Like Life Luster
Artist: Half Zaftig   
Label: Wonky Recordings
Length: 12/55:37 (Bonus disc – The Eyees Have It – 5/25:20)

Half Zaftig is the new band of Shawn "Yogi" Farley, a Seattle-based guitar/keyboard player and vocalist.   Farley has obviously studied at the feet of Mike Keneally and Frank Zappa, as well as that of King's X and Extreme, but _Life Like Luster_ throws in a few surprises here and there just to keep you guessing. 

Make no mistake – this is hard rock, almost metal at different moments, with a dash of prog mixed in occasionally for good measure.   "Our Guarantee" is an amusing intro to the rest of the disc somewhat akin to Jellyfish.  "A Kick in the Shin" and "Fair Use" both decry the victim mentality that seemingly has overtaken our world, and both beg for personal accountability.   "Sublimeinal" (sic) simply throws its hands in the air and says people fall…because that's what people do.

"Inscrutable You," featuring guest vocalist Liz Aday (one of the trio is Lizzy Daymont….hhmmm), deals with the pain humans cause each other, perhaps while unaware of it.   "Numbered Days" features Yogi's trademark sound – the drum/bass break here recalls "You Fell" from hhis first solo disc.  "Mold on My Shoes" sinks into lethargy, and seemingly portrays a depressed person with a complete lack of motivation. 

"Handbasket" revisits familiar space, indicating the world is falling apart, but instead of bemoaning it, calls for us to watch it happen, as the event is inevitable.   The most interesting track so far is "10 Print", which could be a picture of a night at a coffee shop, complete with soundtrack (several songs are referred to in the lyric) – Zappa's fingerprints aare all over this one. 

"In a Simple Rhyme," a Van Halen cover, is also included, as well as a song called "Dusty Demonatrix", which should be listened to until the very end…a joke about one of Ammerica's best known songwriters is hidden.   

A bonus disc, The Eyes Have It: B-Sides, is available as part of a package deal that includes a T-shirt.   Two covers, "Only Shallow," and Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl," are followed by an acoustic version of "Numbered Days."  Two new songs, "The Ending" (perhaps the bookend to "Our Guarantee"?), and "F-Bomb Symphony", are also included.   The two discs and shirt can be had through the website listed above, and the deal is quite reasonable, considering what concert shirts cost these days.   

Half Zaftig is yet another in my long list of bands that more people should know about, but don't due to lack of publicity.   Fans of Zappa's work, King's X, Beer for Dolphins, and melodic metal should give this a chance.

Brian A. Smith
30 October 2007