Artist: The Len Price 3
Album: Chinese Burn
UK garage rock band, The Len Price 3, is re-releasing their 2007 album, Chinese Burn, on April 7th 2023. The album will be available for streaming anywhere you get your music, as well as available for purchase on vinyl.
The re-release will include four songs not previously included on the digital/CD. One of these songs, “Break Your Neck”, is available for streaming and vinyl pre-orders today.
The Len Price 3 comprises Glenn Page on guitar and vocals, Steve Huggins on bass, and Neil Fromow on drums.
Front man Glenn Page says, “”Break Your Neck” is a song about an infamous 17th-century executioner. It was recorded during the sessions for the ‘Pictures’ album. We left it off the record because it seemed like an odd one out at the time. We had fun recording it and I think we played it live a few times. It’s got a touch of the gothic about it – maybe a Cramps vibe. I was also channeling Thee Mighty Caesars.”
Of the re-release, Page says, “We’ve been really excited about ‘Chinese Burn’ coming out on vinyl for the first time. A lot of people that come to our shows are vinyl heads – me and Neil are too! It’s great to finally have all our albums in this format and we’re really grateful to Wicked Cool for making it happen.”
Chinese Burn consists of fifteen tracks: Christian in The Desert; Chinese Burn; Lai-Ha Lam; Viva Viva; The Last Hotel; Swine Fever; Amsterdam; Comanche!; Chatham Town Spawns Devils; Hard Times Forever; Shirley Crabtree; She’s Lost Control; Medway Eye; Heavy Atmosphere; and Fire In My Heart.
The Len Price 3 have a classic garage rock sound—think The Strokes or The White Stripes. “The Last Hotel” has more of a folk-rock feel, while “Break Your Neck” reminds me of The Sex Pistols.
Almost all of the songs on the album clock in between 1:30 and 2 minutes, which, in my opinion, is just way too short. While I did enjoy most of the songs, they all felt half-finished. I wish the band had spent more time writing and developing fewer songs instead of trying to put out as many songs as possible—quality over quantity. For instance, “Break Your Neck” spends most of its two minute running time repeating the phrase “I’m gonna break your neck” over and over again.
Additionally, the title Chinese Burn simply did not age well. The term “Chinese burn” (also known as “Indian burn”) refers to someone grabbing another person’s wrist with both hands and twisting in opposite directions, causing a burn on the skin. Obviously I can’t speak for Chinese or Aboriginal people as I am neither, but I personally don’t use phrases that refer to other races or cultures in a potentially derogatory or offensive way. I would wager that The Lens Price 3 did not do any research on the term “Chinese burn” to see if it was appropriate to use as their album title.
Overall, I wasn’t a fan of Chinese Burn. But you can check out The Len Price 3 for yourself on Facebook and Twitter.
