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Fu Manchu - California Crossing Audio CD

A fair review of the Fu Manchu "California Crossing" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Fu Manchu reviews here, or go back to the Fu Manchu tabs.

Fu Manchu Band: Fu Manchu
Title: California Crossing
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-02-05
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Separate Kingdom 2: Hang On 3: Mongoose 4: Thinkin' Out Loud 5: California Crossing 6: Wiz Kid 7: Squash That Fly 8: Ampn' 9: Bultaco 10: Downtowin In Dogtown 11: The Wasteoid

sounds like california to me
i am finding this one is getting the most repeateded play. i'm new to this band and have been listening to everything in sight. . i love it. it's not as jammy, fuzzed out and stoned out as other Fu slabs but, to me, without hearing this band and only hearing OF them, this is exactly what i would expect them to sound like. 'king of the road' is right up there with my favs so far, as well as 'daredevil', but there is something that is so 'user friendly' about this disc. . i love it. 'separate kingdom' and 'squash that fly' are worth the price of admission.
i know it's corny but, this band just SOUNDS like southern california, right down to their OP shirts and Vans. . dig it, man.


The best song is under three minutes...
. . and maybe the rest should have been to. "Squash That Fly" is a great rock single and the rest of the disc almost feels like it was built around it. I can't help but think that some of the songs should have stayed with their core element and shortened and we might be calling California Crossing one of the best Fu Manchu discs. As it is it feels a little repetitive and dragged out, because it would have had a short total time otherwise. If you like 70's/Stoner type rock I recommend the whole disc. "Squash That Fly" is a must have download I recommend for everybody. .


The Loudest Band in Rock and Roll
We got spots next to the stage, and all I remember clearly from that show was how LOUD it was! After the first song, my ears had a distinctive ring that I had never heard (keep in mind that I had been been going to several dozen shows a year for at least 15 years at that point). I saw this band in Baltimore in 2003(?) on tour to promote this album. At that point, the lead singer pointed to the sound guy and told him to turn it UP! After the show, my buddy, a diehard Fu fan, chatted with the lead singer about how great the show was. His response? "Well Goddamnit, thankyou very much".

That experience to me sums up Fu Manchu. Very loud stoner rock, with a slight taste of mischief, and a lead singer who likes to say "goddamn" a whole heck of a lot.

This particular album's got some hooks on it that will leave the average stoner rock fan craving for more. TO me, the top song on this album has got to be the rockin' "Squash that fly". The screaming chords and sarcastic vocals on these songs will leave you wanting to see these guys live, a show that is well worth every penny. .


Not their best effort
While I still respect the band for proudly flying the stoner rock flag, this record is more of a polished MTV friendly anthem than a sluge-ladden masterpiece of old. As a long-time fan of Fu Manchu, I gotta say this record missed the target for me. Don't get me wrong. . . I'm all for a band's musical development if it goes somewhere good (like Clutch or Sonic Youth). But this record goes somewhere I don't want to be. There are a few good songs here ("Mongoose" being one of their all-time greats), but it is the first Chu album I ever bought where I find myself skipping through the mediocre songs to get to the gems. Their earlier records weren't this way at all. "No One Rides for Free", "Daredevil", "Action is Go", and even the under-rated "King of the Road" were fantastic. These albums all shined from start to finish without exception. If you want their best, buy "In Search Of".


Fu Manchu - 'California Crossing' (Mammoth)
Fu Manchu has apparently road-tested their heavy guitar riffing. Worthy follow-up to 2000's 'King Of The Road' disc. Sort of reminds me of early AC/DC,which is a good thing. 'California. . . ' appears to be maybe more melodic,that might be because the CD was produced by Matt Hyde(Porno For Pyros,Monster Magnet). Tunes that I liked best are "Mongoose","Whiz Kid","Squash That Fly" and the skateboard friendly "Downtown To Dogtown". 'California Crossing' and the band's efforts here after just COULD land them to a wider audience. Let's hope so.


You can see a complete list of all Fu Manchu discography, or go back to the Fu Manchu tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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