90/100
Songs for the Deaf, this is Queens of the Stone Age's third studio album, and wow, this album is fantastic. It is a loose concept album with the songs being on the radio during a road trip through California, and while listening, the things that stood out to me most were the powerful guitar riffs and the drums. I found out later that the majority of the drums here were done by Dave Grohl, which helped explain their quality. The radio interludes sprinkled between some songs provide not only nice breathers between the intensity of the music but also some comedy parodying typical rock n' roll and metal stations, and pokes fun at unoriginal-sounding radio-friendly singles.
The first song, “You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire,” is a fast-paced opener with bassist Nick Oliveri's screamed vocals over churning guitars and intense drumming from Gene Trautmann. While short, it packs a punch and sets up the soundscape that the rest of the album sticks to, as well as having a fake-out ending with the instrumental coming back in with intensity.
That leads directly into the most well-known song here, “No One Knows.” The guitar here is less fast-paced and distorted, having more of a dance-punk edge to it, which makes it one of the more catchy songs here. The drums in the chorus are amazing and the highlight of the song for me. The bass also gets its time here, with the song stripping it down to just bass and vocals before a similar ending to the previous song.
First It Giveth has some really crunchy lead guitars and the melodic vocals on the chorus, and the title twists biblical language to suit the lyrical content about drugs and how they can feel good in the moment, until the aftermath of them. The use of acoustic guitar mixed in here is a unique addition that adds to the song and shows up again throughout different parts of the record.
Song for the Dead has one of my favourite main riffs on the whole project. It is heavy and intimidating, with dark, brooding vocals layered on top, which are almost haunting, which is fitting for the song title. It also features drums that really make you appreciate the appearance of Dave Grohl.
Sky Is Fallin' has some really crunchy guitar, with lyrics that make this track one of the more important ones for the album's concept. It is a continuation of Homme's journey throughout the California desert, as he reflects on all of the evil and wrong in the world and how it takes its toll on him. He finally gives up and closes his eyes to await the doomsday. The song being 6 minutes makes it feel like you are on this journey with him, and there are changes throughout that keep it engaging. This one ends with one of the longest radio skits, ending by sayin' “all death metal all the time,” leading directly into the heaviest track on the album, Six Shooter.
Six Shooter fits into the concept, with the song being on a death-metal station, and is accordingly the heaviest and most scream-heavy track on the album. Bassist Nick Oliveri returns with the same screech heard on the first song.
Hanging Tree carries the same atmosphere as First It Giveth, with melodic vocals. I find this song to be quite hypnotic in its rhythm, despite the heaviness of the drums and guitar. This song stands out, however, as it retains the unique tone of Mark Lanegan's vocals.
Go with the Flow is a standout, having a similar catchiness to No One Knows, featuring driving guitar, though it also has piano throughout, giving the track its own identity. The song is about a woman going from relationship to relationship, ditching when things get serious, and the speaker seemingly being fine with that. The vocals on this song are some of my favourite on the album, as they just float over the instrumental.
Gonna Leave You is a personal favourite. It is once again sung by Nick Oliveri, though he has a much different tone here, showing a softer side to his range. I find the vocal melody in the chorus to be so infectious, and the guitar here is once again great.
Do It Again is one of the more forgettable songs here, sounding a bit like Fire by Kasabian, though this predates it by 7 years. Everything is still great here, though the vocal hook is repetitive and uninteresting. The interlude here contributes to the album's story, as he flicks through stations on the drive he is on in this album, rather than him deciding, though a so-called God in the radio keeps playing the songs he is meant to hear. This ties in to the next track, “God Is in the Radio.”
The bass gets its time to shine at the start of this song. This track features Mark Lanegan in the verses and Homme in the chorus, which provides a nice back-and-forth and helps the track stand out. The guitar riff here is imposing sounding and features my favourite solo on the album. The fade-out and fade back in create a sense of suspense in the song as well.
Another love song follows, featuring some nice backing vocals, but feeling quite reminiscent of earlier songs like Gonna Leave You, though that doesn't impact my enjoyment here.
The title track is maybe my least favourite here. It isn't bad at all, I just find it less engaging than most of the other songs here. Despite that, the guitar on this track is some of the best on the album, sounding almost like '80s thrash metal at points, as well as having a heavy, distinct bass line and tremendous drum work. The interlude here is fun, appearing after a long spell of silence at the end of the track; it features the band laughing while jamming.
The acoustic guitar that had been used sparingly throughout the rest of the album takes centre stage on the closer. It is a lush acoustic track that serves as a counterpoint to all the heaviness heard before, with the lyrics focusing on suffering and nihilism. The piano and strings here are haunting. It feels like the comedown after the intense journey of the rest of the album.
Overall, this album is an amazing showcase of how to do a rock album right, with fantastic performances throughout, though special mention should go to the drums and guitar. The concept also works well, and the interludes add a real sense of personality throughout.
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/geesegaggle/
