[Review: CD] Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf

[Ice]

I think it'd be safe to say that this album absolutely blew me away. The quality of musicianship by every performer on this album is exceptional high, Josh Homme providing clear guitar vision and smooth vocals, Nick Oliveri providing great stable bass rythm and rough vocals and behind it all Dave Grohl on drums, where he truly shines. This is pretty much a dream line up and if you bought the album on the strength of that alone, you wouldn't not be disappointed.

The album opens with "You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar But I Feel Like a Millionaire" which serves as a statement of intent for what is to come. The song sounds and feels very substantial, with deep resonating riffs and Oliveri's gruff vocals. On any other album a band would find it hard to top an opening like this.

However, QOTSA aren't you're regular disposable pop band and the next track "No One Knows" (which was performed to an awesome reception at Glastonbury) steps things up again. The song opens very strongly with a simplistic sounding guitar riff, Dave drumming in a relatively subdued manner, at the first chorus things pick up in both speed and intensity. The number of changes of feel in this song are amazing, and will keep any listener on their toes - from Oliveri's haunting "ah"s to the pumping bass riff that is the culmination of the first section of the song.

I could talk at length about any one of the tracks on this album, they're all just that good. Other stand out tracks for me are "A Song for the Dead", "First if Giveth","Go With the Flow", "God is in the Radio", "A Song for the Deaf" and the excellent hidden track "Mosquito Song"

One of the most notable things about the CD I bought (the Special Edition) is that it comes with a free DVD of QOTSA performing five songs at the Troubadour. They play "Monsters in the Parasol", "No One Knows", "Lost Art of Keeping a Secret", "Ode to Clarissa" and "Quick and to the Pointless". This really fills out the CD, which is substantial on it's own and gives an extra incentive to buy for any QOTSA fan.

This is truly set to be one of the albums of the year and a must have for anyone who's looking for a solid rock album that'll still seem fresh in years to come. In todays world of disposable acts, this really is an eye opener - a true rock album.

[Hanohtep]

Looking forward to hearing the album. Rated R was a superb album, and although I wasn't initially impressed with the MTV2 played song No One Knows it quickly grew on me - I especially loved Dave Grohl's drumming on it.

Definately one that I'll be looking to buy if I ever have any money.

[Ice]

It's definately worth it mate, it's hardly been out of my cd player since I got it. I'm gonna try and put up a couple more reviews soon - for some Idlewild and Metallica....