Search - fu manchu :: No One Rides for Free

My favorite Fu

D. K. Malone | earth | 10/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is and will always be my favorite Fu Manchu album. The main reason is the song Ojo Rojo, which opens with the lyric:



"She wanted nothin'



And I delivered"



It doesn't get any better than that, folks.



Another reason I love this album is the circumstances under which it was recorded. In the wake of Nirvana's success in the early 1990s, major record labels were scrambling around trying to scoop up and sign every band they could find who were the least bit grungy. Fu Manchu was grungy, all right. In those days they were a lump of coal in the rough. One of the majors took an interest in them, but they were too gun-shy to sign them immediately. Instead they doled the band a bit of cash to record a demo to see if a proper album was worth pursuing. Not being idiots, Fu Manchu were 99.9999% certain that they weren't going to get signed in the end, so they used their studio time to record what they considered an actual album, not a demo. Sure enough, they didn't get signed, but they had their first album in the can, and they released it independently circa 1993. The End.



So, yeah. Their later records might be technically better in terms of production and musicianship and this definitely lacks the cocksure attitude Fu exhibits on records like Action Is Go and King of the Road. But this early gem is like the retarded neighbor kid you just can't help but like more than the all-star quarter back kid down the block and the stuck up cheerleader chick across the street."

First review for first Fu Manchu LP

Philcore | Penngrove, CA USA | 03/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album rocks. The songs are probably equal to that of In Search Of.. but this album's downfall is that it is too short. Despite that I really like the hard rocking grooves that go along with No One Rides For Free. I would suggest that you buy this if you are a fan of stoner rock, hard rock, rock and roll, some kinds of metal, or if you are a music fan. Fu Manchu knows how to write a catchy tune, its too bad that not too many people caught onto it."

Where it all REALLY started

T.A. | South Florida | 07/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, I give all Fu Manchu's CD's 5 stars, but this one (along with "The Action Is Go") might be their best. Here's why...



First of all, this is one of a very few recordings they did with original members Eddie Glass (guitar) and Ruben Romano (drums). After recording this CD and then "Daredevil" (I think), the two of them split to devote more time to their new band NEBULA. Brant Bjork (Kyuss, Mondo Generator) produced the CD, then later took Romano's spot as the full-time drummer for the band. So if you're a big fan of NEBULA as I am, this is where it all started.



The sound is not quite Fu yet. Yes, there are plenty of cow bells keeping time; loud, grungy guitars, Scott Hill's ultra-baked, almost spoken vocals; simple 70's guitar riffs revisited; but something has not yet been etched into this band's style. That's OK--Brant Bjork injects much life into the recording in the production room, giving each song a little KYUSS feel to it...especially "Superbird." This sounds like a song right off of "Wretch," Kyuss' first (and maybe least respected) album. Picture KYUSS recording "Wretch" with Eddie Glass on guitar along side Josh Homme...that's what this song sounds like.



The other songs: "Ojo Rojo" ...nuff said. This is one of Fu's greatest acheivements ever.

"Time to Fly" is a typical slow-rockin Fu song, similar to tracks found on "King of the Road."

"Show and Shine" sounds just like an early NEBULA song, which tells me Eddie Glass was already scheming this style of guitar rock. To a certain extent, "Mega-bumpers" falls into this category as well, where certain NEBULA nuances are noticeable.

"Shine It On" might have the catchiest riff on the CD, but falls into the same category as their much-later song, "No Dice:" cool, but lacking something.

"Snakebellies" is an average tune. This song needed Brant on the drums...bad.



Buy this CD if you are a Fu fan. If you're looking for something to steer away from, hold off buying their newest albums "California Crossing" and "start the Machine." They are both good, CC especially. But, the sound is bit more refined and there are a couple of songs on each which I must say are pretty weak. CC has a few great, classic Fu tunes, but you really need to get all the stuff from the 90's first. Someday, you won't be able to find it at all."