The Chinese Album

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The Chinese Album
The-chinese-album-album-cover.jpg
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
AllMusic4/5 stars[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music3/5 stars[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[4]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide3.5/5 stars[1]
Pitchfork Media5.4/10[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 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[]

  • "One of These Days" contains a sample of "Seen and Not Seen" by Talking Heads from their 1980 album Remain in Light.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c 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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