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View Full Version : [Stoner Rock]Queens of the Stone Age-Rated R


placidthought
07-03-2004, 11:59 PM
QOTSA is:
Josh Homme-Guitar, Vocals
Nick Oliveri-Bass, Vocals
Mark Lanegan-Vocals
Alfredo Hernandez-Drums

Nick and Josh from Kyuss deliver a great album that really didn't get the coverage it deserved. This is a much more mature and generally more impressive album than theif first, as mastermind Homme has surrounded himself with some great musicians like fellow Kyuss member Nick and former Screaming Tree vocalist Mark Lanegan. This is one of the few bands that uses downtuned guitars without neglecting the high end. Here's the songs.

1.Feel Good Hit of the Summer
A simple 1 note bass line opens this song, and then Josh comes in repeating "Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, Marijuana, Ecstasy and Alcohol" for the entire song. A decent song, but really its just kind of a kick off for the album
3/5
2.The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret
Fantastic bassline to this song with a good rhythm, both vocally and drumwise. This was the song that put QOTSA on the map, and was featured in a few movies if I'm not mistaken. Just a very good song with a nice little guitar solo in it. This is somewhat the song that defines QOTSA, if you don't like this song you won't like them.
5/5
3.Leg Of Lamb
Strange guitar riff in a song driven by a vocal rhythm. The lyrics are very interesting, and Nick cracks me up with his very low voiced comments throughout the song (Listen closely) A guitar solo that fits the song caps it off.
4/5
4. Auto Pilot
This is Lanegan's vocal debut on the album and he doesn't dissapoint. Very nice acoustics in the chorus and a very relaxing song. Lanegans scratchy voice fits this song perfectly and Homme adds very nice backing vocals.
5/5
5.Better Living through Chemistry
Bongos and a cool-as-holyhell disorted guitar riff starts this trippy song with Homme adding disorted vocals that seem to be inspired by the Matrix movies. The song stops, and starts back up again with a fast riff and then slows back down to end this song. A lot of people wouldn't like this song, but it's a personal fave of mine
5/5
6. Monsters in the Parasol
Rhythm, Rhythm, Rhythm...one note played in the verse with some nice but strange lyrics by Homme...Catchy is word I'd like to avoid do to its overuse, but its the best way to describe this song.
4/5
7. Quick and the Pointless
Oliveri's Vocal debut over a speed metal riff. A very fun song with some sexual innuendo in the lyrics. It's only 1:42 (As the title would indicate), but it's a cool little song and a nice departure from the more mellow stuff of the previous songs
8. In the Fade
A few power chords start this song, and then it kicks in to a very peppy verse sung by Homme and Nick with a very "cheery" bassline...Lanegan kicks in on the chorus with some powerful vocals. A lot like Auto Pilot, but still has its own nice flavor...and at the end, it kicks back into "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" to end it.
4/5
9. Tension Head
A very, very Metal (for QOTSA) song with Oliveri delivering some awesome screaming lyrics. This is the only "obsence" song on the CD. The guitars just rock and the song keeps up its pace. If you like this song, check out Nick's band Mondo Generator.
5/5
10.Lightning Song
This is a very nice little acoustic instrumental piece that I really enjoy, for some odd reason. Piano comes in a provides some nice support. A little repetitive, but short, and I give it some respect because I don't hear many instrumentals in rock anymore
3/5
11.I think I lost my headache
This is a very long, very trippy song (8 minutes). This song starts off slowly and goes into a heavy distorted riff with Homme on vocals. This song really showcases the downtuned guitars with an awesome riff. It then breaksdown into a very upbeat riff with brass instruments backing up. However, it starts to get very repetitive and boring, and really is kind of a poor way to cap off a good album
3/5

Overall:4/5 This album has a little bit of everything, and using 3 vocalists is very original and was pulled off very well. Nick and Mark will be missed by the fans because they add another level to an already good band. Definetly worth checking out. The album has its high points but its "completeness" makes it very good and throughly enjoyable.

This is my first review, I apologize for using the word "nice" so much, but it's a substitute for catchy. How'd I do?

Justanothernimrod
07-04-2004, 07:36 AM
You did good, but these are a new notes I made while reading:

Alfredo Hernandez was Kyuss's drummer too.

Josh Homme wanted the coverage the album got because he believes its better to come on slow that than explode into a massive pressure chamber.

"The Blue Pill Opens Your Eyes" doesnt nessecarily mean the song if influenced by the Matrix, I think it was a more general view of the superficialness of society, he just got reference from The Matrix.
And I think the song is actually a very approachable song because the absolute mastery everyone performs on it.

For the last ****ing time, the song is called "Quick and to the Pointless" and it most certainly isnt a speed metal riff. If anything, a jazz/rhythm and blues riff with heavy distortion.

I dont think QOTSA has a very very heavy side, 75% of 'Songs for the Deaf' is heavy metal and Kyuss was most of the time too. Its just another sound in thier repetoire. And "tension head" doesnt sound like anything that I know of that Mondo Generator have done.

And finally, although the fans will deftinately miss Nick and Mark, I really don't think thats going to stop Queens of the Stone Age being a great band. I really do believe the next album could be their paramount.

Otherwise, good for a frist review, deftinately. :thumb:

placidthought
07-04-2004, 01:56 PM
Yeah, some points I missed...Alfredo wasn't Kyuss original drummer though...

Tangy zizzle
07-04-2004, 05:10 PM
Nick Lucero, Gene Trautman and Josh played the drums on this album. Alfredo had nothing to do with it...

While this is my least favourite QOTSA album, I still think it was incredibley well done. I myself would give it a 4.4/4.5. I love the diversity of this record.

An Ok review, but good for first time.

Tangy zizzle
07-04-2004, 05:23 PM
Oh yeah... Queens' aren't a stoner rock band.

placidthought
07-04-2004, 06:21 PM
Well...the ashes of a stoner rock band...and Alfredo did tour for this album, so I probably got them confused

clown_phobia
07-04-2004, 06:44 PM
I've heard good things about queens of the stone age, and i was wondering - are they australian?

Scythe404
07-04-2004, 07:31 PM
Oh yeah... Queens' aren't a stoner rock band.

Agreed. Alt. Rock/Hard Rock (depending on certain tracks) fits them better, but they are such a band to themselves its hard to label them completely.

However thank you for the review. I did the Songs For the Deaf review(it was actually one of the first reviews here in the review board) and i've been waiting to see if someone else would get to the other ones.

Ophidian
07-04-2004, 11:43 PM
Good job...amazing album, definitely their most diverse. However, you need to go double check your sources on who's singing what. Nick does 'Auto Pilot' for one. And the line up is under constant changes throught the entire album. It's really just Nick and Josh that remain constant. Check the CD insert - it documents it very well.

Stoner rock is such a loose term, it's hard to really pin it down. But my definition is - "if it grooves, and it rocks at the same time - it's stoner". I also undestand that QOTSA dislike the term 'stoner rock' and prefer things like 'desert rock' instead...but who really cares? I don't - but i'll call it pop if they want me to, as long as they keep the music coming.

Justanothernimrod
07-05-2004, 05:57 AM
Yeah, it was Nick who sang, and played lead guitar incidentally, on Auto Pilot, but I believe Mark used to do it live?

either way, it is Nick's song.

Anyone seen the new Tomahawk video with Nick in it? its pretty cool :D