Customer Reviews

Loud & Horrible

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The early Half Japanese records are among the most blaring and chaotic rock sounds made in the whole punk/post-punk era. While many fought about who was punker, more hardcore, faster, more shocking, truer to rock's roots or more anti-prog rock than the next guy, Half Japanese comes off as one of the most truly inspired and nutty acts of the era. Their f*** it, lets make a really loud and crazy record is still shocking on their triple LP (!) debut, 1/2 Gentlemen Not Beasts, and on this even louder sequel. Though for Loud they added some more musically talented members to the band, it hardly sounds so. Jad Fair alternately squeals and screams his vocals, the sax honks and blares to eleven, and the guitars sound like they used barbed wire for strings. Although they pull no punches in their desire to be as over-the-top as possible, their blaring mess remains unpredictable, fresh and fun, though likely an acquired taste.

Kudos to Drag City for tacking on the monstrous Horrible EP and the rare Spy single to this reissue. Perhaps they will see fit to do the same for Jad Fair's early solo records as well. Love it or hate it, this one-of-a-kind unholy ruckus still startles a couple of decades later. When you feel like you're hearing nothing new in music, spin through this cathartic platter to clear your mind (and ear canals). Can't imagine that this won't remain an inspiration for years to come.

True, the title says it all...but quite an unsung masterpiece that doesn't get the credit that it deserves. Kind of sounds like a friend's garage band demo tape with oddly placed 1st year band class instruments in the background. It's very annoying, frantic and quirky but I love it and I think that there is a crowd out there that can appreciate it...Rosemary's Baby is an excellent track.

I simply concur with the reviews below. The early Half-Japanese was, and still is, an extremely important and influential band in all regards. The creativeness and inspiration at work here is wholly comparable to the early Residents! Their early works simply cannot be overrated or overestimated. Only the reverse.

If you like HALF JAPANESE this is a CD you really should own. It takes the hassle out of trying to get your hands on late 70's 12", album, 7" and very difficult to find Take it! flexi (from a zine). All here, together to make one swell CD.

This is all nicely recorded material and has a few of their actual 'hits'. If you don't get into Jad Fair's vocal sound, well, you'll never like HALF JAPANESE. And, if you can't stand essentially free form, avant gard punk, forget it.

However, I find that over the decades, it's that very loose musical structure that keeps me listening. It doesn't get boring. I find that the band's cacophany of sound, their sorta head long diving into semi musical chaos, makes it unpredictable. There's the, of course, steady presence of tender love songs. The rest is a bunch of songs that challenge the listener to just hang on.

Fortunately, by the time the band completed their debut release, the 3xLP 1/2 Gentlemen 1/2 Beasts, they seemed to get out of their system the very amature sounds generated by just Jad and his brother. These releases begin the musical journey of Jad with several band members and, for HALF JAPANESE, the more the better. It fills out their sound and makes it less "doodling in the basement with 1 or 2 guys" sound of that 3 LP set.

Get it kids, you can't go wrong if yer already a HALF JAPANESE fan. If you ain't, give a listen to the 'listen' buttons, see if there's something you can hang yer hat on. Once yer on board this band will last you a lifetime. chrisbct@hotmail.com