Reviews (page 6 of 10)
Good Album but I think I wanted more cohesion. I wish they explored these two different concepts separately. First half was like experimental and industrial. Second half sounded like they were inspired by sci-fi and was cinematic. It's like putting dessert punk and steampunk next to each other without a proper bridge. Yes, the interlude was great but stands alone rather than connecting the two halves.
Yeah
Some of these were legit a bit fast for me, I'm after slower more repetitive stoner rock but this has cool jams!
Good debut, hard gritty sleaze rock. Uneven though and definitely a level below some of their future records
Rocking!
Solid album of late 90s rock. The best songs are terrific but the album is a bit muddy overall for me.
This is a really weird QOTSA pick in my opinion. Admittedly, Era Vulgaris was too. I don't know why this list is allergic to Songs For The Deaf. It admittedly feels like a basic pick, but also it's just really fucking good. The self titled here *is* a good stoner rock album, but it's also in the weird position where it's worse than most of the material from Josh Homme's previous band, Kyuss (who are stoner rock royalty), but also less well developed than pretty much any QOTSA album afterwards. At this point in time, QOTSA still haven't fully developed their songwriting nuance, melodic sensibilities, or aesthetic. But, the self-titled here *does* rock pretty hard, and that is important. When this album just flexes its muscles, you get some pretty fantastic rock music. Like on Mexicola, the bass grinds under surprisingly nimble riffs, and the whole song is an exhilarating slug fest. Avon, Walkin On The Sidewalks, and others also bang pretty hard. Aside from that, the weirder moments are a little hit or miss. Hispanic Impressions, These Aren't The Droids You're Looking For, and Spiders and Vinegaroons are a little under-written. But on some songs, when QOTSA step back from the riffs a little, they leave room for some cool melodicism. Even though I am inclined towards the sound here, I have to admit this is an album with lots of flaws that QOTSA would later grow out of. While I did enjoy this, I can't go higher than a 3.
Sure, I loved this when it came out, although I always loved the guitars and the music more than the singing, which makes sense because Josh Homme is a total toolbag.
Really good album! Started off bangin really enjoyed this. Towards the end are some instrumental tunes that I didn't care for. Bunch of noise, personal preference.
niet helemaal daar
I like the garage rock sound but the songs were meh. I wanted to like this more than I actually did
Obviously would be so much better live!!
meh not really my vibe listened to it with one ear plug in while i worked
This was decent, rifftastic, but why was this chosen over Songs for the Deaf? No One Knows…
Heavy, hypnotic riffs abound...... I like it! My one complaint is that it gets fairly repetitive across the 60 minute runtime, but it's a solid debut and I'm optimistic for whenever we get their other album on the list. Standouts: Regular John • Walkin on the Sidewalks • You Would Know • Hispanic Impressions • Spiders and Vinegaroons
There were parts of this album i was really jamming with, especially the weird crunchy sounding stuff at the end. Unfortunately the entire first half of this album left absolutely no impression on me at all and is destined to fade into the many similar sounding albums of this time period.
its aight
I do like Queens of the Stone Age, but this album feels a little generic relative to the rest of their discography
Awesome Sound but some of the Jams are to long/onedimensiomal for my taste
I liked it! Def a rock vibe!
Amazing just how many bands I’ve never heard, or even know they existed. Not bad.
I got into QOTSA late. Listened to Songs For The Deaf a lot, and the Loke Clockwork blew me away. Not sure why I haven't listened to more. This is a great album but withers a bit in the third act. Not in a real bad way, just a little... indulgent. The last couple tracks remind me of the Sonic Youth I am not fond of, the noise-scapes.
Groupe connu de nom uniquement. Rock plutôt pas mal, avec un son massif que j'aurais plaisir à écouter de nouveau. Mais dans le style Stoner je préfère nettement Mastodon, qui n'est (évidemment) pas dans la liste. Il ne rejoindra donc pas ma collection, même si il m'a donné envie de découvrir d'autres albums du groupe. =>3/5
Not my type of music but not a bad listen.
My sister is a big Queens of the Stone Age fan, so going in I was very optimistic. I found this album to be somewhat lackluster, but there were a few guitar solos that I really enjoyed! Overall a fine album but doesn’t seem like Queen of the Stone Age’s best work - makes me wonder why this album specifically is included in the list.
Heavier rock, but also leaning atmospheric
meh
Solid rock album. Some good songs but they are not all that different. That’s typical of a debut.
like it’s fine, good even. just not my vibe
I’ve never understood the intense love some people have for this band. When this album came out, I knew some acquaintances who thought it was incredible, but it’s always left a lot to be desired to me. It’s repetitive, underwhelming, and genuinely not that good—mid-tier ’90s alt-rock at best.
Look I'm not usually one to complain about repetitiveness in my music, I often quite like it when I can follow along a riff as soon as I notice it and that feeling wasn't absent during this listen, but it was present on every song on this thing which made it feel quite samey as it went on. I undoubtedly will forget every song by tomorrow morning, but it was decently fun Highlights: Mexicola You Can't Quit Me Baby Regular John
Some of the sounds were very bad but mostly it was ok
This is one of those bands that has an overwhelmingly positive reputation in music forums. But I came in with no idea what to expect. I'm relieved. These guys actually sound competent amidst the incredibly testing decade of music that was the 90s. From the opener (Regular John) onward, the guitars hit you like a perfectly constructed wall of brutalist sound. The lead is often backed with a loud, identical bass line, creating this distinctive feeling of power that conjures images of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath. The drumming is consistently very strong too. Each song is littered with heavy, almost doomy drum patterns and plenty of skilful fills. Reminds me of Dave Grohl's drumming, if maybe slightly airier and cleaner. The vocals aren't particularly distinct – Ozzy-esque, maybe – but I get the sense this is a band not particularly focused on the singing aspect. The riffs are far more important (and I agree). Maybe the sickest guitar part here is in The Bronze, which includes not only a nifty pedalled solo but also a throbby intro. Very atmospheric. Unfortunately, there are some definite bad tracks here. Maybe it was the wrong time of night for me to listen to it, but I found You Would Know's guitar and drum lines really irritating. Probably a track that takes multiple listens to "get". Hispanic Impressions is a passable instrumental track that gets away with being "decent" only because of its short length. I would've hispanically rioted if it had gone over three minutes. You Can't Quit Me Baby around the same level – the vocals wander all over the place without hitting anywhere melodically convincing – but at six and a half minutes, it doesn't get the pass. These Aren't the Droids You're Looking For... huh. Let's just say it's not surprising at all that these tracks are on the latter half of the album. This is the most unapproachable one so far. It's grating, abrasive, and lacks any cohesion whatsoever. Odd ending to I Was a Teenage Hand Model, but the rest of the track is pretty solid. 3/5 Key tracks: Regular John, Avon, Mexicola
Nja..
Been a long time since I actually sat and listened to QOTSA, I remember being sort of lukewarm on them. We shall see. It's sort of monotonous and generic. The same power chords droning through each song, which is typical of stoner rock I suppose. But a few good guitar parts here and there. I don't particularly like the vocals but they're listenable. If I just heard this playing in the wild somewhere I don't think it would really catch my attention. It was fine for a listen through, but I only saved Mexicola to my likes and I don't think this would make me want to listen to more from them. I can see why a lot of people would really like this though. 2.5/5
A few bangers on here. You can get the sense of what they’ll later achieve on rated R.
Музыка какая-то арифметическая.
Good vibes!
3.5
Proggier than expected. I am only closely familiar with songs for the deaf by qotsa. This is not that. There are no catchy pop hooks in particular on this record. There are moments that feel like deep prog metal - I really like that about it. I can find that distinctive droney sound that they have a little off putting but there is definitely a lot to intrigue me here. It does feel long and difficult though
It sure is a QOTSA album. Really repetitive riffs, but they're pretty good riffs for rock music. Just have to be in the right headspace and mood to deal with them.
Solid rock album where most/all tracks are marked by a signature sound full of a lot of distortion. This creates a very full, loud sound that can be good in moderation, but I find it hard to listen to an entire album like this. A couple of the later tracks are a bit too chaotic and dissonant for my liking, bringing it down from a 3.5 to a solid 3.0 for me.
Ballerock. Litt for ensformig i lengden.
Love qotsa. Not my favorite album (no ear worms). But good intro to the band nonetheless
they dont find the sauce until the second half but thank god because their next album is goated
I somehow hadn’t ever listened to this. I was deep into my hillbilly/honky-tonk phase in 1998…. The album’s too long, I suppose, meandering a bit after the first several minutes. But the first few songs are really something. Sure, it all sounds like . . . the 90s’ grunge/alternative scene, but the album is sure well done. 3.5?
Den e no helt ok. Men ikke nært det beste dem har gjort.
*1998. *I didn't even know QOTSA were around back in 1998... *This album sounds like a heavier Incubus sometimes. *I'd be happy if someone else put this on, but I wouldn't voluntarily relisten myself. RATING - 6.5/10
good lowkey some of the songs are too repetitive at the end
Not as great as their later work, but there's already a hint of it in here. Faves: Regular John, If Only, You Can't Quit Me Baby
I've listened to a couple other QOTSA albums before, but this is my first time hearing their debut. It's a solid rock album, but I prefer their later stuff.
the things ive seen
I tell you what, Kyuss is one the greatest metal bands ever. QOTSA is like the more generic, more boring version of Kyuss. But there is a little bit of Kyuss magic remaining. Listen to Kyuss people.
If Only // You Would Know // The Bronze // You Can’t Quit Me Baby // 3.5/5
Good, not great. I really like QotSA but this album was pretty repetitive. There were some good ones but overall it all blended into each other. I think that they just didn't quite have their groove going yet.
A few months ago, I went to a Queens concert. It was fun. I wasn't familiar with their debut album, so I was curious. Well, if I had only heard that album, I wouldn't have paid any further attention to the band. Then I would have missed out on something. Fortunately, things turned out differently. 3/5
stoner - young thug type beat
Good music, loses a full star for ugly album art.
Fan of the band, but hadn't heard this album. There were some good songs, but nothing that hit the mark of the songs I love.
Average
I considered myself a QOTSA fan until yesterday when this album came up and I realized I had never listened to it. I came in on Songs for the Deaf and only went back as far as Rated R. This is good, as expected. And rawer/more basic, as expected. The seeds were definitely here, but they were already pretty well-sprouted. This is better than a 3 but not quite a 4 for me.
Super great riffs and vocals, a bit bloated. Looking forward to returning to this one a lot
This is fun, if a little repetitive. Not sure this is one I'll revisit, but I do need to dig back into their discography.
alr
3.5.
alright
Being a fan of Kyuss, I always thought of QOTSA as a lesser, watered down version of it. Let’s give it another chance and see. I mean, it’s less harsh and fuzzy and sunny than Kyuss. Anyhow let’s stop talking about other bands that are probably not in the list anyway. This is a cool album of catchy rock that sometimes veers into noisy jams. Pretty cool but not life changing. Was big for a moment in the early oughts. Three stars.
very good
Gillar queens... Men denna skiva är inte lika bra som andra. Noterar dessutom att deras överlägset bästa skiva, songs for the death, inte är med. Det känns mycket märkligt.
Inte hört den här tidigare och den var väl inget mästerverk direkt, men de har ett sound jag gillar skarpt och jag tycker det är ett gediget hantverk rakt igenom. Stark trea på gränsen till fyra!
start off decent, but drops off about halfway through for me, but better than I was expecting as I've only ever really liked a handful of QOTSA songs
Pretty solid.
Achei bem básico, sem nenhum atrativo especial seja em melodias memoráveis ou qualquer outro elemento que surpreenda ou cative. Por vezes lembra Nirvana. Disco regular, mediano.
Rather entertaining rock music. The new LPs are better, but this one holds some magic.
its a good start for them
Didn’t really stand out. Was good but that’s about it boss
Dirty and gritty, but not quite as polished as the group will become.
I have listened to this a few times before. While not my favourite thing to listen to it’s not bad. A couple of tracks stand out somewhat and could make a 90s rock playlist. Not something I would revisit much though
This was not my band in the late 90s early 2000s and I’m still not a fan. It’s not bad. Just makes me irritated. I don’t enjoy it. 3 stars for nostalgia
I thought I would like this because I liked another one of their songs but I guess not .. don't get me wrong, there were good songs on this record but nothing really stood out
Good album. Straightforward power trio rock with some odd time signatures thrown in. Very enjoyable but nothing so special to deserve being called out as on of the 1001.
Þetta var alveg rosalega miðlungs. Ekkert sem að böggaði mig en ekkert sem greip mig heldur né sat eftir að hlustun lokinni.
Bara solid late 90s rokk. Langar smá að gefa þessu tvær stjörnur en það er eitthvað þarna sem hífir þetta upp.
Some nice riffs, but way too repetitive.
Hi Desert Stoner Rock - Genre is suckers game, but young JH did kinda pioneer a legitimate distinct subgenre. Fun, thought got better later.
Das Debüt entstand 1998 im Monkey-Studio in Palm Springs und zeigt die US-Band in einer klar strukturierten, trockenen Produktion. Stücke wie „Regular John“, „Avon“ oder „If Only“ setzen auf repetitive Gitarrenfiguren und einen ruhigen, stoischen Puls, der den frühen Charakter des Projekts prägt. Stilistisch bewegt sich das Album zwischen Alternative Rock und Stoner Rock, oft mit hypnotischer Wirkung. Insgesamt ein konzentrierter Einstieg, der die spätere Richtung bereits andeutet.
At first glance, this doesn't really seem like much. There's not real clear highlight/hit on the album, and the style isn't one that screams this must be heard by everyone. But as I've listened, I've come around on this album being included on this list. I still don't think it's like a really great album or anything, but I do think that it's a really subtly good album. Like if you actually listen, with an open mind, you'll be a little blown away at how good it is, despite the surface of the music seeming like generic rock. I'm not blown away by this album, and maybe multiple listen throughs of it would deepen the listening experience, but on a first listen through it gets a solid, "yeah that's good" from me. Favorite Song(s): Avon
7/10
I kind of hoped I’d be more into this, but my listening experience went steadily downhill in a linear fashion between the first minute and the last. Luckily it started pretty good.
Dip your toes in a little bit of sludge metal stoner rock. Go on. I dare you.
Okay
I don't get it.
nicht ganz so mein vibe leider aber für die leute dies mögen gut
Queens of the Stone Age have an unmistakable sound. Most of their music sounds almost identical, which is OK because I think they sound awesome! My fav album (and introduction to QOTSA) is 'Songs for the deaf'.
I'm really happy that this challenge is giving me the opportunity to revisit some prejudices I've had against bands - QOTSA is a good example. Teenage-me decided not to listen to Queens of the Stone Age or the Foo Fighters because in some weird way I felt like Dave Grohl should have still been mourning Kurt Cobain, like a widower who never remarries because they're lost their one true love. Instead he was floozying around with other bands and musicians who could never be as good as Nirvana! Obviously, in hindsight this is pretty unfair and dumb of previous me. Still, it checks out. Queens of the Stone Age hasn't got anything on Nirvana. I started out liking the alt rock feels of this album, but god, it just went on and on didn't it, and then there felt like there was some experimental sounds stuff, and I just wasn't feeling it, at all. Its a blah-3-stars I guess from me
Definitely not their best work
Perplexing choice. Not because it's a bad album or anything, but it's generally agreed upon that Songs from the Deaf is Queens of the Stone Age's greatest album and has become an undisputed 00's Rock classic. This one, their debut, feels like exactly that, a debut. The signs are all here, but the band is clearly still figuring out their sound. Key tracks: Regular John Avon I Was a Teenage Hand Model
Solid rock which is ok by me. I wish it was more consistent, as this album had some great moments, with a few great hooks. I'll have to listen again. Liked Songs Added: Walking On The Sidewalks Mexicola You Can't Quit Me Baby
Thought this would be a more impactful album a bit under whelming
I've seen QOTSA live and they're awesome. But much like the case with Foo Fighters I don't know why their debut album is on here when there's much stronger albums (Songs for the Deaf, Era Vulgaris) in their arsenal.
Thusbis a good aalbum, but honestly, not as great as Songs for the Deaf. Quite repetitive riffs and ideas, although it shows well the original sound of Queens of the stone age and the lyrics of Josh Home. 3/5 for their debut
Typical early QOTSA. Decent but nothing special
It got better as it went on until the headache-inducing cacophony at the end. I was fairly non-plussed for a lot of this but then it got stronger and more engaging.
Solid album. Strong rhythm section. ‘I Was a Teenage Hand Model’ would be an effective tool in enhanced interrogation.
As an avowed fan of this band, I avoided this album. I love the early albums, but the releases later in the catalog are my real faves. I was familiar with Kyuss (Homme's band before this) and didn't love that, so I presumed this wouldn't knock my socks off, and as it was only available as an import (or something, it was hard to find), I never bothered. So... here we are. It's what I expected. A concept-finding-life version of a great band. Cool to hear it, glad it's not impossible to get to, but never my first choice to serve up as THE must-listen QOTSA record.
It's cool, though their later ones are better. but there are some good stoner grooves on here. my son was digging it.
i liked some tracks (regular john, you would know, the bronze, spiders, teenage hand model) but others meh. skipped half of them. not really that fun.
Why not Songs For The Deaf?
A good album that could have been great if it was 2/3 the length. Maybe the instrumental noodlng can be justified as a necessary pré cursor to Songs for the Deaf. But it gets boring quickly.
Good - but gets repetitious for me
I was very skeptical of this one but it turned out to be pretty good
This band would go on to do much cooler things (songs for the deaf) neat start but not essential
Seems to start strong, but then nothing stayed with me. Might need another listen, but probably a 2.5 for me out of the gate. Bumping tho.
I’m not super into stoner rock, but I like this alright. The guitars are rad, and I can kind of settle into the groove of the record. Some of the songs go on a bit too long, but overall, it’s enjoyable enough. Im also surprised to learn that Queens of the Stone Age has existed since at least 1998. 3.7/5
not sure why this was chosen over songs for the deaf - it's still okay, but still... cmon
Definitely not their best, but a fun record that is a bit of a transition from what Kyuss was into what queens of the stoneage would be. Enjoyable jammy, desert/stoner ROCK.
It was okay, just ain’t for me.
classic but not a whole lot anything interesting.
I don’t like the first five songs, they sound the same. Very simple stuff, repetitive swings that do not evolve at all. From the sixth track it becomes more interesting (the bronze). More surprising riffs, much more catchy melodies, and much richer arrangement. But overall this is not my favourite type of music. And the lead vocal is on the weaker side for me. Many tracks are not really interesting. If they can make the album shorter it’d be very different.
i do like me some QotSA, but i find that this album is still like a discovery album for them. Josh Homme i think really comes into himself, his weird choices, and his eccentric style as his career continues. this does feel a bit more "regular" compared to later QotSA albums. a fine listen, talent shines through, but it ultimately leaves me craving more of the sound that I am used to.
Going back and listening to the debut album from Queens of the Stone Age was a lot of fun, and seeing the development of their sound from this album to what I'm most familiar with (Songs For The Deaf) was really interesting. I feel like the album is ahead of its time, not really sounding like it belongs in the late-80s but more in the mid-90s. A handful of songs were good, with others being above average, but I know there's better from this band so I'm sticking with a three.
Honestly, this was a really refreshing rock album after a bunch of duds on this list. I can't tell you a single song, but the whole album was a nice palate cleanser. The kind of album that your friends older brother would play while driving you around in his Pontiac Sunfire.
Interesting choice of album for QotSA. I love them, but definitely would have picked Songs For The Deaf. Still this is a very strong start as a debut album, and many of these tracks I had simply never heard. Also today I learned about the woman on the cover, Sylvia Bayo. Sex work in the 1970s sounds hard, no pun intended.
Pretty standard head-banger stuff - better than a lot, but mostly tedious.
Nice sound but I can't help but feel like something is missing. Whatever it is I wanted, the earrape in the end certainly wasn't it
3.2 2x
Not bad 3.5/5
umas musicas legais, outras meio genéricas. mas ainda sim um bom album. 3,5.
I like Regular John, the rest is very same-y.
Surprised I didnt like this more. Compared to other QOTS albums, this one was much more rough around the edges, and the songs were a little repetitive. Not bad musically and instrumentation- you could tell the talent they had lurking. Overall- average. 2.5
Solid heavy metal but not my cup of tea.
*** Powerful guitar sound, however it gets a bit monotonous after 3 or 4 songs.
classic qotsa - you get what you came for, no less, no more.
More easy listening background stuff.
Fun. ★★★
Surprised how much i liked it decent 7
This has some really cool moments that show off the band’s unique rock sound, with heavy grooves and riffs that stand out. At the same time, a chunk of the record feels pretty one-note, and a few tracks don’t leave much of an impression after the fact. Still, it’s a solid album with flashes that I will probably revisit. Standouts: Regular John Avon
7/10
I like their sound but a bit samey. Don’t think this one deserved a spot.
Enjoyed, wish there was a decimal system because this was closer to a 4 star for me. A little repetitive but might need to relisten
First song sets the tone, and the rest of the album follows the same path from beginning to end.
Цікавий дебют загалом, хоча я б обрав для себе більш пізній період КВОТСА або songs for the deaf.
A rockin' good time. It's sort of the same rockin' good time, throughout, though, and I tend to like more range.
Classic Rock
It was a bit same-y, but I liked it.
Decent. 3/5
cactus emoji
really solid but by the middle it seemed copy paste. at least the thing they’re copying and pasting is mildy interesting.
Got bored of it real fast. Too basic and monotone. I hate the freaky ass album cover too.
It was ok as an album. Listenable, hard rock. I liked their later material better. It's probably not one I'm going to play again
Pretty good stuff
Maybe they should go back to the Stone Age
Enjoyed the first half an hour or so, but then it got a bit samey. Too many instrumentals. Simpsons: No
I like some of their stuff unfortunately the songs I know and like aren't on here.
Started off strong but lost me after these aren't the droids you're looking for.
Put it on a few times and did enjoy it. It didn't blow me away though, but might be worth putting it back on after a break.
Pas mon style (trop rock) mais un bon album avec des morceaux variés et pas désagréable à écouter
Solid 90s sweaty rock and roll. No complaints, but sometimes Josh Homme's stuff starts to sound kind of sameish after a while. I like this, but given a choice I'm fine with just listening to Kyuss. I want to give it 3.5 stars.
This is fun, if a little repetitive. Not sure this is one I'll revisit, but I do need to dig back into their discography.
5⭐️ cover art, 4⭐️ band name, 3+⭐️ music. Good classic hard rock.
I'm a huge QOTSA fan, but this is probably one of my least listened-to albums of theirs. It's great though, don't get me wrong! It reminds me very much of the great earlier Josh Homme band Kyuss, where this album is kind of a blend between that band and the more refined (discovered?) QOTSA sound. It's still got that droning driving stoner rock riff-heavy tracks that Kyuss had, and also some of the more hook-heavy moments that shine in QOTSA tracks. It's a great sound, but after going through it again it's just a bit too much of the droning Kyuss and not enough of QOTSA. That's totally ok, but I do question if this one should be on the list- even more so when this is the first QOTSA album on the list after ~900 albums listened.
I like this band and really like their guitar tones. But this is pretty clearly before they hit their stride and not sure this is a standout
Solid album but didn’t blow me away. I liked it but not sure there was a moment or song that would make me go higher on the rating.
I like Queens of the Stone Age but find them a bit...plodding. Kind of similar to my thoughts on Alice In Chains. Not sure if that makes sense, but that's how I feel and you should let me feel my feelings. Thx. 3.25/5
Solid rock record. This group certainly turned a lot of heads as they came about, and it's understandable why. Gritty, hard-hitting ensembles mixed with some lightly-distorted vocals and impactful transitions. This is a record that changed the course of rock and cemented itself as its own. Solid one.
This was just alright. Usually rock albums pump me up but the super long instrumental sections made me sleepy.
An album with a lot of promise that really starts to fall apart by the end. Each song has the exact same intensity throughout each runtime - there's nothing dynamic or fluid with any of the tracks. Every song starts with a decent to solid hard rock riff, and never goes anywhere else. Maybe would feel less disappointed if each song has a minute or two shaved off their runtime to cut down on the repetitiveness. Top tracks: Regular John, Avon, Mexicola
Grungy, dirty, riff-driven hard rock. I like it. Didn't know much about this band until I heard Nobody Knows in Guitar Hero. Been a fan since. 3.45/5 stars. Should be a 3.5 but it got kind of lame near the end.
First time really listening to this band and album. Not my usual style but enjoyed the album.
Tough rate. I liked the instrumentals a lot; gave some grungey stoner rock vibes that I dug. However, I feel like a few of the songs could have been cut shorter. They just repeat the same line or instrumental measure over and over again. Some of the songs I liked a lot and some I couldn't wait to be over. I'd say I felt more of the former, though. A true rating would be 3.5, but I feel like this falls mostly in line with more albums that I've rated a 3 over a 4.
I really enjoyed the first half of the album but it started to lose steam pretty significantly about halfway through. Favorites: Regular John, You Would Know Least Favorite: Hispanic Impressions
I really like Queens of the Stone Age but have never explored their first album, mostly because I don't know but 1-2 songs on here and it felt like it was an album made before Josh Homme and the band really knew what they wanted to sound like. I still feel like my take is accurate. This is by no means a "bad" album but I think Rated R or Songs for the Deaf are better representations of their sound. This book tends to lean hard into a band's first album, unless you are the Talking Heads/Nick Drake/Elvis Costello/David Bowie in which case every note ever laid down is a "must-listen" album, so it's not surprising QOTSA have their debut self-titled in the book. I can't argue with the band needing to be in the book but I think if you are going to die then this may not be the QOTSA album you would want to hear before you do shake off this mortal coil. Regardless, more than half of this one is really good. It loses a point for not being the best QOTSA album though. Regular John Avon If Only You Would Know How to Handle a Rope Give the Mule What He Wants
The debut from Queens of the Stone Age sees Josh Homme and co. (including fellow ex-Kyuss member, drummer Alfredo Hernández) trying to evolve their signature stoner rock sound after moving on from the legendary stoner rock band. Here, you can hear the early outlines of what would later be perfected on albums like Rated R, Songs for the Deaf, and ...Like Clockwork, but it's not quite there yet. Still, as you'd expect from a Josh Homme project, this album packs a punch and delivers riffs for days. The guitar lines are often repetitive and fairly simple, but still very memorable. That repetitive nature calls back to krautrock bands like Can (which Homme himself cited as an influence on this record), but it's blended here with the heaviness of stoner rock. The result is a sound that remains hypnotic, but is now sleeker and more refined. This album won’t wow you with its complexity, but it shines in its rawness and weight. It draws you in and makes you feel part of its world, much like Kyuss did. From the very first note, you’re teleported into the scorching heat of a California desert. While I like Homme as a vocalist, I do miss what the late Mark Lanegan would later bring to the table on subsequent records. The lyrics are serviceable. They’re not the star of the show, but they complement the music well. One lyrical standout is “How to Handle a Rope,” which features some clever lines laced with wit and dark humor. Overall highlights here are “Regular John,” “Mexicola,” “You Can’t Quit Me Baby,” and “If Only.” 3.5/5
There was a time in my life when I think this would have really appealed to me but nothing really stands out now. Lots of big crunchy guitar riffs, but no stand out songs imo.
🐣🤷♂️
This was a start towards something great but this isn’t yet great
A pretty decent rock album.
Alright
Cool to see where where Josh Homme started from. Nothing really stands out to me on this one like his later work, but its a pretty standard alt rock album from the era.
It was good. This record feels well-rounded. It sounded pretty good instrumentally, and the vocals weren't off-putting. Favourite Track(s): Give the Mule What He Wants Least Favourite Track(s): Hispanic Impression
The classic QOTSA album I'm less familiar with. Probably could be a 4 with more listens but less if it holds on a first proper full listen. Should probably listen again before eating but let's pretend this is 3.5.
3.5, not doing it for me today and that's the problem with a highly subjective rating system
Good guitar playing, he certainly knows how to write a great riff. I'm not a huge fan of Josh Homme's vocals though, the songs slightly blur into one by the end for me
Rock n fucking roll. Almost prog, almost metal, almost alternative. This band is truly unique.
I have listened to other albums of theirs but not this one. It was good.
You Would Know was my favorite on the album. The guitars throughout the album were solid. Close to a 4 but not quite
Pretty interesting rock, with influences of psych, grunge, and prog. Not bad. Only one or two real standouts for me though. Walkin on sidewalks was cool. Kinda reminded me of Jack white for some reason.
Just okay
I remember when this album was released, a year or two after grunge reached a more mainstream audience. At the time, it seemed like everyone was trying to ride the wave and when I first listened to this album it seemed like more of the same. After this I never gave Queens a fair shake, so I went into this listen wondering if give me a new perspective. There is no disputing that the album has big sound, with some interesting guitar riffs. I loved songs that successfully interated more complex pics and jabs with the driving power chords that define the record. This was a highlight for me. I also enjoyed the power of more bass-forward tunes on songs like Mexicola. All of the songs are repetitve, carrying chords and other elements from start to finish. Sometimes this works, but the places where it doesn't allow me to forgive my younger, dismissive self. I'm still unsure why this album is considered seminal. Perhaps due to the later commercial success of the band? I was torn on my overall rating. I decided that 3* albums were those that I was glad I listened to, even if only because it gave me a deeper perspective to modern music, whereas 4* albums are those that I do intend to listen to again. I don't thinnk that the latter was the case for this particular album, but it was interesting enought that I do intend to listen to later Queens albums to see where they ultimately take their music. In the end, I decided that this was more a credit to this project than this record specifically.
me just happy robot
Not as refined as their later works. But a promising start. Simple rhythms and beats but composed in a way that is pleasing and, well... groovy.
Not bad but nothing really stood out to me.
Solid enough album. Can't see anything special about it.
3.5
nothing crazy exciting about it but it’s rock so it rocks
-i listened to this and Songs For The Deaf, which i’ve been meaning to get around to for a while. honestly this doesn’t even begin to hold a candle to SFTD so idk why it’s on here instead, but there are some great moments -i love the fuzzy stoner rock guitar so much. one of my favorite “new genre i like” discoveries of this year -Favorites are Regular John, You Would Know, and Hispanic Impressions
That was ok. First listen to this band.
This was good until it wasn’t 😂 liked the songs with the words and then when there weren’t enough, the music stressed me out too much to listen on.
You Would Know is a cool song... You Can't Quit Me has some interesting bass playing... but, mostly this record is grungy, semi-hard rock... all instruments except drums by one guy, and it sounds like it... is it horrible? no... i found my head bopping a bit at times... these guys are 10 years younger than me... or i should say, guy, Josh Homme... and i remember, in the 90's i hung out with a lot of people 10 years younger than me, and while they LOVED my music... whenever they would excitedly ask me to listen to some of theirs, i never got it... i would think that this younger crowd had a lot of angst, and inner turmoil... lolol... i don't get this record either... it would probably get five stars from people in their late 40's early 50's... but, from me, it gets three... for artistic intent. any record this tuneless, grooveless, plodding, etc that gets three stars from me... is a miracle in itself... zzz
some interesting and enjoyable instrumentation but unfortunately boring vocals
Favorite Track: The Bronze
QoSA son una banda con un sónido muy logrado. No inventan nada pero son muy eficientes. Homme tras su paso por Kyuss (otra banda esencial) funda las QoSA y debutan con este estupendo disco, que sin embargo no está a la altura de los imprescindibles Rated R y Songs for the Deaf. El trío inicial es imbatble, con If Only sonando a los Stooges de finales de siglo. Salvo Walking on the Sidewlaks, que se hace monótona y pesada, el resto configuran un álbum muy disfrutable. Hispanic impressions y sobre todo You Can't Quit Me Baby (menuda joya), es Led Zepellin actualizado. Spiders and vinegaroons es otra marcianada que resuena a cualquier cosa (Kashmir, Fucking in the bushes, etc.) En How to handle a rope suenan a Foo fighters, con quienes tienen relación, aunque en realidad la tienen con medio panorama musical (desde Pj Harvey hasta Chili Peppers, pasando por Lanegan o Trent Reznor, Alex Turner y hasta Elton John en el otro imprescindible suyo ...Like Clockwork). Un disco de QoSA es imprescindible, puede ser este , cualquiera o los 3 ya citados.
Day 1: Queens Of The Stone Age-Queens Of The Stone Age This Album was decent at best... See when I first turned on this album and for the first few songs I actually quite enjoyed Queens Of The Stone Age but the more I listened I realized that this album really isn't very good. From the repetitive riffs and the lyrics that never really seemed to go to well with the music it all got a bit annoying by the end of the Album. The tracks on Queens Of The Stone Age all sound somewhat similar and honestly I thought most tracks were just Ok. The few tracks I thought were pretty good were "Regular John", "If Only", and "You Would Know." Favorite Song: Regular John
Such a unique sound, instantly knowing it is them, just from the first ten seconds of instrumental. Stoner Rock and album has more of a feel of a demo, than finished album, but fair for first release and remastered later. Kinda samey and a steady trot through the signature sound and similar tracks. Surprised ‘Songs for the Deaf’ isn’t in the list instead/as well. But a unique debut all the same and worthy for its originality. Some nice experimentation and off beats, but a bit, “okay, I get it” by the end
6/10 incredibly mid quite unremarkable
not even their best work imo
late 90s rock which didn't impress me
Despite my like of Rock in general, QOTSA never clicked for me. 2.5
Leuker dan songs for the deaf
Pretty good. Nothing standout but still pretty good.
I quite enjoyed this album, no stand out tracks for me but it’s probably a grower. Easy listen as background music
I can’t be mad at more 90s rock. That’s my wheelhouse. But it is really funny to think of the 1001 authors sitting down to be like, “you have *got* to hear this average example of a genre already well represented, both in pop culture and in our book, before you die.”
They definitely got better on subsequent albums
Decent record. The sound was consistent, but still good variety between the songs.
I did not realize that Queens of the Stone Age put out their first album in the 90s. And unfortunately, it’s just alright. It sounds like a more aimless Foo Fighters. Having heard their newer work, I think the sound they evolved into was a much better choice. I also think the number of songs with too much random noise is too high.
Never heard it, s’posed t’be good. On my list!
QOTSA:n debyytti. Kyllähän tästä bändin soundin tunnistaa, mutta monta laahaavaa ja itseään toistavaa kappaletta. Eikä yhtään bändin hittejä. QOTSA:lla on kyllä parempiakin levyjä. Parhaat: How To Handle a Rope, Regular John, Spiders and Vinegaroons
Like it 3/5
Its okay but not really my thing
This rocks !
I've given this one a hesitant three; I felt that I'd be able to make it all the way through from the intro tracks. It got to be a challenge near the end.
Not a group I've listened to much, I liked this one OK there just aren't any tracks that really stood out.
A little noisy for me
Intense in delivery, fairly dismal in tone. It's at once very good and a bit dragging
Pretty good, got a little repetitive but overall enjoyable.
I really thought I'd like this more than I did. It really just sounded like reheated Black Sabbath.
Wow! It’s all the same. They certainly have a distinct sound, but it isn’t defined enough on their debut. Don’t worry guys, it gets better. 3/5
Y'know, I didn't want much out of this album. I mean, I know what a Queens Of The Stone Age is and what it does; I've heard SONGS FOR THE DEAF enough times. As long as it provides me with that kick-ass Palm Springs desert rock I know 'em for, I'll be happy as a damn clam. Heck, I was even willing to keep in that this is their first album and not judge them too hard if it's not "exactly there yet." I'll emphasize: I **was**. But then I heard the album and, uh... Like, look, I'm gonna sit here and tell you it's **that bad**. If you're looking for a little hard desert rock, I can't say this won't do the job, but it won't do any more than that. It's just so flatly fine that I'm not really finding myself inspired to wanna say too much. Off the top of my head, the best I can think of is that, well, this was at least successful enough to lead to the album I'm actually interested in? I'm also mentally comparing it to the other "band debut that's actually a one-man band" dealie I know of, Foo Fighters' eponymous, and, jus'... Goodness, what Dave did on that album was so much more interesting than what Josh did over here. "I'll Stick Around" by itself clears everything on here. 'Coz, I'unno, Dave just has more things going on in his songs than Josh does. Josh is perfectly happy to let the same drum and guitar riff loop for, like, 80% of the songs, with vocals on top that hardly make up for it. This is "stoner rock" in that you might hafta be stoned and not really paying attention to notice how much isn't going on. I wanna give credit to one song, and that's "Mexicola". In my mind, it's the best track here, and it's the closest I'd come to calling any of this material "kick-ass." I mean, heck, it's actually **interesting**, go figure! Now, to be fair, I didn't actually listen to the entire album as it exists on streaming; I listened to the original vinyl track listing. For all I know, "The Name Of This Song Is A Quote From The Movie Star Wars" would've redeemed the whole thing, but I'm not particularly interested in finding out. So... Yeah, I'unno. A 3. It works for what it is, but already being aware of SONGS FOR THE DEAF, I don't have much use for this. Heck, even if I did, I wouldn't wanna listen to it in full again for how "I Was A Teenage Hand Model" ended. Pure discomfort, goodness me. So... I'unno. Honestly, it's kind of a shame that it's the only QOTSA album here, but what'cha gonna do, huh? Well, I don't know about you, but me, I'm gonna go put on "No One Knows".
I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump down to a 3. I’ve heard of Queens of the Stone Age, but I haven’t *heard* them (or in this case, him) until now. This is, much like the first Foo Fighters album, secretly a solo project, although the drums are by someone else. Unlike the first Foo Fighters album, I think this one just sort of flounders in a vague kind of mediocrity – nothing’s ever technically “wrong” on this album, and it sounds really nice when you’re not paying attention. Unfortunately, I am the exact type of person to pay attention, and that attention applies to everything. I think the lyricism isn’t as precise and measured as many of its other 90s grunge contemporaries that we’ve got (i.e., Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, Nirvana), and the broader strokes don’t really paint any kind of consistent picture for most of the tracks. I think the instrumentals are good, but suffer from the occasional really long repetitive pattern in the drums & guitar that doesn’t get covered up by the often safe vocals – his voice, when he’s really experimenting with the range it can take on these instrumentals, can sound super good, but he plays it really safe on a lot of these, and as such, it sort of inconsistently shifts between engaged & disinterested. Sort of like the Britney Spears album we got, there are points where his conviction feels a little half-baked & it just feels off. However, all of those criticisms are partially from my listening style – there were points on this album where I did just sort of toss the lyrics aside, tried to sort of zone out & just let the music come to me, and those moments, while hit & miss, did click pretty well when a zen state kinda came to me. That said, it was just as easy to snap out of that zen state when something more abrasive or audibly awkward came in; the out of key guitar on “You Can't Quit Me Baby” & the harsh electronica/synth work that ends the album are the two biggest examples here. As a whole, I did enjoy this, but it’s clearly not at the same level as its contemporaries, at least on a first pass – it’s not as refined, it feels a little too garage-y at points, and it doesn’t do a great job of filling its emptier vocal space. I’ve read reviews that say their later work, when an actual full band comes in, is significantly better & arguably landmark worthy, and I’m willing to believe that. This isn’t a bad album, it just didn’t click well for me. I can hear the potential for sure, and there are some good tracks on this. It’s just not a great experience, at least for me, hence the 3.5 bumped down to a 3.
Nice listen, nothing particularly intrigued me though. 7/10
6/10 Not really my bag, feels derivative and not super inventive but I know these guys can play so props to them.
Not worth a second listen
It’s definitely a QOTSA album. Hard riffs and a bunch of buzzy feedback. Vocals were the difference compared to albums that followed. Regular John started off the album with musical intention. Vocals were a bit pitchy and high octave. I was into the weird I Was a Teenage Hand Model closer. Top 3 Tracks: 1. Mexicola 2. I Was a Teenage Hand Model 3. Regular John 6.5/10
All the pieces are there, and I appreciate QOTSA for including a couple of genuinely interesting instrumental tracks here, but I think it's hard for me to think anything else knowing QOTSA's most invigorating works are just around the corner.
duplicate
Very grungy not quite my style but a pretty good album, the overall sound put me off a bit though.
Good music
some very great songs, but also a little bit annoying at times
Not bad, especially as I don't generally like their genre.
It’s really only the first few songs that are as good as anything on the next few albums, and the bonus tracks don’t really help much. Never really the same when they got rid of the bass player who got his dick out.
Debut album with most of the QOTSA sound. I'd never heard it before but it was better than I'd expected. That being said, it pales in comparison to some of their later works.
Not a super intentional listen but a cool rock album. Nothing really hooked me personally but I think I get the appeal. Like spiders and vinegaroons. Solid rhythm guitar playing throughout. 3
Wasn't bad.
i do like queens of the stone age but the fact that they've been around so long does make it sound a little generic
I quite like this sort of thing. It didn't set me on fire, though. Decent.
Not my fav but enjoyable rock
I like QotSA, but this album seemed a little repetitive. I really like the overall sound, but the repetition is not for me. Sometimes it's bearable, other times just not at all! I think other albums are better.
A classic debut album that catapulted Queen of the Stone Age to the Grunge Rock forefront. I’m a big fan of grunge. However, QOTSA isn’t my go to in this genre. There wasn’t a great enough balance between distortion and melody. I enjoyed the album but it didn’t resonate with me as much as I wanted it to… Favorites: Regular John, If Only, How to Handle a Rope
While not as strong as some of their other albums, this one has a lot of fun songs. I was always a sucker for “I Was a Teenage Hand Model.” There are a few songs that are a bit clunky, but overall a strong album. 3.5.
Meh
Serviceable. Can tell he’s putting on his best Cobian impression on half the songs
Twee nummers in: Denk dat ik het tot nu toe zou aanraden als iemand vraagt naar een rock album zonder poes pas.
🤟🤟but maybe slightly too long/a bit repetitive. Enjoyed it either way
Stands its ground exceptionally well. "If Only" is a banger. 3/5
Ajajaj das ist wieder mal nix :/ So schlimm ist nicht es ist halt einfach nur ganz 🆗👍
This one brought back some memories.... Not their best album, but consistent.
Some songs sound alright, but mostly it doesn't sound super good or interesting.
Kompliziert und ruhig. Für das Genre gar nicht schlecht! 3,4
Was expecting something a little different, and maybe a little more. Sounds surprisingly Soundgarden-esque stoner rock with only flashes of the Desert Rock sound I was really looking for...
I was surprised how much I was almost enjoying this, but as I’m finding throughout this exercise albums of an hour or more generally lose me after the halfway mark. Solid enough, but reiterated why I never really went for grunge generally
American 90s rock. Quite hard.
Musikalisch ganz ok. Cover würde mich vom Kauf abhalten!
Average
Regular John was recognizable, and the guitar outro of You Can’t Quit Me Baby was the best part of the album. Pretty good rock collection going on here.
Sonido bastante pesado, pero nada mal. Me gustaron mucho las canciones puramente instrumentales y el vocalista me convence bastante.
Starts strong, but becomes a bit repetitive. A credible exemplar of its genre.
Enjoyable rock album, if a bit repetitive 3/5
honestly this just sounds like if early radiohead were american and therefore slightly worse (ESPECIALLY the first song). i really expected this to be shit but it’s perfectly fine. the drums are mad boring but i like most of the other elements of the songs especially the quieter ones. the album was way too long tho. fav tracks: regular john; i was a teenage hand model [even with all the stupid sound effects]
Nothing grabbed me, but the sound was solid overall. The vocals weren't terribly interesting either. My favorite song was the outro, sans the final minute (which was hilarious).
Der er nogle bangers på, men det er til gengæld et virkelig langt album der ikke rigtigt kommer ud over den ene tone, den sætter. Stor 3’er
This is the first album in our run of this project that I already know well. QOTSA has been a favorite of mine ever since Songs for the Deaf, so I like all their albums to varying degrees. Josh kicked things off by laying the groundwork throughout this album, and spent the subsequent albums building and improving on that foundation. I really enjoy this album through "Mexicola", but the rest of the songs after it overstay their welcome. And while that makes for a challenging final stretch that I respect (none of the other albums I've heard from this list so far have been this abrasive or proudly weird) it can also get on my nerves sometimes. For me it's really half of a great album. Thankfully that gets better from here, but it also means that this is my least favorite of their albums. Technically this is a 3.5 for me, but there's no option for that on here that I can figure out.
I liked this less the longer it went on but it's still decent enough
This sounds a lot like the B sides from the first Foo Fighters record. Queens would go on to make some really awesome music. But this is not the best freshman record. Which is totally fine. Just not sure why it's on this list. Towards the end, there is a lot of wasted time. Hour long records are not a requirement.
A prime example of the wrong album by a great band being on the list. Songs for the Deaf is the obvious choice, with Like Clockwork being a fantastic later album, and Rated R also deserving of a spot. The self-titled debut is promising but never quite reaches its full potential, with swaggering riffs and that classic QotSA attitude but nothing as memorable or impactful as their later work
Queens of the Stone Age are really good at Just The Right Amount. Just the right amount of melodic variation, of emotion, of sounds vs. silence. Where they really excel is in producing an atmosphere (songs for the deaf will go on to further prove this). Really good rock music that isn’t bogged down by an awful singer
A good intro to this band but the next two albums are the best of them
Well... It's not bad but also not excellent. It has solid tracks and is the base of stoner rock. Definitely not either two or four stars although you could argue for both ratings, so three must do.
There's a bit to like in here. Overall it's a good debut. I like the riffs and the guitars in general, and the kind of down and dirty production. There's some propulsive energy to the songs. It has that QOTSA feel to it, with a lot of minor keys. The main criticism I guess is that not enough really stands out. It's all kind of similar.
I think they got better after this - it's a solid if unspectacular debut.
Cool vibes in instrumentals wish there was more singing. Fav song The Bronze
Some of the songs I really like, others don't really do it for me at all. Not as bad as Kings of Leon but at times I really didn't enjoy the abrasive repetitive guitar songs. Some bangers but overall just okay . 3
I really remember this being a better album...
pretty good debut
Weird choice for a QOTSA album
To be frank, I don’t have a whole lot to say. It was nice, however nothing really stuck with me a whole lot. The riffs are energetic and good, however they’re kind of generic. Most of the time. They don’t really give me anything to look into. I guess this can go for the lyrics as well.The opener, “Regular John,” was decent though, along with a few other songs. This debut was just okay. I’ve heard good stuff about Queens Of The Stone Age, I hope I can enjoy the other albums from them on this list.
Rock bastante monótono.
I only know two QoTSA songs and neither of them were on this album. Starts off pretty good with some great alt rock/90s style rock songs but then they just decided to stop singing and repeat the same sound/riff/noise for like 5 minutes until a random song would come in. Very strange pacing on this album. I liked what I heard in the first half but they lost me halfway through. 5/10
interesting album with a few songs i liked quite a bit
It’s kinda just like the deep purple album I just listened to but more modern.
Ok, leider kein markanter Song.
I knew their name beforehand and I still don't know what I expected. More hardcore rock? Only one track was not mediocre for me. I cannot see myself listening to this again. It still well-produced album, but I don't know if it deserves the place on the list.
I listened to this one 1.5 times. I really tried to get through this one a second time because I felt like it was just kinda there. I'm not sure I had the time to give this the listen it deserved. It sounds good and interesting but nothing really caught my attention. I know this band has a cultish following so I'd like to "get it". I'll try it again someday.
Knowing this band this album fit really well, and wasn't anything shocking. I do like the band and think they are a good mix of heavy, rock, alt, techno and all around different, but it works. I wasn't a huge fan of the guitar riff songs, sort of like they were drunk or tripping and just got distracted. But overall it was a solid album from a solid band.
Queens of the Stone Age is a band I feel like I keep being told I should like despite never meeting anyone who is like, THEY’RE my favorite band. They kept showing up on video game soundtracks, and I remember them being in an episode of Anthony Bourdains show. And the whole time I was like. Eh. They’re fine. They’re the logical conclusion of what main stream alt rock would be post grunge. And it’s fine. It’s perfectly acceptable.
Love QOTSA. As I was listening, I was considering whether this album needed to be included on this list. Certainly “Songs for the Deaf” should be on here, but this one is a quieter, more chill vibe. The instrumentals changed my mind a bit.
It’s just some guy noodling on the guitar for an hour. And it’s not very good.
# Playlist Track - If Only # Notes - Solid start, but kind of a mixed bag from track 5. Great riffs, tho. The next QOTSA albums are better.
I know QOTSA but was not expecting to see them on a Top 1001 album list. Typically they have 3-4 great songs and a bunch of filler tracks on each album. This album is no different. I missed this album and started with 2000's "Rated R". I can't deny their groove and the nice hooks they throw into their some of their hard driving songs that leave you wanting more, but also wondering why they can't do it more regularly. Good intro track in "Regular John", great jam in "If Only", a deep groove on "You Would Know", a galloping rocker in "How To Handle A Rope" and On the flip side, sandwiched between the rockers mentioned above you get sloggers like "Avon", "Walkin On The Sidewalks", "These Aren't The Droids..." & "Hispanic Impressions". Great song titles though! For this reason I can't grade this too high, but it's a good rock & roll album.
Eu amo Queens of the Stone Age, mas posso dizer calmamente que este é o meu álbum que eu menos gosto. Infelizmente. É uma excelente banda.
my first QOTSA album! i wasn’t really sure what to expect, but i enjoyed it quite a bit. i definitely need to listen to Songs For The Deaf now. 3.5