Fine China
Phoenix, Arizona9 reviews across 3 releases
Fine China is an indie pop band from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 1997 around singer and guitarist Rob Withem. Its early recordings paired shoegaze distortion with a small-scale, guitar-led approach, but the four-song Rialto Bridge showed a change toward poppier electronica: dance beats and bright keyboards sat beneath sad guitars and Withem's modest, slightly whispering vocals. By When the World Sings in 2000, the band had settled into synth-pop shaped by New Order and The Smiths, with prominent bass lines, short melodic songs, and arrangements that moved from dance-influenced tracks to mournful ones. Ronnie Martin's production made the electronic influence especially audible. You Make Me Hate Music shifted the balance again. Jason Martin's production accompanied a more guitar-driven sound, using acoustic strumming or fuzzy electric guitar while retaining keyboards, loops, and a strong pop structure.
Danny McWatters left in 1999, and Fine China replaced him with drummer Thom Walsh. Joshua Block had joined on keyboards the previous year, expanding the live group beyond its original three-piece setup. After You Make Me Hate Music, Tooth & Nail released Fine China from its contract, and the band went on a break. In 2005, it recorded The Jaws of Life for Phoenix label Common Wall Media; a performance at the 2006 New Times Best Of festival was followed by an indefinite hiatus. The 2015 vinyl reissue of that album led to a reunion show, and Fine China recorded Not Thrilled for Velvet Blue Music in 2018, twenty years after its first recordings for the label. The band has continued with occasional performances.
3 releases reviewed
Rialto Bridge
When the World Sings
You Make Me Hate Music