Chinese Food

Chinese Food is a Toronto-based foursome whose sound is like an alt rock smorgasbord. Self-described as “new synth-based creativity while maintaining a peculiar old-fashioned flavor,” Chinese Food mixes surf-rock guitar riffs with ‘50s-style tambourine beats, indie-rock synths and alt country pedal steels on their debut album, When The Future Caught On Fire.

Tim Beresford leads with very clear and steady vocals on the album’s opener, “Red Head Heart,” a light and poppy tune about unrequited love. Miles Peart, Eric Schwindt, and Doug Wilson round out the band on songs “Starman at the Drive-In,” an energetic dance beat with a throwback to the ‘50s, “Test Pilot,” a steady, commercially-friendly alt rock single, and “Party at the Kennedy’s,” a synth-based song describable as “Weezer lite.”

Where Chinese Food really throws a curve ball into their album is on the heavy alt country track, “As Soon as it Appears.” Beresford’s vocals suddenly and almost uncannily transform into Ryan Adams’, and a pedal steel is added to the acoustic guitar and piano accompaniment.

Chinese Food’s music is good. It’s simple, clean and well-rehearsed, perhaps a bit predictable, but generally good. Their album is a strong debut, albeit slightly unfocused, but if you’re in the mood for a little bit of everything, you’ll get it. They will be touring their album around the Toronto area for the next month. For a complete list of tour dates, check out the band’s MySpace page here.