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