The second (1998) release from the British ex-pat group Spacehog, The Chinese Album was initially conceived as the soundtrack for a movie called Mungo City; the movie never got made, but thankfully the album retained the glam/power pop song by the same name (which, in a just universe, would have been a big hit)! This record never really got its due, partly because the band took three years to follow up on the success of their debut album Resident Alien and its hit "In the Meantime."

But The Chinese Album, in many ways, is a much more fully-realized work than its predecessor; instead of merely playing at being a glam-rock band, Spacehog here crafts a fully-realized sound and aesthetic, with nods to such artists as Queen, Badfinger, The Kinks, and even R.E.M. (Michael Stipe makes an appearance on the mellow "Almond Kisses"). And the songwriting (e.g. "Lucy's Shoe") is consistently strong, making The Chinese Album one of the late '90s' outstanding lost records.

Colored vinyl LP with 4-page full-sized, full-color insert.

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