Disco de Queens of the Stone Age: “Songs for the Deaf [Australia]”

...points?!

Man oh man. I'm driving down Route 21, ripping along, and Queens of the StAge are playing. "Song for the Dead" comes on and there's this wicked riff, truly the musical embodiment of an evil grin, at about a minute-ten left. Chunky, salty, grinding, and I'm really into the pounding sound. Crash fade.

Three seconds later, THEY PLAY IT AGAIN. The best riff on the song, and they do it again, rip it up, and let you have it.

Oh man, that's a band that delivers the goods.

See, I'm a sucker for good formulas well executed. The interstitials of a guy pretending to tune in "Queens" songs and DJ talk-ups, I dig. I'm a huge Slayer fan, but "Six Shooter" is the best death metal song of 2002. I get it, I really do.

Haven't enjoyed something this thoroughly, through all the tracks of an album, since Kilgore released "Search for Reason". Sure, there's fourteen distinct tracks on here, and not every one is a balls-out rocker, but each song deserves headphones and some uninterrupted attention... unless you're driving down Route 21.

Then all ya need is track four. And play it baby, play it.

If you think "Corporate" and "rock" are two words that should never go together, then you should thank God for Queens of the Stone Age, one of the few bands keeping rock interesting. Although their first two albums were both terrific, this one is the culmination of all QOTSA have done in the past. Indeed, "Songs for the Deaf" seems to be a combination of the riff-heavy stoner metal of the debut and the eclectic, experimental approach of "Rated R." The result: an album chock full of twisted guitars, trippy vocals, and eccentric song structures, sure to please even the most discriminating rock fan.

The album fires out of the gate with the roaring "You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire," which gives me an uncontrollable urge to turn my car into a one-man mosh pit. From there, the goods come quickly, as the first five songs are all no less than terrific. "No One Knows" and "A song for the Dead" boast two of the most likeably wacky time signatures in recent rock memory. Much publicized addition Dave Grohl gets to show off his drum chops on the hard-driving "First it Giveth," while "The Sky is Fallin'" combines a heavy riff and laid-back vocals to great effect. Later, "Go With The Flow" introduces a pounding piano beat into the mix, and the result is just spectacularly infectious. "Do It Again" and "God is in the Radio," meanwhile, boast grooves so deep you could fall into them. I know I've mentioned just about every song by now, but they're all just so damn good it's hard to single any out. The guitars are great, and the bands multi-vocalist approach gives you a variety of sounds to chew on.

Now this isn't pop, and if you're the kind of person who forms an opinion about a song within one minute of the first listen, "Songs for the Deaf" might not be for you. But with a little close listening, it's pretty easy to settle into a groove. "Songs for the Deaf" is one of those rare rock albums that actually get better with time, and manage to hold your attention all the way through.

First off, I'm going to have to say that Queens Of The Stone age is the best, most original band to come out of the music scene in the last 6 or 7 years. They're truly original, and anyone who listens to their music knows that they are listening to something different.

Their latest offering, "Songs For The Deaf" is by far one of the best CD's I have ever heard. Not only does it sound great, but musically it's flat out incredible. I'm not a drummer, or even a Nirvana fan, but Dave Grohl is the man. This Album also shows the musical genius of Josh Homme, who writes almost all of the material. Anyone who slags this CD should take a step back and look at the music scene right now, and compare it to this band. Gorgeous harmonies, Josh Homme's sweet vocals, pummeling drums, and killer guitars make this CD a must have.

"You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire": 9/10. This track slams you into the CD, as it's maybe the heaviest song on here. With bassist Nick Oliveri doing his trademark depraved wildman howls, and Josh Homme playing simple, yet heavy and ballsy riffs, this song rocks.

Thanks, and hail to The Stone Age!!

This, the 3rd album from So. Cal robot-rockers Queens of the Stone Age has been largely recognized for the drumming presence of former Nirvana and current Foo Fighters member Dave Grohl, who picked up the sticks and played on all but one song on this amazing album. But although the drums can't be overlooked, the main draw into this album should be the diverse styles. It goes from screaming punk metal w/ Nick Oliveri on vocals to the soft growl of former Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan and back to Homme, the vocalist on the radio hit, "No One Knows". This is a concept album, it's supposed to be what you might hear on the radio on a drive from Los Angeles to the Joshua Tree in California, Queens of the Stone Age style. But even if you don't get the concept, if you "get" good music, then you should definitely "Get" this album.

Born from the ashes of the stoner rock band Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age does share some similarities to Kyuss. Yet Songs For The Deaf does not fall under the rubrick of stoner rock. It's more like alternative rock, in the tradition of Soundgarden's Superunknown and The Screaming Trees' Sweet Oblivion. It also recalls Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience to some extent.

Songs For The Deaf is quite diverse, from the screaming speed metal of You Ain't Worth A Dollar.., followed by slightly skewered pop songs like No One Knows and Go With The Flow, and the downright ominous God Is In The Radio and Song For The Deaf. It even goes into orchestration (Mosquito Song). The lyrics are dark and intelligent.

And man, does it rock. Homme's amazing guitarwork and laidback falsetto and Oliveri's awesome howls are accompanied by Dave Grohl's heroic drumming. The fact that he decided to go back on the kit in Songs For The Deaf is reason enough to buy this album right NOW.

My pick for favorite is the excellent Song For The Dead, a 6-minute track packing great guitar runs, bursts of organ, incredible drumming, and ominous moaned vocals. Not a single wasted note anywhere, and you will want to hear it over and over again.

Songs For The Deaf is not perfect--Six Shooter is pointless and Another Love Song and Gonna Leave You are poppy, redundant soundalikes. The fake DJ interludes, while amusing the first few listens, can become annoying. But if you're tired of all the nu-metal junk flooding the airwaves, buy your copy of Songs For The Deaf and crank the volume knob up high.