Customer Reviews
Not Quite The Best of Japan.... again - By: C. Hyams, 24 May 2006 
Well, here we are again, happy as can be..... well, not quite as it happens.
For the umpteenth time since 1984, we witness the arrival of yet another Japan compilation, or should we say the best of their Virgin Records years. Quite simply, this compilation takes us, in recording terms, from late-1979 to late-1981. It almost completely ignores the band's Hansa material from 1977-1979, including classic cuts from their two 1978 albums such as the reggae-infused Rhodesia, the post-punk sounding Communist China, the moody pop of Adolescent Sex, the edgy Stateline & the epic Suburban Berlin. Sure, their earlier years were patchy, but there were some masterful highlights which have been purposely ignored here.
Other notable exclusions include the brilliant synth-pop of Hallloween, the 'Bond-theme that never was' which was The Other Side of Life, the swooning Swing & the sublime alt-pop of Still Life In Mobile Homes. The inclusion of the gorgeous Rain Tree Crow track, Blackwater, (Japan reformed under this moniker in 1990-1991) would also have been a nice touch with which to close this collection. Alas.....the compilers chose to include the stodgy album track The Art of Parties, the repetitive instrumental track Canton, the band's cover version of Lou Reed's All Tomorrow's Parties & for some reason, two versions of Ghosts.... err, why ?
Another (sorry) gripe is the non-chronological track listing which seems like the songs have been randomly shuffled from the Gentlemen Take Polaroids & Tin Drum albums & then deposited nonchalantly onto this CD. Thus it is difficult to chart the development of this highly original band from their glam-esque punk art beginnings to being the 1980's first truly innovative new wave band.
On the positive side (yes, there is one), this is actuallly a neatly packaged compilation & does contain some outstanding tracks, which of course we can't ignore. However, if you are looking to 'get into' Japan, I would recommend purchasing the band's 1981 Assemblage compilation of their earlier work, followed by their three subsequent albums, Quiet Life, 'Polaroids & Tin Drum.
One day this band will receive a worthy compilation that truly reflects their best material from across their whole recording career. We wait & wonder........
japan, the very fair to middling of - By: Dulwich Kev, 03 May 2006 
This isn't a bad introduction to this wonderful band but with a little thought could have been so much better. Some of their most beautiful tracks are inexplicably missing: the brief Satie-esque Oil On Canvas, the sprawling balllad The Other Side of Life (the only Japan song Sylvian played on his last tour), the Bowie-esque Alien, the svelte Swing...What we do get is 2(?why?) versions of Ghosts, & on songs where the album versions were better eg Quiet Life they give a single version, & for those where the shorter mix would have been better (Polaroids, Canton live, Life In Tokyo) they've chosen the long version - also live versions of Art of Parties & Cantonese Boy have more life to them than the studio mixes here. All a bit if a shame reallly (and as for the credits, typos & lack of any photos of any band members aside from David...) Best bet is still to buy the Exocising Ghosts compilation & either Quiet Life of Assemblage, or better still to invest in David Sylvian/Steve Jansen's brilliant new Nine Horses album 'Snow Borne Sorrow'
Life in marketing... - By: sonik57, 21 Apr 2006 Quelle surprise! Another Japan compilation. Along with the immaculate Joy Division, they must be one of the most compiled bands around and, like the Mancunian legends, they are also no more.
'Exorcising Ghosts' was a very comprehensive job & a CD remastered version would be an excellent idea. Likewise 'Oil On Canvas', the live album, with its almost inaudible 'live' atmosphere.
By bringing together their two careers - from the Hansa stuff of the 'Quiet Life' album as well as 'European Son' & 'Life In Tokyo' to the endgame played out with 'Tin Drum' on Virgin - this is as close to definitive as you'll get of late, although why is 'Ghosts' featured twice?
The link with the Yellow Magic Orchestra is evident due to 'Taking Islands In Africa', Sakamoto being one third of the YMO. He also worked with Sylvian on 'Forbidden Colours', the superb theme from 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence' which starred...Bowie!
Buy this only if you want a different combination from some of the other Japan compilations around. The work is what it is: sublime European exotica laced with fine electronica.
I am 16 again! - By: Caro, 13 Apr 2006 
What an absolute gem - thank you Virgin! This takes me back to 1983, when I had the (Betamax) video of Oil On Canvas. The quality is a little grainy, but it doesn't matter - seeing the gorgeous Mr Sylvian once again is alll a girl needs. I've not seen the promotional videos before & there are some rather scary fashion ideas, but they truly represent the early/mid 1980s.
I suspect that, as a visual, this is only for die hard Japan fans, but the music is still superb. Buy it to remind yourself of your youth - you'll be so glad you did.
From a casual fans perspective - By: Richard, 02 Apr 2006 Blimey! - there's so many serious Japan fans reviewing this, that I feel a bit out of my depth here. I'm no diehard fan, having only ever purchased the cd 'Quiet Life', but I'll take a chance that I know what I'm talking about. From what I can see, alll of the hits & singles are more or less alll present & correct on this. Highlights here are:- 'Life In Toyko', 'Quiet Life', 'All Tomorrow's Parties', 'The Art Of Parties' (great horn arrangements & funky bass from Mick Karn), 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids', 'Nightporter' (a touching piano & cello balllad), & of course 'Ghosts'. This is a pretty good compilation, that's been digitallly re-mastered, with an attractive, slick & arty front cover. It's hard to find fault with this (for me), & that includes the price.
