Records: Jad fair and yo la tengo's Strange But True

By Sam Frank

Yo La and who? Jad Fair? Who?

Contrary to all of your indie fanboy experience, Yo La Tengo's decision to back up Jad Fair wasn't the result of some bad trip or bump on the head. Yeah, Yo La are one of Matador's crown jewels. And maybe Fair's band, Half Japanese, have never sold thousands of albums or signed to a major label. But the same Spin that made "I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One" No. 8 on their charts last year also called Half Japanese "perhaps the
finest band of all time" back in April of 1990. Half Japanese pioneered truly independent, DIY rock--chordless blasts of noise and teenage angst, recorded at home by two brothers who had never taken a single guitar lesson. Their songs later mutated into skewed adolescent pop about monsters and true love. They inspired Nirvana, Yo La, and others.

But until now, Cosloy's refused to put out any of their records. Strange But True, a collaboration recorded two years ago, with lyrics by David Fair, is a logical move on Yo La's part. It's an artistic statement as well, albeit a humorous one--a concept album about tabloid headlines, every song recorded in one take.

This is really Jad's album. His singing has always been unique--in two sentences he can construct tiny narrative worlds, and he does it sincerely, even if the situations are completely ridiculous. So, on "National Sports Association Hires Retired English Professor to Name New Wrestling Holds," he tells the story of a teacher who creates so many names like "slow dance with trouble" and "snap crackle pop crackle snap," that he isn't able to talk without verbiage carrying him away. His phrasing is so precise, David's lyrics so vivid, that Jad isn't corny even when singing about soap chewing gum and bowling monkeys.

Yo La is known as a great cover band, and they function in that mode on this album, making music to David's lyrics even as Jad sings in another room. They sound just as good as Jad, even if their songs aren't as well structured as on their own albums. Drones and distortion, melodic motifs, straight rockers, even a country number--they play everything with verve and a superb sense of dynamics.

Unfortunately, Strange But True's strengths are its weaknesses. The collaborative way it was recorded prevents it from cohering, and the limited subject matter cramps Jad's emotional personal narrative. So be content to own a collection of songs that "roar like a summer thunderstorm, and screech like a squealing pig." (Matador)

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