### Fu Manchu: The action is go

#### 17/01/13 || Habakuk

The further I checked out Fu Manchu’s back catalogue, the more they became my go-to stoner band. And the more spins “The action is go” received, the more it became my go-to driving album. Which is a traditional spot occupied by stoner albums, but this one just has a little something which – admittedly, after a few spins – puts it above a lot of the competition for me. AT THIS MOMENT. Subject to change. But still.

How does it achieve this, you ask, and answers you shall receive: First of all, a great driving album needs to kick off well. This album has got it covered: the thrilling threesome of “Evil eye” – “Urethane” – “The action is go” riffing away for a good 10 minutes will give you a great start come what may. And there comes. Immediately afterwards, “Burning road”, which starts off well, kills it with its annoying chorus. Don’t let Scott Hill do a hook like that, who apparently can’t hold a note for shit. I know this is not an opera album, and I usually absolutely dig his voice, but god damn. So, skip that track once the chorus hits.

Fortunately, it’s the only one of its ilk, and on it goes with nicely flowing, juicy riffs and a production that might be odd at first, but did win me over in all its fuzzy fuzziness topped off with fuzz. That shit just shines in any half-decent car stereo which can surround you with thick guitars. So, on it goes!

Staggeringly consistent after that one stinker, “The action is go” serves nothing but catchy and laid-back riffs, thick grooves and the occasional stroke of genius, as with “Laserbl’ast” giving the definition of a minimalistic approach to greatness. Chilled-out sludger “Saturn III” seals the deal towards the end, when you’re so encompassed in wooly clouds of guitar that you just nod along as it reaches its full 8 minutes. Why the world needed the 1:15 album closer after it remains a mystery, but I guess they wanted to give a little “wake up call” at the end. Which is completely unappreciated, but oh well. Just hit skip if you don’t want to go through that restless last minute, and start right over – that way you’ll experience for a second time a close to perfect mix of flowing, energetic songs, light at heart and heavy in appearance.

The guys clearly had it together on this one, so overall I must highly recommend this to anyone remotely interested in stoner rock, especially (but not only) if they are endowed with a healthy pointy finger for hitting skip once or twice.

- Information
- Released: 1997
- Label: Mammoth Records
- Website: www.fu-manchu.com
- Band
- Scott Hill: vocals, guitars
- Brad Davis: bass
- Bob Balch: guitars
- Brant Bjork: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Evil eye
- 02. Urethane
- 03. The action is go
- 04. Burning road
- 05. Guardrail
- 06. Anodizer
- 07. Trackside hoax
- 08. Unknown world
- 09. Laserbl’ast
- 10. Hogwash
- 11. Grendel, Snowman
- 12. Strolling astronomer
- 13. Saturn III
- 14. Nothing done