fire's colossal Half Japanese series began last year with the Record Store Day exclusive of Half Gentleman/Not Beasts', this set contains the records in their original form with extras that later appeared on CD formats available. It will also include original artwork from Jad Fair and liner notes by Half Japanese hall of famer Mark David Jickling. 'Cutting straight to the gut. Jad's phrasing matches surging sentiments, creating a counterpoint to the spot-on music. When they grind out a groove half-rhythmic/half-blank cadences, the woozy disconnect is oddly compelling' Pitchfork's Best New Reissue (Volume 2: 1987-1989).
'An impressive and well-assembled study of one of this band's more interesting periods' All Music
'This should also lay to rest any questions about the importance of Half Japanese. Without them, we wouldn't have the primitive pop of Beat Happening nor the id-bearing beauty of Daniel Johnston' Paste Magazine
Tracklisting:
We Are They Who Ache With Amorous Love:
1. Every Hour
2. Elevator Boy
3. Gloria
4. Ear
5. The Titanic
6. Our Eyes
7. Spin
8. Up And Down
9. Run
10. All Of Me
11. Hand Without A Body
12. Going Home
13. Three Rings
14. How Did You Know?
15. Then We Walk
16. Secret
17. Best
18. The House I Live In
19. Shanty Town
20. Everything is Right
Fire in the Sky:
1. UFO Expert
2. Tears Stupid Tears
3. Always
4. This Could Be The Night
5. Possum Head
6. Frosty
7. Turn Your Life Around
8. I Love A Mystery
9. 12 Houses
10. Hangar 18
11. Magic Kingdom
12. It's No Wonder
13. Fire In The Sky
14. Good Luck
15. Gates Of Glory
16. Everyone Knows
17. I Heard Her Call My Name
18. Eye of the Hurricane
Hot:
1. Drum Straight
2. True Believers
3. Well
4. Dark Night
5. Part Of My Plan
6. Vampire
7. Lucky Ones
8. Vast Continent
9. Guess Again
10. Black Fruit
11. Sleep Talk
12. Smile
13. Lucky Town -
The Fire Records Half Japanese reissue series continues with the second volume, covering the three releases of Music to Strip By', Charmed Life'and The Band That Would Be King'released one a year from 1987 to 1989. Following the Record Store Day 2014 release, Volume 1: 1981-1985', the next three Half Japanese records come in their original release form, with the additional tracks that were later added to the CD releases over the years available via download code (see below for track lists).Visit product page →
The LPs are wrapped together in a heavy wide spine outer sleeve with a specially designed paper cut image by Jad Fair, who also provides more illustrations throughout the booklet, with words by David Fair. As per Volume 1', all three records are combined together in a 3CD package.
Be careful. You can't unlearn information. I think that the best that you can hope for is a bad memory, but our brains are very remarkable and it is very difficult to actually unlearn something. I came upon this realization too late to help me with visual arts. I had already been taught about proportions and perspective. It's very hard to draw someone in the background larger than their friend in the foreground. Anyone farther away would look smaller.
That is how our eyes see them and my brain knows this. I cannot turn off this knowledge and draw it the other way around. I can choose to ignore it, but that is not the same. That is a strategy for dealing with the situation, but not as freeing as simple ignorance would be. It is a nagging strategy that whispers the rules and acknowledges your participation in their breaking. Luckily, with music, I do not carry the burden of knowledge. I was not educated in its terms and rules. I am not bound by its limits. I know that I have guitar skills. I have played around with one enough to know what feels right to me. If I were to turn it upside down and attempt to play it in a left handed manner, my ability would feel awkward and diminished. I am not unskilled, I am merely untrained. For me, this is the ideal situation.
Others may prefer acquiring rules and limits. I prefer that my art be directed by my heart rather than my brain. I have played in bands for nearly 40 years. In all of that time I have only learned three chords. I have resisted acquiring more. If I continue at this rate I am at risk of knowing six chords forty years from now. Instead, I am consciously slowing down. Hopefully in four decades I will remember even less about music convention than I know today.
Forty years is a long time to wait. In the meantime, here's Half Japanese Vol 2. It might get better in the future, but Vol 2 is here already. David Fair.
Track listings :
Music to Strip By'Disc 1:
1. Stripping for Cash
2. Thick and Thin
3. Diary
4. Big Mistake
5. Hot Dog and Hot Damn
6. The Price Was Right But The Door Was Wrong
7. Blue Monday
8. U.S.Teens are Spoiled Bums
9. Point / Counterpoint
10. Sex At Your Parent's House
11. The Last Straw
12. Gator Bait
13. La Bamba
14. Colleen
15. Ouija Board Summons Satan
16. You Must Obey Me
17. Salt and Pepper
18. Ancient Life
19. Silver and Katherine
20. Money To Burn
21. Hidden Charms
22. How
23. My Sordid Past
24. Silver And Katherine
25. Dusk to Dawn
26. Everybody Knows
27. Go Go Go Go Go
28. Scratch
29. Every Hour
30. Hey
31. Mongolian Stretcher
32. Colleen
33. Salt and Pepper
34. T For Texas
35. Terminator
36. Shiek of Araby.
Disc 2 : Charmed Life':
1. Said and Done
2. Penny In The Fountain
3. Evidence
4. Vietnam
5. Roman Candles
6. Love At First Sight
7. Snake Line
8. Bright Lights, Big City
9. Face Rake
10. Later In A Magazine
11. Red Dress
12. Charmed Life
13. Day And Night
14. One Million Kisses
15. Terminator
16. I'll Change My Style
17. Charmed Life
18. Trouble In The Water
19. Miracles Happen Every Day
20. Fortunate
21. Poetic License
22. Day And Night
23. One Million Kisses
24. Madonna Nude
25. I'll Change My Style
26. George Steele
27. Real Cool Time
28. How Many More Years
29. King Kong Burgundy
30. Something New In The Ring
31. Terminator
Disc 3 : The Band That Would Be King':
1. Open Your Eyes / Close Your Eyes
2. Daytona Beach
3. Lucky Star
4. Some Things Last A Long time
5. My Most Embarrassing Moment
6. Buried Treasure
7. Open Book
8. Little Records
9. Deadly Alien Spawn
10. Postcard From Far Away
11. Ventriloquism
12. Something in the Wind
13. Bingo's Not His Name-o
14. Put Some Sugar On It
15. What More Can I Do
16. Brand New Moon
17. Another World
18. Every Word Is True
19. I Live For Love
20. Werewolf
21. Ride Ride Ride
22. Sugarcane
23. I Wish I May
24. Ashes On The Ground
25. Curse of the Doll People
26. Horsesshoes
27. BlueBirds
28. Frankenstein Meets Billy the Kid
29. My Bucket's Got A Hole In It
30. Africans Built The Pyramids
31. Better Than Before
32. Daytona
33. Back Home
34. Mule Skinner Blues
35. Sugarcane
36. Jump Up
37. Postcard From Far Away
38. Big Wheels
39. Ordeal
40. Jump Down
41. Cowboys
42. Man Without A Head -
An exclusive release for Record Store Day 2014. This title may be available on sale one week after the event on Monday 28th April, dependant on availability.Visit product page →
Following on from the deluxe reissue of Half Japanese's first album 'Half Gentlemen Not Beasts' for last year's Record Store Day, Fire will be continuing the series with another deluxe reissue, this will be the first of 4 volumes containing 3 vinyl LPs of the next set of Half Japanese albums. This first volume starts with 1981's 'Loud' and also includes 'Our Solar System' and 'Sing No Evil' to bring them through to 1985. All LPs are in their individual original sleeves packaged in a wide spine outer sleeve with new artwork from Jad Fair and booklet with liner notes by Jad and David. Contains a download code.
Half Japanese were formed in 1974 by brothers Jad and David Fair. Despite being lifelong music obsessives, their approach to the craft of writing and the art of performing was utterly unique. Heavily inspired by Jackson Pollock, Half Japanese were always more of an art project than a musical journey. More important than technical ability, was enthusiasm and a thirst for creation. They eschewed traditional ways of playing to explore different tunings, allowing them to coax new sounds from their instruments.
Their first release, a seven inch, EP called Calling All Girls was more of an art project than a business venture, with nine songs, a poster with inserts and a printed cover. They never really expected it to sell, but much to their surprise distributors quickly gobbled up all 500 copies, so they rushed to repress 500 more and began making plans for a second record. It was well and truly a calling card.
Fire Records continues their Half Japanese reissue campaign by bringing you the next three albums in the set, collected as Half Japanese: 1981-1985.
In recording the follow-up, entitled appropriately as Loud, the band came into their classic line-up. Consisting of Jad and David Fair, as well as two Saxophonists; John Dreyfuss and Lana Zabko, and guitarist Mark Jickling, with Rick Dreyfuss on drums. Creating a barrage of enthusiasm and manic energy around rock and roll teen anthems and free jazz skronk, the band were well on their way to carving out a unique legacy.
Our Solar System would bring further joys as they continue to focus on simple themes of love and romance and dancing with girls amongst the experimental noises sneaking out in the music, creating a soundtrack for a sock hop in an alternate universe. The album also featured covers of Buddy Holly, The Velvet Underground, Chuck Berry and Roky Erickson. Their approach to covers is explained by David Fair: "We have covered many songs but never with the idea in mind of having it sound like the original. In fact, we often took only the words and made no effort, whatsoever, to recreate the melody."
On Sing No Evil, Half Japanese truly came into their own, with their DIY roots blending with free jazz touches to create a raucous indie rock classic. Containing songs like "Firecracker Firecracker" that remain set highlights even today, the band had established a voice like no other. This would be the last record with David in the core line-up, and all of the early records bear his powerful arty and experimental streak.
Where would the future take Half Japanese with Jad at the helm? You will have to wait for Half Japanese: 1987-1989 to see.
Disc 1:
1. My Concentration, Oh No
2. 2 Hearts = 1
3. If My Father Answers, Don't Say Nothing
4. Scientific Devices
5. Gift
6. Dumb Animals
7. Popular
8. I know How It Feels. Bad
9. Perfume
10. New Brides Of Frankenstein
11. Forget You
12. Loud/Louder/Loudest
13. Spy
14. No Danger
15. Love Lasts Forever (Sometimes)
16. Nurse
17. Only Dancing
18. Bad To Your Best Friend
19. Baby Wants Music
20. High School Tonight
Disc 2:
1. Dance When I Say Dance
2. Girl Athletes
3. Because I Love You
4. Danger Danger Rachel Lang
5. E.S.P.
6. Classical Music
7. You're Gonna Miss Me
8. Little Girls Have To Be Home Early
9. Too Much Adrenalin
10. Fire To Burn
11. Rhonda
12. Electricity Respect
13. Knocked Down On The Dancefloor
14. European Son
15. There's A Girl
16. Hall Of The Mountain King/Louie Louie
17. Young Hearts Break
18. Did You Miss Me
19. Thing With A Hook
Disc 3:
1. Firecracker Firecracker
2. On the One Hand
3. Too Bad About Elizabeth
4. Dearest Darling
5. Sing No Evil
6. Double Trouble
7. Rub Every Muscle
8. Nicole Told Me
9. Tell Me I'm Wrong
10. Acupuncture
11. I Have a Secret
12. House of Voodoo
13. Ball and Chain -
2xLP Single sleeve, download card included.Visit product page →
In 1974 Jad Fair, along with his brother David, co-founded the lo-fi alternative rock group Half Japanese. Over the ensuing three decades, Half Japanese released fourteen albums, and in the process, attracted a solid base of fans passionate about the band's pure, unbridled enthusiasm for rock and roll.
Half Gentlemen/Not Beasts is a collection of the Fair brothers earliest home recordings, originally released as a homemade three LP box set.
These stretch their DIY, lo-fi ethos to the limits featuring sound experiments cobbled together from guitar noise, electronics and odd effects, whilst throwing in some barely recognizable covers (such as tracks by The Temptations, Buddy Holly and Bob Dylan).
'Half Gentlemen / Not beasts' is now available as a 2xLP package.
Tracklisting:
LP 1:
Side A:
1. No Direct Line From My Brain To My Heart
2. 10th Ave. Freezeout
3. Ta Sheri Ta Ta
4. My Girlfriend Lives Like A Beatnik
5. Her Parents Come Home
6. Shhh/ Shhh/ Shhh
7. Girls Like That
8. Rrrrrrrr
9. No More Beatle Mania
Side B:
10. Tangled Up In Blue
11. Patti Smith
12. School Of Love
13. Jodi Foster
14. Shy Around Girls
15. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
16. Bogue Millionaires/ Cool Millionaires
17. Tn Tn Tn Tn Ki
LP 2:
Side C:
1. I Can't Stand It Any More
2. I Love Oriental Girls
3. Dream Date
4. Du Du Du / Du Du Du
5. Ain't Too Proud To Beg
6. Ann Arbor. Mi.
7. I'm Going To The Zoo
8. Shi Yi Yi
9. Rave On
10. I Ta Nasi Si Na Mi Eee
11. Till Victory
12. Rip My Shirt To Shreds
Side D:
13. I Don't Want To Have Mono No More
14. She Cracked
15. Bbbbbbbb/ Bbbbbbbb / Bbbbbbbb
16. Funky Broadway Medley
17. I'm Sorry
18. T/ T/ T/ T/ T/ T