Customer Reviews

We Must Obey

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There has been a lot of whining through bongsmoke clouds about the last couple of discs from the FU. Some said "California Crossing" didn't have enough of the fuzz, or "Start the Machine" was too dark and staid compared to the band's past efforts. I'm sure there are varying opinions on this one, but not from me. This is the most solid thing I've heard from the band's Bob Balch-era since "The Action is Go". The tracks are short, potent, and there's riffs a plenty. "Shake it Loose" is a midpaced footstomper and "Hung Out to Dry" is a trippy FREHLEY / SABS-style jammer that would fit on any of the band's cherished back discs. How any fan of the rawk could keep still through either of these tracks is beyond me. I found myself uncontrollably headbanging away as Scott Hill barks "Land...of...Giants!" over a boulder of a riff in the track of the same name. Plus, the cover of THE CARS 'Moving in Stereo' is incredible, just like their version of "Godzilla" from days gone by. Looks like there's already a bunch of used copies for about nine bucks, so pick it up.

Fu Manchu's new CD is killer, no doubt! Songs like Lesson, Land of Giants, Let Me Out and Hung Out To Dry are completely kickass!!! Believe it, I've got all of the Fu's albums and this CD is no letdown whatsoever, its cool the whole way through!!! Get it now and OBEY!!!

Not really liking this "hardcore" version of Fu Manchu. I know they started out as a hardcore band early on and have hardcore influences which they are certainly flexing on this and subsequent albums. But they have foresaken the groove on the last couple of albums and it just ain't the same. Ain't the Fu I know and love. The previous albums were awesome, heavy, groovy albums. Like a stoned Ted Nugent fronting a Black Sabbath that grew up in California surfing and riding dune buggies. There was a looseness yet tightness to the music that made it breathe. You just HAD to bob your head. You just HAD to drive faster. You thanked god someone still made music like that among a bunch of shoegazer and nu-metal crybabies. Now it's for headbangers. The new stuff is heavy but it's just repetitive, musically uninteresting, and the vocal cadence is in a big time rut. If they continue down this road I'm out. They may win new fans with this but I think they're pushing away the old ones. Get In Search Of, Daredevil, Eastin' Dust, King of the Road, or Action Is Go if you want the true soul of this band. IMO Start the Machine is where it starts to de-rail into this new form of the Fu.

thank god i got this used cheap so it wasn't as much of a loss as it could have been. i have no problem when bands like to branch out with their style but this sounds like a different band altogether. i love classic metal and 80s metal but this thing reeks of 'nu metal', which i think sucks beyond compare. this is definitely their 'metal' record and although they sound pretty damn fierce on this thing, it is way too far away from what i loved originally about this band: california cool, fuzz (not buckets of processed distortion), songs about muscle cars and sleestaks, and just a 70s vibed, laid back, dig my van kinda thing. kinda funny how the pix in the booklet show their heritage of vintage amps, simple drum kit, simple guitars...you would think you're in for another retro trip and that is definitely not the case. if you love Fu, you won't love this. 'moving in stereo' is kinda neat but yeah, i won't be listening to this one much.

I must note, 'sounds of infinite power' followed this style but is waaaaaaaay better...that record too is far from what the band was but it rocks hard..buy that one, skip this one.

"Knew it all along" is probably the only interesting song in the whole album. Same stuff as Start the machine. California Crossing is still the best Fu album. Why are they so afraid to try something new? Stoner rock ended up being like punk and hardcore: repetition after repetition after repetition.

I've always liked Fu Manchu, but I also grew a bit frustrated with their foot-dragging rhythms from time to time. While their plodding metal is appealing, the group has sometimes struck me (to some degree) as musical underachievers who were capable of much more.

Enter WE MUST OBEY. At first blush, this CD delivers on ALL the potential I've noticed in these guys from the start. The songs are memorable, the beats are fresh, the riffs kick, and the lyrics, oh, the lyrics. A sample:

"Sensei versus sensei, my day's just begun
Sensei versus sensei, tell me... who won?"

Sheer poetry. Nice work, guys.

Also recommended: In Search Of...

Wow.
Have just listened to this album start to finish for the first time.If you are a chu fan, prepare for a more brutal hardcore inspired record. The album is still full of the killer riffs you would expect from the chu, just played much faster. Good to see the fuzz pedals are back too, where as "start the Machine" had a toned down smoother guitar sound, this is just loud! Scott Reeder really shines on this album too. Infact, out of all their albums I feel this album really showcases all their talent, But Scott is just the king of drummers. All you people out there still mourning the loss Of Brant Bjork can finally get over it. If you missed out on the rare ep that came out a couple of months back, I recomend getting the import version for the extra track.
Their strongest album in ages.

I have all of their records. The production is inconsistent, muddy, amateur, and awful on this record like it was made in 10 different places by 10 different bands/producers. I've always liked Fu's covers (especially Devo's "Freedom of Choice") and I think "Moving in Stereo" is the only song I listen to off this anymore. That's right, their original stuff here is all flat to me and unlistenable.
For reference: I think King of The Road is my favorite album of theirs, it runs front to back with a coherent kind of theme and is a great road trip album for me. I feel Start the Machine was great in a new way, but this album has nothing. I'm glad I bought it to support them, but I wouldn't do it again.

my favorite is california crossing, but this album is an improvement from start the machine. the drums are top notch, and its heavy but not in annoying fuzz way (in search of). i saw this band live and they do a superb job getting the fans riled up. i would say that any fu manchu fan should have this album, as it stands out among most and defines new territory for the band. since i'm a guitarist, i must compliment that the new tone is more suitible for them and not too dark and bland like start the machine (although that album ain't bad either). plus these lyrics seem to make sense as they talk about more issues revolving toward life instead of cars and skating blah blah.... super glad i bought it for only 10 bucks!

This album is Fu Manchu's hardest hitting album to date!

The guitars are more massive, the songs more aggressive and the psychedelic influence is not missed at all! Thats right, no more Blue Cheer homages, this is straight ahead riff rock, done with the worlds loudest thickest guitars. And the songs? Without a doubt the title track, "Knew It All Along" and "Hung Out To Dry" are some of the very best the band has ever penned.

The sound is absolutely massive, the hooks and riffs are very strong, and the songs go straight for the throat. That is why this is my favorite Fu Manchu album.