Among these are the B-sides "Final Frontier", "Isle of Manhattan" and "Cryogenic Lover", which were released on European singles.

Club wrote that "for the most part, The Chinese Album sounds like Aladdin Sane or Roxy Music's early material, stripped of any sense of commitment or adventure.

"[10] The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "one can only admire a group so unrepentantly unfashionable, especially when it stirs its influences together with such flair and flamboyance.

"[11] The Austin Chronicle called the album "a pretty, precious confection of pop ditties.

"[12] The Rough Guide to Rock deemed it "a beautifully crafted masterpiece, intelligent, edgy and eclectic.