Tin Drum
by Japan

Tin Drum is a just below average album. Ghosts though is a cracking track, I loved way back then as a burgeoning teenager, unfortunately the only one on the album, well maybe Cantonese Boy is a catchy tune. Not to say that it's theme of Eastern rhythms & sounds mixed with Electonica vibes of the time warrant mention, but not too loudly. This theme helped to set it apart from most other groups / music of the time but it needed a bit more depth, there's only so much a haunting voice can do for weak lyrics and wishy washy sounds.

From Jboy56 02/08/2024 14:39 | #301800

in 1981 this was top of the mark new romantic stuff. But today the sounds seem distant and this album sounds dated. But nevertheless a solid album

I thibk this is one of the best albums from 1981 and from the 80s. This was the culminate point of them carreer. There's no album sounding like this. They had a sound witch combine New Romantic and Synth-Pop with oriental music. David Sylvian's voice and compositions are amazing, Mike Karn was the best bassist of its time and Richard Barbieri made them sound futurist.
The album also produced the hits "Visions Of China", "Ghosts", "The Art Of Parties" and "Catonese Boy"; and on its time was considered one of the best bands. Duran Duran was highly influencieted in them first record by Japan (even they took Japan's looks).
Definetly a masterpiece witch everyone should listen to.

From timtooky 03/29/2014 11:05 | #107968

many of the early 80s trendy synth-wave bands sound arty and vain to me. and so it is with japan. the songs are interesting and strange - but also cool and repellent.

Sadly the last of Japan's studio albums. At least they went out with a bang because this is great.