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Japan
1,087,490 plays (126,240 listeners)
Lewisham, South London, England (1974 – 1982, 1991 – 1991)
British art rock band Japan was formed in 1974 in Lewisham, South London, England with original members David Sylvian (vocals, guitar), Mick Karn (bass guitar, saxophone), Richard Barbieri (keyboards), Rob Dean (guitar), and Steve Jansen (percussion). Dean left the band before the recording of Japan’s final album, Tin Drum.
Japan began playing glam rock, influenced by David Bowie, The New York Dolls and motown. Japan debuted on record with 1978’s Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives, which both sold well in the nation of Japan, though nowhere else.
Their third album, 1979’s Quiet Life, heralded a change in musical style from the earlier largely guitar based music to a more electronic sound, with more emphasis on Barbieri’s synthesisers, Sylvian’s svelte baritone style of singing, Karn’s distinctive fretless bass sound, and Steve Jansen’s odd-timbred percussion work.
Their following two albums, Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and Tin Drum (1981) continued to expand their audience as the band refined its new sound and unintentionally became part of the early 1980s new romantic movement. But Tin Drum ended up being their final album as personality conflicts tore the band apart. Nevertheless, the album’s unconventional single “
Ghosts” reached #5 on the UK pop charts.
They split after a farewell tour in 1982.
Most of the original members of the band went on to work on other projects.
Japan began playing glam rock, influenced by David Bowie, The New York Dolls and motown. Japan debuted on record with 1978’s Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives, which both sold well in the nation of Japan, though nowhere else.
Their third album, 1979’s Quiet Life, heralded a change in musical style from the earlier largely guitar based music to a more electronic sound, with more emphasis on Barbieri’s synthesisers, Sylvian’s svelte baritone style of singing, Karn’s distinctive fretless bass sound, and Steve Jansen’s odd-timbred percussion work.
Their following two albums, Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and Tin Drum (1981) continued to expand their audience as the band refined its new sound and unintentionally became part of the early 1980s new romantic movement. But Tin Drum ended up being their final album as personality conflicts tore the band apart. Nevertheless, the album’s unconventional single “
Ghosts” reached #5 on the UK pop charts.They split after a farewell tour in 1982.
Most of the original members of the band went on to work on other projects.
Top Albums
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Tin Drum
Japan Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $6.99
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $8.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $5.59
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Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Japan Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $6.99
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $7.22
- eBay Search
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Quiet Life
Japan Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $43.98
- eBay Search
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Adolescent Sex
Japan Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $9.90
- Buy Album
- Amazon $5.81
- eBay Search
New
Top Tracks
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Quiet Life
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Visions Of China
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Gentlemen Take Polaroids
full track
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The Art Of Parties
full track
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Nightporter
full track
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| 7 |
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Methods Of Dance
full track
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| 8 |
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Talking Drum
full track
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| 9 |
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Adolescent Sex
full track
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| 10 |
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Cantonese Boy
full track
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| 11 |
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My New Career
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| 12 |
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Still Life In Mobile Homes
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| 13 |
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Swing
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| 14 |
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I Second That Emotion
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| 15 |
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Canton
full track
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Shoutbox
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Warsie wrote:
Do you want the vinyl or the tracks? If you want the vinyl you can buy here: http://musica-cd-vinilos.shop.ebay.es/i.html?_nkw=japan+european+son+12%22&_sacat=11233&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=japan+european+son&_osacat=11233 If you want the tracks, it contains European Son (Extended Remix by Steve Nye) and Alien. http://www.discogs.com/image/R-410172-1175880989.jpeg Alien it's the same track in Quiet Life album but European Son it's a new mix. The original European Son is mixed by John Punter and it's included in Assemblage. If you want this version I can send to you ^^
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ItsLuizzHolmez wrote:
Does anybody want to give/help me find the 12 " version of European son? ;-;
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Warsie wrote:
Best band. ever. [2] I can't understand why Japan is so underrated... >__<
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mgpixlab wrote:
Everything about them is PERFECT.
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ItsLuizzHolmez wrote:
best band. ever.
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KaileenaFarah wrote:
unique band.
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jakobdorof wrote:
this band is cool!
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tronsuser wrote:
juvenile intentions
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The_Wind86 wrote:
'Despair' so nice.
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infectedmodes wrote:
> We Love British Bands
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ellisevsf wrote:
Quiet Life is my favourite from them. GTP close second, but I love Adolescent Sex a lot too.
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OlavOrganist wrote:
Weird. I think that Obscure Alternatives by far have their best songs. Quiet Life is in my opinion their worst album, the songs aren't all that great and the sound is awful. I'm not sure which album I prefer, Adolescent Sex or Gentlemen Take Polaroids. When I think of it, Gentlemen should prrobably be higher. Anyways, Adolsecent Sex has their second best song (after Ghosts), Television, and a bunch of other good songs, so that's why I rated it as I did.
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ItsLuizzHolmez wrote:
I never really got into Obscure Alternatives. my rankings would be: 1. Gentlemen Take Polaroids 2. Tin Drum 3. Quiet Life 4. Adolescent Sex 5. Obscure Alternatives
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OlavOrganist wrote:
Their albums ranked: 1. Obscure Alternatives 2. Tin Drum 3. Adolescent Sex 4. Genltemen Take Polaroids 5. Quiet Life anyone agree?
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Warsie wrote:
Don't forget those synths and the fantastic voice of Sylvian... :D The Art Of Parties is one of the best songs of Tin Drum.
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dasNeonlicht wrote:
Well, you simply aren't listening closely enough. Those drums! That bass!
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gregcobra wrote:
The Art of Parties is so boring !
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viciousheaven wrote:
Such a wonderful band!
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Wafflecake wrote:
So "Quiet Life" sounds fucking amazing on DXM.
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Warsie wrote:
New pic!! ;D http://www.lastfm.es/music/Japan/+images/37167723
Videos
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Recent Activity
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celiapouzet, SuzannahFreeman, Zarethmoon and 7 other people added Japan to their libraries. 2 hours ago
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SpeedThrashing tagged Japan with dreampop, glam rock and new romantic. yesterday afternoon
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freddyscl68, ikuryakin, elcorcor and 17 other people added Japan to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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Warsie uploaded Japan to Japan’s images. Tuesday morning
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Warsie linked Japan to Japan. Tuesday morning
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sweetjem and procrastinata added Japan to their libraries. Tuesday morning
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IanAR connected Japan to the group Wobble. Monday evening
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PostumusMagnus, Chocopudding81, entyre and 6 other people added Japan to their libraries. Monday evening
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Warsie linked Japan to Japan. Sunday evening
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Warsie linked Japan to Japan 1978. Sunday evening
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