The music of Half Japanese remains the sort of perennial pleasure that's rare in indie-rock. Centered around Jad Fair, the output of this outfit has given joy for decades, and it contains to do so now well into a plague-year of the 21st century. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that in a year as awful as 2020, the prospect of a new record from Half Japanese is exactly what we need right now. Good thing Crazy Hearts, out on Friday via Fire Records, is just that.
Crazy Hearts opens with the fun "The Beast Master" which is about what you think it's about, while "Wondrous Wonder" sees Jad offer one of his better affirmations in ages. It's a delightful tune with a really delicious hook behind it. Elsewhere, "As It Is" and "Late at Night" see Fair lead the band around down-tempo melodies atop his usual fun lyrics. When he sings about zombies, he sounds like he almost believes it, and the hook keeps pace with his imagination here. And as much fun as "A Phantom Menace" is, whether it's about the Star Wars prequel or not, the title song on this album is one of Jad Fair's most affecting numbers in ages. Full of energy, zest, and life, the tune, like the best from Jad Fair, marries a youthful, DIY-bred style against an idiosyncratic approach to songwriting. And, so much of what's on Crazy Hearts is just the same. Thank God for Jad Fair!
Crazy Hearts is out on Friday via Fire Records.
More details on Half Japanese via the band's official Facebook page.
[Photo: Fire Records]