What a year this has been for December releases! The year is never truly over until it's over, right? Vienna & Beijing's The Sino Hearts have delivered one of the very best of 2023's end-of-the-year releases with their fourth album Phantom Rhapsody. Zhong really came into his own as a songwriter on last year's Lightening the Darkness, and that continues with the excellent Phantom Rhapsody. Stylistically, The Sino Hearts still live in that world where poppy punk rock and power pop converge, yet Zhong's artistry is influenced by everything from indie rock to post-punk to Krautrock to early rock 'n' roll. Phantom Rhapsody was recorded last year when pandemic restrictions were still a huge obstacle, and one can't help sense that the album was influenced by the struggles and frustrations that had to be overcome throughout its making. The pattern with The Sino Hearts has been for every new album to be considerably stronger than its predecessor, and it's hard to deny that Phantom Rhapsody surpasses Lightening the Darkness. If you're a punk/powerpop purist, songs like "Road to Sanremo," "Tokyo," "Right Out," and the dreamy title track are sure to satisfy your cravings. Yet the joy of this record for me is hearing the band experiment with (but never abandon) its core sound. "Endless to Me" finds Zhong tipping his cap to The Cure & The Smiths, while "Absolut Horror" is full-bore old school proto punk rock n' roll. "Astoria Garage" could almost be The Kinks. "Ever Really Want This" has the feel of an old doo wop ballad. Speaking of ballads, "Honey" is a grand, beautiful closing number and a new high point in Zhong's songwriting.
The Sino Hearts manage to put their signature on the punk/powerpop genre by infusing modern influences and production as well as their own distinct point of view. Mandarin A Go-Go was released just three years ago, yet that almost feels like a lifetime ago when you hear how far The Sino Hearts have come since then. Of course the instantly catchy tunes have their appeal, but what wows me about Phantom Rhapsody is how strong the deep cuts are. You won't just gravitate to a few choice tracks. From start to finish, this is a tremendous album. Get it now from Topsy Turvy/Soundflat!
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