Suture up your future

Well here we have a little follow on the Queens of the Stone Age post I did a couple weeks back.

Their new album "Era Vulgaris" is pretty good stuff. At least the jewel case works well for doing lines off of. Inappropriate.

A few basic nuggets from the band via wikipedia:
Josh Homme describes the disc as "dark, hard, and electrical, sort of like a construction worker … it's like dirt, clearly seen." Era Vulgaris is latin for Common Era, but Homme says "it sounds like 'the Vulgar Era', which I like, because that sounds like something that I would like to be part of… I mean I think we're in it, and I'm stoked." A vulgar construction worker, got it. (I have no idea what that means)

The album is not as immediately accessible as Songs for the Deaf, but the riffs have a certain catchiness that become apparent through dedicated listening. Personally I enjoy the how the groovy feel of "Make it wit chu" segues into the Nirvana-like opening measures of "3's and 7's" via giant booming synthetic brass sounds.

I definitely agree with the Rolling Stone review, when it says in regards to a particular riff on the album -- "you realize it's here for one main reason, just like every other sonic flourish on Era Vulgaris: Josh Homme loves how it sounds."

Bottom line, after giving "Era Vulgaris" some heavy rotation, I gotta say the results are mixed. I don't think they are the same band without bassist Nick Olivieri. Not that that is a necessarily bad thing. On this album they brought in some heavy hitters, Trent Reznor, Julian Casablancas of the Strokes, some guy from ZZTop and former vocalist Mark Lanegan.

But on the album itself only Casablancas and Lanegan appear. After some internet detective work I have determined that Reznor was on the "title track" of the album, which was not included on the CD. Apparently it was leaked way back in April. I am so behind the times.

OK I just spent the past 45 minutes looking for that download and I finally got it. I guess I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Here it is the easy way, someone put it on Youtube.

I gotta admit, as annoying as that was looking for the download, it's kind of badass to not put the title track on an album, and the song is so money it doesn't even know it. Oh Trent Reznor, you are so edgy.

Apparently Era Vulgaris (the track, not the album) was sent out to 50 people who entered a contest on the QOTSA fansite thefade.net. The package also included this note.

Hello friend -

Thank you for accepting this gift. Included you will find the will to dance & the song ERA VULGARIS. It was pulled from the new album (of the same name) so that it could be to you and become an example of how we think "from now on" should be. As in - We do for you, you do for us.

So to start this relationship off, we have done for you. Now we ask this in return. Share this with friends you think we (you & us) would enjoy. Upload it and spray it like time released graffitti on the websites of places it does not belong.

– 'Dr Insider & QOTSA'

Kind of a "fuck you" to their record label(Universal) when the band pulls the title track (under the influence of Mr NIN I'm sure) off their album and send it out to the most hardcore of fans. It's just unfortunate that the song isn't more widely available. I blame the RIAA.

And in answer to their request, you can download the Era Vulgaris single here.

The fun machine took a shit and died

For my money, Queens of the Stone Age is one of the most underrated bands around. Critically acclaimed sometimes, their brand of stoner rock could be described by me as the red-headed stepchild of The Stooges and Led Zeppelin, with Frank Zappa as their weekend daddy.


Frontman Josh Homme says they wanted to create "a heavy sound based on a solid jam, and just pound it into your head"

Well said from the man who penned these lyrics:

Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, Marijuana, Ecstasy and Alcohol.
Cocaine.

Those are the only words in the entire song.
Combine that with their kind-of trademark driving bassline and you truly do create the "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" (off their second album, Rated R)


Many would refer to this type of music as "stoner rock" but Homme rejects the label due to his hatred of Monster Magnets' epic jam "Space Lord"
Just kidding, here's the real reason:

The term sucks. The only element of the audience I want to get rid of is the shirtless, sweaty, maxi-mullet jock dudes. We want sex to bleed into the music. At our shows, we want to see half boys and half girls in a utopian world, dancing and drinking.

Well said brother.

By far Queens of the Stone Age best album is "Songs for the Deaf" released in 2003. It was the only album with Dave Grohl on drums. And is widely-regarded as one of the best hard rock albums since the turn of the century. It's was described as "genre-demolishing" and QOTSA were hailed as our new metal gods. The opening track "You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire" kicks it off strong and fast, and it keeps going all the way until the final hidden ballad, "The Mosquito song" (warning: crazy amateur video)


You may remember the popular "No one knows" but for my money (And I feel like a Millionaire) Go with the Flow was its best single.



But after SOTD Grohl left the band to film more Mentos-themed videos for the Foo Fighters and bassist Nick Olivieri was kicked out for excessive partying or beating on his girl (internet searches inconclusive).

QOTSA then put out the somewhat lackluster and definitely depressing "Lullabies to Paralyze" in 2005.

But now they just released their fifth album with a fifth different line-up. Reviews I've read have been positive. So I picked it up today. How can you resist an album with cover art like this: