Queens of The Stone Age are:
(Core Line-up)
Joshua Homme - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Nick Oliveri - Bass, Backing Vocals
Gene Trautman - Drums
(Additional players)
Mark Lanegan
Rob Halford
Dave Catching
Chriss Goss
Others...
Release: 2000
Label: Interscope
Producers: The Fiffiff Teeners
The Blurb
This is the second release from Joshua Homme's famed travelling circus of musicians. This is, however, the first album that really got them some mainstream notoriety ( with the singles
Feel Good Hit of The Summer and
Lost Art of Keeping a Secret. A much more daring, eclectic and experimental effort than their previous release of 1998, Rated R stands as one of the best mainstream rock releases of this decade.
The Review.
Feel Good Hit of The Summer
Album starts off with a bang. This isn't my personal favourite track, but I couldn't think of a better song to start the album. A punked up little number, that has, with the exception of a list of drugs, no lyrics. A simple, guitar driven number. 4/5
Lost Art of Keeping a Secret.
I do believe this was the first single off the album (could've been the previous track) and you can understand why it is. Undenialby catchy, with perfectly placed vibraphone hits that add something different to the song. This has a trademark Homme-riff, and also his trademark falsetto croon. A great track, with a simple but oh-so effective little solo at the end. 4.3/5
Leg of Lamb
The first song that really screams creativity, Leg of lamb sounds like Roy Orbison warbling over a Can song. This is such a robotic and dense track. It has a lot going on, but it's easy to follow everything. Usual QOTSA nonsensical lyrics grace this one. It's an emotionless song, but that isn't unusual for Homme. At around 1.50 the "chorus" comes in with some strange Talking Heads inspired noises behind the guitars. A real stand out song, one of the best Queens have put out. 5/5
Auto Pilot
This was the first QOTSA that Nick sang on. Probably the cruisiest and most laidback cut on the album. A simple chord/chord riff is backed up by Josh's uniquely toned guitar drones. The chorus is one of the catchiest, and probably the loviest (is that word?) on the disc. A great little acoustic interlude comes in at around half way, and then back to the usual song. A very well put together song. 4.5/5
Better Living Through Chemistry.
Hands down the best song on the album, and one of the best songs of Homme's career.
Better Living Through Chemistry is an epic affair, with some of the most intense, and menacing guitarring I've ever heard. This song would fit perfectly in the action-climax of a movie, or maybe as the sondtrack to a hallucination. The lyrics are blatantly laced with drug references. This song trly leaves you wanting more, and is like a drug in itself. At 2.15 some of the most driving, dense and immensely layered music you'll ever here reveals itself. The end of this song is like an acid comedown. Perfectly made, brilliantly put together. 5+/5.
Monsters In The Parasol
The simplest and most lighthearted song on the album. If you've seen the video then you know that this song isn't a serious affair, but a great song nonetheless. It may be simple, but is so so effective and bloody catchy. The most absurd lyrics of the disc are on this one( "Pauls dad is warped and bubbling"). Simple, but great. 4.5/5
Quick & To The Pointless
Nick's second song off the album. A very psychotic little number. Nick rambles on about little girls and boys, and how he shouldn't be with them, but goddammit he loves it! You can really hear the ecstacy in his voice. A fun song that is a great prelude to the next song. 4.2/5
In The Fade
The first time we hear Mark Lanegan sing with QOTSA, and what a song we get! Mark's voice is at it's gravelly best, and the lyrics even kinda make sense. As with most of these songs, it's very catchy and is riddled with great guitars. The bass is the real driving point of this song for me. The guitars channeling in and out over one another sounds terrific. Josh's backup vocals compliment Lanegan perfectly.Could've definately been a radio single, but it wasn't. The end of this song has a small rendition of the opening song which is strange. 5/5
Tension Head.
The best song Nick Oliveri's ever vocalised. Perhaps the most psychotic of this album and definately one of the best. This song done live is a real experience. The intensity of Nick's screams mixed with the ergency of the guitars work so well together. This song's riff will be captured in your mind for days. An amphetamine driven song, with a groove than you just can't stop shaking your arse to. 4.8/5
Lightning Song.
An odd song for Queens Of The Stone Age. 12 string guitar, bass, piano and strange drums make up the body of this song. Held together by the repetitive piano's. A change of pace and style that fit's surpisingly well in the overall scheme of the album. A filler track done well. 4.3/5
I Think I Lost My Headache
At 8.40 this is the longest of the album by far. One of the best songs Queens have put out. It has a similar sort of vibe to
Better Living Through Chemistry, but lacks the balls of that song. One of the words I've seen used to describe this song is meandering. It meanders, but it's meandering past the autobahn. This song has a creepy vibe, and I find the horns towards the end of this song a little disturbing. A surprisingly good song, and the horns add something fresh. A great track, but
just a little too long and drawn out. 4.9/5.
So there you have it. Probably the most ecclectic Queens of The Stone Age album so far. A truly creative and fresh record that never seems weak or played out.
My rating.
4.6/5.
