The Chinese Album
| The Chinese Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 10, 1998 | |||
| Genre | Glam rock | |||
| Length | 41:40 | |||
| Label | Sire Records Warner Bros. Records | |||
| Producer | Bryce Goggin & Spacehog[1] | |||
| Spacehog chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from The Chinese Album | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[4] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |  [1] |
| Pitchfork Media | 5.4/10[5] |
The Chinese Album is the second album from the expatriate British alternative rock band Spacehog.[6][7] It was released on Sire Records in 1998.[1]
The Chinese Album was considered for a soundtrack and basis of a film called Mungo City (later called The Chinese Movie). It was to be about a band that moves to Hong Kong for success after being rejected by a New York record company. Unsatisfied with the final script, Spacehog dismissed any plans for shooting.
Spacehog wrote and recorded 20 songs for The Chinese Album. Among these are the B-sides "Final Frontier", "Isle of Manhattan" and "Cryogenic Lover", which were released on European singles.
"Carry On" peaked at No. 43 on the UK Singles Chart.[8]
Critical reception
[edit]The A.V. Club wrote that "for the most part, The Chinese Album sounds like Aladdin Sane or Roxy Music's early material, stripped of any sense of commitment or adventure."[9] The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "one can only admire a group so unrepentantly unfashionable, especially when it stirs its influences together with such flair and flamboyance."[10] The Austin Chronicle called the album "a pretty, precious confection of pop ditties."[11] The Rough Guide to Rock deemed it "a beautifully crafted masterpiece, intelligent, edgy and eclectic."[12]
Track listing
[edit]All songs by Royston Langdon except when noted.
- "One Of These Days" (David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Brian Eno, Royston Langdon) - 3:35
- "Goodbye Violet Race" - 4:00
- "Lucy's Shoe" - 4:13
- "Mungo City" - 4:34
- "Skylark" (Antony Langdon) - 1:57
- "Sand In Your Eyes" - 3:49
- "Captain Freeman" (Antony Langdon) - 2:27
- "2nd Avenue" (Royston Langdon, N. Chassler) - 2:58
- "Almond Kisses" (featuring Michael Stipe[13]) (Antony Langdon) - 2:44
- "Carry On" - 3:33
- "Anonymous" (Royston Langdon, Antony Langdon) - 3:37
- "Beautiful Girl" - 4:09
Personnel
[edit]- Royston Langdon - bass guitar and vocals
- Antony Langdon - guitar and vocals
- Jonny Cragg - drums
- Richard Steel - lead guitar
Samples
[edit]- "One of These Days" contains a sample of "Seen and Not Seen" by Talking Heads from their 1980 album Remain in Light.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1061.
- ^ "The Chinese Album - Spacehog | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 635.
- ^ "The Chinese Album". EW.com.
- ^ DiCrescenzo, Brent. "Spacehog:The Chinese Album". Archived from the original on 8 March 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ^ "Spacehog | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "Spacehog drummer applauds progressive rock precursors". Deseret News. 17 April 1998.
- ^ "SPACEHOG | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
- ^ "Spacehog: The Chinese Album". Music.
- ^ "COULDN'T GET TO AUSTIN? TRY SXSW ARTISTS' ALBUMS". OrlandoSentinel.com.
- ^ "Picks & Sleepers". www.austinchronicle.com.
- ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 926.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Spacehog Hit The Ground Running On Upcoming LP". MTV News. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021.
