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 .