GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS

If you consider that the opening number is usually one of the best of an album, the worse can be expected with "Gentlemen Take Polaroids".

Since there were little reviews for this album, I read the few ones available. So, basically, there are little to add. The band dig further and further in these electro-beat sounds and plays some sub-par (but premonitory) new romantic music.

Still, some of the most representative bands of the genre will release their debut album a year later than this "Polaroid" stuff. But IMO, in their EARLY life "Classix Nouveau", Duran Duran" or even "Spandau Ballet" released more interesting music than this poor "Japan" album.

I could start a poll on the forum to define which is the worse song from this album. My guess is that "Swing" has all its chances to win the trophy, but "Ain't That Peculiar" is also close to the golden medal.

One of the few bearable track is "Burning Bridges". But it is not a very original song. Fully borrowed to "Subterraneans" from "Bowie" on his great album "Low" released in 1977 while the next two ("My New Career " and "Methods of Dance" have a Roxy flavour (second era, their least interesting one IMO). The same applies to the last two songs from this album. But don't expect great tracks like "Same Old Scene". The ones featured on this album are mellowish, uninspired and dull.

This is NOT a good album. Three out of ten, downgraded to one star since it would be very difficult to raise it to two stars.

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