Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Interesting album. Lost of fun 80 synth rock and some operatic interludes.
3/5
El primer tema bien, la versión de All tomorrow parties bien, el resto muy aburrido.
Holy shit, a synth pop record that doesn’t completely suck ass, one that has a little bit of life to it. Hold on… Three tracks in and we are getting weepy and funereal. Let’s see if the boys in Japan can turn it around… After a couple plodding tunes (Despair and In Vogue) they’re back to more uplifting territory, though the stench of a film noir soundtrack is still lingering a bit on Halloween. They’re covering All Tomorrow’s Parties now, and it’s evolved from a sort of Krautrock-y intro in a more jazzy affair, but it’s still got some nice ethereal instrumentation going on, but it’s a weird combination with that song, smooth jazz…not sure I’m a fan. That that krautrock vibe at the start was *really* working. Although, on second listen, the Can influence is more apparent, but it’s kind of like latter day, post-Damo Suzuki Can. This was better than most of the other synthpop records on the list, but it doesn’t quite rise to the level of a 4 star rating.
Another bland and uninspiring album to scratch off this fantastic list.
There's a lot of cool experimentation happening here that boarders on psych/dance music, but the record can't escape its desire to fall into the New Wave spectrum, and that's a shame. I kept waiting for us to let loose a little, but most tracks remain just a bit sleepy for me. 11/10 bass lines though.
Nascent New Romantic art-pop that feels oddly essential as a forbearer of synth-based popular music's meteoric rise in the years following its release.
first two songs were quite nice, after that nothing remarkable happens. strong 6/10
Surprisingly easy listen. I can tell this band would birth several of the big acts we know today that came out of the 80’s. I was surprised this came out in the 70’s, and it’s even more 80’s core than stuff by the cure I’ve heard in the 70’s. I was also surprised I didn’t die of new wave cringe here. All in all, not my alley but nothing that made me want to mute the album.
Oh I love love this. Ethereal and so groovy. The brits really are goated at party and fun music. Quiet life is anything but that it shakes it breathes. The guitars are crying on all tomorrows partys. The mellow of knowing you have to party and yet being sad anyway. The music is so mellow one second and then the next we are grooving and the lyrics. Alien is amazing. The final song drones on at the end you have made it to the other side of life I want this album so bad now. The cover is so cool ahhhhhhh
good
This band helped pave the way for others that followed, specifically Duran Duran. Nick Rhodes & DD has been accused over the years for stealing David Sylvian's look (I can see that), but Japan still has a following of their own. They were never a big 80s band, but that's probably because they were the bridge from 70s glam rock to 80s New Romantic/New Wave. Japan is like a mellow Roxy Music, and there's definitely room on the musical spectrum for them. I know Japan isn't for everyone, but I enjoy them.
Has a very Duran Duran feel. Japan was most definitely an influence in their music. Pretty good album. Shame they never got the love that Duran Duran got. 3.5
first song had some good energy then it kinda fizzled from there. Felt like a directionless, bland copy of other great 80s bands. Don't want to listen to this one again.
Poor mans David Bowie + Depeche Mode + The Cure? Don't love it.
Am I back in 2008 at Area 51s 80s night? After the 1st few it took a darker twist.
Despair reminded me of Western World theme song.. maybe there was some influence there. I’m very unfamiliar this album and band, and I enjoyed listening and am now a “fan”.
Hmm some songs are kinda cool but its sort of plodding and annoying at parts
Altogether there’s too much 80s synth pop on this list, and that’s a genre I generally enjoy. But there’s just not much to differentiate it from the other synth pop. I did like All Tomorrow’s Parties. The rest was fine.
This had a dark interesting sound, and lucky hadn’t gone full 80s though it got dangerously close
This is Duran Duran wannabe + Cure wannabe but not as good as either. (And I don't like the Cure!)
Back in synth world I guess. This was totally fine, but i never need to hear it again and it certainly does not need to take up a spot on this list.
One or two of the darker, more atmospheric songs were decent but the rest is just pretty run of the mill synth pop. 4/10
This is what people who don't like new wave think new wave sounds like. Repetitive, unadventurous, and uninteresting.
It had one pretty good song on it and it was definitely influential, but it didn't do much for me
I’d rather listen to raffi on repeat
Might be a better fall or Halloween album!
This album would probably hit different in the fall. But for today (6/9/24) it was not doing it for me.
It’s somewhat less generic and more interesting than I expected - I liked the synths and darker sound - but I was never fully sold on it. I found it a bit irritating as it went on.
Rollazo.
avant gardiste, succulent
Some songs overstay their welcome now but still a great album
It was okay. New wave can be a bit samey
This is an album that I wish I would have found sooner, when it was new. But I wasn'teven old enough for kindergarten when it was released. Over all, enjoyed this; can really see their lasting influence especially on Duran Duran & that era.
Quite enjoyed it
Not for me. Pretty boring tbh
"Quiet Life" by Japan is a sleepy new wave album. Made by Englishmen and originally released in Canada, it is unsurprising that this album had little to no footprint in the United States. Rather unremarkable, there's not much to say about it. If anything, many of the tracks are just a little too long and drawn out.
Well ok. What a fucking record. At times the crossover from Joy Division to synthpop, at times neither, at times both. The influence on Duran Duran is abundantly obvious, this record is so much cooler though. I love it. Never heard it before. By Halloween I was a little bit done with the 'Duran Duran several years before Duran Duran but without the success of Duran Duran' however things take a turn in an interesting direction once again thereafter with an exceptionally Eno/Frippian cover of the Velvets. Yeah nothing to do with United massively unexpectedly beating City in the cup final today, but what a lovely album and what a beautiful day.
Interesting voice, but quite boring
A lot of early emo pop stuff. One track was somewhat enjoyable.
The first track is really good. I loved the beat, the bass and the synth immediately. And maybe the first song is too good and sets the bar too high because I was expecting more of the same, but the rest of the album does not really deliver. Of course, there's still some great instrumentation going on (I really enjoyed how the bass is locked in with the drums throughout almost the entire record), but I didn't really care for the vocals (also didn't really have time to go through the lyrics today). Also, there are some parts that really suck, like the cover of All Tomorrow's Parties. It just sounds uninspired. The sequencing also seems a bit off. There are really good first two songs with a lot of energy, but the entire momentum is killed immediately by Despair. And I actually liked the song in the beginning, but then it's completely butchered by the terrible French pronunciation. Oops, I forgot to rate this one and came back after a couple of weeks and I don't remember anything about this album anymore except for that first song. 2/5 then it is.
This album is not as synthy as the usual synthpop I enjoy but I still found this album to be rather pleasant. It does however sound dark at times but that's not an issue for me. I'd consider this a high 3/5.
A lovely romp through the 80s vibes
Skön platta.
Listened to this in the Artists preferred order. Should go back and listen to it as released. In any case, pretty enjoyable.
The best New Wave/Synth-Pop band you’ve never heard of! 4.5/5
The band originally intended for the track listing to be 1) All Tomorrow's Parties, 2) Fall in Love with Me, 3) Alien, 4) Quiet Life, 5) The Other Side of Life, 6) Despair, 7) In Vogue, 8) Halloween, 9) A Foreign Place and suggests the listener try listening to the album in that order.
The current top review perfectly encapsulates my feelings after listening, just unremarkable really. Not sure what makes this stand out from other synth-pop records from the time. A few tracks did not have much going on and took me out of the listening experience.
More uninteresting UK trash from the 70s
I thought this was pure 80s music until I saw that it was released in 1979, maybe these were the first guys to do it?? Didn't mind it but nothing special. First two songs were good background music for getting somewhere in a rush, the next track "despair" really dropped off in energy. Not really my thing but then again I'm sure this slapped for some people 40-45 years ago.
Origins of later bands like Depeche Mode. Quiet life was okay song, also had remake of All Tomorrows Parties
Listened while in a traffic jam. It didn’t improve the situation.
Yes, liked, made me think of Duran Duran, Bryan Ferry….I would listen again.
A lot of individual elements that would indicate a good album. Some jazzy sections, some fun new wave stuff, and a range of emotion. But for whatever reason, this one just never clicked with me. Wasn't bad at all, but didn't grab me either
not my bag
Para mí medio pelo como canta
Not really my style.
This was headed for a 1-star review until I was swayed All Tomorrow's Parties. Maybe the synth sound and production were novel enough at the time to carry it, but in 2024 I struggle to see why this is included in this project.
1.5
great synth album loved the atmospheric soud
Above average new wave album. In Vogue and Alien were stand out tracks for me.
Geht gut ins Ohr. PopRock mit Glamour und perfekten Sound. Eine angenehme Überraschung
More new wave to hear before I die, haven’t heard of these guys until now. Nothing distinct but well played.
Day120 - you can hear their influence on the new wave that was coming
Terrible.
Long time Japan listener. Great Album.
I have always been a little nonplussed by the supposed "cult status" of this album. Take a glam-rock, Roxy Music-inspired act that was first playing an already "dated" style in a frankly awkward fashion, add synthetic production shenanigans inspired by disco and Georgio Moroder to drastically update them, and you have an album that indeed foretells eighties' "New Romantics" such as Duran Duran or Alphaville. The thing is, I fear there's not much in terms of truly memorable tunes in *Quiet Life*, a record that mostly digs two grooves in a somewhat flaccid fashion and undynamic pace: some upbeat songs in the vein of the opener and title track, that quickly sound quite interchangeable unfortunately, and two or three more "atmospheric" tracks with admittedly stellar orchestral arrangements. On the positive side of things, Japan's fretless bass sounds great--thanks goodness it's here, since it offers the most dynamic and original instrumentation in the record. And David Sylvian's vocal performance is nice as well. *Quiet Life* is a record I've tried hard to love before, but as of now, it didn't "click" for me. Not fully giving up on it, though. Because on a more distanced and "objective" level, I readily admit it was at least somewhat groundbreaking for pop music at large... 3/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 8/10 for more general purposes (5+3). Number of albums left to review: 214 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 344 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 200 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 251
I had never heard of this band before so this was a completely new group to me. Japan has a lot of musical elements I love, really nice synth, some sexy sax thrown around, haunting guitars, croonerish vocals, some serious "bowieisms", yet, I just could not get into this album and I can't really figure out why. I will be checking out more of Japan's work, because even though this album felt, "slow", or something, I still really enjoyed it. I'm going to have to re-listen to this, let it sink in more. *It's crazy to me that this album came out in 1979, when the track Quiet Life sounds like 1985.
Who came first? Duran Duran or Japan? Planet Earth or Quiet Life? I suppose I could simply Google it, but the music on this album isn’t good enough to care. My gut feeling is that Duran Duran took what Japan started and polished it into something worth shouting about. I can certainly understand why Japan has fans, but not why this album is in the 1001 list. What makes this better than the hundreds or thousands of other albums made by garage bands given access to tech and a recording studio? The synth atmospheres are kind of interesting, but the song-writing, production and singing simply aren’t good enough to be lauded worldwide. Don’t get me wrong, this is not an awful album, especially compared to so much of the dross released then and now. However, maybe you had to be a member of the miserable, unemployment, disenchanted youth in the UK to give this album a place in your heart. Note after further reflection: it’s the saxophone and singing that ruins this album. Replace both and maybe you’ve got something that matches the best pop-rock of that era.
I enjoyed the opener but the rest felt like bland 80's music. Cool cover though!
Somewhere between new wave and punk, lots of long songs from the most emo kid at a prep school. It's alright, a couple nice tracks but nothing too eye-opening. Quiet life indeed. Favorite tracks: Fall in Love With Me, In Vogue, Alien. Album art: Really like this one, a guy standing in the fog, trying to reach out. Maybe it's not fog at all, maybe he's just sad. But the picture is striking, the font is bold, it's a good one. 3/5
Pretty cool to hear this kind of synth pop from 1979. Ahead of its time.
More interesting than most so-called "synth pop". And more than just "synth pop".
Disco music. But not the "get the party started" kind of disco, rather the "it's 3:30 in the morning, party's almost over, people are starting to head home and the janitors are getting ready to mop the sticky floor" kinda disco. Still solid for what it is.
this is one of those albums that i'd only listen to all the way through because i'm devoted to getting all 1001
Meh just a bit boring
Snoozefest but interesting to hear the transition from 70’s new wave into 80’s synth pop
new wave liejuviikko jatkuu japanin (iso-britannia) tunnin pituisella turhuudella. huonon päivän jälkeen mykistynyt merkityksetön lopetusmusiikki, ehkä sopii tälle päivälle.. sentään saa poisalta tämän.. huhhuh tarvitaan jotain rikkomaan tätä juoksevaa räkäklimppiä mitä on ollut viimeiset muutama albumia.. maybe pink floyd - animals next? i like that album... maybe more than dark side of the moon... perhance?? maybe unpopular opinion... people are gonna hate me for this.... here come the fanboys.. whatch out guys, the popular kids are coming.... sigh... the other side of life
I like this. I already knew I enjoyed bold 80s sounds, but this has a surprising amount of musical interest beyond that. Don't remember which song it was but there were some really cool bass riffs in the mix.
boring and mundane. not at all worth a listen
Amazing "80s" sound in 1979.
Insanely underwhelming without any hint of originality. Lackluster, lazy, and, after a while, downright annoying vocals, which leads to the album’s repetition. Instrumentation does a wonderful job of breaking up the album and is easily the bast part, including the arrangements and writing. Lyrics were fine, but ultimately unmemorable. Whole thing was just inoffensive at best. 2/5
3 stars
2.125
Forgettable appropriated pop.
Very much of its time
Nichts für mich.
It's the beginning of a new age. The age of the romantics.
An interesting mix of Duran Duran and Joy Division, seemingly ahead of their time, this sounds more 1982 than 1979.
If you want to know how ignorant I was (and arguably still am) about music, I'd not heard of Japan until I played Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain a number of years ago, and I always remembered Quiet Life being one of the weaker tracks on that game's soundtrack. To be fair, its hard to discern quality over the sound effects of a guy huffing and puffing, but I basically did not touch this song, and in turn this album, until right now, nearly a decade later. I wasn't NOT looking forward to this though, I mean, Japan is pretty well liked in small circles, and there is no denying that David Sylvian isn't SO HOT DUDE OH MY GOD HUBBA HUBBA AWOOGA HONK HON- Excuse me. So, I had some amount of hope this would be a good time, and I'd say it was! Quiet Life is far more appealing with a good set of headphones, and the whole album gives me Duran Duran vibes, but in a good, more sophisticated way, as if I'm listening to Hungry Like the Wolf for the intellectual. It isn't really like that, its pretty predictable, albeit grand pop music, but I still had a good time listening, and I think this album has its own charm that sets it apart from its contemporaries, such as tHE LEAD SINGER MMM GIVE ME SOME OF THAT B-OING WOO WO- But I seriously think this could be a good time if you go in knowing what to expect. Its a tad dated, and starts to drag near the end, but there's enough here to be a more romantic view of a musical era (new wave) that tends to be overdone in a modern setting. Looking forward to digging into more Japan stuff in the future, I've heard their albums after this one are even better.
Great synth-pop/post-punk with some hints of Sylvian’s later eccentricity while still being danceable
Helt nicd
While listening to the first track, I began to feel bad that I had given Duran Duran the credit for so many years when this band that I had never heard of had clearly laid the ground work for them. But as I continued to listen the album became much less compelling to me. Tracks like “Despair” just sounded like someone noodling on a piano to me. Neither complex nor interesting. A lot of shared DNA with bands I love. But those other bands ultimately do it a lot better.
Stick a fretless on something and I’m gonna like it
Música de sintetizador. No está mal, cansa un poco al ser muy similar durante todo el disco. Llega a ser aburrido, pero no es mala.
Boring and out of tune. Unpleasant listen
Fun sounds
Meh
Duran Duran must have bought a copy of this record.
He’s got the voice of Paul McCartney but he squanders it with this shit.
80s vibes for the win.
Interesting precursor to the Post-punk & synth bands that are prevalent now such as Drab Majesty that is far ahead of its time with driving pop sections that are supported by synth sections that carry both groove and a sense of eeriness or dread that hook the listener almost immediately.
OK so this album was a bit weird - but in a good way and probably ahead of its time by a couple of years. While I can't call the vocals good by any stretch of the imagination, I enjoyed the album.
I know folks love these guys. I love certain moments by these guys. This album more brought me back to where I was when it was released than reminded me of the strength of the music. Certainly some real strengths, of course, and I remember the big deal when the album came out. But the unremarkable songs seem to cast a giant shadow. Probably just me.
Nothing I particularly dislike, and it probably influenced a lot of 80s sounds, but I have very little attachment to this. For me, synth should be used pretty sparingly, so I'm not the biggest fan of the 80s as a period for music, but this is decent enough. Maybe I'd like it with time, but right now, it's just fine as background music. 24/03/24
Love the bass playing here. Reminds me a little of Duran Duran, but a little more dramatic and/or melancholic. If you like 80s synth pop, I can easily recommend this. Had barely heard of this band tbh, but it's definitely pretty damn solid, I'll likely be coming back to this one.
Doofus vocals and stupid 80’s-before-the-80’s keyboard tunes. Dumb.
Gear: Grado Hemp Mix: egal. Musik: egal. Wertung: 😑(😑)/5
Sounds like a standard 80’s album but came out in 79, so got to give them credit of being early pioneers of the sound. Duran Duran clearly influenced by Japan? Deserves to be on the list, but not my Personal taste.
Foreshadowing and pioneering so many of the artists that dominated the 80s, this album is a window into the 70s music world in transition. I can’t say that I love much of this album — I didn’t at the time and still don’t, even with a more mature listening ear — but there’s no doubting the debt owed to Japan by Nik Kershaw, Duran Duran, and so many others.
If I were to throw an 80s themed party this would definitely make the list as nice synthy forgettable background music for when the motorcycle gang inexplicably shows up and ruin the party. I wish half stars were possible, this is as 2.5 as it gets. We are going with 3 because 2 would imply its bad.
Total Duran Duran copycat. Wow. Liked it though.
Solid album, reminded me a bit of Brian Ferry and Roxy Music. Sometimes the singe's voice is a bit unnerving.
It was rather boring for me. Felt like listening to an old game's ost, with someone singing over it
Solid enough background music
Best song: I second that emotion Vibes: goofy spooky, dramatic glam
Very good
I enjoyed some of the beats and songs on here, having never heard of this band before. I might replay it at some point.
Nothing of note, but it was not bad listening.
odd entry. All Tomorrow's Parties has "lime in the coconut" vibes. Not the worst album on this list.
It's fine, nothing too noteworthy about it
Ну так, местами неплохо, местами непойми что.
good
Based on the release date, this is definitely influential. Imagine if Pink Floyd played straight forward new wave before it existed. There is a darkest to this album. I liked it more than expected 6.5/10
Quite liked the bleepy blooby intro then realised I wasn't really listening after that. Singing a bit flat in a New Order esque way.
An interesting LP that hits a nostalgic vein of proto-synthwave. Doesn't feel too dated, but the heavy synthesizer provides a distinct sonic signature and carries some milder songwriting. The more traditional tracks do tend a bit too 80s for my liking, but this was something different from the norm and I enjoyed listening.
06/1001 I liked the beginning but it became repetitive and boring. There were only 3 songs that I would genuinely listen to. The recording didn't seem like a thing to me
Actually really enjoyed this! Atmospheric synth pop with a very pleasant man voice leading and nice variation in drums and base. Will listen to it again
"Must hear before you die?" Why?? So I can know what the 362nd best album of 1979 sounds like? Stupid and erroneous. Excited to never listen to this again. EDIT: Wow, this is an embarrassing mea culpa to have to give, especially since this review has received quite a number of likes. But I've relistened, and I must say, it's been a hot minute since an album rose this much in estimation for me on one listen. This time around, I was much more drawn into it. It's still not my favorite-sounding album by any means, and there are moments where Sylvian's vocals irk me just the slightest, but in almost every song, I found myself really digging every member's individual performances. Really interesting instrumental choices and arrangements. I'm all the way up to a low 3 stars now, but it could genuinely continue to grow on me yet. I guess that's the beauty of it all, right? 3/5
lovely vibe
New Wave as a genre has always been very hit or miss with me. Japan's album "Quiet Life" is on the earlier side of the genre's inception (being released in the late 70s), and it certainly sounds like it. I hadn't heard of Japan but their aesthetic is pretty solid (at least on this album). There's something foggy and hazy about the synth work here. Maybe it's me projecting this cover's vibe onto the album itself, but it feels like an intoxicated night out in the city. This is the vibe I get off most of the tracks; subtly somberful and dramatic. The washed-out mixes on the vocals and instrumentation are likely contributors to this aesthetic, which when it comes to looking at each song in a vacuum, is probably my biggest flaw with this album. "Despair" is hauntingly gorgeous, with saxophone and sorrowful piano leads driving a heartbreaking ballad. The lyrics are in French, but from what I gather, they're referencing the destruction of some sort of art medium. It's easily my favorite song here. Aside from that though, with the more direct tracks, there's an interesting mood that's evoked overall, but nothing happens that excels these songs past that basic pre-established mood. Can't say I'm too fond of the vocals here either, especially on the song "In Vogue" where there's so much sub that it's just irritating. In general, though, I just find the vocals to be forgetful and sleepy and not in a way that particularly compliments this album's style. There are moments where it works, like on "Aliens" where I think the vocalist comes off more emotive and I think the song is particularly ear-wormy. My overall conclusion after hearing this is that I find the instrumentation itself cool and effective, but the songs themselves leave a lot to be desired. Can't say I really dug this one.
Three stars, but a good three stars. Obscure 80's-style art pop that was ahead of its time. Kind of downbeat
Started okay but got old fast
Loved this, so far ahead of its time
Elska melankólíuna hjá Japan. Vildi óska að þetta band hefði fengið meiri spilun hér á landi á sínum tíma. Það var varla að man vissi af þeim, nema vegna þýskra popp-blaða.
Brooding and etherial.
Feels a ton like Roxy Music. Nothing really struck me as "must listen."
Not exactly my thing, but I also don't dislike it.
It’s worth a 2.5 if I could give one.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Maybe a 2.5, but I'll round up.
Meh!
No bueno. Why does New Wave mostly suck?
ok
"Quiet Life" by Japan, released in 1979, is a transitional album for the band, marking their shift from glam rock to a more sophisticated and experimental sound. The album features a blend of electronic, funk, and art-pop elements, showcasing the band's musical versatility and David Sylvian's distinctive vocals. Tracks like "Quiet Life" and "Fall in Love with Me" are highlights, with their lush production and catchy melodies. However, "Quiet Life" is not without its flaws. Some tracks feel disjointed and unfocused, and the production can be inconsistent. Additionally, while the album is ambitious, it doesn't always fully realize its potential, with some songs lacking the depth and complexity found in Japan's later work. Overall, "Quiet Life" is a solid album that showcases Japan's evolving sound. While it may not reach the heights of their later releases, it remains an important chapter in the band's discography.
a really late 1970s new wave album that definitely inspired other bands in terms of sound, many people seem to say that japan's whole energy served as a heavy inspiration for duran duran's work especially. moody, mysterious, and sometimes synthy... most songs are pretty nice, really lets you relax your head on a pillow and be one with it all. those basslines are killer.
Thought it was gonna be in Japanese. Did not expect it to be this funky, I have to say I didn't really vibe with this album unfortunately, it just wasn't my thing. Maybe I'll like it in the future but for now I am not the biggest fan.
Interesting. It's proto-Duran Duran. (I mean, the synth in the first song is basically "Hold Back the Rain.") I imagine everyone who's sequences beats has this album tucked away somewhere. Some pretty interesting tracks on here. Unexpected bangers: In Vogue, Quiet Life, All Tomorrow's Parties
this album was conservatively 135,832 hours long.
schlecht gealterter Pop(?)
Kind of like a Roxy Music and New Order hybrid? I like the Roxy Music bits and have enjoyed songs by Japan in the past, but I think their style changed for this album.
Snooze fest
Sounded like a bad Duran Duran impersonation. Wasn’t much to like in this one.
Boring
Eh, kinda boring.
no
More 80s music from 1979. Never heard of this band. Not bad but I could’ve gone my entire life without hearing and wouldn’t have been any worse off
Another whole lot of what? Why is this here? 2* Once again, Spotify took me to something better after this, aka Duran Duran. Enjoyed: a foreign place
Wow. Me tomó por sorpresa. Ni sabía que existían, pero se oyen varias bandas aquí, como ya han dicho algunos.
Quiet Life is the third album by English new wave band Japan. This album marked a transition for the band from glam rock to synth/art-pop. It was one of the first albums released during the New Romantic era in the UK, and the band views it as their peak. Although sales were slow, this album went on to be the band's first to chart and was certified gold in the UK. Quiet Life was a hit in the UK and a cult classic in North America - specifically Canada. This is an elegant sounding pop album with hints of the band's glam rock past. Japan sounds like a beautiful, well-oiled machine on this album and it may be their best album too. I think most listeners will enjoy this album.
New wave vibes
Might be the most average album I've heard so far.
Not my cup of tea 1.5
Japan makes the best '80s synth pop, often dubbed as "city pop". Japan, on the other hand, is just another annoying, unremarkable snippet of the genre.
The band sounds like Duran Duran broodier cousin - but this record is a it winding and meandering. Shame - as some tracks show a lot of promise.
Not listened to many similar albums, would like to revisit
This album reminded me of Gary Numan at times, and I liked the music. It was very repetitive though.
Lot of good ones on here. Will listen to it again
dark and funky
Pretty good.
I’m a sucker for new wave music, but a lot of the songs drag on and his voice isn’t my favorite.
Sounds like Duran Duran, but not as fun.
This might be one of the most "background music" albums I've listened to so far. All the songs kind of blended together and nothing really stood out to me.
Thought this would be right up my street and I did like it, but it didn’t grab me
I listened to this like 4 times which is good I suppose but also can't remember anything about it which feels like a negative
Synthapopp er gáfumannapopp í mínum huga. Mörg flott lög sem eru stuð. En reyndar finnst mér drepleiðinleg sum hægu lögin, sérstaklega "The Other Side of Life". Fæ alveg klígju af útdregnum niðurdreptónum í duranduran söngstílnum.
Frumherjar í nýrómantík og ruddu flugbrautina fyrir Duran Duran. Vandað og gott synthapop með óaðfinnanlegum hljóðfæraleik. Mér hefur alltaf þótt röddin hans David Sylvain kúl, sérstaklega í rólegu lögunum eins og Despair og Forbidden colours sem hann gerði með Sakamoto. Ekkert jafngott lag á þessari plötu, en ekkert sem mér fannst áberandi leiðinlegt heldur. 3,5/5.
Interesting album. You can hear the bands that this influenced throughout. It’s probably not something I’ll revisit but I respect it in the context of when it was released and what followed.
These guys are too cool for me. Fun covers though!
I'm impressed that this is from 1979. Sounds more like more mud 80s. I have come to realize that New Wave just isn't my jam.
This was play, a little more boring than anticipated
Ahead of it’s time, a new wave UK standard.
Too slow and emotional for me.
The missing link between Roxy Music and Duran Duran.
Very bland, each song feels the same as the last. Doesn't feel too original or groundbreaking.
Very clear this one influenced artists like Duran Duran. Doesn’t mean I can’t find it boring and forgettable. Not bad but I would not listen again. The title track was ok I guess.
The whole time I was listening, I was convinced it was Duran Duran. Weird
Fine 80s stuff.
Fucking fire what the hell
Not quiet enough for me
It's Duran Duran, but not as catchy. It's good, but it doesn't stick. Favorite song: Fall in love with me.
Good, atmospheric album, great opening songs, gets a bit monotonous later on, but still a positive impact. New record to listen to from time to time.
Está bien, no llega a ser ofensivo. Como Japan en 1979, yo paso de movidas.
Was this really so uniquely essential that it needed to be in the list? A bit of a nothing burger tbh
Didn't know much about Japan before this came up. I'd heard a Sylvian collaboration with Eno, but that's all. Post-listen reading says they'd started as a glam rock Roxy Music clone, but that seems behind them here, and I don't hear a strong Bryan Ferry likeness that others do. Instead it's impossible not to hear Simon LeBon, and learn that Japan were eclipsed by Duran Duran fairly soon. "Quiet Life" - First track has New Romantics all over it, ahead of the "movement" "Fall in Love with Me" Simon Le Bon meets Gary Numan synths "Despair" slowing things down for a piano/drum machine ballad en Francais! Guitar/e-bow soars overhead, Bowie/Roxy-esque sax joins in. Between Berlin-era Bowie and Ultravox. Pretty, but unexceptional. "In Vogue" Sylvian sings in a closet over an unexciting backing track "Halloween" Either it's a thematic decision or they're reusing lines from previous tracks. Again this could be a Duran Duran basement tape. Vocals still muffled. The bloom, is off this rose by now. I'm almost disinterested in listening to the rest of the LP. "All Tomorrow's Parties" - Velvet Underground cover, vocals still buried in the mix. The synths and guitars do a fun job of updating the sound of the classic track. "Alien" This one starts a little different, at least. A bass and percussion drone before things pep up with the rhythm guitar and keys. Vocals still buried. "The Other Side of Life" Yawn. Just yawn. Cut to the run-out groove, please.
Whilst I bought and loved 80’s synth and New Romantic music Japan never impressed me. I liked a lot one or two hits, Ghosts and Nightporter, but their albums did nothing for me at all. Japan were great musicians and Richard Barbieri in particular has become one of my favourites with his involvement in various prog rock ventures. Having now given Quiet Life a listen my opinion of Japan has not changed. There is one standout track, Despair which I would listen to again. The rest is forgettable having not aged well at all.
Not my style but can see the appeal.
A foretaste of the things to come, even though this band wouldn't get any credit. This see seemingly inspired a thousand eighties bands.
ups no oi
I am not a huge fan of new wave, this is kind of jazzy though. I don't hate it or love it but there are interesting songs here that are entirelysaved by thier instrumentation. 2.5 Repeats:quiet life, in vogue
Boring
A little bit samey, but catchy in places
Oh look, more generic British synth pop. Too bland to hate but nothing to recommend it either.
Missed MTV by a couple of years or I might have heard of them. “Quiet Life” is my choice from this album.
Great band, I also followed the some of the members in the Rain tree crow and
1/5 What a boring forgettable album.
This was fine, I'm not sure if I loved it or would require more listens but it wasn't an immediate favorite.
10/10 perfect album in my eyes even when it gets super cheesy, I’ll still eat this shit up
My initial thought here was that I’ve heard of Japan but not heard them. Then I realised it was X-Japan I was thinking of. I don’t think I’ve heard Japan at all. Who knows though, I’m often wrong as I don’t actually know that much. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Quiet Life This felt like it had a promising start as I did quite enjoy the titular track, but everything following it felt like b-sides with not much going for them. They felt like the music you might have on in the background if you didn’t want any distractions from something as it is so unnotable that you can forget that it is even playing. Really felt like a let down after that opener.
No. 81/1001 Quiet Life 4/5 Fall in Love With Me 3/5 Despair 2/5 In Vogue 2/5 Halloween 2/5 All Tomorrow's Parties 2/5 Alien 3/5 The Other Side Of Life 2/5 Average: 2,5 This was just a slog to get through, since this is not my kind of music and also hadn't a lot to offer creativly.
Started pretty strongly but quickly became quite bland, with a very uninspired Velvet Underground cover thrown in for good measure
Never heard of them before but absolutely loved this.
Meh
I'll be returning to this, really good.
Ja Nice
Great stuff, although I wasn’t familiar with most of it
Good production and mixing, but completely forgettable.
Duran Duran did it better.
There is not enough going on to get more than 3 and there is not enough bad to get less than 3.
Actually kind of enjoyed this.
well... I just listened to this 30 minute ago 0- and cannot remember anything from it. Nt sure why they included remixes of songs. I was a heavy listener of New Wave when it came out - - do not recall ever hearing these tunes except some kicks taken by Duran Duran,
Something tiresome is the amount of well known albums that are linked to on streaming services as extended 'deluxe' versions. I don't wanna hear out takes, b-sides or remixes unless I'm a super fan. This one was particularly bad: 3 versions of a cover version. Just play me the album as the artist intended, especially for a daily taster session like this. I was enjoying this a lot to start with. Tapered off big time though. Quiet Life is a great track.
I was hoping based off of the band name for some Japanese music I had never heard of. Maybe some city pop or something of the sort. But this album was not that. It's a slow, dreary version of European synth pop/glam rock. I was not a fan of it at first but it did grow on me. Not a fan of how bleak it is though.
No pues entiendo where does the recomendación comes from pero no le entendí haha no es mi target la verda, un popular opinión me parecio algo plano y largo… no entendí pues
A lot of synthesiser getting the 80s sound.
Not so terrible but there's no reason for this to be here. I should give it a 1 just for that terrible cover of All Tomorrow's Parties but I'll be nice.
No real standouts on this for me, but man I love this vibe. If I didn't feel like a liar, I'd give it four stars.
Crazy that this ain't even Japan's best album. Right in my sweet spot - wonky, eerie New Wave played by a bunch of fey English lads. One of whom who has a voice that sounds like it's from Duran Duran by way of Jupiter. The title track is one of that era's greatest pop songs. No exaggeration, it's near perfect.
I like it. Makes me think of Duran Duran on sedatives. "Despair" was maybe my fave? But I liked most of it, and by "most," I mean pretty much everything except for the cover of "All Tomorrow's Parties." Which is why it's a good thing that on this version I'm listening to on Apple Music, that song only appears on the record (*checks tracklist*) THREE times. Somebody's got to put me in charge of all album sequencing ever. Sigh.
A cool early new wave/synth album, on the cusp of the era of the 80s new wave and synth explosion. There is something about Japan's Quiet Life that feels ethereal and whimsical with what will become a defining sound for the genre in the years to come. With clear influence from David Bowie, Duran Duran & Spandau Ballet all coming up in the scene creating that English art pop sound. Best: Quiet Life; Life In Tokyo Worst: Other Side of Life
This is getting old at track 5.
Wow! Such a clear influence on Duran Duran. Cool album.
It’s ok. Good cover of a Velvet Underground tune.
A little strange and different. hadn't heard of it!
Liked it, would listen again
A slow burner, accidentally left on repeat and it was better on the second listen
Fine, but not very memorable.
I never knew Japan was the missing link between glam and Duran Duran but when I first put this on that was my first impression. Over tracks 1 & 2 this feeling was hard to shake, but not a bad thing. Despair dips into slower territory. Frankly, it is a momentum killer in the number three song slot (even if it's an okay song). It breaks the Duran Duran association for me and Japan moves into a different place in my musical map. In this Quiet Life songs 1, 2, and 4 are Top Quality while the All Tomorrow's Parties cover is a terrible mistake and everything else is just okay.
New wave synth pop but like depressing.
This was very interesting, I could hear Duran Duran, Roxy music, David Bowie, ultravox all through this album. The New Romantic synth pop era. Love it!
I can see how this would fit into the landscape of influencing bands to come in the synth pop and new wave genre. Some of the instrumentals were ok but the singing was awful and made it a hard listen. Fave track: Quite life
Niet echt mijn ding, bij vlagen goed
Well, now I know where Duran Duran stole their sound from!
"Japan" is another band I've never heard of that sounds like bands I've heard of. It's as though the "1001 Albums..." is in fact a mixture of popular music and AI creations, and our responses to these unknown artists are being documented and studied. Or is "Japan" a real band from a different human timeline, and "1001 Albums..." is really a multidimensional catalogue created by some Brian-Eno-worshipping timespace cult? Is this musical journey the first nudge toward my emergence from simulation, and I will soon understand all that I question about life and reality, and finally be forced to face the actuality of my foolish decisions and quandered time? Will I cry bitterly at my failures as a human and wallow in self contempt while floating in some strange dimension? Or will I have a greater understanding of existence, and deep, knowing compassion for my previous incarnation, and hold that lifetime as a child in cradled arms, though still sufferring that unconquerable longing for those that I loved and will never see again? I what form will I be sent back as next? This album is pretty good. 2.9
It sounded like a knock off Duran Duran album. The first two songs started out promising, but then all of the songs sounded the same and seemed to drag on. I didn't finish listening to the album because I was just over it.
Thoughts before review: Feels like another fairly obscure 80s British new wave band. I don't recognize this album cover or any of the songs names. This probably isn't going to be for me. Review: Yeah not really my thing. Slow, gothy synth pop. Usually on these types of albums I recognize a hit or 2 but not here. The only song I recognize, and also my favorite song on the album, is their cover of Velvet Underground's All Tomorrow's Parties. I'm adding that one to the playlist.
3.5
Har gleda meg til detta. Jævlig bra, sjøl om Tin Drum e hakket bedre
Egentlig ganske bra. Trur da kan bli bedre om eg spele da nåken gonga til
From Quiet Life onwards, Japan hit upon an apex that they wouldn't get down from until their breakup in the early 80s. One of the more underrated synthpop groups of their era, Japan always seemed to be more than the sum of its parts and it shows here, with adaptable ease into slinky yet speedy disco, a French language dirge and a Velvet Underground cover to boot all the while crafting their own inimitable path. Great album.
Simultaneously great and unremarkable. Songs Alien made me sit and listen, while nearly every other one felt like forgettable, albeit well crafted music. To be frank, the bass player made the album, the fretless, odd bass lines kept me interested enough, despite the underwhelming vocals and lyricism.
Honestly, the first few songs were hard to get though.. As someone who grew up in the 90s and 00s music scene.. That synth-pop 80's sound is very hard to get into... There is some sprinkling of glam rock in there too. The vocals and lyrics are huge let down in the first few songs... With the exception of some parts. I was interested in finally hearing this band, as I am a fan of Richard Barbieri's work in Porcupine Tree, and his soundscapes in his solo stuff. His keyboard work in this album is the highlight for sure. The vocals... Might be the low point. It wasn't until track 4, where the album redeemed itself and it turned this from a 2 to a low 3 for me. I'm curious to check more of this band and its evolution because there are some cool ideas for sure throughout the album.
Sloppy, boring poetry losely sung over funky basslines and interesting keyboard medleys. Ultimately it’s the uninspiretional vocals that let me down. Not my cup of tea.
Buen disco en general. Buenas bass lines, buenas progresiones armónicas (armonía compleja) y buena ambientación musical. La voz complementa muy bien con la música. Me gusta este tipo de música por sus matices; son un excelente recurso que crea un ambiente musical muy completo y no muchos generos lo usan. No soy fan del genero pero me gusto el album.
Need to revisit.
High grade 80 electropop. Mick Karn's fretless bass and Sylvians vocals make this very distinctive
Mixture of Roxy Music, Bowie and Duran Duran. Pretty good, almost excellent, but nothing surpasses the title track and sings are too long. High three.
I’m not gonna give it a 1 because it’s not terrible, but wow I do not like this. That version of All Tomorrow’s Parties abandons basically everything I like about the song. Limp-wristed mewling synth pop. Best song: The Other Side of Life(?)
Brani Preferiti: - "Quiet Life" Note: Non è proprio il mio genere di musica, ma l'album si lascia ascoltare senza in maniera liscia, anche se nulla sembra distinguersi particolarmente.
Niet geluisterd staat me gewoon niet aan
Solid
😐
love the title track! guitars reminded me of Jai Paul, and cool electronic elements. Wasn't as struck by the rest of the album. 3/5
Felt like a very long listen..I liked despair, but kinda was boring to me
The extremely rare "New Romantics" album that gets me excited. My distaste for Boy George and everything he represents keeps me perpetually cool to this genre. This, however, is really genuinely cool and unique. Doesn't really fit in any box. Just a bit of darkness, but also very danceable, kind of alluring, irresistible, hard to get out of your head. For a specific type of mood, but I kind of like how I feel listening to this record. It just is very well done. 4/5
Instrumentation was nice, but the vocals were bad.
Duran Duran on downers. Melancholic and angular.
Oh god
A silky smooth, smoky, neon-glowing good time. It's amazing how mood affects your enjoyment of something. I tried listening to this during a long car ride yesterday and thought it was incredibly dull and bad. Today it hit perfectly
Pretty good. It just doesn't really grab me in a special way.
Pretty weird but interesting. 3.5 stars (OK, OK: 3 stars)
A few good songs on this album but overall nothing really stands out and is completely outclassed by later albums in the same genre. The band didn't even stay together much longer after this album was dropped, so I'm not sure they even enjoyed it. Wanted to fall asleep. Sounded like vampire disco music
Didn’t listen to it too much but it’s a fun new wave vibe. I actually liked the sound from what I heard so I’ll have to go back and give it a better listen.
Cool new wave album. Hadn’t heard of it buts it’s pretty good
# 91 : Who? What? Why? - Unremarkable and forgettable early synth pop. It started off ok with Quiet life, but after that it just slowed right down and got boring. I Had to skip a track or two to stay awake… Favourite Track : Quiet Life Listened : 19/10/2023
weird-ass 70s band with two many synths. Putting in the 2-3 range preliminarily.
Maneirinho, consegue passar uma atmosfera bem específica
Not my thing at all, although some of the tracks with Steve nye were a bit better than the rest. Otherwise completely unremarkable.
I love Japan and David Sylvain or at least the idea of them. Everything is so stylized in a way that resonates with me. This record I always bring is going to be some revelatory and one of my favorite things ever and while the high points are certainly VERY high in my eyes, there is enough here that is JUST ok. It’s probably like a 3.5 on my own scale, but I’m gonna bump it up for “The Other Side of Life” alone
Japan is one of the more underrated synth pop bands from the late 70’s and early 80’s, and they should’ve been bigger than they were. ‘Quiet Life’ is full of jazzy arrangements, funky basslines, moody atmospherics, and a lead singer doing his best Bryan Ferry impersonation…what’s not to love?
Pop. Sin más.
Évoque certaines périodes de Bowie. Bonnes ambiances et travail rythmique manifeste.
Good for background but did enjoy, Despair, In Vogue and Halloween.
wasn't sure if i was listening to Depeche Mode or Duran Duran. Good stuff though
I dig the 80s vibes here but ultimately, I found this boring and unengaging. It’s the kind of thing I will have forgotten by next week. I did always want to try listening to Japan though, so I’m glad to cross it off my list now.
A great transitional album marking the shift from the Bowie-esque glam and disco of the 70s to the fully-established new wave of the 80s Favourite tracks: Quiet Life, Fall In Love With Me, In Vogue, Halloween
Proto INXS and Duran Duran. Slow paced. At certain points (namely "In Vogue"), songs just feel repetitive and too long. Favorite track: "Halloween"
The cover of “All Tomorrow’s Parties”is awful. It almost dropped this to 1 star, but the fact that this came out in 1979 instead of the early 80s, meaning it was a trailblazer and ahead of its time, saves a 2 for it. I wish more songs had been like “Other Side of Life”, which is more moody and less generic synth pop.
What a fascinating album by a band I haven't listened to very much at all! Just a great 80's sound, terrific vocals, and all of the condensed sounds of this era-- if that's what you're looking for. Usually, I'm not and when I rarely am, I generally lean on the radio hits that fueled my childhood. That said, a really interesting band and I hope to listen a bit more to their catalogue. Great to discover!
Musically, the sound of Quiet Life is intriguing, theres's some good stuff to pull out of it, but the vocals are off putting if not boring.
Not Japanese. Or from Japan. Or having anything at all to do with Japan. At first. The name may have come from a travel brochure laying on the floor of the tour bus. But regardless of the origins of the name, it may have been key to their success in Asia. Perhaps based solely off the band's name, they had a fan club with 30,000 members in the country of Japan before they even released their first album. They would go on to play in Japan, first visiting Tokyo five years after their debut for three straight sold out shows. After "Quiet Life," it seems lead singer David Sylvian embraced Asia even more, from lyrics and themes to press and collaborations. On "Quiet Life," their biggest album, they didn't grab me right away with the rather boring title track. However, it was followed by a rather interesting stretch from "Fall in Love with Me" to "Halloween." The last few tracks weren't as strong, but they do help further flesh out Japan's new style, which apparently was a departure from their earlier work. Overall, not quite my thing, but it was interesting enough.
Snooze fest. And a horrendous cover of Lou Reed’s All Tomorrows Parties. Kindly delete yourself from musical history.
Great in parts
I'm not really sure about this album. I don't know Japan already as a band. I thought it seemed really fun listening at the beginning and I love a lot of synth pop so was excited to really enjoy this. But I have to say I really don't like the more droney vocals on tracks including Alien. I think actually synth pop can be really hit or miss for me because it seems like it's really challenging to make it actually "pop" or stand out as something super creative and different and not just a mush of sounds. I can hear the band's more glam rock-ish roots in this album which is less my style. I quite like the title track Quiet Life but apart from that the album really dragged for me.
I found this a little confusing to get to grips with, some of the more ambient instrumental ones I liked more than the first party of the album that was heavy quintessential 80s. But I didn't NOT like anything, solid middle of the road for me
This was cool, I enjoyed my time with it
This was okay. Didn't really stand out to me from other new wave bands from this era; not my go-to style, but I enjoyed the listen.
This was nothing much. I think for late 70s new wave though, it's decent. Also, the basslines generally slapped. Overall, that puts it solidly mid. 3/5
Nice enough, but nothing exciting. Synth-heavy music seldom invigorates me. C
A bit like The Clash or maybe Talking Heads? Little bit poppy, very 80s feeling (despite being 79).
Not bad