King of the Road [ENHANCED]

Fu Manchu

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 15, 2000)
• Original Release Date: February 15, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Fontana Mammoth
• ASIN: B00004D3C1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,812 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Cars, motorcycles, vans, choppers, and bongs--it's easy to see where Fu Manchu find their inspiration, and it's clear this isn't cerebral rock. These boys, who hail from the synapse-frying heat of the California desert, go for the gut. They have the riffage to do it, sounding part Stooges circa Metallic K.O., part Black Sabbath, part stoned teenage garage band. Singer Scott Hill shrieks like a psychopathic Ted Nugent and his guitar emits fuzzed-out, grooved-up slabs of thunder--with lightning. The drums and bass are heavy but never fast; when they crank up the intensity the pace slows even further: volume is job one. "Hell on Wheels" starts with the throbbing guitar and slowly morphs into a deadly thunderous roar. "No Dice" finds its lyrical inspiration from the Jeff Spicoli character in Fast Times at Ridgemont High ("No shoes, no shirt, no dice!"). And "Weird Beard" is pure THC-inspired giggling lunacy--with a backbeat. All in all, King of the Road is an unadulterated blast of an album that reminds the teenage boy within why you fell in love with rock in the first place. --Tod Nelson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bow down to the Kings of Kool, April 30, 2003

By	"chrisgeee" (Melbourne, FL) - See all my reviews

Point blank-Anyone who says this album ... or isn't creative enough, or sounds like a throwback to the 70's or whatever...needs to get a grip. This album is one of the best rock records made in the last 20 years. It's pure, straight forward, put it in the CD player and drive until it's over rock music....then do it again. From the first track until the finale' "Freedom of Choice" ( a Devo cover), you CANNOT lose buying this album. I read some reviews where people were complaining about the lyrics, or how all the songs sound the same, or blah, blah ,blah...whatever. PEOPLE...this ain't Radiohead. If you want some experimental diversity...yeah, you might need to go elsewhere. But if you like fuzzy, thick riffage that grooves like you would not believe, this is without a doubt the next record you should buy. I also recommend Queens of the Stone Age if you like Fu Manchu, but you would prefer some deeper, tripier lyrics. The Fu however is good old fashioned Southern California music with lyrics about Skatin' Surfin' and Drivin'. I personally think this and "The Action is Go" are their best efforts. "California Crossing" is a good record, but it doesn't quite have the energy as "King". Immediately purchase "King of the Road"-this is a can't lose record buying experience. (By the way, they have a live album coming out in July 2003 "Go for it-Live"...so if you dig the Fu..get ready.)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brain rattling!, March 5, 2000

By	Christopher Brisinte (Green Bay, Wi.) - See all my reviews

This cd is exacty what I needed. Music is at a standstill right now with all of the rap metal acts out there. It's nice to hear something different. Granted this sounds like riffs from the 70's but I like it. I saw them open for Sevendust and P.O.D. the other night and as far as I am concerned they blew both of those bands off of the stage. Get this if you are into heavy music and want to try something different. I think that you will pleasantly surprised.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good intro to the world of Fu, May 5, 2006

By	Kennon L. Vinson "Kennonv" (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The few people that I have run across that do not like Fu Manchu in my opinion just don't get it. Fu Manchu is considered "stoner rock", which is a revival of the roots of Heavy Metal from the 1970's. Perhaps as a backlash against the hair-metal of the 80's and the hip-hop rap metal of the 90's and beyond. So Nu Metal fans should probably avoid Fu.

While most bands of the stoner rock genre draw their inspiration from bands like Black Sabbath or Kyuss, Fu Manchu tend to create their own vision of the 70's in metal form. Songs are about custom vans, muscle cars, skateboards, motorcycles, etc. Their music is chock full of 70's era references. But most of all it is done with a laid back cool overtone that brings it all together. It's like seeing a vintage muscle car, standing back, admiring it, and saying 'hell yeah'. You don't have to shout it, because you didn't have say anything anyway. That's Fu.

The song 'Boogie Van' is the optimy of the Fu vision. It's a song reminiscent of the custom vans of the 70's. It starts out metal with the aforementioned laid back cool. It is a solid song and a personal favorite.

Mind you this is not some drone metal when I say laid back. Songs like 'Drive', and 'Hell On Wheels' pack in the energy. I personally suggest that you not drive listening to either. And especially not 'King of the Road'.

The album finishes off with the cover of Devo's 'Freedom Of Choice'. While you may think they should cover Foghat instead, they pull it off and make it their own.

Again, this is a good introduction to Fu Manchu. Their newer music lays off the 70's stuff and Scott's laid back cool vocals a bit. The older stuff is a bit less polished, but in good way. 'King Of The Road' is right in the middle. A good intro in my opinion.

This is band is unique. With the 70's theme, you may be quick to call them retro or derivative. However, nobody did this back then and only Fu is does it now. Also don't expect a Sabbath, Kyuss clone either. Fu is kinda their own thing.

And if you know what cool is, you'll get and get it. And I hope you do.