Brant Bjork may have gotten his start drumming with desert-rock progenitors Kyuss before moving on to seminal stoner band Fu Manchu, but his solo career since has been prolific and indisputably in its own right. His latest effort, Mankind Woman, sees the musician further blending the stoned and sweaty vibe of his former bands with blues, funk and jazz influences for a relaxed, unpretentious good time. Tracks like "Somebody" and "Pisces" ground the record with their calm, laid-back pace, but Bjork draws on his heavy psych roots in other bits, such as in the closer "Nation of Indica," proving he's still got the chops to rock after a quarter century at the center of Southern California underground music.
This album, Bjork's 13th under his own name, is the first in which the singer and multi-instrumentalist worked with a singular producer and co-writer, Bubba Dupree. Dupree is best known for playing in Bjork's Low Desert Punk Band as well as for his stint in short-lived D.C. hardcore band Void, who broke up soon after their heralded 1982 split with Faith was released on Dischord Records. Together, the duo created an album in Mankind that showcases the talents of two lifelong passionate music lovers looking forward rather than mining their respective past successes. Other guests and frequent collaborators of Bjork's who show up include bassist Armand Secco Sabal, vocalist Sean Wheeler and former Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age bassist Nick Oliveri.
Listen for yourself with our exclusive full album stream above. You can pre-order Mankind Woman here before its official release Friday and if you're on the west coast of North America or in central Mexico, you can catch Brant Bjork on his upcoming October tour.
Brant Bjork tour dates:
10/5 - Calgary, AB - The Palomino
10/6 - Edmonton, AB - Free Mason Hall (Brant Bjork DJ set ONLY)
10/7 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite (w/ Earthess)
10/9 San Diego, CA - Spacebar
10/10 Los Angeles, CA - The Redwood (w/ Nebula)
10/11 Las Vegas, NV - Vamp'd
10/12 Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriets (w/ Nebula)
10/13 Long Beach, CA - Alex's Bar (w/ Earthless)
10/16 Hermosillo, Mexico - Pizza Del Perro Negro (w/ Sgt. Papers)
10/18 Merida, Mexico - Pizza Del Perro Negro
10/20 Mexico City, Mexico - Rabioso / Pizza Del Perro Negro
