Growing up has never been an easy thing to do for anyone, especially if you’re fuzz kings Fu Manchu. King Of The Road, the latest release from this Orange County, California foursome, is a 70’s inspired, stoner rock masterpiece. Their formula of fuzzed out guitars and bottom heavy grooves has served them well throughout their ten-year existence. Here, the age-old philosophy wins again. You may say this band lives through a time warp, one where Sabbath, Hawkwind, and Blue Cheer are still evolving, but Fu takes that ideology and makes it heavier, plain and simple.
The first track, “Hell On Wheels”, has the patented Fu groove that’s made them legends overseas, and the album doesn’t let up for the rest of the ride. “Over The Edge” rolls along like a 1976 Chevy van decked out in leather and black lights, bouncing to Black Oak’s “Hotrod”. “No Dice” is an anthematic tribute to the biggest burnout in the history of cinema, Jeff Spicoli of Fast Times At Ridgemont High. The chorus of “No shoes, no shirt, no dice” is a direct quote from the movie that remains one of the classic stoner movies of all time. “Grasschopper” and “Hotdoggin” sound more like T-shirt labels than song titles. The rolling boom of these songs demands another toke off the tube to endure the pleasure that Fu Manchu provides. They even add a cover of Devo’s “Freedom Of Choice” to their collection, doing the song a favor by adding syrupy guitar riffs to the already catchy-as-all-hell rhythm.
All in all, this is exactly what you’d expect from Fu Manchu after listening to last year’s Eatin’ Dust EP. It’s stripped down, superfuzzed rock at its screaming best. Many try to capture the sound but are unable to do so in the way Fu Manchu has. King Of The Road is the next installment of Fu’s ongoing soundtrack to the cooler side of American life: muscle cars, surfboards, hot women, and of course a phat bag o’ tweeds. They know their kind are cool as shit, they just want everyone else to know it. Grab King Of The Road or any of their other releases, especially if you need a break from everyday life. Fu Manchu is getting older, but their music hasn’t changed since 1976, where it belongs.
+ rick hinkson
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