Labels: It’s Alive
Review by: Andy Malcolm
This is the one! The best, most kick arse DIY, melodic punk lp since the last Dillinger 4 record. Chinese Telephones are all muscular, free wheeling guitars and urgent vocals, kicking up a shitstorm of tunes and goodness. Each track explodes from one to the next, driving onwards with the requisite energy and power. I find it very difficult to find a fault in this LP, in a melodic punk world dominated by No Idea and bands that enjoy Dillinger 4 even more than you do, it can be difficult to find a record that is truly essential. There are hundreds of enjoyable singles released every year, and a good number of LPs too, but rarely does a band hit on their own sound and then deliver on that promise. Chinese Telephones deliver like the postman of the year (2004-2008), each tune just grinds out so much goodness. They even throw in a song written by Jeff from the Marked Men, you can’t say fairer than that!
In a world where every single gritty melodic punk band has a split 7″ with Off With Their Heads and a label falling over themselves to release their material, Chinese Telephones stand out. It’s a difficult world to stand out in, but this album is a marauding powerhouse of goodness. CT are on top of their game and defeating all comers. If you enjoy bull-rushing guitars, catchy tunes and elite melodic punk, then this is the LP for you, goober!