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Great, thoughtful look at Japan. I'll dive into the controversy on the ranking for Rain Tree Crow. I think you may have suffered from listening to the albums over a short period. I followed Japan and all of the members work from the first album. The difference between Tin Drum and the Rain Tree Crow album didn't jar for us at the time as all of the fans (me included) had been onboard for the Karn album Titles and more than 3 Sylvian solo albums and ambient work. Rain Tree Crow feels like Sylvian solo album 5. We had 8 or 9 years being slowly "decompressed" so were acclimated to RTC. Probably my favourite "Japan" album and very reminiscent of talk talks later work. Mark Hollis and Sylvian: the great collaboration we never got. RIP Mr Hollis.
Couldn't agree more about the Sylvian/Hollis spiritual kinship. It kind of ticks me off that Hollis and Talk Talk are considered post-rock pioneers when it seems obvious to me that Hollis took his creative cues from Sylvian.
Japan's latter work was so unique even to this day. The band had definitely the greatest musicianship of all the new romantic bands. It might be argued the band' s rhythm section was peerless. And Barberie's synth work was so innovative.
I think you should have included the non-LP singles and B-sides compilation Assemblage and the live Oil On Canvas. That would have completed ALL of Japan's official albums. Also the "sections" of a song are called intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge or middle-eight, and coda.
Almost the same, my one change would be 'Obscure Alternatives' into the 'A' tier (just), though my top three are fixed... #1 - GTP #2 - QL 3 - TD but there's not a lot between QL & TD...
Personally, my favourite track from Adolescent Sex is "Transmission" and my favourite from Obscure Alternatives is "....Rhodesia", which just goes to show that we have completely different tastes and that there's plenty of room for debate! I'm not very fond of Japan's first two albums, on which David Sylvian's voice isn't quite up to scratch yet. My n°1 Japan album is still Quiet Life, where I love all the tracks (with "Halloween" at the top of the list). I'd put Gentlemen Take Polaroids at n°2 because Rob Dean takes a back seat on this one. "My New Career" is my favourite track on the album. My n°3 is Tin Drum, which is more synthetic overall (with "Still Life in Mobile Homes" as my favourite track). I never really got into Rain Tree Crow because the album is more ambient in nature, although I like the genre (but I prefer, for example, the ambient instrumentals on David Sylvian's double album Gone to Earth). "Every Colour You Are" is my favourite Rain Tree Crow track.
The Rain Tree Crow album is great but most definitely NOT like Japan's previous work...instead it fits in perfectly with Sylvian's solo work, particularly Secrets of the Beehive and Plight and Premonition.
Amazing band, amazing sound, amazing style, no band comes close 2 there sound or sylvian's voice, Mick KARN was at 1 with his fretless wahl bass the guy was a very talented musician & sadly missed, can't fault ure logic, 4 me its always tin drum, just micks bass on all songs is crazily good, they also do a great cover of i second that emotion,,,!,
Obscure Alternatives is underrated...also weirdly Rain tree crow is my favourite...or maybe its that different idk..still life and tin drums are classics tho Maybe id pick still life overall
Interesting! A couple of people have been surprised that I didn’t rank Rain Tree Crow higher so you’re certainly not alone. Thanks a lot for listening!
There is not too many , just call them all great. Also, RainTreeCrow is mostly due to David Sylvian work and not giving up on it and putting his own money into it so it could be finished
Check out my other Tier Lists...
th-cam.com/play/PLz-voH7EJ1YPFoimWWHajwx5r09BdzhH_.html
Check out my top 5 albums by year videos…
th-cam.com/play/PLz-voH7EJ1YOdHgm2R95ctqH-03Qt-O7g.html&si=ceVzVhQaUgja1glN
Great, thoughtful look at Japan. I'll dive into the controversy on the ranking for Rain Tree Crow. I think you may have suffered from listening to the albums over a short period. I followed Japan and all of the members work from the first album. The difference between Tin Drum and the Rain Tree Crow album didn't jar for us at the time as all of the fans (me included) had been onboard for the Karn album Titles and more than 3 Sylvian solo albums and ambient work. Rain Tree Crow feels like Sylvian solo album 5. We had 8 or 9 years being slowly "decompressed" so were acclimated to RTC. Probably my favourite "Japan" album and very reminiscent of talk talks later work. Mark Hollis and Sylvian: the great collaboration we never got. RIP Mr Hollis.
Couldn't agree more about the Sylvian/Hollis spiritual kinship. It kind of ticks me off that Hollis and Talk Talk are considered post-rock pioneers when it seems obvious to me that Hollis took his creative cues from Sylvian.
R.I.P. Mick Karn.
Great summary. Like you, I also am infatuated with “ain’t that particular” since first ever listen.
It’s perfection is very underrated
Really nice vid, concise but specific, can't wait to watch some more! Would love to see you do a roxy music tier list
Japan's latter work was so unique even to this day. The band had definitely the greatest musicianship of all the new romantic bands. It might be argued the band' s rhythm section was peerless. And Barberie's synth work was so innovative.
The bassline in Visions of China is so incredible.
I think you should have included the non-LP singles and B-sides compilation Assemblage and the live Oil On Canvas. That would have completed ALL of Japan's official albums.
Also the "sections" of a song are called intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge or middle-eight, and coda.
Almost the same, my one change would be 'Obscure Alternatives' into the 'A' tier (just), though my top three are fixed... #1 - GTP #2 - QL 3 - TD but there's not a lot between QL & TD...
Personally, my favourite track from Adolescent Sex is "Transmission" and my favourite from Obscure Alternatives is "....Rhodesia", which just goes to show that we have completely different tastes and that there's plenty of room for debate! I'm not very fond of Japan's first two albums, on which David Sylvian's voice isn't quite up to scratch yet. My n°1 Japan album is still Quiet Life, where I love all the tracks (with "Halloween" at the top of the list). I'd put Gentlemen Take Polaroids at n°2 because Rob Dean takes a back seat on this one. "My New Career" is my favourite track on the album. My n°3 is Tin Drum, which is more synthetic overall (with "Still Life in Mobile Homes" as my favourite track). I never really got into Rain Tree Crow because the album is more ambient in nature, although I like the genre (but I prefer, for example, the ambient instrumentals on David Sylvian's double album Gone to Earth). "Every Colour You Are" is my favourite Rain Tree Crow track.
gonna have to check them out
The Rain Tree Crow album is great but most definitely NOT like Japan's previous work...instead it fits in perfectly with Sylvian's solo work, particularly Secrets of the Beehive and Plight and Premonition.
finally Japan is getting their due
Amazing band, amazing sound, amazing style, no band comes close 2 there sound or sylvian's voice, Mick KARN was at 1 with his fretless wahl bass the guy was a very talented musician & sadly missed, can't fault ure logic, 4 me its always tin drum, just micks bass on all songs is crazily good, they also do a great cover of i second that emotion,,,!,
No way dude Rhodesia is a fantastic track full of doomed modern history and tragedy but uplifting as well
Sylvian didn't want the RTC album associated with japan, altho it was the same band members, according 2 rob dean
David Sylvian and Robert Fripp
Obscure Alternatives is underrated...also weirdly Rain tree crow is my favourite...or maybe its that different idk..still life and tin drums are classics tho
Maybe id pick still life overall
Interesting! A couple of people have been surprised that I didn’t rank Rain Tree Crow higher so you’re certainly not alone. Thanks a lot for listening!
There is not too many , just call them all great. Also, RainTreeCrow is mostly due to David Sylvian work and not giving up on it and putting his own money into it so it could be finished
Some serious grade inflation. I’d give in order of release: D C C S S B.