Brant Bjork is a name mentioned with a certain amount of reverence in the Stöner community. He has had his hand in so many projects over the years, it is hard to keep track. Kyuss, Fu Manchu, solo work, and a multitude of projects that we may never know about. So, when he teamed up with Nick Oliveri, it was logical that another long, strange trip was ours to enjoy. Well, mostly.
Make no mistake, Stöner’s performance in the Mojave Desert is great Stoner Metal. Fat bass and guitar, along with the trudging drums are everything we expect from these seasoned gentlemen. But that’s the thing. The show is largely a slow burn, but never quite igniting. One of the repeated lines in the opening track is “shit don’t change…” Perhaps a bit of unintentional foreshadowing?
To be fair, there are plenty of great moments. “Own Yer Blues” is a deliciously funky bluesy number and Bjork’s salivary gravel delivery is spot on (as these things go.) “Tribe/Fly Girl,” with its seriously catchy bassline is fifteen minutes of Stoner paradise. All in all, a solid performance.
You will have no trouble losing yourself in these tunes. Not a bad track in the bunch, but if you find yourself asking, “Is there more?” …well, the answer is yes, actually there is. I encourage you to listen to this set, but also to search further. There is always another plane to explore.
