Reviews (page 9 of 10)
Not for me. Some good beats and interesting riffs, but overall I thought it sounded like generic rock as chatGPT might imagine it. I stopped halfway through.
i’m a big qotsa fan, yet i had never previously listened to this album all the way through. i had shrugged it off as another pablo honey kind of first album, but it wasn’t as bad as i had thought. you can hear them exploring a lot of ideas that they would really nail down on later records and you can hear echoing ideas that homme brought from Kyuss. the mixing isn’t quite all the way there compared to later records, which kinda takes away the impact from some of the songs. a number of songs on this record feel incomplete or just kind of haphazardly thrown together. that being said, i think the good songs on this album are great. i’m glad i listened to this all the way through, but it’s still far from my favorite qotsa album
It's interesting hearing this album after many many years of not hearing it and focusing my attention mostly on later QotSA stuff. For context, I used to have every album up to Era Vulgaris on my Zune although I couldn't give you the name of any other desert rock band. Why are they in the desert? Anyway, I explored these guys for a while. It was more of a fascination, a study, rather than an infatuation. There was just something about the "cool"ness of Josh Homme's voice that paired so nicely with the grooves and the absolute rawk n roll. The riffs just spoke to me, the exact type of dark edge crunch that my ears have craved for the last 17 or so years since I first started digging into this band. This album feels like ambient to me in a lot of ways. Getting lost in the repetition. There are some tracks where you can feel that this album is a product of the 90s alt/grunge and there are some tracks where you could tell me this was written last week and I wouldn't question you. Tracks like "Regular John" and "Avon" showcase the band's signature melty guitar tone, while "If Only" has a great chorus and a rawkin' guitar solo. "You Can't Quit Me, Baby" (a play on "I Can't Quit You, Baby"?) features an infectious outro riff that devolves into this frenetic speed up into an implosion. "Spiders and Vinegaroons" off of the reissue is definitely an underrated track with these wild psychedelic reversed guitars and a Travis Barker-level drumline punchy drum highlight. The album, to me, also shows where the band is set to evolve to, with "I Was A Teenage Hand Model" featuring a "cute" indie rock sing-along vibe (and an ending that made my room shake good god just oscillate my street why don't ya). All in all, "Queens of the Stone Age" is an awesome album whose riffs still move me 17 years later. It's definitely going to be hard to listen to for some (dad) but if you're into the whole slo-mo stoner rock/metal sound then I am sure you hold this album in high regard. I'm going to give it a 3 as I don't think it lives in the realm of 4+ but it's a damn good one that had me bobbing my head for pretty much its entirety.
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.
I think I liked their more experimental instrumental back end versus their beginning. At least that was more dynamic and less constant loud Some exceptions. I liked "If Only." That hit me in the right way I found a lot of the beginning / middle boring. Not turn off completely, just not fully onboard. Max told me that their later albums are much better and more popular— I think I’ll have to check those out after. 2/5
This group is so good, especially in their early days. Granted, this is their debut album and I would say that it takes them 2-3 albums to really hit their stride and start to define the QOTSA signature sound. I can't get enough of this dirty, loud, garage-style sound that comes out of the guitar through this entire album. The drums fills, the guitar solos, and the added synthetic effects in spots all marry together so well. Really fun listen, gets me fired up. Fave tracks: Walkin on the Sidewalks, Mexicola, You Can't Quit Me Baby, Spiders and Vinegaroons
Good debut album from QotSA, I've never actually listened to this one before, more familiar with their later offerings. Already they are hitting a lot of the same notes as their more popular albums, crunchy guitar riffs, catchy melodies and the classic drone vocals from Homme. As a whole, the songs on the record feel a little bit one note to me, they have their sound and they're sticking too it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as it is a good sound, but it makes the tracks blend together as we get further along. Fav Tracks: You Would Know, Spiders and Vinegaroons
It's ok, pretty noodley. Sounds like Foo Fighters. Don't think I'll be returning.
I love QOTSA but this is the wrong album. Hopefully a precursor to either Lullabies or Songs for the Deaf. Hell even Villains or Like Clockwork.
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
dad rock
Never listened to QOTSA's debut since it didn't really have any notable singles, but damn is it good!
Liked this, but need to listen again I think
I really did not enjoy this. Gets a 2 for naming a song after vinegaroons.
Desert Rock \m/,
early QOTSA, not fully refined yet, but still good.
eh 7/10
Better every listen
Very nice debut album, a little drawn out and kinda all seems the same, for sure like other QofTSA better, and unfortunately not as much anymore but still a good album.
Not one of the good qotsa albums.
Kinda cool, but compared to their later albums it just seems sloppy
Queens of the Stone Age - Self-Titled - 1998 This album came out the year I graduated from high school. I had stoner friends that loved Kyuss, so when Kyuss/QOTSA released a split EP in ’97, the stoner music crowd was excited for a new Josh Homme-fronted project hailing once again from the California desert. I didn’t give QOTSA much thought for a long time. One day I was watching one of Anthony Bourdain’s food-related travel shows and he was hanging out with Josh Homme in the desert. They were cooking, drinking, playing music, and having a great time. I loved that Bourdain was so into Homme and his music. So I decided to give QOTSA a proper listen. They have been in my regular rotation ever since. This is their first full-length album. It is more polished than a lot of stoner/rock freshman releases. That is likely due to years of experience touring and recording as Kyuss. Out of all their albums, this isn’t the ONE album I would choose from their discography, but it is 100% QOTSA. It is funny, loud, groovy, danceable, and at times a little annoying. Picking a favorite track is hard, but because of the wicked bass intro, and because it has everything I love about the band in one song, I have to go with Mexicola. Also, I might have a bit of a man crush on Homme. 5 out of 5 stars.
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.
Esse é um estilo musical que eu gosto, gostei dos instrumentos, um rock mais pesado, um tanto psicodélico porém não achei que o vocal combinou ou agregou às músicas. Por causa dessa combinação, o álbum não me chamou atenção, passou um tanto despercebido, pra mim, faltou um vocalista mais presente - não foi um álbum que me fez querer conhecer mais a banda mas consigo ver uma comunidade mais niche dedicada à banda.
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.
Riff heavy, fun, fuzzy. Saw a cool synthesis of the various strains of 90s heavy music. I liked the last track, until they used the last 30 seconds to show us what it sounds like when you don't know how to use a monophonic synth.
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.
Guitar and bass tone rock, but it gets old/fatiguing pretty fast. Enjoyed the first three tracks quite a bit, but I thought Walkin on the Sidewalks would NEVER end... You would know is pretty boring. That damn riff is going to haunt my dreams. How to handle a rope, mexicola were really cool songs.
3.5
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
It wasn't bad, it just wasn't anything memorable. They were like a really watered-down version of Soundgarden, but with the same annoying guitar distortion on every song.
good attempt, but not the best work. Anyway Kyuss i like a lot better.
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.
Starts off really well with the opener, then is okay for a while, though quite repetitive, but around the halfway point any chance for a good rating is gone. In my memory, Songs for the Deaf is much better, but maybe my taste has changed.
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: ****
This album is pure groove. Seems like each song was built off a singular, crunchy riff. It works. Love the guitar tones throughout. Overall songwriting is a bit lacking, but it makes for a good gym soundtrack.
landmark riffy stoner rock. i really love this album, but QOTSA would scale to more glorious heights on subsequent releases.
This album isn’t exactly a classic, but it definitely rocks. Could imagine this would have been very cool to see live around the time of its release. Just love that real sleezy desert groove. Could have been part of the soundtrack for the drive from LA to Las Vegas in Swingers. Overall though the album is more of a vibe than anything, not many notable songs on their own other than Regular John and Mexicola. Would call it a 3.5.
I rather disliked this half assed attempt at being cool. It’s mostly noise that makes you want to skip to the next song
Curious choice. Not the most influential QOTSA album but glad they made the list I guess?
90s baby. Love it.
Fovourites: -Walking on the sidewalks -You would know -I was a teenage hand model
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
Average at best. Generic. 2.5/5
This is the only Queens of the Stone Age record on the list. It's the wrong one. It's a bland version of what they became in the 2000s. Pretty good, but not very exciting compared to their later albums. Favorite song: Give The Mule What He Wants.
Important to listen to as it marks the start of mainstream rock becoming profoundly boring
Only the best in Butt Rock
After two attempts to wade through this dusty, grimy debut album, up to my eyeballs in post-grunge jam sessions and finding it all rather dull, I realised I’d been listening to an extended reissue from 2011, which came as something of a relief. Giving it the benefit of the doubt, I switched over to the 1998 original, expecting a tighter, less bloated listening experience. I was wrong. Even at 46 minutes, “Queens of the Stone Age” treads the same ground so much that anything beyond about six songs feels like a small eternity. For every tight, intriguing few seconds there are a few more minutes of stoned, indulgent wallowing. Homme’s riffs and song structures walk the line between hypnotic grooves and mindlessly repetitive, and it’s often difficult to pinpoint which side they land. After a promising start with “The Bends”—alike “Regular John”, Homme plays the same hand again… and again… and again. High-gain, power chords, mid-tempo thrashing, vocals sticking within narrow range while occasionally gliding into falsetto. Each song displays little range or movement, keeping to two or three riffs rinsed and repeated. This rarely feels engaging, with the exception of the best track of all: “You Can’t Quit Me Baby”. Despite being six minutes built around the same riff, there’s at least a bit of drama and scale to it. From the snare-heavy drum pattern to the spacey slide guitar breaks through to a climactic accelerando, it presents a clear build-up and pulls it off. On the other hand, a track like “You Would Know” is irritatingly stop-start without getting anywhere. Elsewhere, there are three minute guitar grade-book exercises (“Hispanic Impressions”), one note accents for a whole song (“Walkin on the Sidewalks”) and so on. Critics likening the band to Neu and Can for apparent motorik rhythms, seem to have somewhat missed the mark: while there are traces of the same grooves, there’s little here to indicate the same worthy technical proficiency, and- with the exception of “You Can’t Quit Me Baby”- even less of a knack to build atmosphere, tension or transport the listener. “I Was a Teenage Hand Model” is worthy of some kudos for introducing more diverse percussion, splashy synths and a muted dynamic into the mix… but ultimately it’s too little too late.
Actually great rock, but the lyrics were not great.
Ok we're picking this instead of one of the two good qotsa albums. Not listened to this one before. Avon I liked. Sidewalks descends into the 'just too long' hypnotic groove that Kyuss loved, and I did too. Look, it's a good sound they've got. Sadly the main problem here is there are way too few actual tunes. Kyuss has better tunes, maybe they'd run out at this stage. On Rated R they are straight out of the gate with the tunes, but sounded less like Kyuss and more like a new band with it's own sound. Which is probably how this should work. They seem like they're enjoying themselves though, so there's that.
An interesting album from a band that has never fully grabbed me. At first listen this sounds like demo tapes of an artist still tryeto find their sound
I'm more familiar with QOTSA's later singles, but I've never really been a fan of theirs regardless. I think they have an interesting and unique sound, it's just not my thing.
Pretty good 90s hard rock.
Rokk og ról. Ágætis plata, gæti rennt henni aftur.
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.
A solid album. It wasn't even a foundational album for settling into the catchier, rougher sound they would be associated with later as it sounds more like a continuation from frontman Josh Homme's band Kyuss. The tune "Walkin on the Sidewalks" is very industrial-era Swans with its repetitive riffage to close the track. They would only improve from here.
The dirge-like jam 'Spiders and Vinegaroons' reminded me of Amon Düül II. Apart from that (and other experimental stuff towards the end), nothing really stuck out to me. The actual songs are all choked in dust.
I like the guitar jams more than the vocals and lyrics. I can't give it more than a 3
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.
The first half is good, but the second half is pretty bland.
This band never had drive, it's shit with only one song in their carrier
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
What a lifeless, emotionless, and stale rock album. Yes, some cool guitar riffs and a generally good production all around, but this just reminds me of how alt rock in the late 90s got heavier but provided nothing of value.
Not a bad album but overall just very average and uneventful, not much to say about this
I too like listening to bands that sound like Soundgarden that are not named Soundgarden. 2.5/5.
ein klassiker
A solid alternative rock album that may have used more instrumental tracks than necessary. They do a nice job with the guitar riffs and the singer has a unique but familiar sound. Felt overall it was good and would revisit some of the songs. 6.6/10
It's not the kind of music I hear but not so bad.
QOTSA are what you get when you turn every knob on your amp up to 11. It's not got the consistency or clarity that some of their following albums have, but it's got some bangers, and you can hear the direction they're about to start moving in
Good. Bit samey perhaps.
Dad rock
Very conceptual stuff. A lot of the time I thought there was just experimental stuff for the sake of it.
I like what I've heard of Queens of The Stone Age and I also like Josh Homme's performance on Them Crooked Vultures' only album, so I expected to like this album, but it was kind of boring. Every song felt longer than it actually was. Maybe if this was a different Queens of the Stone Age album, I'd like it more. I liked the idea behind You Can't Quit Me Baby, but it's too long. My favourite song is You Would Know.
Encara amb una sonoritat molt propera als anteriors Kyuss, Josh Homme dóna una primera senyal del que hauria de venir. Més obert de mires que Kyuss però igual de incómode i resistent a primeres escoltes.
Not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Not quite my vibe, but not far off. I wouldn't judge someone too harshly if they were into this.
Not great, feels very generic
Being a Stoner Rock and Desert Blues fan, QOTSA should have featured more strongly in my music rotation. They are a neat band, with some great tracks, but never really hold my attention.
I'd only ever heard one of Queens etc's later albums. This was much the same but maybe less bombastic. Some melodic and interesting rock but not something I'd come back to much.
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.
Regular John - 2.5 stars Avon - 3 stars If Only - 4 stars Walkin on the Sidewalks - 2 stars You Would Know - 2 stars The Bronze - Bonus Track - 3 stars How to Handle a Rope (A Lesson in the Lariat) - 3.5 stars Mexicola - 2 stars Hispanic Impressions - 1.5 stars You Can't Quit Me Baby - 3.5 stars These Aren't the Droids You're Looking For - 1 star Give the Mule What He Wants - 3 stars Spiders and Vinegaroons - 2 stars I Was a Teenage Hand Model - 5 stars
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.
A little of heavier rock, didn't love it but about average overall
This album is decent, I enjoyed some of the songs, but other songs are just kinda noise. But overall I like this album. Favorite song: If Only Worst song: I Was a Teenage Hand Model
Alkaa esittelevästi, jonka jälkeen saadaan kuulla bändin soundia....ei siitä sen enempää.. Vikat kaksi biisiä... Miksi ne eivät ole artistin suosituimpia.. Mitä muut.m Kuuntelevat...ekaako? HAHAHAHA. Ei se ole niin hyvä. Toivon takia... ei kirkkoon tartte sunnuntaina mennä.. Näissä kavereissa on sitä... toivoa... kuin jumalanpalvelukseen olisi mennyt.... aamenia... sille.. jos joku lukee tätä..
Maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace, but every song went on far too long. I think you're supposed to be stoned to listen.
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.
I've heard of the name of the band Queens of the Stone Age, but the album was completely new to me. I did not enjoy this album. I'm not even curious to other music from this band.
This definitely has "something" - I can't say I'm sure what.
I was hoping for this album. Liked: 01 Regular John 06 How to Handle a Rope 1. "Regular John" 2. "Avon" 3. "If Only" 4. "Walkin' on the Sidewalks" 5. "You Would Know" 6. "How to Handle a Rope" 7. "Mexicola" 8. "Hispanic Impressions" 9. "You Can't Quit Me Baby" 10. "Give the Mule What He Wants" 11. "I Was a Teenage Hand Model"
Qotsa is always nice!
Fuzzy, sludgy, badassery that rocks hard. My only critique is that this could have been one or two songs shorter. Fave Songs: If Only, Regular John, Avon, You Would Know, How to Handle a Rope, Hispanic Impressions
Didn't listen this album before. Not my favorite, but it was ok.
Not their best work imo, 2.5
Another good debut from a fantastic band! It doesn’t yet feel 100% like the QUOTSA I would come to know and love, but the record still has a ton of good rock tracks (my favorite being “Walkin on the Sidewalks”) and leaves you wanting to see where they’d go next.
generic
I’ve listened to this 100000 times already, and I’m so glad it made the list. I feel it gets overlooked a lot by QOTSA fans, but this to me is quintessential Queens (well, perhaps Rated R is but this paved the way). Robotic, hypnotic, weird… I don’t think there’s a song on it that you’d play at a house party compared to later records, but all the more reason for this being a rough little gem punching above its weight
Class album, weird and interesting all the way through. Lacks any obvious singles apart from regular John but that probably makes it better.
I expected this to be a bit more interesting, as I know Songs for the Deaf pretty well. I was disappointed - quite a lot of it was forgettable.
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
Raw and different.
Nice late 90s rock, nothing too mind blowing 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.
meh
Boring as hell, there were some solid tines every now and then though
Kind of ok songs but probably would prefer some of their later work
Did not listen to this queens of the stone age album before, it was a bit more raw, but I liked it.
Fan of QOTSA but I never actually got to their pre-"songs for the deaf" albums. It's cool, a raw interpretation of their sound. Personally prefer the later albums which are a bit less raw.
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!
Beautiful
Love it.
Didn’t finish. It was alright. The instrumentals were cool at some points but after a while I got bored.
samey as fuck
Nowy album od znanej wczesniej bandy
No words, just that's it's a 5/10
Not too bad, just not really my thing I suppose.
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.
This is the debut album by the American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. It is a hard rock / stoner rock album that has the heavy side of rock mixed with the danceability of trance music. Super interesting music on this album that leaves the listener feeling satisfied. I highly recommend this album to any rock fans.
lul the first song was cool idk bout the rest
listened to again raw and unfiltered 90s rock
Ok, so, like, I like that one song that everyone knows (No One Knows; no pun intended) but I honestly thought that I would never like a full album by this band, but I've gotta say: I was pleasantly surprised. The riffs go pretty hard, and even though it seems like Overdrive is a hammer and every song is a nail but it kinda works. It's a solid 3.5 for me, but given that I just gave The Joshua Tree a 4 (honestly probably a mistake), this one has to get the 3. Standouts: Avon, Mexicola, You Can't Quit Me Baby, Spiders and Vinegaroons
Nothing remarkable
Seems ok. Nothing really special for me. 2.5
me gustó mucho al principio y después derrapó honestamente? 7/10
This was generally good but the songs seemed very similar. The vocals were a bit muddled for my taste.
more like stoned age
Fuck yeah
I am sure I've heard Queens of the Stone Age but I can't summon any songs to mind. For sure I've not seen the album art before. Opens up with Regular John which sounds very much of its time. Nothing particularly interesting about it but I've got another 13 (!!) songs to go...and meh. Stays evenly fine throughout. Not sure I really *needed* to hear this. 2.5
wasn’t that good, only enjoyed one song
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.
alles gleich
Regular John Mexicola You cant quit me baby Hispanic Impressions Give the Mule what he wants
if I was feeling especially angsty one day I’d totally listen Favorite song- Give the Mule What He Wants
I did not care for the album. I was familiar with the group. The lyrics are not good. Musically the guitars are overpowering and become distracting. There is no need to revisit this album.
Terrible album cover, great music. Second best Qotsa record?
They don't do anything small. I really liked tracks 8, 9 and 10
Simple hard rock. not my first choice when want to listen to this kind of music, but quite good.
Good album, but I prefer Songs For The Deaf.
Quirky, odd, not for me. There are a couple tracks that I enjoyed on this, but for the most part I didn't enjoy it.
« Danceable heavy trance »… an interesting description that accurately portrays what this group is up to. Some pieces are bit monotonous, others are more venturesome and experimental. All in all, another fascinating discovery (to my great surprise!)
This experience has been interesting for me - I tend to think of myself as someone who is open-minded, about music and most other things, come to think of it. But, to quote Dwight Shrute - "False". I'm beginning to think that there AREN'T 1001 albums that people should hear. Probably more like 50. I did not like this. It didn't hurt my ears like Linkin Park, or push some violent reaction button like what's his name from the other day (man, I hated that guy!), but it just sounded like another bland, mid/late nineties grunge wannabe. Not a catchy tune in the whole thing. Nirvana? Catchy as hell. Stone Temple Pilots? Catchy. Dishwalla - well, who doesn't love counting blue cars. Catchy! This? Nah. It's background noise for a flannel-wrapped house party over on State Street (and you know what the houses were like on State Street in Athens, OH). So I just don't have any reaction to it. It gets a big "meh".
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.
It started quit well, but ended badly in my ears..
2/2 stoned
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
Complete shit. An old persons idea of what grunge is. Hated it.
It was kinda just fine. I feel like it could’ve used some variation in the general sound, as the heavy, crunchy guitars don’t really let up much. I enjoyed a decent amount of the songs, but overall not too much to hold on to for me. 5/10
Really well recorded. Some great tracks, but it blends together a bit.
Absolute banger. Will be listening again soon.
Todd Malone think it ok. Todd Malone approve
je kiffe le stoner, l'album est riche et cool
Much like Radiohead's first studio album, this is a very solid first effort from a group that would go on to make quite a name for themselves in the history books of modern music. Some okay songs, and some really killer songs. 3.5/5
Meh
Love QOTSA. Although I think they got even better later on, this is still a really great collection of desert rock.
I have listened to every QotSA studio album EXCEPT for this one. I can't tell you why, it just never grabbed me like the others. QotSA arose after frontman Josh Homme's previous band, Kyuss, hit the bricks. Kyuss came about in the early-mid 90's during the rise of stoner rock and stoner metal. With genres defined by slower, heavier riffs and raw, crunchy tones, Homme had fine-tuned his guitar for his new band's debut album. QotSA has a knack for catchy hooks that gel well with a heavy riffs, but I find this album to be a little rough around the edges. Perhaps being more concerned with the distorted tone than writing good songs have held Homme back from a truly excellent debut. I am being a bit harsh though, as some songs land way better than others, leading to a mixed bag of songs. Future QotSA releases would see them cleaning up the sound a bit to lean more into alt rock while retaining that crunchy stoner rock core that differentiated them from other mainstream rock bands going into the 2000's (mainly reeling in the post-grunge scene and being generally disappointing). While I'm biased towards many of QotSA's other albums, I'm genuinely shocked that Songs for the Deaf did not make the list, as that would be their most popular record while also clearly defining their sound. While I can at least understand why their self-titled debut made the list, it pales in comparison to Songs for the Deaf.
Not crazy about this one HL: If Only, You Can’t Quit Me Baby August 28 2022
Respectable, but not my bag, baby!
You would think that a supergroup like this would produce blockbuster albums that shake the very foundations of music. In this case, you would be wrong. Boring, uninspired, and feeling like this was an Adam Sandler version of a music album leaves the listener frantically looking for something, anything - that resembles rock.
late 90s early 00s rock
Not one for me I'm afraid, I see no reason for this to be on the list!
Was OK.
Ces reines de l'âge de pierre ont su faire un album tout à fait convenable. Je me rappelle très bien l'époque de sa sortie, j'avais quatorze mois passés et des problèmes totalement différents de ceux que j'ai aujourd'hui. À propos, vous avez été nombreux à me demander des explications au sujet des appels entre le patron d'eltrapeze et moi-même, robcelluliaire, que j'ai rapidement évoqué dans ma critique d'Arcade Fire. Je me suis sans doute mal exprimé. Le patron dudit eltrapeze m'appelle chaque jour en sanglot car ce dernier lui fait des misères ; il réclame l'installation d'énormes baffles dans l'espace de co-working, ordonne que toute l'équipe se taise lorsqu'un album est joué, harcèle sexuellement ses collègues avec des citations de Marvin Gaye... ce brave monsieur est à bout. Comme je le disais déjà très bien dans ma critique de Supertramp, je ne cesse de lui suggérer la solution d'un licenciement pour faute lourde mais il tarde à passer à l'action. Je vous tiendrai au courant dès que j'aurai du nouveau.
Mais qu'est-ce que vous avez foutu ça démarrait super bien
Regular John is such a strong opener - one of my favorite rock songs period. So danceable, I have hard time staying in my seat with this one. If Only has a similar vibe. Other gems: You Would Know (starts slow & builds really nicely). How to Handle a Rope Mexicola Give the Mule What He Wants Spiders and Vinegaroons I Was a Teenage Hand Model Picking up where Kyuss left off and getting more experimental, this is an iconic stoner rock album that defined the palm desert scene. The album is a bit uneven though. Not all songs go down smoothly. Some songs are experimental, as QOTSA find their sound. Some songs are just repetitive & boring. Also... as far as I can tell this is the only real Stoner/Desert Rock album on this list... so here's my ten-and-one Desert Rock albums to listen to before you get bored of the genre: 1/ this one. congrats you've probably already listened to it. 2/ "Vols. 11 & 12" by Desert Sessions ("Crucifire" if one song) 3/ "Sleep's Holy Mountain" by Sleep ("Dragonaut" if only one song) (San Jose's finest represent!) 4/ "Jalamanta" by Brant Bjork ("Too Many Chiefs - Not Enough Indians" if only one song) 5/ "Clutch" by Clutch ("Spacegrass" if only one song) 6/ "Welcome to Sky Valley" by Kyuss ("Demon Cleaner" if only one song) 7/ "Saint Vitus" by Saint Vitus (title track if you only listen to one song). This album was way ahead of its time. Early 80s. 8/ "Sunrise on the Sufferbus" by Masters of Reality ("Rabbit One" if only one song). 9/ "Dopethrone" by Electric Wizard ("Funeralopolis" if only one song) 10/ "Peace Love Death Metal" by Eagles of Death Metal ("Miss Alissa" if only one song) 11/ "Dead Roots Stirring" by Elder ("Gemini" if only one song... but it's 9 mins long!)
In general enjoyed, honestly overall a little more mellow and vanilla than I was expecting. Which was a pro and con. Ultimately fine to listen to!
One of the few QOTSA albums I haven't listened to. Pretty good, but compared to my staples, not one of their best. 3/5
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.
Think like most people I’m a bit confused as to why this album is on the list. I actually really like the guitar tone and the pounding song structures which Josh Homme’s riffy playing facilitates. But nevertheless a strange inclusion. My only rationale is that it showcases a relatively new approach to hard rock/stoner rock. But no more so than Homme’s work with Kyuss. An enjoyable listen nonetheless .
If aliens were to come to earth and ask to hear the most generic hard rock ever, this is what I would choose for them. They'd listen to it and go, "eh, it's okay I guess. Nothing wrong with it but it sure is generic." (Of course that would be in their own alien language but because they are so advanced they have automatic translator machines so we can understand them. They actually have 12 different words for 'generic' in their language.) So, yeah, I guess that about says it all. 2 stars.
A great first album that I think gets overlooked a lot with QOTSA. I liked the raw grittiness of this.
Some of the guitar music was pretty good, but otherwise it was ho-hum.
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!
I enjoy QOTSA's music although I have never listened to their self-titled debut album. The music is good but I believe they are still figuring out their iconic sound. This sounds like the prototype version. I'll give this one another listen to see what I think.
Can hear the makings of early Alt-rock here will be another album I’ll be looking to add to my collection
Despite dismissing QotSA back in the day, I've mostly enjoyed this. Not ultra-keen on the novelty album aspect, but the tracks that rock rock hard. People who enjoyed this, be sure to listen to The Divine Comedy's version of Noone Knows. It's extraordinary.
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
Has some good songs, but its overall noise.
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.
I can tell my rating will be impacted by my mood and what I’m doing while I listen. I forgot all about this album (and band) and it took me right back in time. I was driving the highway with the windows down and the stereo turned way up. It was a lot of fun. Wish there were .5 scores, as this is a 3.5 in my books.
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.
i got bored 😐
Solid album... But i still prefer the Strokes lol.
Not enough to hold my attention but loved the sprawling feel.
Yarp
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
QostSA e kje heilt for meg, men absolutt lyttbart
A personal 5/5
Pure guttural rock
Josh Homme's voice soars above the howling guitars. What a fantastic debut! And they went from strength to strength too.
I found it all a bit the same. Same droning guitar, same drums, same weird lyrics.
20th June 2022 Listened throughout the day while working from home. Chilled evening doing bits around the house. Sounds like a broken down radio on the Mexican border. In a really good way. 3.5 if I could.
I enjoy listening to QOTSA records but they never wow me.
Meh
Contains two of my favorite rock songs of all time, "If Only" and "You Can't Quit Me Baby." When the album came out, it was more accessible than Kyuss, far less cheesy/repetitive than Fu Manchu, and just odd enough - sonically and lyrically - to be cooler than mainstream hard rock.
Not my favorite QOTSA album, but it's still enjoyable.
pretty 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
Some bright moments otherwise long and a bit drab
These queens don't miss, I tell ya hwat boy!
Not their best.
There is no QOTSA track that I don't like. They are one of my more favorite bands. Have been listening since Kyuss.
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.
Kaiken kaikkiaan kiinnostava bändi. Tämä sieltä levyjen paremmasta päästä. Ei niin hittirikas mikä on varsin ok. 3/5
QotSA:n muu tuotanto on kunnon menevää rokkia mun makuun, mutta jotenkin tää levy ei vaan iskenyt. Ihan mukiinmenevää kuitenkin.
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.
5 easy
I guess this might be called post-grunge? I never got into grunge as it seemed to take all of the macho posturing of punk and none of the more interesting bits. So an after-the-fact version of that definitely is not for me. The band’s Wikipedia entry, which mentions "Krautrock and electronica influences”, makes them sound much more interesting than I found this album. Didn’t enjoy the backing, the lyrics or the voice, which doesn’t really leave anything here for me to admire. Stoner rock, nein danke.
Strangely hypnotic in places. This is possibly the only type of metal that I can stomach.
i rarely like no singing but i thought it was pretty good otherwise. it was just kinda boring. i’d give it a 5/10
There's definitely "a sound" to these guys - that propelling/droning doubled guitar power chords, combined with Josh Homme's almost laconic singing style. I've just never been able to figure out how much I like it. Well I'd yet to hear this debut album so here we go.... and yeah it starts exactly as I'd expect on the first cut "Regular John" Maybe this is a Josh Homme problem (or rather me with his work...). I listened to a lot of Them Crooked Vultures when that album came out and I loved it. Well...I thought I loved it. I wanted to love it. I realized I didn't love it. My problem is that even though the sound is kinda cool - like a hopped-up Black Sabbath - none of these are great *songs* at all. It just sort of reveals itself as a stoner wallpaper that looks weird and cool in black lighting but sometimes you just need to turn that stupid light off and want to see something interesting on the walls. And it just ends up being a bunch of detuned sludgy progressions that all meld into one another. Terrible analogy but I just want to leave the room. And if that's the point, ok great - achievement unlocked. I just wanted a few songs - any song - to really sink my teeth into, but absolutely none of them are memorable and before the end i just wanted it to finish already... 4/10 2 stars
Just enough indie rock vibe and energy (“Regular John,” “If Only” “You Can’t Quit Me”) to keep this from being another tired and redundant hard-rock/metal-adjacent record (though “Walkin on the Sidewalk” and “The Bronze” get pretty close). Not my thing exactly and won’t listen again (might try Kyuss), but a few appreciable hooks save this from full-on forgettability.
Genre: Stoner Rock 3/5 This was disappointing. I had never listened to the debut album from Queens of the Stone Age, a group I've grown quite fond of over the years. Their albums Songs for the Deaf (No One Knows, etc.) and ...Like Clockwork (God Is the Sun, etc.) are both great rock albums, but neither are in the book, which gave me the impression that their debut was going to be something to behold. Turns out the group was still in its infancy, none of the songs have the polish that their later songs have, and what we're given is a fairly lackluster garage/stoner rock album, with some minor gems, but mostly stocked with filler. Regular John, the album's intro, is a great little rock song, which I thought was setting up the rest of the album for success. As Avon and If Only finished, two other popular songs from this record, they were just okay. Nothing special, and nothing which would differentiate itself from the rest of the pack. As the album progressed, even through Mexicola, another big song from this project, I ran into this problem a lot. Sufficient, high energy, but overall not very exciting. It all starts to sound like one big guitar distortion-fest, with not much in the way of interesting songs. Some moments stood out, the solo in You Can't Quit Me Baby is fucking awesome, but not enough to warrant anything more than a 3. Listen to their other albums, you can skip this one.
more interesting than I predicted, not as good as their later work
Riff-driven metal, but the riffs aren't good enough. Too complex, jumping around a lot - a substitute for melody. A sort of prog-metal. I'd rather go back to fundamental pentatonics. Occasionally it comes close, but there are no classics here. Music for teenage boys only.
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.
Liked this a lot - technically brilliant, super tight instruments and just driving powerful tunes. Not always sold on some of their songs but this was a good introduction to a lot of things I'd never heard before and really helped me warm to them as a band.
Nothing new or interesting with this one.
Stoner rock dude. I know Songs for the Deaf and it doesn't grab me the same way but still it contain some great riffs and I may well play again. (Must explore the albums of Kyuss) Feel this is a 3.5..
Straightforward stoner rock, done in late '90s. Not too outdated eh? Guitars are interesting and the overall atmosphere is heavy. But I don't think slithery spacey guitar solos are new during those years. Overall, it's surprisingly unremarkable. I expected more than just rough riffs and spacey solos with weak vocals.
Great stoner rock - riffs, solos, weird subject matter and some amazing song titles. Best Tracks: Regular John; If Only; Mexicola
Mer likt queens of the dull age
Why is this the one Qotsa album on here and no Kyuss bruuuhhhh 💀💀💀 give me some of what Rob’s smoking!
Mjukt och tungt.
Do I like this album? Yes. Would I call it essential listening? No, not really.
Has a very unfinished sound, almost sloppy. Needs more refinement
Yeah decent but a lot of meh album tracks
Why have I never gotten into Queens of the Stone Age? Better late than never.
I love QOTSA. I would rate songs for the deaf, like clockwork and r rated above this album though. It’s a shame they are not on the list. But in there absence their debut is getting a 5. So much sex and swagger to this.
There’s not much here. The music is fairly standard late 90s rock. It’s unimaginative, especially when you consider how much innovative music came out of the late 90s. There is an excessive amount of noodling much of it repetitive and not terribly constructive. It sounds fine but it just doesn’t seem to belong on this list
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.
04/11/2022 It all sounds the same. Can't hear anything special that would lead me to coming close to classifying this as an all-timer album.
I've always enjoyed them.
BORING.
It's good, not as good as later albums but still worth a listen. I love their sound but like so many others have commented are there no other albums out there more worthy than this? 'Songs for the Deaf' is better in my opinion. Still. This is a great sound.
Just ok. Nothing too exciting, most of the album sounded the same.
Better than I feared, but I wouldn't consider it a must-hear album.
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive/hallucinogenic brew made from various plants and considered among the indigenous people of South America’s Amazon basin to be a ceremonial spiritual medicine. It is purported by many to be effective in treating things like chronic depression and addiction. Author Michael Pollan wrote an excellent book in 2018, 'How to Change Your Mind,' in which he also advocates the use of other psychedelics (namely, L.S.D. and psilocybin mushrooms) in treating disorders as well as offering spiritual insight and transcendence. Both shamans and modern scientific researchers, however, insist that these substances are only a first step, a jump start if you will, into a more sustainable practice of things like daily meditation for life-long wellness. And neither condone hallucinogens for purely recreational purposes. I got very close to taking an ayahuasca treatment a while back, met the requirements and had all but signed up and made travel plans to a location here in the U.S, but then finally decided against it. I was scared of the possibility of persistent psychosis that is also reported among persons who may have a history of psychiatric disorders. I have shown symptoms of mild borderline personality disorder, but this is only a self-diagnosis, unconfirmed by medical professionals. My personal belief, gut reaction/intuition, is that my emotional and behavioral issues are more accurately spiritual disorders, which I’ve been treating for the last few years with a twice daily practice of Sahaja Yoga meditation, among other things. It’s a slow, lengthy process, but I am making significant recovery back to health and wellness. The reason I bring this up is because of the nature of the ayahuasca experience as differentiated from L.S.D. and mushroom. Acid and ‘shroom trips can be both frightening but also quite pleasurable, ecstatic even. But ayahuasca, by contrast, is designed to plunge the recipient into the very heart of terror. The guidance being not to flee from one’s demons (and I’m using that term in a more Hindu/Buddhist/Taoist way rather than a traditional Jewish/Christian/Muslim understanding) but to face them and allow these deeply buried entities, now unearthed, to guide you to a better place. This is exactly what my meditative practice is also accomplishing, albeit in a much gentler, gradual, and less frightening way. As I was listening to 'Queens of the Stone Age,' I was very aware of lyricists Josh Homme and Alfredo Hernandez’s own potential disordered (perhaps even sociopathic, or worse, psychopathic) thoughts, at least as revealed in their lyrics, which are by design subject to a variety of interpretations. These fellas are talented and creative lyricists, no doubt. Still, there is a tremendous amount of violent cutting going on in this LP, among both the objects and subjects of the hellish scenarios they present. In ‘Avon,’ for example, the ‘Free range humans (are) all cooped up… I string ‘em up, I cut ‘em down.’ On the final track, ‘I Was a Teenage Hand Model,’ the protagonist peaks in the window, ‘lookin’ inside, the butcher’s got a fork in your face. I’m standin’ alive, and I was singin’…’ Most disturbing of all, on ‘You Can’t Quit Me Baby,’ we experience the actions of a ‘psycho in love,’ who breaks into his ex-lover’s home and kills himself: ‘I slashed and I cut and I do it for you. I want you to notice when I’m not around.’ And, ‘I’ll see you in hell.’ This is accompanied by a guitar solo that literally evokes a disturbed mind, and then an accelerated tempo at the end concluding in a cacophony of sounds which is quite effective in its artistic representation of insanity, despair, and bloody suicide. It was scary, and not in a fun-scary rollercoaster ride kind of way. (Allow me to make a quick comment here, off the subject. On the final track, a reference is made to the patience of Job. The intent of the story of Job has very little to do with patience, at least as I understand it. Furthermore, as much as I adore Pink Floyd’s 'Dark Side of the Moon,' the Bible reads the love of money as the root of all evil, not simply money itself. I wouldn’t expect casual readers of either the Hebrew or Christian scriptures to know that, nor do I blame them for the mistake, but I just had to get that off my chest. You know, for the record. Ok, back to 'Queens of the Stone Age.') Musically, these boys are in my sweet spot. I do love me some stoner rock, man But these fellas have lifted their version up from the sludge of the Wishkah river where most play, and rinsed theirs off until its squeaky cleanier, sleeker even, and much closer to that wonderfully rich, deep Black Sabbath-esque vibe that is so influential to stoner rock bands, rather than the full-fledged grunge of, say, Nirvana. Josh Homme, while not as good a singer as Soundgarden’s late vocalist Chris Cornell, definitely echoes a similar mood. And he (also playing guitar, bass, and keyboards) and drummer Hernandez share musical surprises galore throughout, including an excellent understanding of dynamics, melodic guitar solos that are more concerned with serving the song rather than showing off (‘If Only’ is a good, but hardly the only, example), and even a taste of prog metal- a quirky 4/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/5 time signature on the LP’s sole instrumental, ‘Hispanic Impressions.’ I’m also a real sucker for that repetitive groove so common to the stoner rockers. ‘Walking On the Sidewalks’ produces a near trance-like state towards the end. They could’ve played that thing for ten more minutes (I’m guessing they just might in concert) and I would’ve been more than content to listen. Seeing as how the folks who create the 1001 LP list did not see fit to include any Melvins recordings (a true loss and major disappointment) I’m pleasantly surprised and relieved to discover this LP, 'Queens of the Stone Age,' as a close alternative. I love everything about this album, despite approaching the lyrics with a bit of caution. I’m emotionally mature enough, now, to take it. However, I would most certainly not recommend this while taking a hallucinogenic trip. It pretty much serves that purpose just fine all by itself. And sometimes the trip soars like an angel, but then it just as quickly takes an awfully scary descent. To smooth out the whole thing, I would recommend a big ol’ bong hit or two before dropping the needle to vinyl, or whatever musical platform you’re on (they’ve never come up with a term descriptive of the playing of virtual music that’s as good as the needle to vinyl image.) I mean, there’s a reason why they call this ‘stoner rock.’ Turn it up real fucking loud, too.
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.
Actually really didn’t care for this. 4/10
Sonzao.
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
Really did not have much use for this and its popularity and regard escape me. I don’t even want to spend more time thinking about the specifics; will happily never listen to this band again. Escapes a lower rating by being mostly competent If unremarkable rock and only having a tiny bit of the synthesizer knob-twiddling that made me want to throw my phone in the garbage.
Pretty good. Starting to appreciate more 'dad' alternative these days
Song good songs, and then a lot of noise.
I like them but this album want my favorite
I didn't really dig it. A little heavy for my tastes, and TOO LONG. I liked the cohesion though. I feel like each song managed to sound like the same band, while not all sounding like the same song. That was well done, but overall I just didn't really care for it.
Some songs too long
Essencial
Not as incredible as Songs for the Deaf, but you can hear where they are headed on this one
Some good tunes throughout, but not a super winner.
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.
Good enough, but notable only for painting the Queens' blueprint, trancey stoner rock with sexy dance vibes. Homme and crew would refine their approach to great success, becoming one of the best, most dependable rock bands of all time, but this album may be the least of their efforts. "If Only" is a standout track and best represents their path forward.
Great disc, it's sounds like Foo Fighters jaja, but overall great
I'm only familiar with the QOTSA songs that get radio play, haven't listened deeply. And I definitely haven't heard any of the songs from their debut album before, just the hits that came after. I like it, it's in the vein of stoner rock that I dig. I think if I'd been listening to this in college it would have stuck with me more. But it's not breaking any new ground or blowing me away sonically. It's better than a lot of the shit I've waded through so far on this list, I'll give it that. The album artwork is horrifically dated and cheap looking though. It's giving me Bollywood hip-hop / basement porno vibes.
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
Jo, war ganz in ordnung. Passt auf jeden fall in deren diskografie, aber ist auf der Länge nicht wirklich ganz so spannend. 6/10
neee das geht echt nicht was ist das. wieder ein album wo jeder song derselbe ist und der ist nicht mal gut
Die Songs an sich sind ganz cool aber als Ganzes ist das zu ermüdend und vor allem viel zu lang
Gutes Album, catchy riffs etc bla bla Stoner Rockig. Josh Homme kann aber dezent sterben gehen der Hurensohn
War alright war mir stellenweise bisschen repititiv aber fand ich nicht allzu schlimm. Iwie hat mir da aber doch der letzte kick in irgendeine richtung gefehlt
Solides Debüt aber im Vergleich zu allem was danach kommt ziemlich eintönig. Weil ich fan pilled bin vom Rest finde ich es schon okay, aber hat mich jetzt nie sonderlich hervorgeholt.
Ziemlich langatmige Affäre, besonders die Vocals funktionieren für mich nich.
Not listening to it. Can't stand to hear the voice of a man known for being agressive and abusive, sorry.
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)
A bit gungey for me. Come on guys, it’s 98, contemporize.
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
Hate them
Klinkt als het typische schoolbandjes muziek. Als het iets meer up-tempo was geweest had ik het wel leuk gevonden, maar dit is niet zo mijn muziek. **
New to me. Because I missed this band when they debuted and beyond (had heard the name, but don't recall hearing any songs), I have a feeling their sound would come across to me as more original back then than it does now, but no doubt there is some really good driving rock here. They play very well and lock into a groove that many similarly-styled bands often miss. Put another way, their composition and musicianship are slightly more disciplined in the right way. Still edgy, still driving, but not sloppy. I don't know if I'll seek out more of their music or come back to this album for more listens, but overall I liked it.
2/5 nope
Rock. Muy bueno.
Top Songs: > Regular John > If Only > Mexicola > You Can't Quit Me Baby
It doesn't get better or worse. If you like the first song you will like the album but if you don't stop because each song just blends into the next feeling like 1 long song. This album gets a solid MEH rating.
Crushing stoner rock. More refined and polished and less sprawling than Kyuss and probably better for it.
was a little unrefined. like their later stuff more
Never really gave them a listen before. It was better than I was expecting and I listened to the whole thing. Nice discovery!
Entiendo por qué está entre los 1001 pero no me encantó. Hay un poder pero podría haber sido más interesante. Le faltó algo.
Muito fodaaaaa