| California Crossing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| 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]
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]
| 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]
| 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 |
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]
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA Charts) [20] | 98 |
Kyuss was an American stoner rock band formed in Palm Desert, California, in 1987, and considered one of the pioneers of the genre. After disbanding in 1995, a number of band members have gone on to form or play in several notable bands including Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees, Fu Manchu, Dwarves, Eagles of Death Metal, Mondo Generator, Hermano, Unida, Slo Burn and Them Crooked Vultures.
Blues for the Red Sun is the second studio album by American rock band Kyuss, released in 1992. While the album received mainly favorable reviews, it fared poorly commercially, selling only 39,000 units. It has since become a very influential album within the stoner rock genre. It was the last Kyuss album to feature bassist Nick Oliveri, who was replaced by Scott Reeder shortly after recording had been completed. The album is dedicated to Oliveri's father who died in a car accident in 1991.
John Garcia is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known as the vocalist and founding member of stoner rock bands Kyuss, Slo Burn, Unida and Hermano. Garcia also performed in Vista Chino, formerly Kyuss Lives!, with former Kyuss members Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri. Garcia has since decided to pursue his solo career, having formed his band, John Garcia and the Band of Gold, in 2019.
The Von Bondies are an American rock band formed in 1997. The band's breakthrough album, Pawn Shoppe Heart, was released in 2004 and features the singles "C'mon C'mon" and "Tell Me What You See".
Brant Bjork is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the drummer and founder of the influential Californian stoner rock band Kyuss. Bjork has also been a member of Fu Manchu, Mondo Generator and Vista Chino, the latter with former Kyuss members John Garcia and Nick Oliveri. He is currently the frontman and co-founder of the stoner rock power trio, Stöner. Bjork is one of the more notable figures in the stoner rock and Palm Desert scene and maintains a prolific solo career with over a dozen released albums.
Fu Manchu is an American stoner rock band formed in Orange County, California in 1985. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout the 80s and 90s, but has remained consistent since 2001. The band currently consists of founding guitarist turned lead vocalist Scott Hill, bassist Brad Davis, lead guitarist Bob Balch and drummer Scott Reeder.
Good God's Urge is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Porno for Pyros. It was released in 1996 on Warner Bros. It was the band's first album to feature bass guitarist Mike Watt, who assisted the band in finishing the album after Martyn LeNoble left before all his bass tracks had been completed. There were three singles released from the album.
Cocaine Rodeo is the debut studio album by American rock band Mondo Generator, released through Southern Lord Records on 18 July 2000. It was compiled of material recorded by vocalist/bassist Nick Oliveri with drummer Rob Oswald, vocalist/guitarist Brent Malkus, and his ex-Kyuss bandmates Josh Homme, Brant Bjork and John Garcia. Recorded in 1997, the material was shelved for three years due to disinterest from the band to release it and Oliveri's full-time commitment to Queens of the Stone Age.
More Betterness! is the fifth studio album by punk rock band No Use for a Name, released in 1999.
Godzilla's/Eatin' Dust is the fifth studio album by American stoner rock band Fu Manchu, released on February 19, 1999, on the now defunct Man's Ruin label. The album combines what were originally two limited 10" releases: "Godzilla" (1997) and "Eatin' Dust" (1999).
The Action Is Go is the fourth studio album by American stoner rock band Fu Manchu. It features new drummer Brant Bjork (Kyuss) and new lead guitarist Bob Balch, replacing Eddie Glass and Ruben Romano, who left to form the band Nebula. The album was produced by Jay Noel Yuenger of White Zombie, who contributed some additional instrumentation.
No One Rides for Free is the debut album by the stoner rock band Fu Manchu. The album was produced by former Kyuss member Brant Bjork, who would eventually become Fu Manchu's drummer for a short tenure. It was the band's only album to feature bassist Mark Abshire. A twenty-year anniversary edition was released in 2014.
In Search of... is the third studio album by Fu Manchu, a stoner rock band from Southern California. It was released on February 27, 1996, by Mammoth Records.
Jalamanta is the stoner rock and Palm Desert scene musician Brant Bjork's debut solo album after leaving Kyuss and joining Fu Manchu. Originally released on October 11, 1999, through Man's Ruin Records, Jalamanta was later re-released on Bjork's own label, Duna Records, in 2003, 2006 and 2009. In 2019, Bjork's current label, Heavy Psych Sounds, released a remixed and remastered version of the album with new artwork.
King of the Road is the sixth studio album by the California stoner rock band Fu Manchu. It was released on February 15, 2000, by Mammoth Records. Many of the songs are about cars and car culture.
Fatso Jetson is an American desert rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1994 by Yawning Man members Mario Lalli and Larry Lalli, along with Tony Tornay. They are often credited as the fathers of the desert strain of stoner rock later made most famous by their slightly younger neighbors Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age. While musically similar to some of their stoner brethren, Fatso Jetson incorporate a broader variety of musical influences that includes punk and surf.
Brant Bjork & the Operators is the second solo album by desert rocker Brant Bjork. Although titled Brant Bjork and the Operators, Bjork sings and plays most instruments on the album. He is joined by friends Mathias Schneeberger and Mario Lalli to lend guitar and vocals. The album was Duna Records' first release.
Go for It... Live! is a live album by California stoner rock band Fu Manchu. It was recorded during the California Crossing World Tour of 2002. It is the first album to feature Scott Reeder on drums.
Demon Cleaner is a song by American rock band Kyuss. It was released as the first single from their third album Welcome to Sky Valley in 1994. It was written by the band's guitarist Josh Homme.
OJM is an Italian music band based out of Treviso and formed in 1997. The band is a pioneer of the Italian stoner rock, garage rock and psychedelic rock music scenes.
