1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts Explained

1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts
Type:Studio Album With Live elements
Artist:Half Japanese
Cover:Half Gentlemen-Not Beasts.jpg
Released:1980
Recorded:1977–1979
Length:132:42
Label:Armageddon
Next Title:Loud
Next Year:1981

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.

Personnel

Half Japanese