''Adolescent Sex'' is the debut album by the English band Japan (band), Japan, released in April 1978 by record label Hansa Records, Hansa. To avoid controversy over the title, the album was renamed simply as ''Japan'' in some countries.

Content

According to AllMusic, ''Adolescent Sex'' "snarls with leftover Punk music, punk intent, a few glam rock riffs, and a wealth of Electronic music, electronics that not only reach back to the band's youth, but also predate much of what would explode out of the next wave of British underground."

Release

Though not a commercial success in their native UK, the album was better received abroad, particularly in Japan itself, where it peaked at No. 20, and in the Netherlands where the single "Adolescent Sex (song), Adolescent Sex" reached number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1979. The Japanese release contained several mistranslations of song titles. "Transmission" became "Invitation to Fascination", "Suburban Love" became "Carousel of Love", and "Television" became "Temptation Screen". The album was remastered and re-released as a digipak CD in April 2004, with four videos as bonus material.

Reception and aftermath

''Trouser Press'' wrote that the album "introduces Japan in all its guitar-rock misery, playing such David Bowie, Bowie-influenced tripe as 'Wish You Were Black' with less style than a sense of urgency". AllMusic retrospectively gave the album a 4.5 out of 5 grade, writing: "A more exciting album than just about anything else they'd ever record, Japan were young, hungry, and more than a little rough around the edges." Within a couple of years of its release, the band publicly denounced the album. David Sylvian also said in 1982:

Track listing

Personnel

; Japan * David Sylvian – lead vocals, rhythm guitar * Rob Dean – lead guitar, backing vocals * Richard Barbieri – keyboards, backing vocals * Mick Karn – bass, backing vocals * Steve Jansen – drums, backing vocals, percussion ; Additional personnel * Ray Singer (record producer), Ray Singer – Record producer, production, additional backing vocals * Pete Silver – Audio engineering, engineering * Dick Whitbread – Cover art, cover design and artwork * Graham Hughes – cover photo

Charts

Album

Singles

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1978 debut albums Japan (band) albums Hansa Records albums