Music to Strip By

{{short description|1987 album by Half Japanese}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Music to Strip By

| type = Album

| artist = Half Japanese

| cover = Music To Strip By HalfJapanese.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1987

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Indie rock, punk rock, lo-fi

| length = 38:38

| label = 50 Skidillion Watts

| producer = Kramer

| prev_title = Sing No Evil

| prev_year = 1985

| next_title = Charmed Life

| next_year = 1988

}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score= {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |title=Music to Strip By |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-to-strip-by-mw0000199984 |website=AllMusic |accessdate=18 July 2020}}

|rev2 = Robert Christgau

|rev2score = B+{{Cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=554&name=Half+Japanese|title=Robert Christgau: CG: Half Japanese|website=www.robertchristgau.com}}

| rev3 = Pitchfork

| rev3Score = 8.4/10{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20068-music-to-strip-bycharmed-lifethe-band-that-would-be-king/|title=Half Japanese: Music to Strip By/Charmed Life/The Band That Would Be King|website=Pitchfork}}

|rev4 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

|rev4score = 7/10{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |date=1995 |publisher=Vintage Books |pages=174–175}}

}}

Music to Strip By is an album by the Maryland rock group Half Japanese.{{cite web |title=Half Japanese |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/half-japanese/ |website=Trouser Press |accessdate=18 July 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/half-japanese/half-japanese-volume-two-1987-1989-review/|title=Half Japanese: Volume Two: 1987-1989 Review|date=January 27, 2015|website=pastemagazine.com}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ctjc6UWCm4C&q=Music+to+Strip+By+half+japanese+1987&pg=PP470|title=The Rough Guide to Rock|first=Peter|last=Buckley|date=July 18, 2003|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=9781843531050|via=Google Books}} It was the first album released on their label, 50 Skidillion Watts.

Critical reception

The Quietus wrote that "Music To Strip By [is] a rag bag of musical influences tied to tall tales with a verisimilitude to Jad's own beguiling, charmed life."{{Cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/17329-half-japanese-vol-2-1987-1989-music-to-strip-by-charmed-life-the-band-that-would-be-king-reissues-review|title=The Quietus | Reviews | Half Japanese}} The Spin Alternative Record Guide singled out the cover of Fats Domino's "Blue Monday" for praise.

Track listing

{{Track list

|title1 = Stripping for Cash

|length1 = 1:20

|title2 = Thick and Thin

|length2 = 1:11

|title3 = Diary

|length3 = 2:45

|title4 = Big Mistake

|length4 = 1:33

|title5 = Hot Dog and Hot Damn

|length5 = 0:44

|title6 = The Price Was Right But the Door Was Wrong

|length6 = 2:05

|title7 = Blue Monday

|length7 = 1:23

|title8 = U.S. Teens Are Spoiled Bums

|length8 = 1:10

|title9 = Point/Counterpoint

|length9 = 1:43

|title10 = Sex at Your Parents' House

|length10 = 1:27

|title11 = The Last Straw

|length11 = 1:20

|title12 = Gator Bait

|length12 = 1:17

|title13 = La Bamba

|length13 = 1:55

|title14 = Colleen

|length14 = 2:32

|title15 = Ouija Board Summons Satan

|length15 = 1:00

|title16 = You Must Obey Me

|length16 = 2:20

|title17 = Salt and Pepper

|length17 = 2:05

|title18 = Ancient Life

|length18 = 1:37

|title19 = Silver and Katherine

|length19 = 3:12

|title20 = Money to Burn

|length20 = 2:03

|title21 = Hidden Charms

|length21 = 1:19

|title22 = How

|length22 = 1:05

|title23 = My Sordid Past

|length23 = 1:32

}}

References