Don't look now, but Half Japanese may have blossomed into a bona fide rock band. Hello, the group's second issue for Alternative Tentacles, highlights the rock side of this noise rock ensemble more than any of their previous albums. Distortion pedals are turned low, the indecipherable lyrics are enunciated clearly; it's one of the least outrageous Half Japanese albums yet. The Fair brothers really rock out on "Patty," and "Mississippi," well, you could even call it poppy. The line-up for this incarnation includes Jason Willett, Gilles V. Rieder, and John Sluggett.