[1][3] Lead singer Michael Stipe has stated that the song was about him once "breaking up a couple, and then dating both of them, a man and a woman, which is a terrible thing to do, but I was young and stupid.
"[2] Rolling Stone critic Christopher Connelly states that "Buck does it all: curt, distorted background chords, icy piano notes, warm chordal plucking and high-string riffs that drone.
"[1] According to Northwest Herald critic Bryan Wawzenek, Mike Mills' "melodic bass" dovetails with Buck's guitar lines.
[1][7] In an effort to get Stipe into a better mood to record, co-producer Don Dixon threw him the Revelaires gospel album The Joy of Knowing Jesus.
"[4] Chris and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes covered "7 Chinese Bros." in an acoustic show in Portland 2020, with Peter Buck joining them as a guest guitarist.