Fire In the Sky is an album by the rock group Half Japanese, released in 1993.[1] "Tears Stupid Tears" is a cover of the Daniel Johnston song.[2]

Fire In the Sky
Studio album by
Released1993
GenreIndie rock, punk, post-punk, experimental rock, lo-fi, alternative rock
Length62:06
LabelSafe House
ProducerDon Fleming[1]
Maureen Tucker
Half Japanese chronology
We Are They Who Ache with Amorous Love
(1990)
Fire In the Sky
(1993)
Hot
(1995)

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
Robert Christgau   [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [5]
Orlando Sentinel     [2]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[6]

Dean McFarlane of AllMusic called Fire in the Sky "the album that pushed the group from the obscure fringe of the U.S. post-punk underground into a full-blown indie rock legend." Trouser Press wrote that "Jad [Fair] works up a head of punk-rock steam that allows him to zoom manically through hi-energy blasts like 'U.F.O. Expert' and 'Tears Stupid Tears.'”[1]

Track listing edit

No.TitleLength
1."U.F.O. Expert"1:10
2."Tears Stupid Tears"2:02
3."Always"12:25
4."This Could Be The Night"4:36
5."Possum Head"2:41
6."Frosty"2:45
7."Turn Your Life Around"2:55
8."I Love A Mystery"2:55
9."12 Houses"1:55
10."Hanger 18"3:06
11."Magic Kingdom"2:27
12."It's No Wonder"3:04
13."Fire In The Sky"2:22
14."Good Luck"0:55
15."Gates Of Glory"2:28
16."Everyone Knows"2:30
17."I Heard Her Call My Name"5:41
18."Eye Of The Hurricane"3:08
19.Untitled (hidden track)3:01

Personnel edit

  • Jad Fair - vocals, megaphone
  • Don Fleming - guitar, vocals, organ
  • Hank Beckmeyer - guitar, bass, backing vocal
  • John Sluggett - drums, guitar, bass, backing vocal
  • Maureen Tucker - drums
  • Ira Kaplan - guitar
  • David Doris - saxophone

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Half Japanese". Trouser Press. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (7 Jan 1994). "Half Japanese, Fire in the Sky". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  3. ^ McFarlane, Dean. "Half Japanese: Fire in the Sky". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Half Japanese: Fire in the Sky". RobertChristgau.com. Robert Christgau. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 74.
  6. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 174–175.