Yes, it’s true – I’m officially a QOTSA convert. Monster and I went to the show at the Roxy last night, and I thoroughly dug the Christ out of it. Them boys can rock.
The new album is their best yet, and the loss of founding member Nick Olivieri hasn’t been the disaster that everyone dreaded. If anything, they’re better than ever and continue to evolve with each new record. The concert was amazing – I didn’t think the acoustics at the Roxy would be anything to write home about, but everything sounded great. Normally I associate the Roxy with house music and bridge and tunnel steakheads, but it’s a nice little venue. Josh Homme has cultivated a really unique guitar sound that really stands out from the pack, and their use of brass and piano completes the audio steroid package. Big fan.
Thanks for coming Dave – Probably one of the best Queens of the Stone Age Concerts I have ever seen. I would have to slide it between Ozzfest and them in C-Bus. They really did rock it out man.
I love the QOTSA, I saw them at the BDO in New Zealand a couple of years ago, but their albums always have a couple really good songs and then 5 or 6 songs that I feel I wouldn’t miss…
I miss Nick. Most people don’t realize he wrote half of the songs on the last two albums.
A lot of other people also don’t realize that Josh is a better drummer than guitar player, in fact when Dave Grohl came into the studio to record with them (after the FF drummer Taylor Hawkins ODed), he was given most of the direction and told what to play by Josh. (no one can deny that no one hits the drums harder than Mr G.E. Grohl though… :))
So now I’m torn. Do I go buy the album? or not…?
You would be nuts not to buy the album! Actually, you should buy every single Desert Sessions, some Kyuss, throw in the Brant Bjork solo album, some Mondo Generator to get your Nick Kick. After listening to Mondo Generator I understood why Nick living can be a good move (he seemed sorta stuck in his ways to me). Still – he will be back – they are a Jam Band.
I wish I could see them oversees – they are appreciated in Austrialia/NZ as well as the UK.
The QOTSA tore the ass off the Kool Haus in the T.O. (no not the cente of the universe).
Goota love straight forward guitar, bass and drums…and not the over reliance on the studio engeineer and the mixing board.
Cpt Anonymous – Being a long time QOTSA fan… YOu really got it straight – if you desire straight forward guitar, bass and drums I totally recommend Fu Manchu and Burning Brides – Great Bands – No QOTSA though from a sound perspective!!! Queens of the Stone Age is all about reinventing themselves with every album. Other than that – QOTSA has been able to leverage what the Pixie’s did with their base (guitar, bass and drums)and then adding their own rocker sound. As I told Pye Guy – Josh Hommes even admitted to it – the Pixies had a big influence on them. The funny thing though – QOTSA will never have a Concept Album – they are a Concept band and will forever reinvent themselves even if Josh or Nick (already out of the band) stop playing with them. QOTSA isn’t a band man – it is an attitude. An artistic attitude that gives you a comfortable feeling knowing that they will still be rocking for years to come whether they make it platinum or not. However, It was nice that Dave Grohl could help them out – shame though – as brilliant as they are that people won’t appreciate them for what their sound creates until 10 to 20 years from now (honestly – sorry Pixie lovers… Pye – like the Pixies sound). Hey – you listen to the White Stripes and France Ferdinand (or however you pronounce it) – they took a bit of QOTSA.
Or hey – I could be blogging drunk – you tell me!
I was introduced to Franz Ferdinand when I was in England last month by a couple friends and at first I resisted, mainly because that fire burns song annoyed me. But the rest of the album was really good, even on a first listen, so when I got back to Boston I picked it up. The album is good. It’s short. and By short I mean Weezer short, only 38 minutes, but some of the songs rock.
I really like the song “The Dark Of The Matinee”, (4th track), I think it’s my favorite so far.. It’s so retrospective (is that a word) and casual. I like how he talks so casually about seeing himself on BBC 2 and “timing each journey” to bump into his girl “accidentally”.
Worth another listen if you’ve already brushed it aside, even though really it’s nothing like QOTSA…