If Jad Fair ever needs a second job, he ought to consider becoming a motivational speaker. Fair opens Overjoyed, the first Half Japanese album in over a decade, with the words "Refresh the life that you now have/And be the best that you can possibly be/Enjoy the life that you now have/Happiness is victory -- yeah!" That's merely the first in a long series of salvos of aggressive positivity and tributes to all that makes life worthwhile on Overjoyed, which Jad delivers with the joyous (if nerdy) fervor of a true believer. While the typical Half Japanese album used to be shot full of oddball meditations on girls and old horror movies accompanied by minimalist noise, Overjoyed presents Jad Fair as a quirky but optimistic cheerleader for modern life, and with John Dieterich of Deerhoof as producer, this music is cleaner and more approachable than this group has offered in the past. Overjoyed hasn't taken the teeth out of Half Japanese's approach; the overdriven huff-and-puff vocals on "Do It Nation" show Jad and his brother David Fair haven't given up on their powerfully quirky side, and most of the tracks rock with a reckless abandon that kicks this music into fifth gear. But Dieterich has given these songs a rich and constantly shifting set of backdrops that are eclectic but suit Jad's oddball celebrations of the world around him; the music is playfully forceful and beautiful in a way that has just enough quirks to match the mood of the lyrics. The surfaces of Overjoyed might surprise a few longtime Half Japanese fans, but at heart this is still the passionate expression of a man who has embraced this life and its many curious possibilities, and that certainly fits with this group's narrative while allowing just a bit more room for new explorers to consider his world view. Besides, who wouldn't want an album where the lead singer tells his listeners, "Well, Jad Fair tells you that you're great/And Jad Fair ain't no liar, you are first rate"? Jack White won't be encourage you like this, that's for sure. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

1		In Its Pull
2		Meant to Be That Way
3		Brave Enough
4		Do It Nation
5		The Time Is Now
6		Our Love
7		Shining Star
8		Each Other's Arms
9		Overjoyed and Thankful
10		We Are Sure
11		As Good Can Be
12		Tiger Eyes

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