Disco de Fu Manchu: “Start the Machine”

I'm not sure what chip the first reviewer had on his shoulder, but basically the best review I can give is to say "ignore that review". Fu Manchu have flown under the mainstream radar long enough. Their time has come. Thier skills are honed. Their truly unique approach to Rock 'n' Roll is so refreshing in a time when bands start to sound the same. Fu Manchu stands out even in the genre they have most often been lumped into (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, etc.), but the scope of thier talent is more diverse and enjoyable to more people than that genre can hold. This album reminds me of hearing Van Halen for the first time by the way it hits you as so much better than the rest! I give this one 4 stars because it is on par with King of the Road, and California Crossing, both great albums in thier own rite, but I reserve 5 stars for legendary status albums such as the Beatles Sgt. Pepper, or Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. The more people hear and agree that Start the Machine is as I say, the more likely I'd give it 5.

While I have always been able to detect the sounds of bands like Black Flag and Circle Jerks gurgling underneath Fu Manchu's sludgey rock, on "Start the Machine" the old school skate-punk influence moves to the forefront. These new Fu songs are heavy, fast and pissed off. The laid-back melodies of "California Crossing" have vanished in favor of pure hard-rock aggression. New drummer Scott Reeder proves he has the the chops to fill Brant Bjork's shoes and guitarist Bob Balch continues to impress with stellar leads, especially on the powerful track "Understand". In the middle of all the AC/DC meets Black flag madness comes "Out to Sea", without a doubt the mellowest track they have ever recorded, providing an essential moment of relief and proving that the band has diversity to boot. While the Fu Manchu live record "Go For It. Live!" remains their heaviest moment, this album totally delivers the goods. Also worth noting is that the pinball, skateboarding, sci-fi imagery and 1976 cover art have been abadnoned in favor of often angry lyrics and straightforward packaging. Other great tracks: the bluesy hard rock of "Make them Believe", the hardcore fun of "I Can't Hear You" and the almost pop-rock closer "I Wanna Be".

It's been a while since Fu Manchu started (over twelve years) and guitarist Scott Hill is the only one of the original members still standing. Now they are on a new label -- DRT -- and it's been three years since their last release. The Album opens with "Written In Stone" which is a Fu Manchu stoner rock meets punk not being completely one style or the other song. You can't categorize their music. Then you have the more punk-ish track "I Can't hear You", which is hard driven and is filled with energy.

Vocalist Scott Hill blends his voice with the music rather nicely together. Other tracks on the album are "Make Them Believe", "Understand" and a more trippy, slower tune called "Out To Sea". It has twelve tracks in a mere thirty five minutes but I still like it.

This is my favorite fu manchu album, certainly worth five stars. Don't listen to all the negative reviewers their just a bunch of old burned out hippies. This is more modern rock. Just because this one is too edgy to trip out on doesn't mean it aint good. Go out and get this CD as well as Dare Devil, Action is Go, and California Crossing.

Dear Fu Manchu,

The time comes in any relationship when things should be reevaluated, and the question should be asked: what have you done for me lately? Sadly, I cant say that youve really done anything...and whats worse is that you dont even seem to be trying.

When California Crossing came out I figured it was time for us to go our separate ways, move on and all that. And there was also that dull, muddy live album. But I decided to give you another chance with Start the Machine...after all, we do have some history: In Search of and The Action Is Go were great. Those were the days.

But now youve gone and brought me down again, and Ive got say that this has become unacceptable. The thrill is gone and Im just plain bored. Dont get jealous, but I get more from Monster Magnet's Monolithic Baby!, Lowrider's Ode to Io...and for live albums, Corrosion of Conformity's Live Volume really does it for me.

So lets make a (semi)clean break of it. Id love to say that its all been great...but I cant. So Ill just say dont go away mad, just go away. And dont let the door hit you in the behind on your way out.

Oh, and Im going to need you to just go ahead and drop my Black Sabbath Vol. 4 cd in the mail.