1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts is the debut album by American rock band
Half Japanese. Originally released in 1980 by Armageddon Records as a triple record, it was re-released in 1992 on CD on T.E.C. Tones with additional material.
Fire Records reissued it again in 2013 on three-CD and four-LP sets on
Record Store Day 2013 with further additional material, limited to 1,000 copies in each format.
Style
The music has a sound more raw than
garage rock, and has a very low fidelity recording. Most of the songs are originals with covers of a few of the band's influences interspersed. Most tracks are very loud and have an almost
no wave sound, though some tracks are very meditative
Krautrock-influenced instrumentals.
Legacy
Half Japanese have since played with many important artists of the experimental or alternative persuasion, such as
Sonic Youth and
Nirvana.
Daniel Johnston has made a record with Half Japanese's vocalist,
Jad Fair.
Track listing
All tracks are written by David and Jad Fair, except where noted
1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts is the debut album by American rock band
Half Japanese. Originally released in 1980 by Armageddon Records as a triple record, it was re-released in 1992 on CD on T.E.C. Tones with additional material.
Fire Records reissued it again in 2013 on three-CD and four-LP sets on
Record Store Day 2013 with further additional material, limited to 1,000 copies in each format.
Style
The music has a sound more raw than
garage rock, and has a very low fidelity recording. Most of the songs are originals with covers of a few of the band's influences interspersed. Most tracks are very loud and have an almost
no wave sound, though some tracks are very meditative
Krautrock-influenced instrumentals.
Legacy
Half Japanese have since played with many important artists of the experimental or alternative persuasion, such as
Sonic Youth and
Nirvana.
Daniel Johnston has made a record with Half Japanese's vocalist,
Jad Fair.
Track listing
All tracks are written by David and Jad Fair, except where noted