The Chinese Album

by Spacehog

Overview

"In the Meantime" was a huge hit, and Resident Alien went gold, but Spacehog's debut earned them no critical respect. At any other time, the group's glitzy revival of Bowie, Roxy and Mott the Hoople would have earned kudos, but it arrived at the height of Brit-pop, when other, more celebrated (and, frankly, better) bands were dominating the media spotlight. So, when it came time to deliver their second record, Spacehog knew they had to make a big splash, and The Chinese Album delivers on that promise. A faux song cycle layered with details and hooks, The Chinese Album is a big album conceptually, but the band doesn't quite have the gravity required to make it the sweeping achievement they desire. That hardly means that the album isn't enjoyable, however. Royston Langdon's mock-Bowie baritone is damn near irresistible, and when they have the right hooks and melodies, the result is a gaudy guilty pleasure. There are quite a few of those moments on The Chinese Album, but the band is occasionally derailed by underdeveloped hooks and ill-fitting humor (their foray into music-hall stumbles). Still, the record illustrates that Spacehog has fashioned their own identity out of their glam influences, and that makes the album an impressive effort, even if it lacks a knockout track like "In the Meantime." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/09/2022
Label:	Real Gone Music
UPC:	0848064013358
Rank:	57837

Tracks

1. One of These Days
2. Goodbye Violet Race
3. Lucy's Shoe
4. Mungo City
5. Skylark
6. Sand in Your Eyes
7. Captain Freeman
8. 2nd Avenue
9. Almond Kisses
10. Carry On
11. Anonymous
12. Beautiful Girl

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Spacehog   Primary Artist
Christian Langdon   Guest Artist
Christopher L. Hicken   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Michael Stipe   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Johnny Cragg   Drums
Royston Langdon   Bass,Vocals
Richard Steel   Guitar
Valerie Wilson   Vocals
Antony Langdon   Guitar,Vocals
Alanc Lewis   Vocals,Percussion,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Paul Higgins   Engineer,Assistant
Johnny Cragg   Producer
Joe Warda   Engineer,Assistant
David Byrne   Composer
Scott Hull   Mastering
Jerry Harrison   Composer
Royston Langdon   Composer,Producer
Tina Weymouth   Composer
Todd Vos   Engineer,Assistant
Bryce Goggin   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Tod Vos   Assistant Engineer
Brian Eno   Composer
Rob Turner   String Arrangements
Spacehog   Mixing,Producer
Richard Steel   Producer
Chris Frantz   Composer
Jamie Candiloro   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Carl Plaster   Drum Technician
Edward Heyman   Composer
Louis Alter   Composer
Antony Langdon   Composer,Producer
David Voight   Assistant Engineer
Scott Gormley   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Ken Feldman   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
David Voigt   Engineer,Assistant