For King of the Road Fu Manchu dropped midrange tones completely, leaving only treble and a chockablock low-end. That production technique makes these songs sound like they’re being played on vintage speakers that are about to blow. Such was this group’s modus operandi. From “Hell on Wheels” to “King of the Road” to “Drive,” the riffs translate the feeling of pounding the pavement in high-octane vehicles. Meanwhile, “Blue Tile Fever” pays tribute to the Z-Boys, the gang of skateboarders who turned pool riding into a lifestyle in mid-'70s Los Angeles.