Reviews (page 4 of 9)
I like this album, and it was the first time I heard it all the way through in a while. It's good and I'm glad I listened to it again. But I like some of the later QofSA stuff a little bit more.
Hey, that's pretty good :nods:
Definitely sounds like QOTSA but certainly a lot more raw. Good stuff
Like Radiohead, my knowledge of Queens of the Stone Age is more limited than I’d thought. I really only knew the classics like “No One Knows,” “Make It Wit Chu,” and “I Sat by the Ocean” coming into this listen, so their first album (which was apparently released only a couple of weeks after I was) is new to me. They start strong in “Regular John,” establishing their almost pleading sound that has come to define their vocal style. Other tracks hint at dystopian undertones from “free range humans all cooped up” in “Avon” to “a world that’s full of shit and gasoline, babe” in “Mexicola.” I’m impressed at the three pure instrumentals in the back half of a debut album. The six-plus minute “Spiders and Vinegaroons” is the best of them, and while it can’t decide whether it’s a cult-like western chant or a spooky space odyssey, that indecisiveness might just be a positive. This isn’t a record full of hits, but it does set the stage for a rock band that has enjoyed success for more than two decades since. It has enough consistency to work to and enough variety to stay interesting. Maybe I should listen to these guys more often.
Not their finest due to the recording quality. They improved massively later.
Pretty funny how they got it right first time of asking. Rock and roll ain't hard - some low-slung, pulverizing riffs, vocals thick with attitude and drums that sound ready for take-off. Another thing - this sounds so good on a decent set of speakers. Really full but also full of space. The fuzzed up bass is a really nice touch, seems to make everything else appear a mite bigger. Great!
Not even in my top 3 Queens records, but what a pleasant surprise to see this on the list at all. Maybe we'll get one of the Kyuss records? Nah, who am I kidding. Anyway, the guitar and drums make me happy. I just like that sound. I like that the riffs lean repetitive and heavy, like it's just almost metal, and yet it for sure is something else entirely. "How to Handle," "Mexicola," and "Hispanic Impressions" are a stellar trio in the middle of this sandwich. They'd get better at writing choruses and songs in general, but the seeds of what's to come are definitely sticking up in the soil here. Flip it to the neck pickup, crank the fuzz and have at it.
Good album, really worth it to listen on headphones.
Good, but not great
major riffage, i dig
This is good, but has alot of fluff. I know there are significantly better albums out there by this band, so odd choice to put on list
I'm a sucker for fuzz guitar, and this album has plenty of that. That and big, crunchy bass, which also gets me. This album reminds me of a modern take on one of the earlier Black Sabbath albums, and that isn't a bad thing, despite my pretty mixed views of Black Sabbath. My partner was not a fan of this album despite both of us being big fans of Them Crooked Vultures' (currently) sole album, which surprises me, because listening to this, I don't see what this doesn't have that that album does. Just really enjoyable. I'm actually pretty close to giving this a five, but there's just some small things holding it back such as the goofier sounding instrimental track, the straight up creepy sounding ending, and the realitive repetitiveness of it all, it could stand to be shorter. Otherwise, really enjoyed this, and if this is a weak QotSA record according to some fans, then I really need to give their discography a listen.
I don't know much of anything about QOTSA, aside from some people telling me I look like Josh Homme. This is their debut, and for a debut it's extremely confident. Some killer riffs, lots of exploratory guitar work and sounds. I especially loved the weird, freakout noises that close out the album, what a way to end things. Enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Solid rock album for sure. Favorite tracks: Regular John, If Only, You Would Know, Spiders and Vinegaroons, I Was a Teenage Hand Model. Album art: A bit risque if I do say so myself. It's the scantily-clad torso of a woman. I've seen this before, it's memorable for sure but the image quality, is it this low everywhere? No idea. But a good cover. 4/5
Fun album, not my favorite QOTSA album, Rated R and Songs for the Deaf being the top contenders. Lot of fun riffs on If Only, Avon , How to Handle a Rope.
The behemoth begins.
Jullie hadden vast een weddenschap staan: die Leo R. vindt dit vast niks. Maar neuh, ik heb deze nu al een paar keer geluisterd. Okee, niet met het volume op 10. Toch vind ik het eigenlijk best goed. Zou het de positieve invloed zijn van het luisteren van deze top-1001? Dit soort muziek is het lekkerst als er levenslust uit spreekt.
Damnit. I deleted my review on accident. Anyway, Regular John stands out immediately due to its sampling on Skepta's "Man" (great song btw). As for the song itself, it was fine, but didn't really go anywhere. Avon starts with some metallish guitar riff progression and falls into a grungy midsection that evokes Alice In Chains with less angst. Fine song all said. If Only is a rock song. I can tell by the way that it is. Production drowns out the guitar noodling in a layer of fuzz, which I find an interesting choice. I actually really like Walkin on the Sidewalks. Something about the riff works to propel the song and makes me want to nod along. Once again, getting some Alice In Chains vibes. You Would Know is kind of boring, but forgivable. Also, interesting to find a bonus track in the middle of an album; The Bronze is a jammy adventure that has some elements that make me think of Dismemberment Plan. One of the best from Side A. Mexicola makes me think of Tool for some reason. I think it is the similarity of the bass line to Schism during the intro. Hispanic Impressions is a pretty interesting instrumental jam. I'm about it. You Can't Quit Me Baby is a low key jam. Sludgy for the most part, but gives way to some smooth guitar solo work at the end that descends rapidly into chaos. Has a sort of jazz-fusion quality to it. Droids is a proggy sludge-fest instrumental -- feels like something Umphrey's would fill with. All in all, I'm more into this album that I expected from the outset. 4/5
Straight forward, no big derivations, it‘s plain and a bit too simple but also kind of intriguing. Sometimes a bit too Proto-Foo Fighters but towards the 2nd half it gains a groovy density (also due to the accoustic dominated pieces). 3.7
The sound they have in this album is like what I think of when I think of 90's/early 2000's rock music. I like the sound that they have going on but it kinda drags on. It is a 1-hour album but it feels like 1.5x as long. If it was trimmed down I would give it a better review. This is a high 3/5
Queens of the Stone Age's self-titled debut album is a relentless and powerful sonic assault that sets the stage for their distinct brand of desert rock. Released in 1998, it showcases their heavy guitar riffs, aggressive rhythms, and Josh Homme's commanding vocals. Tracks like "Regular John" and "Avon" highlight the band's raw energy and captivating songwriting. The album's production is gritty and unpolished, adding to its raw appeal. While it may not reach the same level of refinement as their later releases, Queens of the Stone Age is a thrilling and gritty introduction to the band's signature sound, making it a must-listen for fans of hard-hitting rock music.
This album reminds me of the time that the guy from Queens of the Stone Age kicked that woman photographer in the face during a performance and somehow completely got away with it.
This is a good band I'd like to explore more.
Je ne m'attendais vraiment pas à un album avec un son si stoner que ça, mais c'est accueilli à bras ouvert. C'est pas l'album le plus lourd que j'ai entendu, mais c'est rafraichissant comme son et c'est le genre parfait pour introduire quelqu'un à ce style. Généralement j'ai trouvé les compositions intéressantes et l'album s'écoutait tout seul. Je préfère grandement cela à ce que QOTSA ont fait dernièrement. 8/10
Groovy melodic heavy music.
I thought this was an odd choice for the single QOTSA album on the list. It’s a good album but it’s not quite the polished product that would come later.
When Suede broke up, they must have given all their fuzz boxes to the Queens of the Stone Age. Everything has fuzz, even the bass. This album rocks. 3.75 stars.
I am glad I found this album. I never paid much attention to QOTSA but if this album is any indication, I will have to listen more.
Queens of the Stone Age is a band I’ve always respected but never quite enjoyed. Their brand of rock is just a bit heavy for me. But I’ve always found that what they do with that brand to be really off-the-beaten-path, unique, intricate, and often not that heavy at all. Like the Thom Yorke-like falsetto Josh Homme often adopts in songs like “Regular John,” not to mention the metronoming bleeps and bloops. I’ve also always been a big fan of the band’s percussionists and drum patterns. There’s a driving, post-punk flavor to it that blends nicely with the hard rock overtones. In a quote, Homme described his new music with QOTSA as “this [Can inspired] trance rock music that you can dance to,” which is rad and honestly similar to what other post-grunge rock bands and post-post-punk bands were doing all through the mid aughts—see Meet Me in the Bathroom. This is just the California-desert-meets-Seattle flavor of that. So cool. I guess everyone at the top of the century just wanted to dance!! The more I listen to this the better and better it is. It’s really closer to stoner rock than hard rock. This band is having fun. You can hear it. And I’m having fun listening. Grooving even. It’s long, and the songs do blend into one at times. But the highs that bring me back to focus—like “You Can’t Wait Me Baby”—are HIGH. And the rest just soundtracked this Wednesday morning nicely in the background. Overall, really enjoying this and excited I’m coming around on this band and to dig into the rest of their acclaimed discography! Also—re: Jacobs note on Moondance’s many absurd deluxe editions—be very careful not to listen to the re-release version of this on Spotify! The original album is 15 minutes shorter and has WAY cooler album art. Mostly highs so rounding up 4/5 on this.
Un classique d'un de mes groupes préférés
PREFS : Regular John, Avon, If Only, Walkin' on the Sidewalks, How to Handle a Rope, Mexicola, You Can't Quit Me Baby MOINS PREF: Hispanic Impressions
Loads of solid, recognisable riffs. Enjoyed this one
Liked this, but need to listen again I think
early QOTSA, not fully refined yet, but still good.
Having listened to a lot of newer QOTSA lately, it was nice to throw it back to their roots. The guitar sound is so hard and smooth at the same time. I love the instrumental song.
Erg lekker. Ik ken de artiest natuurlijk maar verder vrij weinig. Maar dit was een heel fijn album, al helemaal tijdens het klussen. Ik vond het alleen nergens excelleren (kan ook zijn doordat het pas de eerste keer luisteren is), dus daarom 4 sterren.
This is where I get really critical of dimery’s picks for the book as yeah this is a good album but it’s only the 4th best qotsa album, ranking going like this: 1) songs for the deaf 2) rated r 3)…like clockwork 4) this album I think like clockwork may be on here but I’m honestly not even too sure of that but songs for the deaf is the easy pick for this band and it’s ludicrous that it wasn’t picked over this. This album is good though it’s just a bit less interesting and unique as the other qotsa albums I mentioned 4/5.
Musically, this album builds on the type of slow, churning guitar rock of the Melvins with a bit of Soundgarden mixed in to liven things up. It fuckin really works. I like this album a lot more than I thought I was going to 4/5
The first three QoSA albums are all very good albums 4/5. This one starts off great, but then the songs become a bit too similar. My vote in 1998: 4/5 and Kyuss = 5/5 My vote in 2023: exactly the same.
I love the massive stoner sound. Unfortunately the high level of the first part is not maintained throughout the whole album. QOTSA have made better albums, in particular Songs for the Deaf. I hope that is also on the list.
Genres: Desert rock, stoner rock, hard rock Formed: 1997 Run time: 14 songs, 60 min I enjoyed the instrumental Hispanic Impressions, although I don’t know what was Hispanic about it. I was expecting something Santanna like. The last track "I Was a Teenage Hand Model" starts very chilled and relaxed then ends with some electronic sound effects straight from 70’s sci-fi. It certainly wakes you up and brings you back to reality. The least played tracks have over 2M plays on Spotify. The most played are almost 20M, so they’re a popular band. My Rating: ****
90s baby. Love it.
A surprisingly good album. Nice psychedelic feel with guitars that seep slowly and smoothly into your brain. A nice surprise for me from a band whose sound fits me like a well tailored suit. 4 stars
4.0
Actually great rock, but the lyrics were not great.
Ouvir com headphones é melhor, dá pra perceber a.separação de canais. Stoner Rock deve ser melhor "sob influência" mesmo. Às vezes soa repetitivo. A que eu mais gostei foi If Only.
Thought that this was a great album, for someone that has barely listened to the band. I love the vocals and overall sound of the band. I do wish there was at least one known song, though. 8/10.
Great noise
I was expecting more. Most of the songs were interesting, but none of them really stuck a hook into me. Still cool enough for four stars
ein klassiker
Good. Bit samey perhaps.
A very enjoyable rock album. More sophisticated than stoner rock often ends up being. Still, the album tends to get a bit too boggy and droning toward the end. I'd enjoy it more in smaller doses.
I like this album. I was only familiar with the Songs For The Deaf Album.
ooh, first album for massive band. this goes one of two ways, the first album is by far and away their best and they then proceed to churn out generic stadium drivel to their already formed massive fanbase and lose everything that made them interesting, or in the case of qotsa (and others) you have an album form a band (or just josh and a drummer) finding its feet, learning their craft and finding what makes them and their fans tick. if this was the first time i'd heard this album i would be keen to listen to other albums form them.
Boring Brian walks into a bar a little after 8pm. He orders a beer and sits back in a chair. He notices a familiar face in the corner of the room. He cannot believe his luck. He walks to the bathroom, staring at the man in the corner. He has lost all composure and splashes his face with water. He checks he pulls out a gun, stuffs it down his pants and exits the bathroom. He approaches the familiar man. The man becomes agitated and asks what's going on. He does not remember the face of the man stood before him. It had been 20 years. Boring Brian never thought he'd get this opportunity. He offers his name to the man, but he remains non the wiser. Brian explains where he knows him from. A juvenile detention centre. The man had been a prison guard who had an eye for young boys. He tormented and abused him to within an inch of his life. Brian smiled, pulled out his gun and shot the man 37 times in the head and chest. He settles his bar tab and leaves.
Yeah, sound.
i don't know what to really talk about in my review, partly because this is the first time i've listened to queens of the stone age for more than one song and because queens' style is unlike anything i have ever heard before. they createD such a unique sound. the instrumentals are amazing--the drums seem to always, always stand out, but the guitar is well done, too. they get a little weird at times, like at the end of "i was a teenage hand model" with static and other noise and it isn't always great. but on the whole, a great listen.
I can't really fully explain why, but QotSA have always kind of done it for me. I love the edgy, unique instrumentals combined with the kind of lazy, soaring drawl of the vocals. Hypnotic musical qualities permeate throughout with a fair amount of dirty post-grunge metal sound. What results is some kind of weird rock sound that is just slightly off kilter from the rest of what rock has. Nearly every track hits the mark here. This is another example of a band that tuned into their sound early in their careers; QotSA continues to push this sound in their music and highly succeed with it. They continue to be fairly unique, as well; this music was alternative when it came out, and it is still alternative by today's standard, never quite getting absorbed by mainstream rock sound. This album is also incredibly impressive when you further consider that only two band members put this together, one member playing drums and the other playing every other instrument and singing.
This definitely has "something" - I can't say I'm sure what.
Qotsa is always nice!
As others have said it's not as good as SFTD but I did really like it. Highlights for me were "Mexicola" and "Regular John".
Only ever listened to songs for the death before... Which is quality Really liked most of this too. Some towards the end was a bit different and experimental sounding but most of it sounded exactly how I would expect a qotsa album to sound.. Nothing new here really, which is no bad thing if you like their sound, and I do! Songs for the death is better though
I've been a fan of QOTSA for a couple of years now but for some reason I'd never listened to their debut the full way through before. Regular John, If Only and Mexicola are stand outs to me. Overall it's a very solid album, although some songs were a little boring in places. Definitely doesn't come close to ... Like Clockwork, but definitely an enjoyable album regardless.
Did not listen to this queens of the stone age album before, it was a bit more raw, but I liked it.
4.5/5. Only QOTSA album that I haven’t listened to yet, amazing.
I hadn't listened to the 1st album, it was fantastic!
Love it.
This is fuzz heaven. Great riffs delivered with raucous and distorted abandon. The vocals could perhaps be stronger, but it’s a really terrific first album by this group.
listened to again raw and unfiltered 90s rock
more like stoned age
Having this here makes me curious about the inclusion criteria for the book. Should QOTSA be represented? Absolutely. Is this an interesting album? It is. (The phrase "math-grunge" popped into my head for one of the tracks.) Should QOTSA be in the list more than once? Probably not, in my view. And is this better than Rated R or Songs for the Deaf? I'd find that a hard argument.
Terrible album cover, great music. Second best Qotsa record?
Man this is some satisfying rock! This is another band that I've heard so much about, but i guess i heard one song i didn't like and just wrote them off. Plus the album cover is really creepy - don't want that to pop up in carplay in the minivan with the kids! Anyway, the crunchy guitar, I can't get enough of, and plenty of rockin' hooks and fun rhythms, just a clean sound that makes me want to be productive.
I like grunge but it wasn't that interesting
sludgy guitar rock was nice but nothing special— the more experimental electronic bits take it from a 3 to a 4 for me
Rated r is my favorite but this album rips. Over and over found myself bobbing my head to the next song. Will probably pick this one up next time I see it in a record store
3.5/5. This is good. I didn’t know what to expect coming into this, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Love Queens of the Stone Age, but never actually listened to this one. I started with Songs for the Deaf and have kept up going forward. Haven't spent much time listening to their earlier work, but that will change. Can definitely see how they have evolved over time while staying true to their roots. Some songs were a tad repetitive or not really ear-catching but for the most part, solid debut album.
Drones in places, but overall great!
Can hear the makings of early Alt-rock here will be another album I’ll be looking to add to my collection
7/11/2022 - ALBUM #165 Today's Album: "Queens Of The Stone Age" by Queens Of The Stone Age - Queens Of The Stone Age is a band that I have heard held in high regard and their albums Like Clockwork and Songs For The Deaf being acclaimed as some of the best modern rock albums. Now from my personal experience, I turned on Like Clockwork a few years ago and flat out didn’t get it so I turned it off. Now, with hopefully a bit more of an open mind when it comes to music, I have to say I walked away from this album, their debut album, with a lot of excitement and eager to hear what they did next. Now, unfortunately I won’t have an opportunity within these 1089 albums to cover their later works as they aren’t included, but with how promising this piece was, I can only imagine scores in 8s and 9s for them. Now why is this album getting me so excited for their next albums? This album just has such a great sound to it. From the blasted out guitars that are mixed perfectly between the channels, to the crisp, clear, and at times insane drum playing, to the chunky and dirty basslines, the mix just hugs your ears from start to finish. From the starting riffs off of Regular John it’s apparent that this album is going to play around to what’s going into your ears. It’s such the case in fact that I feel like my second listen over headphones far exceeded the experience of my first listen over speakers because the mix is just built for it. The whole project just has such a great sound to it and the playing is so unwaveringly lively and full of personality. When this band is firing on all cylinders like they do on many of the highlights here, it sounds like the best possible mix of messy grunge aesthetics/experimentation and clean, almost alt-rock-esque songwriting. However, there are some moments on this record where it feels like the band isn’t cranking out their best stuff and the overall immaturity of the group starts to show. For instance, the track Walkin on the Sidewalks feels sort of off with these clunky rhythms and some bass and guitar riffs that are a bit too harsh to be replayed for as long as they do. Another track that’s a bit weaker than the bunch is These Aren’t the Droids You’re Looking For, which starts with a bunch of abrasive and random riffing that’s thrown around from channel to channel and once the song opens up, the guitar tone is just really shrill and piercing to the ear. It starts on the right channel and is somewhat of a cute addition, but as soon as you think it should be wrapping up, it spreads to both channels and makes the rest of the track practically unlistenable. I wouldn’t say all of the sub-pat tracks are necessarily bad, but these moments merely highlight the band exploring and experimenting with their sound and not quite having all the ins and outs worked out yet. Their batting average overall with this album is pretty strong with standout tracks like Regular John, Mexicola, and Spiders and Vinegroons, so the overall listening experience is hardly tainted by the tracks that don’t hit the ear as nicely. Overall, this album is full of kickass moments and some really well crafted songs, both musically and sonically. Although there are some moments that drag this record down, they mostly come across as a byproduct of this being the band’s debut project and only help to strengthen my excitement and anticipation for listening to their later works. Give this one a listen if you’ve heard of this band and want to hear an early and pretty raw demonstration of their sound. Highlights: Regular John, The Bronze, Mexicola, Hispanic Impressions, You Can’t Quit Me Baby, Give the Mule What He Wants, Spiders and Vinegaroons, I was a Teenage Hand Model Score: 7/10 Kickass debut album from a band that only went up from here
I am a huge Kyuss fan, and really liked the more rockin' QOTSA albums. I am surprised that this is the only QOTSA album on the list, and especially given that it has been so hard to find, and made (frankly) little impression. But it is a bit of a transitional piece, with some recognizable Kyuss qualities (yay!) and a clear indication of where QOTSA was heading. Josh Homme's guitar and vocals are distinctive, and his penchant for a nice vocal melody make his work int he field of heavy rock stand out. I am really surprised that they chose this record over Rated R or Songs for the Deaf (which are in this mold, but also sold a gazillion copies, at a time when rock was not fashionable). 4/5 would recommend, would listen again, would buy.
Yes I love this! Maybe I am a bit biased cause I listened to a lot of QOTSA growing up. But I just love this grimey-sounding rock music.
Wish it would have been a later qotsa album, but I can understand this choice. I do like their newer stuff more, but this is still a really good album.
Not enough to hold my attention but loved the sprawling feel.
At first this sounded like basic 90s rock music-definitely stoner rock-but then the last track of the album really elevated the whole thing for me and made me go back and listen to parts of the album again. So hats off to I was a teenage hand model for getting this album from a 3 to a 4
trur dette er det quotsa albumet eg har høyrt minst på
Pure guttural rock
Not my favorite QOTSA album, but it's still enjoyable.
The mere fact that this list includes the eponymous first album by Queens Of The Stone Age and NOT *Songs For The Deaf* speaks TONS about Dimery and his collaborators' shortsightedness sometimes. This one here is a good record, no doubt about that. But everything in *Songs For The Deaf*--the sound, the songwriting, the performances--is at least TWICE better in that later, far more legendary album. And even for a second slot in a ranking of the band's discography, *Rated R* is actually probably more convincing overall than *Queens of The Stone Age*. It thus seems that stoner rock here joins the other genres where this list is quite wrong (jazz, post rock, punk hardcore, post-hardcore, metal hardcore...), either leaving out key albums of said genres or just lazily quoting first efforts by a few famous acts without ever trying to dig further into the close future to highlight the real true gems in those acts' discography. Dimery and friends only really do so for indie rock and britpop, sometimes with a few bizarre choices that don't necessarily make sense in the light of those other blatant omissions elsewhere. I blame some sort of shortsightedness that's clearly British in its origin--the *1001 Albums...* book's writers are all British, aren't they? It's not that American critics are right all the time either. But being French, and from this particular point of view, I think that a middle ground could be reached so as to find a more balanced view of recent music history in a (mostly) anglo-saxon context. Of course, all those considerations couldn't be further removed from the contents of this album (and its kinky cover). This record here is a nice entry point into the Stoner Rock/ Desert Rock sound of QOTSA (or even other bands like that). Go listen to it if you don't know that sort of sound yet, and if you're interested in motorik highways, heavy guitar riffs, tales of desert desperados, and mellifluous vocals mixed with a few howling and yellings here and there... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 893 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 57 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 28 (including this one--*Songs For The Deaf* should be included *first*) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 23
These queens don't miss, I tell ya hwat boy!
Pretty impressive. This was a great example of grunge. Sounds like it was late enough in the movement to benefit from a lot of different influences, and early enough that it wasn't yet cliche.
Ah, fiilaan Kyussia ja tää on mukavan lähellä sitä. Tunnelma ihan mint aavikko ja hiekka. Tasaisempi kuin Qotsan hittilevyt.
Bändi on kyllä saavuttanut jonkinlaisen klassikkorockin kulminaatiopisteen. Rouheaa jytää, 4/5.
I love the overall atmosphere of the first few QOTSA albums. The driving drums, fuzzy guitar, and Homme's vocal performance make for a tasty treat.
A long time Kyuss fan and I also had a copy of the split album so Spiders and Vinegaroons was a standout for me on these listens. I did enjoy the opening track and maybe I need to spend a bit more time with QotSA so I'll bump this to a 4.
Great stoner rock - riffs, solos, weird subject matter and some amazing song titles. Best Tracks: Regular John; If Only; Mexicola
Why have I never gotten into Queens of the Stone Age? Better late than never.
It’s impressive to see how solid QOTSA was since the beginning of their career. All their characteristics elements are there, thou not fully developed, but can be perceived.
My Queens of the Stone Age experience began with their second, "Rated R," and third, "Songs for for the Dead," albums. This is their debut. Written and performed by Alfredo Hernandez (drums) and Josh Homme (everything else) in the wake of their band Kyuss. Put in the Stoner Rock category. I definitely hear that but would just call it hard rock. Trance-like rhythm guitars and a grunge-like rhythm section drive these songs. This is basically a more raw and less guitar complex version of their next two albums which is fine with me since their next two albums are great. To say their lyrics are cryptic would be a generous use of cryptic. I would say most songs are about sex and some aspects of relationships but....again, this is classified as Stoner Rock. "Regular John" starts the album and is maybe the most "Queens of the Stone Age" song I've heard with its driving guitars: a definite rocker. Other song highlights, "Walkin on the Sidewalks" - three guitars, more heavy and grungy, "Hispanic Impressions" - impressive instrumental and "You Can't Quit Me Baby" - nice Stoner vibe, tempo changes. The style of Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA) has also been described as krautrock. I had to dig to hear that comparison; at first, I couldn't hear it and eventually listened to a Can album (not entirely bad). The kraut-rock aspects of QOTSA are the constant, trance-like groove and the addition of layered guitars as the song progresses. There are areas where QOTSA and Can don't match up but I don't think that has anything with krautrock. Anyway, a very good album laying the foundation for some great Queens of the Stone Age albums and songs in the future.
I've always enjoyed them.
8/10 really good, but it's pretty annoying when the rereleases of albums intersperse the bonus tracks throughout the whole thing.
7/10. Pretty good, don't know why they have to end the album with an assault on my ears though.
This was really cool, not so out and out commercial sounding
Dont know why I never listened to these guys before. Very good. Cover art 2/5
Pretty good. Starting to appreciate more 'dad' alternative these days
Some songs too long
This is the sound of locking yourself up in a motel for the weekend with hookers and drugs. Sounds fun, but, it just turns ugly and you become paranoid. Would you do it again? No. But, are you glad you did? Yes.
Great disc, it's sounds like Foo Fighters jaja, but overall great
I've been a fan for a long time. It's not their best, I believe the two following albums are superior. This is sort of a Josh Homme solo project with a good amount of his previous band Kyuss's sound. Home is a good enough singer but it's the riffs that are the star attraction. Side note: it sucks that the original album isn't available on Spotify. The bonus tracks are fine especially The Bronze, but they make the album a bit too long
Heavy and filthy. Songs sound very similar to each other. Mexicola slaps
4.5/5. QotSA. Ofc it’s epic 😎🤘 (not as good as rated r or sftd or like clockwork doe)
QOTSA are one of those bands that's been around my entire adult life and I've never really listened to them outside of what's played on the radio and going to one of their shows once. I've never been in love with Josh Holmes's vocals. They're almost too melodic against that hard rocking sound. But all in all, this is a really great album and I'll be listening to more of their stuff as well as going back to Kyuss.
I'm a long term QOTSA fan, but had not listened to this album before. Found it a little disappointing at first, but it repaid a few repeat listens
Rock. Muy bueno.
Never really gave them a listen before. It was better than I was expecting and I listened to the whole thing. Nice discovery!
Very groovy stuff
There are some really strong tracks here; I really enjoyed things like "Regular John." "I Was A Teenage Hand Model" was... interesting, but it kind of meandered a bit. I listened to the reissue, and I think if I listened to the original I would have liked it more. It would have been tighter, and not all the chaff. I obviously had heard of QOTSA before (particularly the stuff from the radio and such) but the stuff on the album I liked I REALLY liked. I just wish the electronica stuff wasn't so noodle-y. So yeah, I will give 4 stars. Definitely a band I want to check more of.
So until about 2 years ago I thought Queens of the Stone Age started with No One Knows off of Songs for the Deaf. But it turns out they had two albums prior to that and this one (their debut) is really good. It's a shame no singles were ever released - the first three tracks alone are smashes in my opinion. Regular John and If Only are what got me into finding out more about the Queens. I guess these guys (or them in their former bands) were too off the beaten path (too nu metal?) prior to this. But the pounding melodies are great - i.e., buzz from backing guitar & bass plus intermittent lead guitar intricacy and high fret change of pace. To me, this was one of the best examples of post-grunge alternative creativity, even though few went in its direction. I wish it had more staying power or influence. Very cool album, though it dragged a bit at the end.
"Spider and Vinegaroons" <3. 8.5/10
As a newer QOTSA fan, this is enjoyable and has the sound I was expecting and a lot of nice guitar riffs. However, for me this is not as good as their newer albums such as "Villains" and "Like Clockwork"
I haven't listened to this one before. I'm surprised an album like Rated R or Like Clockwork is not on here, but it makes sense that the debut makes the cut, considering that the QOTSA sound is pretty consistent. If anything, one of my gripes is that the album can get a little too samey. Also, on the Spotify version of the album, it sprinkled the bonus tracks within the original track list, which is bizarre in general, and especially for the sake of reviewing. Hispanic Impressions is a solid track, as are the other instrumentals. My other favorite song is You Can't Quit Me Baby, with a solid buildup at the end, and even a Radiohead reference. A lot of the Kyuss sound is still there, and that is probably why this record is so enjoyable to me. Just wish that Welcome to Sky Valley made the cut.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Regular John, If only, You would know, Mexicola
Inte lyssnat på den här förut! Inte QotSA:s bästa kanske men tycker det är gött gung ändå
já curtia demais esse som, essa fase inicial deles que vai até o songs for the deaf é maravilhosa, aqui o josh ainda tá com sequelas do kyuss então as riffaradas são bem violentas, os hitszinhos radiofônicos que caracterizaram a banda ainda não estão tão marcantes, apesar de já ter um apelo mais comercial na pegada do som. gosto MUITO de mexicola e de avon, que é um contender forte para minha musica favorita desses caras.
Quite some good rock there I think.
Surprisingly well put together, but the lyrics could use some work.
Yes. Hell fucking yes. This wasn't my first Queens album, but it was certainly the first album to permanently drag me into the fray of fuzzed-out, lo-fi garage rock that pulled no punches and took no prisoners. The lack of polish on this LP is a feature, not a bug - the grimy guitar, punchy drums, and absolutely sinful growl of the bass unify to form some sort of primal roar, a sound dwarfing the expected output of a usual rock threesome. Already the vestiges of future QotSA albums are present in the straightforward rock charts augmented with off-kilter, skittering accents that suggest something is not quite right, that perhaps the sex, drugs, and rock n' roll this song describes belies some greater horror. An unbelievably deep first outing for a band (thanks in part to Homme's time with Kyuss) and an album I return to whenever there's the need to kick some metaphorical teeth in.
Cool rock album. Nothing super special but some solid rock tunes.
Cool! Paar hele toffe tracks maar niet hun beste werk.
Niet hun beste album. Dat zijn wat mij betreft de twee daarop volgende platen. Je hoort heel goed waar het allemaal toe ging leiden, maar de plaat is nog wat wisselend en Josh zong hier ook nog niet zo goed. Maar nog steeds top.
3.5 moody
Still as good as I remember it - and still holds up well. Not their best album but it’s a good one.
Love Mexicola especially
This was a great listen. Way “sludge-ier” than their later work. Oddly Homme played the bass on this album so it was before even Olivieri joined the band. I dug it overall. Fav tracks: “Regular John” “These Aren’t The Droids You’re Looking For”
their early sound is great, really raw guitar sound
Pretty good rock and roller.
good rock album, I liked it.
Would this band have been better named Stone Age Monarchists, or just Stone Age Monarchy? Rock band debut albums tend to be a bit rough, and this is no exception, minus one, and that it is a good one. Josh Homme has a benign vocal style, and QotSA in general showed early on that they had technical prowess to go with their musical talent. This much is evident on "Walkin' On The Sidewalks" with its repetitive bass and rhythm guitar line, screeching guitars that join rather than interrupt, so much so that it is noticeably intentional. Benign vocals for this listener is sort of what gives QotSA its charm. The band, in spite of revolving members over the years, manages to keep QotSA as their branding. Credit should rightfully go to frontman/founder Josh Homme for managing that in spite of the inevitable controversies that plague frontpersons. This is a solid rock album, as though it were recorded in an actual garage and then being mastered in a studio. It carries a 'real, genuine article' feel that precedes QotSA's eventually steady rise in the mainstream.
The best of this album IMO: - If Only - You Would Know - How to Handle A Rope (A Lesson in the Lariat) - These Aren't the Droids You're Looking For - I Was a Teenage Hand Model It's very good. Some chord progressions are unexpected, which I like. Many catchy songs. Some tunes are a bit on the weird side. 3.7/5
Good upbeat album. With QOTS you know what you’re going to get
With this acid guitar riffs I would say is stoner-rock for the masses. (7/10) FT: If Only, Regular John
As their debut studio album, Queens of the Stone Age took on a stern yet explorative form of hard rock. Through creative use of psychedelic tools in the form of fuzz-guitars, repetitive bars, and an assortment of arrangement styles, 'Queens of the Stone Age' (album) manages to manifest the 'stoner culture' in their direction of sound. Systematic yet colorful, direct yet thought-inducing, this record has its fair share of CHBs therefore earning its credit.
kind of heavy grungy. If only is a cool song. simple fuzzy rock. you would know. You can't quit me baby, great song.
You can’t trust someone that doesn’t like QOTSA
Brings together some of my favorite musical pleasures: stoner metal heaviness and krautrock grooves. Sprinkled with an almost poppy melodic flourish in the vocals. Hypnotic and catchy.
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I got ABBA right before this one and this is the perfect palate cleanser after that slick, syrupy pop so maybe that's part of it... But this is an easy win for me. I'm already a QOTSA fan. I've seen them live at PJ20 and I actually just re-purchased Rated R on vinyl. Wouldn't call myself a huge fan though. I actually haven't listened to this one much before. I really liked Rated R and Songs for the Deaf. I kind of lost track of them after Lullabies but a few weeks ago I spent some time catching up with their more recent work. But for some reason I always kind of skipped this one (maybe I listened to it once and wasn't impressed, maybe it's the kind of terrible album art... not sure.) This is great! I think I'd still rate Rated R and Songs for the Deaf above it but it's clearly QOTSA. Love Homme's guitar sound and the big stoner riffs. Great stuff.
Un bon album rock, j'aime bien le style. C'est un bon band et un bon album. 4.0
I dug this, would go back and listen. Good post-Nirvana grungy ish sound
Soft 4 stars. Never heard this debut and I consider myself a QotSA fan. Their roots with Kyuss are definitely evident, but with more musical diversity on this one.
so close to being a great album :/ if everything was more interesting and like, 15 min shorter, id give it a 5
I'd be lying if I didn't say it's a generous 4. I like this album fine but I can't help compare it to some of their later works which are some of my favorite albums. it's lacking a bit of punch
I was already thinking I should get into QotSA before this, so it was nice to see the generator spit out something I can cross off my backlog, and even nicer that I enjoyed it. I really like the heavy yet borderline radio-friendly sound the band has (and even the hazy, jaded-about-everything-and-nothing-in-particular lyricism fits the bill well), but Josh Homme's vocals are as vital an instrument as anything else, so it's hard to treat the instrumental wankery included between many of the vocal tracks as anything more than an obstruction. Even so, the majority of that is added through the bonus tracks, and it's worth putting up with considering said tracks include "The Bronze," a highlight of the 2011 reissue that I listened to. I'm definitely digging deeper into the band after this, and maybe even checking Kyuss out. Key Tracks: Walkin' on the Sidewalks, How to Handle a Rope, You Can't Quit Me Baby
it's no Kyuss but it's still some damn good desert rock.
I used to own this album, but sold it as I rarely listened beyond track 3 and Mexicola. It's interesting to revisit it 20 years later, and now that QOTSA are a big festival headlining band. As it turns out, I still really enjoy the first three tracks (Regular John, Avon and If Only), and although I'm still not keen on Walkin' on the Sidewalks (track 4), the rest of the album is a really enjoyable listen. It gets into a groove and chugs along nicely. I guess this is at a point somewhere between Desert Sessions and the later, more mainstream, QOTSA albums. This is more subtle than the next two QOTSA albums, Rater R and Songs for the Deaf, but stands up with them in terms of quality and is very much a single and consistent piece. 3.5/5.
Literally this rocks
Probably the first albums of this challenge that I actually enjoyed. Rating: Sick Guitar Riffs/10
This was pretty good, not as great as their later stuff -some of it was very simple and similar, but enjoyed it a lot
This started strong, but the middle was weak. Weirdly liked the last track though.
Pretty good album, I would give an 8/10 because it's very clean and yet feels very jagged at the same time.
Not sure why this one was picked as every other album they've produced is better than this.
A cracker! I always thought they were very, very stoner rock but this has elements of keeping one eye on the dance floor. I think I'd kinda avoided it because everything I'd heard from Kyuss courtesy of Bennett didn't do much for me and incorrectly assumed the apple hadn't fallen far from the tree.
4/5
Love it.
Queens was pretty well fleshed out from the beginning, this record sounds like it could have come out next to their most recent. For a stoner rock record it has a pretty unique sound, it’s so dry that at times it seems like the band members are playing in different rooms. This does allow the listener to pick out each instrument individually at any given time, which is a neat trick. Has some of their best songs: “Regular John,” “Mexicola,” “How to Handle a Rope,” the record can drag a bit towards the end but overall worthwhile.
Hyped me up to get some work done
Brilliant
Good
Begint zeer sterk, maet mijn favoriete nummer van hen. Blijft eigenlijk tamelijk sterk, tot "These aren't the droids you're looking for" (love de Star Wars referentie tho) vanaf daar word het wat experimenteler. Heel bevreemdend einde, al bij al een goede plaat. 4.25/5
Bigger fan of their later work, but still a great album.
Worth listening to more. Just for the song titles.
Eléctrico. Rock stone en ocasiones. Bien producido
👍👍👍
At first I thought "this isn't the QotSA album I'd pick", but I guess I haven't listened to it in a long time, as it's a banger. Lot of great tracks! Fave track - "Avon", maybe? "How To Handle a Rope" and "You Can't Quit Me Baby" are great too!
Distinctive sound. Good album
QOTSA is always awesome, and has always been awesome. I had never confirmed it by listening to their debut, but I'm very happy I did now.
Nice one! Lots of quality songs; not the massive hits as other albums, but very solid overall!
Skulle kunna få ett ännu högre betyg men för långt album och vissa låtar som inte håller måttet.
Honestly way way better than expected. Groovy licks and energetic vocal delivery put me in a good mood.
This is rockin…. Much better than expected. Weird, yet familiar! Enjoyed!!
Nice abrasive and melodic rock. Sexy, groovy and seductive.
Better than I was expecting given I don’t hear very much about this one compared to SFTD and LC…
PLACEHOLDER
I want to like this one more than I do. Drones on at times. Solid 3 but can't click to 4
Good album, overall. Not as much musical and tonal variety as they'd develop on later albums, and just a bit long here, but you can do WAY worse in late 90s rock, and not a whole lot better.
Gritty, grungy, slightly psychedelic rock that's a little rough around the edges and samey throughout, but is solid enough for a listen.
RATING: 7/10 HIGHLIGHT: Mexicola LOWLIGHT: I Was a Teenage Hand Model
"Self-Titled" is a bit of a letdown for a band that would go on to make a great album called "Songs of the Deaf". It's still better than the last two albums I listened to. Unfortunately, "Self-Titled" suffers from repetition in its songs. I love stoner rock and metal, so that doesn't bother me too much. For some reason, there's a short outro that's louder than the rest of the album. 3 stars for "Self-Titled".
Decent late 90s heavy rock, but never quite got into them, though enjoyed some of the Mark Lanegan era stuff. Some I liked more than I remembered, some passed me by.
Pretty basic, generic rock and roll. Nothing really jumps out, but it's certainly easy and enjoyable.
Queens of the Stone Age are a band I only know by name, but I live in a house with a fervent fan who assures me that this is the least of their albums and they only get better. Mind you, this has some cracking rock and roll tracks, familiar enough to feel comfortable, but with enough tricks and complexity to be interesting. As a starting point this is fine. I'm looking forward to see what they got up to next.
Nice
Fine enough just kinda rock tbh
Opens like a band of mosquitoes covering the Stooges, and doesn’t improve
Just another rock album.
Tää on tämmöstä EA NHL musaa koko levy, mutta ei huonolla tavalla. vois olla paskempaakin
Mukavaa jytäähän tää on. Vähän epätasanen kokonaisuus ja varmaan sitten se punanen levynkansi on syystäkin suosituin. Toki tässä viehättää alkukantasuuskin.
Tää oli paikkapaikoin oikein hyvää menoa. Kerran piti tarkistaa että onko levy jo vaihtunut kun laulaja kuulosti ihan Chris Cornellilta. Ehkä vähän liian samankaltaisia keskenään suurin osa biiseistä. Joka tapauksessa ihan jees, en ollut näiltä kuullut kun sen levyn biisejä missä on No One Knows.
I saw these guys in concert open for someone. This is better than i expected. Hard with some originality. Little repetitive.
First time listen to the first QotSA album. It's solid Hard Rock. Could have done without the instrumentals. It isn't mid blowing stuff and far from their best work. Songs For The Deaf is a superior album. 3/5.
Some good riffs and potential but too experimental second half. 6/10
Really interesting, tried some cool things
It's all right.
Well, that was a little disappointing. By their reputation, and having heard "Lullabies...", I was expecting something more consistent. Instead, some good modern southern rock, but a lot of noodling and meanderings. I'm not hearing any reason to give it a third listen. They would go on to produce much better.
It's a good rock album, though I find that many of the songs sound similar—but it was fun to listen to.
3.5
This is not a band I have listened to other than hearing singles on the radio. This is the first band that I have a slightly negative view towards since starting this journey. It may be a slog. I ended up stopping a few times while listening. I get the repetition; I love some types of electronic body music. I can even get into drone or shoegaze. Having said that, there are a few notables by the time I finish this. The context that I have for this is that it is somewhere along the continuum of Led Zeppelin (cock or stoner rock) to modern psych rock (Warmduscher). I should like them but find that this album has a lot of connective tissue that is too gristly for me. It is a good steak cooked poorly. "If Only" - okay, this one catches my ear a bit. The one-two of "These Aren't the Droids You're Looking For" and "Spiders and Vinegaroons" feel like an update of Led Zeppelin. Unfortunately, not enough of this type on this record for me to go back to as an album. Maybe not enough meat on it. There are definitely the germs of an idea but maybe not fully formed. "Spiders and Vinegaroons". A little bit of experimentation here. But it got me thinking... A night time around a firepit with booze and smokes. Soft chatter and snicks of sparks shooting into the dark. A few folks are outside the circle, the day's warmth coming off there swim suit clad bodies, are dancing. Hands about their heads; beer in one hand and a cig in the other. Sparks falling. The kaleidoscope effect of flickering flame and rising heat as the night gets colder shapes the dancing figures into more expressive shadows. Nothing to note that summer won't last forever. Just the knowledge that we are here in the perpetual Saturday night of a summer long weekend. If it wasn't for grunge, maybe these folks would have become the torch bearer for rock. Instead, they become an alternative history that occasionally gets revisited. I would give them a 2.5 but since we need to round, they get a 3.
Liked this more than I expected!
Good but I don't understand why it's on here over songs for the deaf
Queens Of The Stone Age are one of my favourite bands of all time, but this album has just never really clicked with me. In fact, the first time I heard it (which was actually introduction to the band) I thought it was one of the worst things I have ever heard. I've come to appreciate it a bit more since then, but I would still comfortably call it my least favourite Qotsa album. I still can't deny how much random noise there is especially during the second half, and while the songs that are just normal songs are perfectly good, it doesn't even come close to other of their albums like Songs For The Deaf, Lullabies To Paralyse, or Like Clockwork. This is kind of just a perfectly listenable but somewhat generic stoner rock album, so how this was chosen as the ONLY Qotsa album above their many other genre defining classic is insane. But they are one of many examples of this on this list I suppose....
Ehh alright
On one hand, this is probably the worst QotSA album. On the other, it’s still QotSA.
Love QOTSA but didn’t love this. Just liked it a lot. Regular John was a great start and the final two songs were a great end. The middle of the album was fairly forgettable and would rather listen to any other QOTSA album
I really like later records by QotSA (Songs for the Deaf, Era Vulgaris, ...Like Clockwork (their best, imo)). This one was ok. They hadn't fully developed a personality at this point so the songs felt a little lifeless. Better than other albums on this list but leaves a bit to be desired. 3/5
Я люблю цей альбом. Це не настільки експериментально як "era vulgaris", емоційно як "...like clockwork", безглуздо як "rated r". Та це все ще до біса хороший альбом. Він мені сподобався, коли я його почувуперше, з тих пір він мені подобається тільки більше. Від інших альбомів "queens..." цей відрізняється кількома речами: відсторонений, майже монотонний вокал Гоммі, "kuyss-овий продакш (брудні гітари, низький бас, гулкі барабани і болотяний звук) й незвична прямолінійність, на цьому альбомі помітно менше саме альт-року. Важка "mexicola", попсовий "if only", химерна "you can't quit me baby", цей альбом - майже все чого мені хотілося б від стоунер року. Єдине що, не всі пісні на альбомі доростають до рівню вище згаданих, що і не дає мені поставити цьому альбому тверду вісімку. Оцінка: середня-висока 7
lowk too locked in to really listen 100%, but not bad at least!
Pretty middle of the road album for me. It wasn't painful to listen to, but not particularly memorable either. I hear Song for the Deaf is the better album by QotSA, so might check that out one day to see if I like it more. Favorite Track - Hispanic Impressions Least Favorite Track - Mexicola ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Really not my kind of thing. The occasional melody does break through.
I'm a big fan of QotSA. I have listened to all of their albums from Songs for the Deaf and onwards several times — but was mostly unfamiliar with this one. I have tried it before, but dropped it after finding it unrefined compared to their later work (not a huge shock). I'm glad I have the obligation to try it out in earnest again. My initial assessment feels correct for the most part. It's QotSA before maturity and clarity of vision elevated them to where they are now. There's still lots of things that makes younger albums great: dirty and infectious rock riffs, Homme's hypnotizing vocals, and driving rhythms. The irreverence, sneer, and fun are all there. But it lacks the cohesion that makes later albums something worth returning to. A good listen and shows how promising the band was, but I won't be coming back.
This album had a strong start and good sound throughout, impressive for a debut. Each time I’ve heard Queens of the Stone Age lately I have enjoyed it and plan to take some time to explore more.
some of this is great, some is really overindulgent and awful
3/5 Ambivalent grade. I feel some stuff is solid, after a while it gets boring, and the instrumenral tracks at the end are very hit or miss. It barely eeks out a 3.
I enjoyed the songs but I thought that some of it was too repetitive.
12/05/2026 I can't say I'm a big fan of QotSA. It wasn't necessarily a boring album, it just didn't stand out to me. Shame. Spotify listeners: 7.7 million
Okay, I don't dislike these guys, but this really didn't interest me and most desert rock doesn't. I've only ever heard one of their albums before this, and what the actual hell? Why is Songs for the Deaf not on this list? And two other QOTSA albums are?
I like Queens of The Stoneage, I even think both “Songs for the Deaf” and “Like Clockwork” are really good albums, I haven’t listened to this album though. What I don’t like though is grunge and 90s rock, and the 90s managed to ruin this album for me. It sounded like a bunch of demos and the whole thing was quite bland. “Mexicola” and “Regular John” stood out as the best songs of the record and pushes it to a 3 star. Insane their next album was “Songs for the Deaf”
Rockin’ album
6/10 Fun stoner rock. Deserves a second listen.
Not much to say about this. Generic hard rock from the late 90s. Nothing special. 2.5 but rounding up to 3.
Formulaic, guitar heavy rock - not much to make it stand out at all. Musically, it was very repetitive for no apparent reason. Bonus point for including a track named “I was a Teenage Hand Model”. - outstanding work on that detail.
This is very likely the thickest bass sound I've ever heard. QOTSA have a gnarly Heavy Metal groove with a chill psychedelic feel. Unique, and very cool, sound.
6/10 While this is the debut Queens of the Stone Age record, it’s also a tiny bit of an outlier in that it was written and recorded before the band was fully established, with Josh Homme playing nearly all of the parts apart from the drums and a few minor parts by guest instrumentalists. It’s immediately apparent that the QotSA sound was in place from the very inception of the project, as the sound and vibe of this record is so representative of that sound that would continue through the following albums that it couldn’t be mistaken for anyone else. The sludgy, gritty tone, the foot-forward rhythms, the hooky, driven riffs and the pop-hook melodic vocal performances are all present and correct, and there are a few tracks where you can really feel where the band is going. The main issue with this record is that this stop on the journey is the train station of the provincial town just one stop before you arrive at the more exciting destinations. It’s decent, there’s some interesting stuff, but what comes next is where the real magic happens. While there are some real highlights here, a fair chunk of the songs feel a little underdeveloped and, while I enjoyed a lot of the riffs, there was often not quite enough within a song as a whole to keep me completely in for the entire track. It also feels overly long and there are a few tracks, particularly towards the end that just feel like a bit of a drudge to get through. One of the strange things about this album is that I came away from it with QotSA riffs in my head all day, but none were actually from this album. That’s how QotSA it sounds, without really managing to maintain the peak that they would be capable of over the following couple of records. All that being said, this was still decent and enjoyable enough, but not one worth revisiting often over their better work. Regular John - It’s kind of amazing how Queens of the Stone Age they sounded straight off the bat, isn’t it? Solid, crunchy riffs at a decent but not electric pace. Three bars of simple chugging followed by a fourth bar that develops the riff. Simple but well written vocal hooks. A rhythmic change-up into the chorus. Some slightly experimental guitar tones in the bridge. It’s all there. Not quite at their peak, but this is a solid start. Avon - This is a bit more sludgy. The riffs are still good, and the vocal melodies are very Josh Homme. It’s a decent album track that uses a cool selection of chord stricture directions to keep it sounding interesting and fresh. It does meander just a bit though and doesn’t manage to completely get its hooks in despite the chugging crunch of the guitars and the energy of the drums. If Only - This is more like it. There’s a bit of swagger and groove to this to go along with the crunchy weight of the riffs. That chorus is so hooky and tasty too. It’s really simple, but that simplicity works in its favour, in that it’s almost a sludge-pop song. I could probably do with one fewer solo in there, if I’m being honest, but it’s a great song otherwise. Walkin' On The Sidewalks - Clashing and full of attitude, this lacks the pop-hook nature of If Only, but throws in weighty rhythmic drive. The transition from the main verse riff to the smoother chorus is really nice, and there is some really great drumming in here. The tight, heavy rhythm of the full instrumental mix is really engaging actually. But it does feel like it drags on a small number of ideas for a little too long. You Would Know - The opening riff has a cool unresolved tension to its makeup. When the counter melody drops in, it only adds to that feeling of unease, especially with the slurred vocal part and the patchy insistence of the beat and bass line. It’s a cool premise, but it does feel like it’s never developed into anything beyond a good and interesting idea. How To Handle A Rope - Oooh, super crunchy. The build into this one is really nice, with the faltering drop in and out of the bass and beat before they kick in for real. The build and drop in the chorus chord structure is tasty. There are some more solid riffs and the lazy swagger of the vocal delivery and melodies are cool too. It is a tad repetitive in places though and feels like it could have been developed further. Mexicola - This, while still sounding very QotSA and having some more weighty riff work, as well as a decent vocal hook, does get a little bit stale. There’s some decent stuff in there, but the vocal feels a bit stretched in places. The feel of the groove is good, to be fair, but ultimately, it falls a little too far on the sludgy side and doesn’t have as much of the melodic sensibility or range of their better work. Hispanic Impressions - Again, there’s some stuff to really like in here, but it definitely feels a bit self-indulgent and like they’re going out of their way to be a tiny bit obtuse with some of the decisions and the sort of relentless nature of the rhythm and drive. I think it would work fine if surrounded by stronger material, but it kind of makes the album feel like it’s lulling a little. You Can't Quit Me Baby - A cool, slow groove with a nice blend of distorted bass and cleaner guitar here. It’s not bad, but it does drag on a bit repetitively and doesn’t really catch upon anything particularly hooky or elevate to a level above a general cool vibe. The speeding up bit towards the end is quite fun, but this is way too long and fairly dull. Give The Mule What He Wants - Ok, this album definitely weakens towards the end. There’s a decent riff in here and a fairly cool rolling beat, but that’s basically it for three minutes. Vibe good, songwriting underdeveloped and uninteresting. I Was A Teenage Hand Model - This has some really cool sound design and a nice brooding vibe. It’s a slow burner that builds and has a great atmosphere to it, but ultimately never reaches the peak that it hints at. Unfortunately, like the last few tracks, it’s just a little bland and underdeveloped. The electronic stuff in the end is super loud too, which is a bit unnecessary. Nice to hear Nick Olivieri joining the band at the end though, I guess?
okladka ni zcheca, spoko chociaz niektore pisenki strasznie dxiwne
I like Queen of the Stone Age, but a little bit goes a long way with me. Which means by 3 songs in I was ready to move on. I was completely unaware they had albums before Songs for the Deaf, so this was a nice little find and some really great bangers on this one. It leans a little more "college radio" than a polished studio sound, but still good overall.
Sludgy. Heavy rhythm. Guitar squalls. Elliptical mopey stoner self-harm lyrics. Not bad, but nothing sticks with me except the cool stomp on Spiders and Vinegaroons. "A world that's full of shit and gasoline, babe."
Two QOTSA albums on this list. I would have replaced this with songs for the deaf. But I still enjoy this for the most part.
Imperfect debut by a great band. They get better than this but you can hear the formula was there.
wasn't bad but just didn't stick out to me
not bad, not great either. very very mid
WHERE IS SONGS FOR THE DEAF. and yes, it's (of course) not as good as songs for the dead, but since it is his debut, it's alright. but its still a 3 for me cause songs for the deaf impressed me too much and this album didn't impress me much, although i know debut albums are always weaker than later works.
Not my favourite Queens album but you can hear where this is going to end up l.
удивительно нескучный, есть за что уху зацепиться. надо наверно их проверить
Maybe I just don't like listening to entire albums. The songs aren't distinct enough, it turns into a drone of mediocre rock for an hour.
Queens of the Stone Age.
I’d never heard this before. I’m curious as to why this is included and not Rated R or Songs For The Deaf. Nothing particularly fantastic here. I preferred Kyuss.
Not my favorite QOTSA album, but still rips
Fun, I liked QOTSA already, but still don’t find this album all that interesting.
I love the sound of QOTSA. I don’t love any of these songs. They must have known that would happen and started making a better record for 4 years later, which I personally appreciate.
Many genres combined some punk some grunge some pop some lofi cool though
Decent rock record. I liked the first half better than the second half.
A bit repetitive, but you can tell they are developing the sounds for which they would come to be known. The songs that have clearly done the best of this album are the ones that have Josh Homme's signature haunting wailing singing.
in rough n dirty 90s alt rock fashion, this would be clocked as grunge if they were from Seattle. it definitely fits the vibe of something that sounds cool playing in a stoner older cousin's bedroom (i did listen on 4/20 after all), but i think it's lacking a real spark to heighten it. i like the two follow ups more. deserves to be one of the 1001? i mean like lets be real this is their 4th or 5th most notable album. swap this for Songs For the Deaf, obviously. and while we're at it trade in ...Like Clockwork for Welcome to Sky Valley
Never really listened to queens. Have heard the like 2 songs that constantly play on the radio but this was sludgier than expected. Didn’t exactly speak to me but was an enjoyable listen.
Not bad, but really hit or miss. Amazing riffs followed by bog standard rock and back to cool riffs again. Josh Homme's voice gets better in later albums.
Not as good as some of their later work, but still on target.
A pretty mid rock album
-Cool bass stuff on Mexicola -They are taking a lot of liberties at the end here -Spiders and Vinegaroons reminds me of Be Gone by Brand New. a few brand new-ish riffs and tones in here -this end is hurting my ears good lord Faves: Walkin on the Sidewalks How to handle a rope You Can't Quit Me Baby Spiders and Vinegaroons
Generic
Album post grunge, solido 2,5 estrellas pero se lleva el 3 estrellas. A veces se torna un poco repetitivo.
This was high quality late 90’s rock. That said, it sounded like it could have been a Foo Fighters album.
They definitely got better once they discovered hooks and song structure, wanted to like it more but this debut is just one long drone sound.
Not super excited after listening to this one. This was pretty average, but I did really like Spiders and Vinegaroons.
Bin ja ein Fan von QOTSA und das Album war stellenweise ganz gut, aber teilweise fand ich es auch schwach.
Somehow the debut of a great band it lays the foundation that later better albums would grow into with the different configurations of the group. As it is, it is a pretty good record, but not one I'd say you need to listen before you die.
No había escuchado nunca este disco de ellos. No defraudan, pero tampoco sorprenden si ya los conoces. Me guardo: "Regular John", "The bronze" y "You can't quit me baby".
Ehhh.. It’s QOTSA. I have heard people say they were fans of this album, but it really seems that QOTSA barely evolve through their music. While they do have a direct style, it seems that though “Songs for the Deaf” is their “Best” album, the two sound relatively the same. While a lot of the songs are interesting, they end up overstaying their welcome, becoming mind-numbing by the 5-minute mark, leaving the last 45 seconds feeling like torture. While I found myself bumping my head to the album, as “Regular John” is a strong opener, the album begins to fade out by the fourth track. It gets repetitive, even as they start opening some of the later tracks with just bass instead of guitar. It’s sleazy, like I hate to say it, but it’s definitely something a bad dude would listen to. Anyways, it feels much like a Rock revival, though I wouldn’t classify it as that, like Led Zeppelin if they decided not to have any creativity, a cover band that’s integrating their own techniques and improvisation. The instrumentals are interesting, but by the time “Spiders and Vinagaroons” plays out, the desert rock begins to seem like an oasis far away; you’re tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. — Look at Wikipedia, it seems like I listened to the “Deluxe Version”, regardless, it becomes pretty redundant after the first four songs. Maybe it needs a re-listen, maybe this is what desert rock sounds like. I am not QOSTA’s biggest fan because they are not really my thing, except if I were driving an El Camino through the dusty highways of Las Vegas.
Mildly enjoyable. I’ll keep it in my library. It didn’t blow me away or anything though. Not sure why this is on the list in place of one of the other albums that have bigger more recognizable hits.
Pretty solid but a couple misses. Pretty long too
I know these guys are very respected by rock fans, but always felt like it sounded a little generic. Still not super sure. But Hand Model is awesome, sounds like Geese, made me give the whole album a few more listens. Still think it sounds a little like AI rock, but little moments of humanity.
ok
Knowing how good at least two of their other albums are, 3 stars. Still great.
Its ok.
Not huge on Queens, and this album felt a bit bloated to me. Definitely some good riffs in here but at this point in time I’m just not into that sludgy 90’s palette.
Two QotSA albums are among my inner circle of the most loved albums of my life (Rated R & Songs for the Deaf). Rated R is a four, going on five-star album, full of artistic flourishes and genuinely interesting production and songwriting. Songs for the Deaf is the best pure rock album of this century, taking everything from Rated R and adding massive riffs and an S-tier rhythm section. Two other QotSA albums (Lullabies to Paralyze & … Like Clockwork) are stone-cold classics in their genre, and while they probably shouldn't be in the 1001 albums to hear before you die, they're worth all of your time if you like the genre. And Era Vulgaris, In Times New Roman, and Villains each have songs worth recommending. This debut album, which was not popular or impactful culturally, lays the groundwork for how their sound would develop, and it has its moments for sure; I'd put it in that lower tier of QotSA albums, though it's probably more consistent than the other albums in that tier, and inconsistency is the flaw of those albums (and the awful, awful production on Villains). But what is it doing on this list? And more importantly, why is it the *only* Queens album on this list over Songs for the Deaf and maybe Rated R?
Never listened to this specific album. Their later album, Songs For The Deaf is one that dropped when I was younger and enjoyed at that time. Sound is late 90s/early 2000s hard rock to me. Guess these are considered stoner rock, but it all seems to melt into just the overall hard rock genre for me. Theres a bit of a distinct sound of his voice. It’s solid early on, nothing overly special to me. But a solid rocker. Some good riffs and great drums. Very 70s heavy metal influenced at times, can hear that Sabbath influence on it here and there. It seems to be missing something as a whole from the later Queens of the Stone Age I remember. This is all fine, and a good entry on the list for some genre variety, but surprised if this is the choice over Songs for the Deaf. It’s kind of weird in that it grows into the sound a little and you enjoy it more as the album goes, yet it still somehow feels kinda repetitive at the same time. You Can’t Quit Me Baby seems like the standout on the back half of the album that gives it a little spark of variety. If it had some more that stood out more, can see this as a 4, but think it’s a solid 3. Good and a fun listen, but not special enough.
volví a mis 17 con este disco, pero a decir verdad está lejos de mis disco favorito de esta banda, pero se siente toda la base de lo que llegó a armarse en su siguente disco (que es el mejor del grupo a mi criterio). sí variaran un poco las velocidades de algunos temas, estaría peleando por las 5 estrellas si o si.
Metal. Ok song when they have lyrics.
06 April 2026. 4pm. I enjoyed the first half of the album, but the second half isn't all that sorry 8,5/10
Pretty good, but obvious it was their earlier work, much less polished and clean sound as they achieved in their later and greater works. good none the less and fun to listen to, but defo has some skips. best song - if only
Tenk å ta med to album fra QOTSA uten å ta med Songs for the deaf....
A good rock album, but for some reason it doesn't really connect with me. It's got great riffs and just some overall fun songs that sound good, but I dunno. It's not getting any lower than a 3 because I like the talent that went into it. But maybe I'm just not a big QotSA fan.
Right on.
Felt like a very average alternative album
Fun and funky, but Songs for the Deaf will always be my favorite QOTSA album because of Dave Grohl. The sound here is the same and the songs are good, but I miss his drumming.
Generic modern hard rock. I thought Songs for the Deaf would be a better album to include on this list.
I think of this as the worst Queens of the Stone Age album. It's certainly the one I know least. I'm sure it's notable here for being the bridge from Kyuss to Rated R. There are definitely some good songs here but there's too much stoner droning. Josh Homme really tightens the band up after this, giving Queens a sound that distinguishes them further from his old band and which made them one of my favorite bands of all time. It's always interesting to hear them in these early recordings, but this critical listen did not change my opinion that this is the worst Queens of the Stone Age album.
^3.5
2000-luvun tuotanto kyseiseltä bändiltä on tutumpaa mutta ei niinkään alkupään. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ tähden rokkia.
I know the band have better albums I felt this album could of been better it’s not a bad album but nothing special
Mostly interesting, but entorely too long and convoluted to be a stand out
Great debut from Josh and the boys
50/50
Es algo diferente a lo que estoy acostumbrado, pero me gustó.
A little disappointed. I like some of their other albums, but this one seems more like generic rock. Not sure why this one ended up on the list.
just way too long. Pretty serviceable alternative rock for the late 90's though, its a little odd because their 2002 album pretty much clears this, a lot of the tracks here just kinda drag or feel drawn out. You could pare this whole thing down and it would be way more digestible. Solid effort on a debut though.
I’ve never been a big QOTSA guy and this album was a very distilled version of their sound. They’re talented, it’s just not really for me. Plus it’s waaaaay to long
Rule Book for 2010’s indie YouTube bands
A bit boring
ROCK N ROLL
Songs for the Deaf has always been the album of theirs that has drawn me most. This one has its moments. I can still hear Kyuss peeking through in a lot of this album, which is great, but I still feel they're searching for their sound here in the first album.
i hope he really was a hand model in his teenage years