Mankind Woman
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Mankind Woman
| type = studio
| artist = Brant Bjork
| cover = MankindWomanBrantBjork.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2018|9|14}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = Zainaland, Twentynine Palms, California
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = 38:49
| label = Heavy Psych Sounds
| producer = Bubba Dupree
| prev_title = Europe '16
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Jacoozzi
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Mankind Woman
| type = studio
| single1 = Chocolatize
| single1date = {{start date|2018|7|3}}{{cite web|url=https://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2018/07/03/brant-bjork-mankind-woman-chocolatize-premiere/|title=Brant Bjork Premieres "Chocolatize" from Mankind Woman; Preorders up Today|website=The Obelisk|date=July 3, 2018|access-date=November 28, 2022}}
| single2 = Swagger & Sway
| single2date = {{start date|2018|8|20}}{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2018/08/brant-bjork-swagger-sway-origins/|title=Brant Bjork shares the Origins of new song "Swagger & Sway": Stream|first=Ben|last=Kaye|website=Consequence|date=August 20, 2018|access-date=November 28, 2022}}
| single3 = Charlie Gin
| single3date = {{start date|2018|8|31}}{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/listen-to-brant-bjorks-new-song-charlie-gin-exclusive-premiere/|title=Listen to Brant Bjork's new song, 'Charlie Gin': Exclusive Premiere|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|first=Martin|last=Kielty|date=August 31, 2018|access-date=November 28, 2022}}
}}
}}
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.
The album is notable for its primary songwriting collaboration with Low Desert Punk Band guitarist Bubba Dupree.{{cite web|url=https://heavypsychsounds.com/shop.htm#HPS083|title=Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman|website=Heavy Psych Sounds|access-date=August 4, 2022}} A music video was made for the lead single "Chocolatize".{{cite web|url=https://www.therockpit.net/2018/brant-bjork-drops-new-video-for-chocolatize-video-off-mankind-woman-album/|title=Brant Bjork drops new video for "Chocolatize" video off "Mankind Woman" album|website=The Rockpit|date=September 20, 2018|access-date=August 3, 2022}}
Reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = Ghost Cult
| rev2 = KNAC
| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=30023|title=Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman|first=Nathan|last=Dufour|website=KNAC|date=September 19, 2018|access-date=June 18, 2024}}
| rev3 = Metal Hammer
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/brant-bjork-mankind-woman-album-review|title=Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman album review|magazine=Metal Hammer|first=Holly|last=Wright|date=September 13, 2018|access-date=March 5, 2023}}
| rev4 = Metal Rules
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metal-rules.com/2019/01/01/brant-bjork-mankind-woman|title=Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman|first=Demitri|last=Levantis|website=Metal Rules|date=January 1, 2019|access-date=August 4, 2022}}
| rev5 = Metal Temple
| rev6 = MyGlobalMind
| rev7 = QRO
| rev8 = Sputnikmusic
| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/77943/Brant-Bjork-Mankind-Woman|title=Brant Bjork – Mankind Woman|first=Raul|last=Stanciu|website=Sputnikmusic|date=September 15, 2018|access-date=August 3, 2022}}
}}
Reviews for Mankind Woman were mostly positive. Critics pointed out similarities with 1960s–70s rock influences including Jimi Hendrix, Cream and Led Zeppelin. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.50thirdand3rd.com/brant-bjork-mankind-woman-review|title=Brant Bjork – "Mankind Woman" Review|website=50ThirdAnd3rd|author=Aaron the Audiophile|date=October 1, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2023}} Some noted the more psychedelic and political tracks off the album including "Nation of Indica" and "Somebody". QRO explained how the sound of the album is more relaxed compared to the previous bands Bjork has been a member of. Metal Rules called the album "a very easy listening tome of Stoner and Desert music".
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."{{cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/music/2018/10/11/kyuss-co-founder-adjusts-legacy-progenitor-desert-rock-scene/1395596002|title=Kyuss helped spawn desert rock scene in Europe. Brant Bjork is still coming to terms with that legacy|website=The Desert Sun|author=Bruce Fessier|date=October 11, 2018|access-date=March 10, 2023}}
Track listing
{{Tracklist|
| all_writing = Brant Bjork, except where noted. All music by Bjork and Bubba Dupree. Lead vocals by Bjork, except where noted
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = Chocolatize
| length1 = 2:34
| title2 = Lazy Wizards
| length2 = 2:56
| title3 = Pisces
| length3 = 3:53
| title4 = Charlie Gin
| length4 = 2:11
| title5 = Mankind Woman
| length5 = 4:31
| title6 = Swagger & Sway
| length6 = 4:02
| title7 = Somebody
| lyrics7 = Dupree
| extra7 = Dupree
| length7 = 4:43
| title8 = Pretty Hairy
| lyrics8 = Sean Wheeler
| extra8 = Wheeler
| length8 = 3:53
| title9 = Brand New Old Times
| length9 = 2:04
| title10 = 1968
| length10 = 3:14
| title11 = Nation of Indica
| lyrics11 = Bjork, Wheeler
| extra11 = Wheeler
| length11 = 4:48
| total_length = 38:49
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Mankind Woman|author=Brant Bjork|year=2018|type=CD liner notes|publisher=Heavy Psych Sounds Records|id=HPS083|location=Rome, Italy}}
- 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"