California Crossing
| California Crossing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 23, 2001 January 17, 2002 (Japan) | |||
| Studio | Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California | |||
| Genre | Stoner rock | |||
| Length | 39:27 | |||
| Label | Mammoth | |||
| Producer | Matt Hyde | |||
| Fu Manchu chronology | ||||
| ||||
California Crossing is the seventh studio album by the American stoner rock band Fu Manchu It was released on October 23, 2001, by Mammoth Records.[1][2]
Production[edit]
The album was produced by Matt Hyde, who encouraged Fu Manchu to spend more time on preproduction and song arrangements.[3][4] The band pushed the vocals higher in the mix for the album, worked on backing vocals, and tried to keep most of the tracks around three minutes.[5][6] Circle Jerks singer Keith Morris provides vocals on "Bultaco".[7]
Drummer Brant Bjork departed the band after the recording of the album.[8]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Calgary Herald |  [10] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [11] |
| Entertainment Weekly | C[12] |
| NME | [13] |
| Rolling Stone | [14] |
| St. Petersburg Times | A[15] |
| USA Today | [16] |
The Guardian deemed the album "a strangely nihilistic celebration of all things Cali."[17] NME wrote that Fu Manchu "are the stoned Ramones, a matey Motorhead: a band who can rewrite that album into the infinite future and rule perpetually."[13] The Washington Post thought that "more than anything else, it's the band's cartoonish perspective that keeps Crossing from flagging."[18] USA Today called the songs "rooted in mad propulsion, clean sonics and Scott Hill's atonal holler."[16]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Separate Kingdom" | 3:41 |
| 2. | "Hang On" | 3:39 |
| 3. | "Mongoose" | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Thinkin' Out Loud" | 3:27 |
| 5. | "California Crossing" | 3:36 |
| 6. | "Wiz Kid" | 3:51 |
| 7. | "Squash That Fly" | 2:56 |
| 8. | "Ampn'" | 3:35 |
| 9. | "Bultaco" | 3:11 |
| 10. | "Downtown in Dogtown" | 3:18 |
| 11. | "The Wasteoid" (instrumental) | 3:52 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Planet of the Ape Hangers" | 3:50 |
Personnel[edit]
- Scott Hill – vocals, guitar
- Brant Bjork – drums
- Bob Balch – guitar
- Brad Davis – bass
- Matt Hyde – mixer, producer
Production[edit]
Vocals on "Bultaco" by Keith Morris
Backing vocals by Fu Manchu
Engineered by Nick Raskulinecz
Recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, CA
Vocals recorded at Aftermath, Laguna, CA
Mixed at Henson Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Mastered by Dave Collins at Steve Marcussen Mastering, Hollywood, CA
Enhanced CD footage filmed by Ken Pucci
All songs written by Fu Manchu, except "California Crossing", lyrics by Rodney Skelton.[19]
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[20] | 98 |
References[edit]
- ^ "Fu Manchu | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Knapfel, Jason (November 22, 2001). "Fu Manchu up in smoke". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. p. 3E.
- ^ Donovan, Patrick (February 8, 2002). "CD review: California Crossing, Fu Manchu". The Age. Entertainment Guide. p. 7.
- ^ Fox, Darrin (February 2002). "Fu Manchu: No shoes, no shirt, no fuzz". Guitar Player. 36 (2): 35–37.
- ^ Gonzales, Ron (March 1, 2002). "Fu Manchu tweaks its tones". Albuquerque Journal. p. 13.
- ^ Condran, Ed (February 15, 2002). "FU MANCHU ROCKS ON". The Record. Go!. p. 17.
- ^ "Fu Manchu California Crossing | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca.
- ^ "Reviews". CMJ New Music Report. CMJ Network, Inc. February 11, 2002 – via Google Books.
- ^ Curtice, Craig. "California Crossing Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ Lepage, Mark (March 8, 2002). "Fu Manchu California Crossing (Mammoth)". Calgary Herald. p. D8.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 628.
- ^ "California Crossing". EW.com.
- ^ a b Gardner, Noel (September 12, 2005). "Fu Manchu : California Crossing". NME. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ Kemp, Rob (January 31, 2002). "California Crossing". Rolling Stone. No. 888. p. 53.
- ^ Puckett, Daniel (February 24, 2002). "Audio Files". St. Petersburg Times. p. 7F.
- ^ a b Gundersen, Edna (February 12, 2002). "Trail of Fu Manchu roams 'California'". USA Today. p. B12.
- ^ "Pop CD releases". the Guardian. February 1, 2002.
- ^ "FU MANCHU 'California Crossing' Mammoth". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ Sperounes, Sandra (July 8, 2002). "'We're like, yeah, whatever': Slackers work up just enough energy to hit the road again". Edmonton Journal. p. B7.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 109.
