When the World Sings

Description

When the World Sings is the full-length debut album by the American indie-pop band Fine China, released on Tooth & Nail Records in 2000. The album was recorded by Andy Prickett of The Prayer Chain and The Violet Burning fame and Gene Eugene of Adam Again fame at The Green Room in Huntington Beach, California; with Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric producing. All songs written by guitarist/vocalist Rob Withem.

Fine China features Rob Withem on guitar, keyboards, and vocals, Joshua Block on keyboards, Greg Markov on bass, and Thom Walsh on drums.

My friend Brook and I went to Fine China’s Cornerstone 2000 set just to see if the lead singer was male or female. We fought our way through the crowd, and discovered that, indeed, Rob Withem is male, and his band makes great alternative/electronica music reminiscent of New Order, The Smiths, or maybe even a happier The Cure.

After receiving the band’s first release on a major label, ‘When the World Sings’, I’ve decided that I like their live show more. The album has its share of great songs («We Rock Harder Than You Ever Knew» is wonderfully catchy, as are «Labor Saving Device» and «Give Us Treble», the band’s ode to both 80s music and Bandoppler magazine), but the Joy Electric influence is a bit too strong for my taste (Note: Fine China does not completely ride Ronnie Martin’s coattails, like House of Wires or Goodnight Star, but I’d prefer to see the band further explore their New Order and Smiths influences).

As for the lyrics… well, we can at least say they work well with the music. They come across as disjointed and rather repetitive at times, but much like Jason Martin’s compositions, the groove is more important than coherent statements:

When you’ve got no money and you’ve got no life
And you’ve got no family, how do you like it now?
You thought that it was cool, but it’s over now
I’ve got my labor saving device, you’ve got your labor saving device
(From «Labor Saving Device»)

At other times, though, the band’s message is straightforward, such as album-opener «We Rock Harder Than You Ever Knew», a sly pot-shot at the rapcore scene:

Where is the gentleness and hope of the Lord, hope of the Lord
In all those men who compose violence?
Now we all hope that you will sing with us now, sing with us now
Because we think that you will like that

I’m not sure what kind of reception Fine China will get from Tooth & Nail fans. I’ve already heard from several people who don’t “get” 80s music, bashing both the band and T&N for signing them. For those of you who grew up on New Order, though, ‘When the World Sings’ will be a welcome trip down memory lane. [Michial Farmer, The Phantom Tollbooth, 9/30/2000]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/when-the-world-sings/724489219)

CD tracklist:

01. We Rock Harder Than You Ever Knew
02. Labor Saving Device
03. They Will Love Us For Our Instruments
04. When The World Sings
05. Give Us Treble
06. The Patient
07. For All Centuries
08. Comforting, Gondoliering
09. I Dropped A Bomb On Your Heart
10. Young, And Having Fun