Top tracks — play these first
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Automatic Gun — This track opens the album with a striking mix of paranoia and melodic hooks, setting the tone for the band's exploration of complex themes.
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.... Rhodesia — With its reflective lyrics and layered instrumentation, this song showcases Japan's ability to merge political commentary with an ethereal soundscape.
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Love Is Infectious — The upbeat tempo and catchy chorus exemplify the band's knack for blending pop sensibilities with an avant-garde approach, making it a standout on the album.
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Obscure Alternatives — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of alienation and introspection through its haunting melody and rich textures.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing with emotional peaks
- introspective moments for quiet reflection
- haunting atmosphere for late nights
- exploratory journey through varied emotions
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer straightforward, upbeat tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Obscure Alternatives is Japan's second studio album, released in 1978, following their debut, Adolescent Sex. At this point, the band was refining their sound, moving towards more experimental new wave influences while establishing their distinct aesthetic that would define their later work.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gary Numan· Duran Duran· Talk Talk
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Automatic Gun 4:06
- 2 .... Rhodesia 6:48
- 3 Love Is Infectious 4:10
- 4 Sometimes I Feel So Low 3:46
- 5 Obscure Alternatives 6:50
- 6 Deviation 3:23
- 7 Suburban Berlin 4:59
- 8 The Tenant 7:14
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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