Mankind Woman

Mankind Woman is the thirteenth solo album by stoner rock musician Brant Bjork. It was released on September 14, 2018, by Heavy Psych Sounds Records.^[8]

Mankind Woman
Studio album by Brant Bjork
Released	September 14, 2018 (2018-09-14)
Studio	Zainaland, Twentynine Palms, California[1]
Genre	Stoner rock[2] desert rock[2] psychedelic rock[3][4]
Length	38:49
Label	Heavy Psych Sounds
Producer	Bubba Dupree
Brant Bjork chronology
Europe '16 (2017) Mankind Woman (2018) Jacoozzi (2019)
Singles from Mankind Woman
"Chocolatize" Released: July 3, 2018 (2018-07-03)[5] "Swagger & Sway" Released: August 20, 2018 (2018-08-20)[6] "Charlie Gin" Released: August 31, 2018 (2018-08-31)[7]

The album is notable for its primary songwriting collaboration with Low Desert Punk Band guitarist Bubba Dupree.^[8] A music video was made for the lead single "Chocolatize".^[9]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Ghost Cult	7/10[4]
KNAC	[10]
Metal Hammer	[11]
Metal Rules	[2]
Metal Temple	8/10[12]
MyGlobalMind	9/10[13]
QRO	8.5/10[3]
Sputnikmusic	[14]

Reviews for Mankind Woman were mostly positive. Critics pointed out similarities with 1960s–70s rock influences including Jimi Hendrix, Cream and Led Zeppelin.^[4][2] 50ThirdAnd3rd praised the album, stating that, "With Mankind Woman, everything Brant Bjork has mastered throughout his career comes together in one cohesive album, celebrating who he is as an artist", while drawing comparisons to Hendrix, Deep Purple and Funkadelic.^[15] Some noted the more psychedelic and political tracks off the album including "Nation of Indica" and "Somebody".^[4][3] QRO explained how the sound of the album is more relaxed compared to the previous bands Bjork has been a member of.^[3] Metal Rules called the album "a very easy listening tome of Stoner and Desert music".^[2]

About the sound and inspiration of Mankind Woman, The Desert Sun noted that "The album actually reveals the Grateful Dead-Black Sabbath roots of Kyuss. "Charlie Gin" has a guitar sound like the 1968 Dead. He titled one song "1968" because the year fascinates Bjork, but it has that deep, sludgy guitar sound of Kyuss."^[16]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Chocolatize"			2:34
2.	"Lazy Wizards"			2:56
3.	"Pisces"			3:53
4.	"Charlie Gin"			2:11
5.	"Mankind Woman"			4:31
6.	"Swagger & Sway"			4:02
7.	"Somebody"	Dupree	Dupree	4:43
8.	"Pretty Hairy"	Sean Wheeler	Wheeler	3:53
9.	"Brand New Old Times"			2:04
10.	"1968"			3:14
11.	"Nation of Indica"	Bjork, Wheeler	Wheeler	4:48
Total length:				38:49

All tracks are written by Brant Bjork, except where noted. All music by Bjork and Bubba Dupree.^[1] Lead vocals by Bjork, except where noted

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.^[1]

• Brant Bjork – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
• Bubba Dupree – vocals, guitar, bass, percussion
• Sean Wheeler – vocals

Additional musicians

• Armand Sabal-Lecco – bass guitar on "Chocolatize"
• Nick Oliveri – additional backing vocals on "Chocolatize"

Credits

• Mastered by John McBain in San Francisco, CA
• Mixed by Bubba DuPree in Venice, CA
• Recorded & Engineered by Yosef Sanborn
• Sleeve Design by Robin Gnista

References

1. Brant Bjork (2018). Mankind Woman (CD liner notes). Rome, Italy: Heavy Psych Sounds Records. HPS083.
2. Levantis, Demitri (January 1, 2019). "Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman". Metal Rules. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
3. Infanger, Mike (December 21, 2018). "Brant Bjork: Mankind Woman". QRO. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
4. Swinhoe, Dan (September 13, 2018). "Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman". Ghost Cult. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
5. "Brant Bjork Premieres "Chocolatize" from Mankind Woman; Preorders up Today". The Obelisk. July 3, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
6. Kaye, Ben (August 20, 2018). "Brant Bjork shares the Origins of new song "Swagger & Sway": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
7. Kielty, Martin (August 31, 2018). "Listen to Brant Bjork's new song, 'Charlie Gin': Exclusive Premiere". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
8. "Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
9. "Brant Bjork drops new video for "Chocolatize" video off "Mankind Woman" album". The Rockpit. September 20, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
10. Dufour, Nathan (September 19, 2018). "Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman". KNAC. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
11. Wright, Holly (September 13, 2018). "Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman album review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
12. Campbell, Dave (October 1, 2018). "Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman". Metal Temple. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
13. Jaime, Denys (September 27, 2018). "Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman Review". MyGlobalMind. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
14. Stanciu, Raul (September 15, 2018). "Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
15. Aaron the Audiophile (October 1, 2018). "Brant Bjork – "Mankind Woman" Review". 50ThirdAnd3rd. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
16. Bruce Fessier (October 11, 2018). "Kyuss helped spawn desert rock scene in Europe. Brant Bjork is still coming to terms with that legacy". The Desert Sun. Retrieved March 10, 2023.