http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.2731&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rssJapan were everything Duran Duran wanted to be. Looking like Nick Rhodes' five androgynous elder brothers, boasting cheekbones to spare and pseudonyms to match, Japan (David Sylvian, vocals; Mick Karn, bass; Richard Barbieri, keyboards; Rob Dean, guitar; Steve Jansen, drums) had only one weak suit: timing. Formed in 1974 but arriving in a puff of foundation in 1978 just as punk was obsessing over street credibility, their Roxy Music-inspired debut, <I>Adolescent Sex</I>, vanished without trace, as did follow up <I>Obscure Alternatives</I>. It took the advent of New Romanticism for third album <I>Quiet Life</I> to hit a nerve with both press and public. Following the success of an extraordinary cover of Smokey Robinson's "I Second That Emotion," you could almost hear the collective groan going up through the country's sixth forms as the band announced they were to split following sublime Top 5 U.K. hit "Ghosts" and landmark album <I>Tin Drum</I>. The four core members reformed in 1990 as Rain Tree Crow, but by then the time for their exotic combination of glamor-puss pop and Middle Eastern rhythms had passed. Still highly respected, David Sylvian has since worked with everyone from Robert Fripp to Ryuchi Sakamoto, while Japan's foppish influence can be seen in everyone from Fischerspooner to Franz Ferdinand. - Paul MoodyNew Romanticen720Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:58:57 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.2731&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss Japan were everything Duran Duran wanted to be. Looking like Nick Rhodes' five androgynous elder brothers, boasting cheekbones to spare and pseudonyms to match, Japan (David Sylvian, vocals; Mick Karn, bass; Richard Barbieri, keyboards; Rob Dean, guitar; Steve Jansen, drums) had only one weak suit: timing. Formed in 1974 but arriving in a puff of foundation in 1978 just as punk was obsessing over street credibility, their Roxy Music-inspired debut, <I>Adolescent Sex</I>, vanished without trace, as did follow up <I>Obscure Alternatives</I>. It took the advent of New Romanticism for third album <I>Quiet Life</I> to hit a nerve with both press and public. Following the success of an extraordinary cover of Smokey Robinson's "I Second That Emotion," you could almost hear the collective groan going up through the country's sixth forms as the band announced they were to split following sublime Top 5 U.K. hit "Ghosts" and landmark album <I>Tin Drum</I>. The four core members reformed in 1990 as Rain Tree Crow, but by then the time for their exotic combination of glamor-puss pop and Middle Eastern rhythms had passed. Still highly respected, David Sylvian has since worked with everyone from Robert Fripp to Ryuchi Sakamoto, while Japan's foppish influence can be seen in everyone from Fischerspooner to Franz Ferdinand. - Paul Moody http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309825&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:38:06 -0800 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309825 tra.23309825 Japan art.2731 0.0 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true Gentlemen Take Polaroids (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309825 429000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309825&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309825&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309826&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 4 Apr 2009 13:10:59 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309826 tra.23309826 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true Swing (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309826 386000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309826&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309826&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309833&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 4 Apr 2009 13:11:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309833 tra.23309833 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true The Experience Of Swimming (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309833 244000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309833&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309833&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309828&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Tue, 6 Oct 2009 09:59:21 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309828 tra.23309828 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true My New Career (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309828 234000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309828&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309828&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309831&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Tue, 6 Oct 2009 09:59:55 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309831 tra.23309831 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true Nightporter (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309831 419000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309831&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309831&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309830&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 4 Apr 2009 13:11:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309830 tra.23309830 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true Ain't That Peculiar (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309830 281000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309830&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309830&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309827&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 4 Apr 2009 13:10:59 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309827 tra.23309827 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true Burning Bridges (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309827 322000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309827&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309827&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309834&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:05:38 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309834 tra.23309834 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true The Width Of A Room (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309834 194000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309834&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309834&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309835&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:38:04 -0800 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309835 tra.23309835 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true Taking Islands In Africa (Steve Nye Remix) (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309835 297000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309835&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309835&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309832&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 4 Apr 2009 13:11:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309832 tra.23309832 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.23187088 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/9/6/6/1406697_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true Taking Islands In Africa (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309832 320000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309832&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309832&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.27103820&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:12:08 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 27103820 tra.27103820 Japan art.2731 0.99 Obscure Alternatives alb.27100677 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/4/9/7/1617948_170x170.jpg 2009-03-31 00:00:00.0 null true Obscure Alternatives (Live in Tokyo) tra.27103820 363000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.27103820&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.27103820&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2523590&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 1 Jan 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 2523590 tra.2523590 Japan art.2731 0.99 Oil on Canvas alb.90388 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/6/6/4/1134660_170x170.jpg 2007-11-06 00:00:00.0 1983-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Ghosts - (live) tra.2523590 383000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2523590&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2523590&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1974831&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Thu, 1 Jan 1981 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 1974831 tra.1974831 Japan art.2731 0.99 Tin Drum alb.111635 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/7/6/4/1134678_170x170.jpg 2007-11-06 00:00:00.0 1981-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Still Life In Mobile Homes tra.1974831 334000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1974831&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1974831&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24030933&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:27:28 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 24030933 tra.24030933 Japan art.2731 0.99 This Is... 1981 alb.24024317 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/6/3/6/1456365_170x170.jpg 2008-11-24 00:00:00.0 null true Visions Of China tra.24030933 219000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24030933&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24030933&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22499067&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:48:59 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 22499067 tra.22499067 Japan art.2731 0.99 Exorcising Ghosts alb.22280629 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/0/9/1379040_170x170.jpg 2008-08-19 00:00:00.0 null true Life Without Buildings tra.22499067 394000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22499067&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22499067&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.27411111&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Wed, 1 Jan 1997 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 27411111 tra.27411111 Japan art.2731 0.0 In Vogue alb.27386718 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/0/0/8/1618008_170x170.jpg 2009-03-31 00:00:00.0 1997-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Suburban Berlin tra.27411111 299000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.27411111&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.27411111&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2037983&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 1 Dec 1979 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 2037983 tra.2037983 Japan art.2731 0.0 Quiet Life alb.217291 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/6/2/7/387262_170x170.jpg 2002-01-01 00:00:00.0 1979-12-01 00:00:00.0 false Halloween tra.2037983 265000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2037983&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2037983&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1835342&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Mon, 15 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 1835342 tra.1835342 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.131483 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/6/6/4/1134661_170x170.jpg 2007-11-06 00:00:00.0 2003-09-15 00:00:00.0 true My New Career tra.1835342 232000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1835342&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1835342&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1835340&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Mon, 15 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 1835340 tra.1835340 Japan art.2731 0.99 Gentlemen Take Polaroids alb.131483 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/6/6/4/1134661_170x170.jpg 2007-11-06 00:00:00.0 2003-09-15 00:00:00.0 true Swing tra.1835340 386000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1835340&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1835340&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309838&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:11:37 -0800 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309838 tra.23309838 Japan art.2731 0.99 Tin Drum alb.23187089 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/9/6/6/1406698_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true Ghosts (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309838 276000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309838&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309838&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1974828&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Thu, 1 Jan 1981 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 1974828 tra.1974828 Japan art.2731 0.99 Tin Drum alb.111635 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/7/6/4/1134678_170x170.jpg 2007-11-06 00:00:00.0 1981-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Talking Drum tra.1974828 216000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1974828&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1974828&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309841&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 4 Apr 2009 13:11:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309841 tra.23309841 Japan art.2731 0.99 Tin Drum alb.23187089 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/9/6/6/1406698_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true Visions of China (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309841 219000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309841&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309841&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309836&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 4 Apr 2009 13:11:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 23309836 tra.23309836 Japan art.2731 0.99 Tin Drum alb.23187089 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/9/6/6/1406698_170x170.jpg 2008-09-30 00:00:00.0 null true The Art Of Parties (2003 Digital Remaster) tra.23309836 252000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309836&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23309836&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22499068&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:48:59 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 22499068 tra.22499068 Japan art.2731 0.99 Exorcising Ghosts alb.22280629 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/0/9/1379040_170x170.jpg 2008-08-19 00:00:00.0 null true Quiet Life (12'' Mix) tra.22499068 291000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22499068&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22499068&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22499066&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Romantic Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:48:59 -0700 Top Tracks by Japan on Rhapsody Online 22499066 tra.22499066 Japan art.2731 0.99 Exorcising Ghosts alb.22280629 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/0/9/1379040_170x170.jpg 2008-08-19 00:00:00.0 null true Nightporter tra.22499066 408000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22499066&variant=play&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22499066&variant=data&rws=%2Fjapan%2Ftop-tracks.rss