Search - Japan :: Exorcising Ghosts: Best of

Wish they could re-release the double CD version!!

Robin J. Hodson | Baltimore, MD United States | 09/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those US people, this CD was actually originally a double vinyl album in Europe, and sadly this cropped and edited collection, though excellent, misses some really cool stuff like "Sons of Pioneers". If you have to buy one Japan CD, this is it: but really, get all the studio albums!! Oh, and buy all the David Sylvian stuff, especially Brilliant Trees and Gone to Earth (also sadly a double album that became a single, cropped CD)."

Sylvian's Picks

Thomas Horan | Chapel Hill, NC | 08/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The songs on this collection were selected by David Sylvian himself. It's a nice glimpse into the Japan material he's most proud of rather than just a tacky "hits" compilation. The real gem here is "Life Without Buildings," a Tin Drum era B-side which is, to my knowledge, available nowhere else. Also included is a punchier, single version of "The Art of Parties."An augmented, Japanese-import edition of this album is (or was) supposedly available, but there's enough here to satisfy."

Almost 5 Star

CH | Malaysia | 08/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Shame on EMI. Such a large and cash-rich record company that would stinge a few tracks off this original Double LP that would have made this a Five-Star collection. Shame indeed.



Not having bothered to dig out my LPs, I bought this as Japan is one of the bands worth investing in AGAIN after having paid for the original LPs (and record companies who cry about people ripping and exchanging MP3s for free should think about this).



The pleasure of hearing all these great tracks again made me forget the missing songs. But one fine day long after the return policy had expired, I discovered the ommission and am sorely disappointed.



For example, you'd be missing Swing, a remarkable and one infectious number, a marvel of Japan's subtlety. The minimalist saxophone riff, the imaginative Steve Jansen drumming, the punctuated Sylvian vocals and the uniquely oriental synths and Mick Karn's compelling bass slides makes this an essential part of the album.



Taking Islands in Africa is another rarity that ought to have stayed. Now considering David Sylvian managed to fit 70 minutes of music into his Dead Bees In A Cake, the omissions by EMI are by no means technical. It is just pure shameful, just as how they ommitted the last and best instrumental track Silver Moon Over Sleeping Steeples from Sylvian's Gone To Earth. Just ONE more song... how hard could that be?



Sheesh. Considering Japan is probably not getting royalties from this CD you might as well get the original albums as suggested.

"