ALBUM REVIEW: Not Chinese Takeout - Makes No Difference
**This article originally appeared in our April 2026 print issue**
Photo by Lauren Longtoe
“Slickly produced and honestly hitting every right note for fans of emo and post-punk, Not Chinese Takeout have confidently delivered a standout first album with Makes No Difference.”
“Slush,” the first track off Makes No Difference, the debut full-length album from Not Chinese Takeout, enters like a wall of sound. Layers of distorted guitars roar in unison and vocalist Nathaniel Como’s voice soars, proclaiming, “You say you’re getting over it, but you won’t.”
Where a lot of compositions would gradually get louder, building more intensity, this one takes a different approach. Instead, the guitars mellow out, and Como’s voice quiets to a near whisper. It’s almost as if the song starts mid-bridge and then drifts into the first verse. Not to imply that it doesn’t get louder, as it most certainly does.
Having previously heard singles from the band, including “Slush,” I felt that I had a pretty good idea what to expect. The moment that track two, “Apple (Bravo! Johnny)” started, my expectations went out the window.
Drummer John Petalas takes the vocals on this one, which begins with a lighter, jauntier guitar part pairing nicely with Petalas’ bright vocal tone. After a minute or so of gentleness, "Apple (Bravo! Johnny)” does a bit of a musical jump-scare, kicking right in with full amplitude, as Como once again takes lead vocal duties.
The song also brilliantly uses a tactic reminiscent of mid-aughts era midwestern emo, featuring a spoken dialog over a guitar breakdown. In this case, the voice is a scathing, curse-laden assault, seemingly aimed at the song's protagonist.
“News flash, buddy. Nothing is gonna fucking happen,” the voice berates. “And you know what? If you don’t get your shit together, you’re out of here. You’re fucking done.”
The album’s title track starts clean and mellow before a machine-gun fire of drums kicks in. The driving beat demands aggressive head nodding and ‘stank face’ expressions from anyone who listens.
“Empty Town” is perhaps more melancholic than some of the others on Makes No Difference, with softer vocals, perfect harmonies and more layered guitar work. However, the chorus is one of the more infectious, sing-along passages of the album.
“You might be better off dead in this empty town, where the leaves fall and they turn to brown,” may not sound like a line that deserves to be joyfully sung at a high volume, but believe me, it is.
Then, the album explores the quieter side of the band.
“Mountain Route (Better in September)” is treading full-on ballad territory. There is just a hint that it may break into a full chorus, but it stays restrained, which ultimately pays off. Subtle strings and keys add some welcome textural elements. The vocal work on this one is especially impressive, as the subdued instrumentation puts the vocals more center-stage.
From there, the album rolls into “Passenger Queen.” While not quite as understated as “Mountain Route (Better in September),” “Passenger Queen” does still refrain from using the “quiet verse/loud chorus” formula and maintains a pretty consistent feel throughout.
The album wraps up with “Say So,” an anthemic, emo tune that Not Chinese Takeout released as a single in early 2025.
Slickly produced and hitting every right note for fans of emo and post-punk, Not Chinese Takeout have confidently delivered a standout first album with Makes No Difference. The dynamics, the songwriting, and the performances are enough to solidify this album as one of the best of 2026.
And it’s only March.
Makes No Difference is available now everywhere you stream music.
