I just love the fuzzy guitar, vocal work and the real fast pace of this record. It never lets up, or at least hasn't yet.
Even as a big QOTSA fan, it took me a while to get into Era Vulgaris. I love it front to back now, but I definitely didn't "get it" for a long time.
Another thing I really appreciate is the ability of the drummer to not steal focus from the guitarist. It's clear that they're a very guitar-centric band. The drumwork on these records are the definition of 'beauty in the simplicity.' Has Grohl all over it (I know he drums on a handful of these tunes).
I've heard a lot of really chaotic, unhinged guitar work on this record, and "3's & 7's" is the beautiful apex of that motif. Talk about a fucking riff, and I'm always a sucker for a song sounding like it's in odd time but isn't. EDIT: The last minute of "Suture Up Your Future" is, from what I've heard so far, the best passage they've written. Holy hell
Get on board, everyone, I'm just spamming the fuck out of this thread tonight. Final thoughts on Era Vulgaris: Loved it. A hell of a lot. Drastically different from ...Like Clockwork, which I loved for the most part. This record was a lot more raucous and bombastic with a bit snottier vocals, all things I liked, but I did notice a pretty glaring lack of dynamics in this record (the quieter beginning of the closer made me realize just how little we'd gotten of 'soft' before that moment), with the last three songs being the ones I would declare the most 'out there.' But anything I felt could've been done better doesn't really matter too much, because this album gets a fuck ton right. Really unrelenting guitar work, face-slapping riffs from the first second to the closing one, so much fun to listen to. Again, great drums, a lot of Grohl/Steve Jordan-inspired 'making the most of a little bit' grooves and fills. And the streak of impressively tough vocal lines continues here. Grabbing some food, then moving on to Lullabies to Paralyze.
"Tangled Up In Plaid," track four off Lullabies, is the first one to really pull me in off this record. The first couple tracks felt like simpler, less-polished versions of Era tracks. But I'm digging this current track, it has a lot of theatrics and dynamics, especially in the drumwork. Not to mention that ripping fucking solo. God, this band has so many awesome closing guitar solos, I feel like I don't hear those from many other groups. EDIT: Lullabies is easily my least favorite of the three I've heard so far. Some very solid material in the back half with those longer tracks when they start letting things breathe a bit more, and "Plaid" was a front-end highlight, but overall, this just plays to me as a less-formed version of what they succeeded at on Era. I might be a bit partial to having less effects on the vocals and more on the guitars, which Lullabies has pretty much swapped.
"Broken Box" is a great little track, too, I must admit. Very timeless sound to it, like it's QOTSA's take on a CCR song or something. The handclaps, it's super hooky, idk, maybe i'm crazy
I see why you encouraged Songs for the Deaf first. This is easily their most 'likable' album. Talents are well on display, drums especially are on point (thanks, Dave), but a lot of this record screams 'if people know an album of ours, it's this one,' if that makes any sense. I also don't mean that as a slight ,haha.
Like, come on, the intro to 'Song for the Dead,' just all of that track really, is so fucking classic, haha.
Well, alright, just finished Songs for the Deaf. Another boss album from these guys, easily their most anthemic and straightforward, but pound for pound, likely the best collection of melodies/hooks/riffs that I've heard in their catalog yet. Really not much else to say about it that hasn't been said over the years, but now makes sense to me a little bit more since I've finally heard the record. Total classic. Alright, going to bed. Took down four of the six records in a night, pretty proud of myself. Will maybe get around to Rated R and the self-titled sometime soon just to say i did it. Fun spamming y'all, bye now
Hahaha, loving these posts @Cody !!! IMHO there has not been a better rock act than these guys in the 2000's. They are an absolute behemoth of a band, and, while there are plenty bands more popular, there are none that are better!
Yeah I thoroughly enjoyed reading your real-time reactions @Cody. Songs for the Deaf completely changed my outlook on rock music when I was a kid.
Rated R is so good. Especially "In the Fade." Also, once you're done with the QOTSA discography, be sure to listen to Them Crooked Vultures. Some of Homme's best work, imo.
For me it's probably 1. Songs for the Deaf 2. ... Like Clockwork 3. Lullabies To Paralyze 4. Rated R 5. Queens of the Stone Age 6. Era Vulgaris
I think Era Vulgaris may actually be my favourite - if you don't consider the 2 weak bonus tracks and just take 'the album' as being songs 1-11, there is nothing I would change about it at all. Into The Hollow the weakest track IMO and thats still great, Misfit Love one of their best songs ever, and that slide part in Turning on the Screw is a highlight of their whole discography!!!