How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Average
Value for Money
Advantages:
Still more to come
Disadvantages:
Not there yet
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
In the first part of their career, Japan had struggled to find a fitting style and sound. Their first album, Adolescent Sex, was a mistake and rushed out by an impatient record company before the band were ready.
However, after a short, stadium filling tour of Japan, Ariola herded them back into the studio, the result being the 1979 album Obscure Alternatives. The group had seen Talking Heads while they were away on tour and had been impressed with the intelligence of both the group’s music and their audience. It was an example they wanted to follow, and at the same time Japan were becoming attracted to traditional Eastern music.
Obscure Alternatives exposed those interests for the first time, and to good effect. An air of Germanic austerity in some of Sylvian’s songs, such as Suburban Berlin and Deviations, provided a further interesting counterpoint.
Although the album was a significant step forward from Adolescent Sex, the group were less than enchanted with their producers and engineers and sought still to sort out their style properly.
There was clearly major potential here, but it was still not yet being realised.
More details
How does it rate alongside the competition
Average
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Satisfactory
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
![Obscure Alternatives [Remastered] [Digipak] [ECD] - Japan](http://images.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/normal/344/product-44344.jpg)
![Overall user rating Obscure Alternatives [Remastered] [Digipak] [ECD] - Japan](http://images.ciao.com/iuk/images/stars/2003/stars30.gif)
![Obscure Alternatives [Remastered] [Digipak] [ECD] - Japan - rated by dave27](http://images.ciao.com/iuk/images/stars/2003/stars_30.gif)
![Radio:ACTIVE (+DVD) [Digipak] - McFly](http://images.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/311/One_For_The_Radio_McFly__6919311.jpg)
![Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (Special Edition) [Digipak] [ECD] - Coldplay](http://images.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/682/Viva_La_Vida_Or_Death_And_All_His_Friends_Special_Edition_ECD_Coldplay__6892682.jpg)
![Greatest Hits [Digipak] [PA] - Guns N' Roses](http://images.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/252/Greatest_Hits_Digipak_PA_Guns_N_Roses__5637252.jpg)
