Japan - Were they EVER good?

I had the Shelley record, which I liked, and just got pissed of when they did this transformation into a bland which sounded like Gary Barlow song writing produced by Stock Aitkin and Waterman. Suddenly they were wearing orange make-up, lip gloss and shinny suits, and the lead singer camping it up like Liza Minelli on helium, with a huge cheesy grin. They had become a vapid pop band, with as much musical integrity as Dollar. I don’t think this was the best move for them creatively.

Live they made me ashamed to have liked them, and almost physically sick. The obvious backing track and mimed guitar were not what I was really after.
I guess when you see your chance for fame money and success sometimes you just have to go for it. I have to respect them for that at least it was a very brave move – they just chose the wrong bandwagon I guess, and should have stuck to indie.

I'm an American, so I never got the chance to see them live, but it wouldn't very much surprise me if they were less than excellent. Dickon, for all his virtues, is a poor guitarist, and Tim's singing is an acquired taste even when glossed with all those production tricks. Then again, it's no secret that I prize vapid pop, so this outpouring of love could likely be evidence of poor taste on my part.

I've still not decided whether that first sentence was meant in earnest, but I quite appreciate your sentiment either way.

I still like them a lot. The later, more atmospheric stuff is good too, but the first two...

www.karmadownload.com/artist/?xavior

I am also selling my soul on ebay (www.ebay.com), but, like the Holy Grail Herself, the item number is top secret, and clues abound regarding its location...

Go Forth Knights...

Xx

Yes, Japan were good.

it's been touched on before on ILM, but i joyously shudder listening to "Quiet Life", It is brillant, sexy, catchy and uncanny: it's Duran Duran's debut album two years earlier!

It's kinda scary. Intended or not.

It's fun to do that but I don't think it's 'right' per se -- for instance, our own Dee, Duran freak extraordinaire, is VERY much a Japan fan too and sees the inspiration clearly while still loving Duran deeply.

Ned, forgive me.

They have one of the tightest, most original rhythm sections. They're "serious" but also quite fun. And they're probably my overall favorite band too.

http://www.musicfolio.com/modernrock/japan_tindrum.jpg

And your mentioning Sylvian's obsession with the hoarier aspects of Ferry's voice illustrates the orientalism point as well. At that juncture in his career, Sylvian was indulging his interest in style as content. And rather than synthesizing conflicting cultures (which is where Polaroids stumbles a bit), on Tin Drum he's pitting them against one another. The result is unmitigated exoticism by way of subtractive process.

Anyway, absent that underlying tension, you had style for its own sake. Or, as noted, Duran Duran, who apparently asked him to produce their debut.

Twee psychedelic pop from 67-68, certainly. Also 70s prog rock

(And wrong in both cases)

I can imagine Dave255's sneer as he typed that.

GREAT!

!!! WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

You're not the only one who's thought that!

"Tin Drum" is a concept album about China.

anyone else reckon the guy out of my chemical romance is modelling himself on sylvian these days?

Now John Foxx -- I'm starting to see more and more that HE is probably where former choir boy SLB (whose mom, trivia-seekers, was a former opera singer who turned into a stage mom with her little Simon and had him deeply involved in acting from a very early age) derived quite a bit of influence from. And Nick Rhodes has totally gone on the record as being absolutely wild for Ultravox's first three albums, so there's something worth looking at.

As for the most recent posts, WTG for picking up some Japan love! Please make sure to repeat "Still Life On Mobile Homes" and "Canton" a few times for me, thanks.

uh, no

OH HI BEST SONG EVER, IT IS GOOD TO MEET U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOM7N924Rls

Japan were a fantastic band and have not dated at all. Partly because early 80s synth based music hasn't and will never date. But also, Japan were better than most.

"Ghosts", in particular, has to be one of the dullest Top 10 Hits EVER.

Couldn't disagree more..

What top 10s are weirder than Ghosts, except O Superman, of course...

I marvel at UK pop culture, such a mash of MASSIVE artists and (presumably) inaccessible artists, completely different than the US mainstream. Never change!

"Ghosts", in particular, has to be one of the dullest Top 10 Hits EVER.

Couldn't disagree more..

Yeah no kidding, this song is fucking incredible.

amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGcteC2_H2c

I am so big on Tin Drum, Gentlemen Take Polaroids & Quiet Life...I tried their first two albums over five years ago & they didn't hit me in the same way. I am thinking I should try them again.

I am thinking I should try them again.

Eh, I'm in the same camp as you. Their first two, which I revisited last year, are simply a different band, and not one that I particularly like.