Japan - Tin Drum
#585
By Lori Alley
Japan
Tin Drum
Genre: New Wave/Post Punk
Allen’s Rating: 3 out of 5
Lori’s Rating: 3 out of 5
Highlights:
Still Life in Mobile Homes
Look, I’m the old lady in the Subaru parked next to you at the grocery store playing “Pay
To Cum” on my Spotify. So I’m not exactly conservative in my musical tastes. But this is so
unpleasant, as an “experimental” album that it sounds like a seizure decided to make a record.
Is it “good”? Yes, the musicianship is VERY good. It is a swing and a miss? Yes.
According to Wiki, this is the final studio album for Japan, who met (in a Spinal Tap-ian
way, picture Nigel playing “All The Way Home”) at Catford Boys School in England, playing 2
chord songs to start their career. Eventually they did indeed become “Big in Japan” but really
struggled to make a real splash in England or the US. The only slight breakout hit was “Ghosts”
which I didn’t find appealing. Only recently has this album been lauded for its brilliance in some
circles, but equally criticized in others. I’m a HUUUUUGE Eno fan (lots of that influence here)
but something’s just wrong. I think if it was a purely instrumental album it would be amazing.
But there’s just TOO MUCH overlay, and it’s too referential on too many levels. You know, like if
you tried to make a Japanese version of Bangers and Mash. Musically, it’s overworked,
overthought, overdressed.
The lead singer, David Sylvian just gets in the way. His voice is not interesting and some
writers have criticized his Bryan Ferry impression. This is produced by Steve Nye who also
produced some tracks on one of my faves - XTC’s Mummer among others- and you can hear
some of that influence here. The musicianship is not the problem for me, it’s the vocals, the
lyrics and the way the songs are put together. It’s like that ongoing 20 year argument I’ve had
with a friend; you DO NOT MIX PASTA SHAPES in the same dish goddamnit!!!!! It’s too muddy
and you can’t ever settle on the groove.
Or maybe it’s like if Ted Bundy had simultaneously used poison. It’s just overkill. You’d
have to think, “come on guy, pick a lane and stay in it”! It’s not that they aren’t good at what
they’re doing, it’s just too many things that they are doing at once.
It may be that reading and researching this band’s history is more satisfying than
listening to them. I actually found an actual RESEARCH article online about this album. Like a
full-on academic research review (also interesting). You know, like how many English bands
were sort of Duran-Duran/Eno/Bowie/glam rock etc but then also had a Japanese/Asian
influence? Not many I guess. So there’s that.
Fun facts: They had another album in 1991, for example under the new name “Rain,
Tree, Crow.” They also won a BBC Radio 6 award many years later for Tin Drum as “Best
Album.” So many people disagree with me, some agree. One can at least say that this album
has spawned some true discussion about it’s merits.
Disclaimer: In the last 9 months I’ve done nothing but work, run, and bingewatch the
birdlike antics of young hopefuls for 8 seasons of American’s Next Top Model so perhaps I’m no
arbiter of taste. I’ll be interested in the arguments.
https://open.spotify.com/album/71R4tl3qYgZVvdlwE7Fxs6?si=OMkpWpvZRVCSFREKlpUfAg
