Reviews (page 4 of 9)
Love Homme's voice and the opening track in particular, but only got through about 4 songs so need to go back and listen to the full thing again.
The first half of album was great; the second half was too jammy for me. I prefer to hear Josh singing.
I prefer some other albums over this one. First time I listened to this one though, kinda mellow compared to other albums of theirs.
For much of the album I had an internal conversation something like the following. "This isn't too bad, I kind of like it...You like it?!?...Yeah...Why?!?...I'm not sure...Well, it surprises me that you like it...I know, right...You still liking it?...Oh, this part is kind of irritating me. Is the record skipping and repeating the same guitar lick over and over?...Still not sure why you like this...I know, I not fully certain that I do, but there are moments when I really, really dig what I am hearing...Weird..."
Still finding their sound but a really good debut stoner-rock album.
Strong strong start with Regular John and especially Avon. Heavy, driving stuff. It's up and down after that but the good is good enough. You Can't Quit Me Baby another highlight. I listened to a reissue with extra tracks so won't fault the length. Listen on good headphones.
Classic rock album. Very decent, well written nice to instruments and signing. To me definitely not a game changer, but I understand it's cultural importance.
I don't hate this but I don't get it either. If I want metal I'd rather listen to Sabbath.
Excellent riffs - pretty straightforward but fun listen
Powerful sounds come from QOTSA, one of the bands I reviewed on a little fanzine when I was in my twenties. I hadn't listened to this album for several years, and I must say that it still retains the power of 90s rock.
Really solid sound. I didn’t like this originally, but it’s really grown on me over the years.
I honestly didn't know Queens... have been around since the mid-90s. And honestly, the music sounds ahead of its time. No particular song stands out better or worse than the rest, but I think that's what makes it work. This is an album I could have running in the background while talking among friends and no one would react one way or another. It's good neutral music.
Yeah. YEAH. I love me some QOTSA, but I'll admit I haven't given the self-titled album much of a shot. I became a fan of Josh Homme and the Queens on the Songs for the Deaf album. This band has been so consistently solid from this record to their latest release, "In Times New Roman." The only downside to this album is it's a little bit droning at times. The diet-grunge guitar and bass lines are lost in monotony at times.
Didn’t expect to enjoy that as much as I did! Great for a hungover Monday morning 3.5
I've always almost liked QotSA, but I'd never heard this album. This album I really enjoyed. Great variety and some unique sounds. Not too produced.
Wowzers! I thought this would be absolutely OK, serviceable, slightly irksome rock. I know later QOTSA pretty well and thought it was fine, but this is much better IMHO. The guitar and drums were really tight and fierce, but the thing that really stands out is the quality of vocals. Just fantastic. It was generally nice and varied, if possibly a tiny bit too repetitive to sneak into the five star bracket. Great stuff though.
Heavy, danceable rock that sounds like a modern take on Can. It's hardly controversial to say that this isn't their best album though. QOTSA were still establishing their sound at this point. Later albums including Like Clockwork or Era Vulgaris would have been easy 5s.
Negla. My jam.
One of the last of the great rock bands. I do kind of prefer Kyuss, but let's not be churlish. They proved that there was life after Nirvana, and Guns and Roses, though not as much as a rock fan might like. Strong songs, well played, with longish jams. Turn it up, grab your tennis racket, and air guitar for the rest of the night. Rock may not have much more to do, but it will never really die...
Ok music for hump day morning. Propulsive highly repetitive and fewlyrics. A bit hypnotic and slightly trance inducing. Like religion in way... You can let is wash by I wondered about the lyrics. They are mumbled or muffled. Reading them reveals little, it's minimal. Brief themes. Very simple, leaving the word to resonate, including pensive synonyms for noose. If I enjoyed this and wanted more of this, maybe this can be the gateway drug to trying Tool some more. Rounding up to 4 as I'd like to listen to more of them...
I am a huge Kyuss fan, and really liked the more rockin' QOTSA albums. I am surprised that this is the one QOTSA album on the list, and especially given that this album has been so hard to find, and made (frankly) little popular 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 in the field of heavy rock stand out. I do get a bit tired with the way a lot of contemporary metal is either cookie monster screaming or operatic wailing (or both!). Homme writes and sings actual songs, you know? I am really surprised that they chose this record over 'Rated R' or 'Songs for the Deaf' (which are superior examples of this oeuvre, and also sold a gazillion copies, at a time when heavy rock was not entirely fashionable). I saw QOTSA at the Metro Theatre in 2001, touring on the back of 'Rated R', and they were awesome. They played a few songs from this record. I really liked how much Josh Homme was prepared to hold back on his playing in service to the song. For all of his reputation as a gun player, my recollection is he played a lot of the set like Johnny Ramone. Lots of fast downstroke power chords, and not many solos, because that was what required to rock the most. He opened up a bit at the end of the night, and tore it up (especially with the encore, which was my favourite Kyuss song, Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop) 4/5 would recommend, would listen again, would buy.
Didn't really stand out to me but it's a solid rock album
fun rock album
ik voelde m wel
Good but they've done better
3.5 rounded up. Not the QOTSA album I'd choose to have on here but some gems on it and some interesting sounds, textures, and production. Lots of raw energy and a great balance of aggression and catchiness on a lot of the tracks
I got into QOTSA through Lullabies to Paralyse, and have checked out basically everything they’ve done since but their debut, so this was an interesting experience. It’s a clear blueprint, everything that Josh Homme & Co. would go onto record is hinted at here, and so if you’re a fan then it’s well worth checking out. It’s interesting to see how well they had achieved their signature sound even by the first album, but also how they’ve allowed themselves to evolve it. And while I’m glad for the excuse to have finally get round to listening to it, the self titled isn’t the album I’d have picked to represent QOTSA on the list. Songs For The Deaf or Like Clockwork… would have been better choices
Really cool debut album! The band grow bigger over the years and I love most of their work. Josh Homs is very impressive on guitar and vocals and this is a very good starting point to discover the band! 8 out of 10
It's a fun album full of energy, great fuzzy guitars. Not their best but a very solid first release.
Not too shabby
QOTSA never really clicked with me before, but I enjoyed this a lot; I guess I was in the mood for it today. Some great sounding guitar in here, and I actually think Homme's voice suits the music well.
Great album, good bit of variety, nice instrument works. Good skills here from QotSA
So fun. Husband was right, I liked it!
Soft 4
Not the most polished nor varied Queens of the Stone Age album. Still some great riffs and hooks from a very young Josh Homme. I always loved Mexicola, Avon, and The Bronze.
4 stars.
Fantastic album, incredible band, just a bit long and the original artwork was better
This isn't the best of Queens of the Stone Age, but in terms of introducing their offbeat, almost villainous, sound this gets the job done. Definitely enjoyed, but not my favorite of their works.
Very nostalgic for me
yes purrr ate!
I like the Queens of the Stone Age and I like the album. That being said, I don't think this is their greatest album and I was surprised to find it in this kind of list. Still enjoyable, especially if you like this kind of music.
It had me until the very end of the very last track, than I was like WTF? But I won't let that ruin it for me. All in a very enjoyable listen. I could see myself coming back to it some day.
This was good.
I enjoyed it well enough. Wouldn't mind listening again sometime.
Good band. Good album
Not heard this album before and I quite like Queens of the Stone Age. I don't like it quite as much as the stuff of theirs I already know but their overall sound is as good as ever, with the screeching guitars and driving bass. Liked it. Standout Track: If Only
I love the more rawness of this album compared to some of later QOTSA albums. Some great tracks, Regular John, If Only, You can't Quit Me and Mexicola are some of favorite QOTSA tracks. Couple song like You would Know and Hispanic Impressions are kinda duds and the album get's a little repetitive, but what album by them doesn't. Still one of there better albums.
QotSA is a band I never think of listening to but always enjoy. They have a distinct sound but for some reason I always think of Blue Oyster Cult. I don’t know why.
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!!
6/10
I didn’t hate it. The instrumental sections were more interesting than the songs
some rock and roll music for my saturday afternoon
Alright.
Formed from the ashes of the stoner rock giant Kyuss, QOTSA was formed by that former band's guitarist Josh Homme. This was his first attempt at fronting a band, and for a first outing, it's not too bad actually. Sure, Homme's voice needs some work, (the subsequent albums would see him develop his instrument much more) and there's certainly a few songs that could benefit from a little more time in the oven, but the potential is already quite apparent on this debut release. The songs mostly involve some classic hard rock riffing mixed with Josh Homme's soft, undeveloped tenor, and the 2 mix surprisingly well. I can't really compare it to much except later Queens releases. I will say, however, the songwriting gets kind of repetitive as the tracklist cycles between slow and bassy Sabbath worshipping riffs to the more standard ZZ-Top meets a fuzz pedal hard rock. Homme's own vocal lines leave something to be desired as well as he mostly does the weird jumping-intervals thing for every hook. Listen to this if you want to marathon Queens of the Stone Age's discography: for this sound perfected, check out the followup, Rated R. Key Tracks: Regular John, If Only, Walkin on the Sidewalks, Mexicola
3,5
1998. Probably the closest I ever came to having indie rock street cred. I was 17 of course and in high school and green as hell. I even applied to be the music director of our high school radio station. We had a 100 watt transmitter on the roof of the school. The broadcast radius was about 3 miles, IIRC, and most of that was out into Lake Michigan (I didn't get the gig, but I was a DJ for four years). Apparently the transmitter was originally installed to be able to transmit homework assignments to students who were home sick. Diabolical. Anyway, around that time I also started a record label with a friend of mine. Why did we decide to do that? I don't remember. I was in charge of creating the website and graphics; which, I must say, looked pretty good to me. I probably have the files backed up on a Zip disk somewhere. Anyway, this QOTSA album sounds like something that would have been submitted to our record label. Sadly, that first split 7-inch never was released, nor was it recorded. We never did any business at all, as a matter of fact. But we did get some people to send us demo tapes. My buddy, co-partner, and head of A&R, hated all of them.
The first track has an insane intro. The rest is actually quite good.
2,6 Highlights: Regular John, Avon
I'm basic and go to Songs for the Deaf, but this is pretty good, too. I listened to the expanded edition, knowing I wouldn't really object to the extra material. It did kick off my day and inspire me to listen to fuzzy rock stuff for hours.
I know Songs For The Deaf well (liked it a lot and played it many times), but never listened to any other QOTSA album. (I wasn't looking for extra of that type of rock.) I was hoping this debut album might be good, I was disappointed. It's got kernels of things that could be good, but it doesn't have the polish, tightness or vibes (including good humour) of SFTD. There are some songs here that are good in parts but are let down by indulgent opening or ending, also some jams that just seem turgid. Much 'experimental' rather than well-constructed. Lyrics are more creepy than interesting, offputting with the cranked-up psycho side of stoner rock. So I'm surprised this album is in the book but not any other QOTSA album. I can see this album has fans, but for me, it's Mix of Good and Bad, 5/10. (Also, I am put off by the cover - I wouldn't have this 'pin-up' on my wall and strongly question the marketing of raunchy rock album with this image.)
Very solid, deserty rock album. High 3s.
61/100
It was OK and I like their other album with Dave G but I didn't really get this one
Not bad but a bit too experimental in places for me.
Actually quite a few good songs on here but there were some duds. Overall pretty enjoyable
Meilleur que leurs autres albums, à réécouter la chanson suicide sinon un peu long et répétitif
It's a good starting point for them, but not as good as their next few albums
I always find QOTSA a bit boring - it's hard/heavy enough but the riffs always seem phoned in, lots of simple rhythms and predictable melody-wise. And this middle-of-the-road genre thats a bit indie, a bit metal, a bit bluesy, a bit garagey, a bit grungey, but nothing overwhelmingly Later instrumental tracks are more interesting! Best track - You Would Know, Mexicola, Spiders and Vingeroons 3 stars - but 2nd side is somewhat interesting
Solid rock album
QOTSA und ich sind so ein Ding. sie haben es in meiner Sicht geschafft genau ein 6/5 Sterne Album zu schreiben und ein 5/5, der ganze Rest ist für mich sehr hit und miss, aber das fairerweise auf jedem Album. Also es gibt überall Songs die mich nerven oder langweilen aber auch auf jedem ein paar meiner QOTSA Hits. Nun auf diesem hier ist die Hit dichte nicht ganz so hoch für mich persönlich, trotzdem macht das Spaß zu hören und weniger als 3 fühlt sich dann doch falsch an, dafür ist es zu gut.
* 65 Der er nogle gode øjeblikke, men det blev også nogle gange lidt for meget 'murica beer commercial rock.
En smule generisk. Jeg er nok lidt for gavmild her 2.8
It's a deliciously sludgy album. It gets a bit robotically repetitive towards the end of the album. I couldn't tell you a single thing any song is about, though. None of it resonated or stuck with me. It's good, and I'd listen to it again, but on the second listen through, nothing has it's hooks in me. My Rating: 3/5
They have one incredible song and it’s not on this album
3½
not bad, some nice hits in it.
Queens of the Stone Age seems like a band my Dad totally would have raised me on, and yet I have had next to no experience with this group up until maybe a year or two ago. Listening to QOTSA's music, at least on this project, gives off such a sandy desert vibe as well as being just soft enough to qualify as Rock music despite it walking a fine line towards something like Stoner Metal. The guitar parts are really where this project shines bright as it provides something of a heart beat for this album to chug along to for the duration of the 46 minute runtime. I can't lie, it is a debut album and not every song here is something incredible. I think this album shows what QOSTA could turn into with a bit more fine tuning, but as far as a debut album goes this really isn't as bad as it could have been. Definitely not a classic by any means, but it is something!
3/5. Queens of the Stone Age are one my favorite rock bands, which is why I must say it’s completely baffling that this is the only album of theirs in the 1,001 albums book. No Songs for the Deaf, Like Clockwork or Rated R, just the self titled debut. And it is a good album on the whole, but nowhere near the level of most other QOTSA albums in my opinion. Which is again to not say the self titled debut here is a bad album, there’s a good number of highlights like “You Would Know”, “Mexicola” or the opener “Regular John.” But on the whole it’s a debut where the band is still finding their footing and in retrospect you can see how much more fully formed and confident the band feels on Rated R compared to this.
Highlights: Regular John, If Only, Walkin on the Sidewalks, You Would Know, How to Handle a Rope, Mexicola, You Can't Quit Me Baby, Spiders and Vinegaroons I liked a decent number of tracks, but I'd be lying if I said it was easy to go through this record. There was just something crazy boring about it. Not my favorite record of theirs. Their stoner hard rock sound is dope, but there's just something more "fun" about Rated R or SFTD and their more messy nature. On this one though, there are a lot of songs that have repetitive segments and I didn't hear a lot of variation in general. However, they did get a bit more playful at the end. I didn't pay much mind to the lyrics, but I got the general idea.
Já vi esses caras ao vivo, mas naquela vibe de "acaba logo que quero ver a banda que eu vim pra ver." Mas veremos, tem uma galera que é fã. Parece músicas de Guitar Hero. São boas, mas nada me chamou atenção, parece genérico. Que desgraçado esse final do álbum, achei que ia fazer uma lavagem cerebral em mim.
I don't like Queens, but I did like this album!
This was higher quality than I expected - straight ahead hard rock. Having said that, nothing that particularly distinguishes it.
The Good: Josh H with the QOTSA The Bad: It’s not Songs for the Deaf… The Ugly: The jams on this thing… I don’t know… I am conflicted… I really want to like this, and there are tracks on this album which really resonate for me. Yet, there are other tracks where I am oh so close to pushing the FF button and just head into the next car-wreck… Great guitar tones though, that’s for sure… Just missing that Dave Grohl beat… Going to rate this one down the middle… 3*
Surprisingly good, if not super-impressive. Totally listenable. A 3.
Ok, but nothing special
Alle de her moralske kvalan, ikke visste æ at dem skulle følge med 1001 album. Musikken va helt ok, æ sørge over mitt tapte ungdomscrush i Josh Homme, men føkk menn som ikke kan oppføre sæ.
2,5
I've never heard a QOTSA album, only the big singles. They've never appealed much, as I'm just not interested in Josh Homme's voice – it sort of slides over my ears without making much of an impression. Here he sounds a bit like a worse Chris Cornell, whose voice (sacrilegiously, I know) I'm not crazy about either. This album didn't do much to change my mind on the band, though it passed time pleasantly enough. There are some good sludgy riffs, and fair play to Homme for doing two or three guys' worth of work on the instruments, but I'm not sure why this was chosen over an album with some hits on it.
For the last few years I have attended a local “blues” festival which despite the name has bands few of which actually play any blues music. I would estimate that 60% of the bands playing over the days sound very similar to this group. Nothing objectionable to this but after hearing 1 or 2 songs from any of them we move on to the next band. Not ever having listened to QotSA other than the odd track on the radio, I don’t recognise or remember any of these songs. The album was my sort of music though and if it had been released about 20 years earlier, I may have enjoyed and get hooked. Not sure I am going to search proactively for any more of this now but will happily give a listen to any others that come my way. Most of this sounds a little too much like generic pub rock of years gone by. Competent enough musically but no original/unique spark to warrant investigating more at this stage. The last track was certainly different and weird however!
Very nice grunge guitar. But nothing stunning, that makes me stand up and pay attention. 3.5/5
Kinda forgettable but I didn’t actively dislike it
So much of this debit album points to what made QOTS great in the albums that followed. It's raw, punchy & full of contained aggression that hits you like a fist. This album though does feel a bit less polished than some of their other material, like a rough diamond that’s still rough around the edges. The songwriting is so basic at points and some of the tracks fall flat for me, offering very little in the way of variety. It's still a fun listen but for me not even close to some of their more mature work.
Fine. Borderline boring. Too long. Adjacent to and inspired by some stuff I like. Overall, it made me want to listen to MC5 and The Stooges.
Fun enough for what it is, sure.
Kind of bland. Too long. But, at times, pretty cool. A solid 3.
Sludgy with some killer riffs, but weighed down by dated, ‘90s keening male vocals.
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