Queens Of The Stone Age

As is tradition, I’ll start at the start.  A few weeks ago, I was compelled to choose Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs For The Deaf for my walk onto campus.  Prior to this, I wasn’t overly enamoured by QOTSA.  If asked, I’d have probably said ‘I quite like them, I probably should listen to them more’, and it was probably this sense of duty which led to my choice.  Whilst listening to ‘You think I ain’t worth a dollar, but I feel like a millionaire’ it dawned on me that it was a very good rock song.  By the end of the album I’d realised that all except a few tracks on it were somewhere between very good and exceptional, and I concluded, naturally, that Songs for the Deaf is a great album.  I needed to explore further, and when I did I couldn’t believe what I found.  QOTSA’s back catalogue has no real weakness, and they have to be one of the best, most consistent Rock bands of all time.  Listening to QOTSA is a release.  When I listen to Songs for the Deaf I will air-drum even if I’m walking down a busy road, because when I listen to it I’m so involved that I couldn’t care less what anyone thinks.

At this moment Songs for the Deaf is my favourite QOTSA album, so I’ll keep the focus on that.  The constant delivery of great tracks is unrivalled, I’d struggle to think of another album that does the same job.  Doubtless there are, but I haven’t experienced this level of consistency in a long time.  The songs are unquestionable, tracks like No One Knows and Go With The Flow are truly iconic.  But when I think about why it’s my favourite QOTSA album, the first thing I think of is the drumming.  Dave Grohl is a great drummer, and if you didn’t realise that listening to Nirvana, you will after listening to this record.  His beats drive the whole thing, and he turns good songs into great ones, just as he did with Nirvana.  I’d have to say that God Is In The Radio is my favourite track – It’s like a funky death march – what’s not to like about that?  Don’t get me wrong, Songs for the Deaf isn’t perfect.  There are a few tracks that don’t quite live up to the rest, but that doesn’t take away from its genius.  It unlocked my head to the Queens, and now Josh Homme and his mates are rocking out between my ears with regularity.

A word on Homme himself.  QOTSA is essentially Josh Homme – he has been the only permanent member of the band.  The guy is cool – probably the coolest ginger to ever live.  When asked about the track Make it Witchu, he said: ‘yeah, it’s about screwing’.  He is an honest bloke with a dry, dark sense of humour: ‘That’s why they call me Mr Positive... because the test results are back’.  His music reflects his character well.  I’m well aware that to say something sounds ‘cool’ is idiotic, but Queens of the Stone Age really do.

The Queens’ music is dark and mechanical, simultaneously robotic and out of control.  It makes me want to make a film about some kind of zombie robot apocalypse and use their music for the soundtrack.  It’s heavy rock music that you can sing along to.  Above all their music is groovy, but not in the Austin Powers sense.  A typical Queens track will settle into a paralysing groove that is so addictive that when you listen to an album you start to get withdrawal symptoms in between tracks.  I would imagine it’s great driving music, but I wouldn’t know as I can’t legally operate a motor car.

I’m not sure why music that I’ve heard before will suddenly click and become very important to me at certain points in my life.  It’s like it has to beat down a door before getting inside my head.  I’m glad that the Queens managed it.  In a very short time they’ve become very special to me and I’m not sure I could cope without them now.  Word around the office is, the new album will be out by the end of the year. Can’t wait.

Josh Homme.  I bet he hasn't got any sun cream on.