The Chinese Album

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
Studio album by
Spacehog
ReleasedMarch 10, 1998
GenreGlam rock
Length41:40
LabelSire Records
Warner Bros. Records
ProducerBryce Goggin & Spacehog[1]
Spacehog chronology
Resident Alien
(1995)		 The Chinese Album
(1998)		 The Hogyssey
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[4]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[1]
Pitchfork Media5.4/10[5]

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 as European singles.

"Carry On" peaked at No. 43 on the UK Singles Chart.[8]

Critical reception

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

All songs by Royston Langdon except when noted.

  1. "One Of These Days" (David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Brian Eno, Royston Langdon) - 3:35
  2. "Goodbye Violet Race" - 4:00
  3. "Lucy's Shoe" - 4:13
  4. "Mungo City" - 4:34
  5. "Skylark" (Antony Langdon) -1:57
  6. "Sand In Your Eyes" - 3:49
  7. "Captain Freeman" (Antony Langdon) - 2:27
  8. "2nd Avenue" (Royston Langdon, N. Chassler)- 2:58
  9. "Almond Kisses" (featuring Michael Stipe[13]) (Antony Langdon) - 2:44
  10. "Carry On" - 3:33
  11. "Anonymous" (Royston Langdon, Antony Langdon) - 3:37
  12. "Beautiful Girl" - 4:09

Personnel

Samples

References
  1. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1061.
  2. "The Chinese Album - Spacehog | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Volume 7: MUZE. p. 635.CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. "The Chinese Album". EW.com.
  5. DiCrescenzo, Brent. "Spacehog:The Chinese Album". Archived from the original on 8 March 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  6. "Spacehog | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  7. "Spacehog drummer applauds progressive rock precursors". Deseret News. April 17, 1998.
  8. "SPACEHOG | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  9. "Spacehog: The Chinese Album". Music.
  10. "COULDN'T GET TO AUSTIN? TRY SXSW ARTISTS' ALBUMS". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  11. "Picks & Sleepers". www.austinchronicle.com.
  12. The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 926.
  13. Kaufman, Gil. "Spacehog Hit The Ground Running On Upcoming LP". MTV News.
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