Queens of the Stone Age: …Like Clockwork
Queens of the Stone Age is my favorite band that I accidentally never keep tabs on. I don’t know what it is but in between albums I just completely forget they exist. It helps that the last studio album they produced together was Era Vulgaris in 2007, and they’ve been on hiatus for the past few years working on their own things. I should know this, considering I grabbed Them Crooked Vultures a couple years back, which had John Homme as the lead singer. But, hey, I forgot that he was in that, too. Even while I was listening to it. Their latest noise definitely caught me by surprise when I picked it up.
…Like Clockwork is the latest album from Queens of the Stone Age and it is simply amazing. Even though it’s been a few years since they’ve all been together, the band manages to maintain a similar enough sound. The hiatus, however, seems to have given them just what they needed. The album is definitely different enough that, at first, I was a little turned off by the new sound I was hearing. I gave it a second chance, though. Largely because they haven’t been that wrong before. This time I listened to their entire discography in order, giving myself a chance to remember why I love Queens of the Stone Age.
If I had to pick an emotion that would best describe Queens of the Stone Age, it would be “bitter.” They’re like a strong black coffee or a beer full of hops. It’s a harsh drink. If you’re not ready for it, you might just spit it back out. But there’s a kind of common thread in all of this. They’re bitter, but they’re not angry. Cynical? Most definitely. They have a kind of outlook on life that says “it’s pretty shit, but I should have seen it coming.” …Like Clockwork embodies this with the best of their stuff, but with all the technical improvements that comes from working with others for a time.
There’s a handful of stuff in this new album that doesn’t quite work right away–and some that you just ultimately accept–and mostly everything doesn’t work on its own, but as a whole …Like Clockwork is a piece of art. Queens of the Stone Age are always growing as a band and, while they’re not becoming the most progressive or relevant band of this age, they’re showing that they’re not stagnating. Not for a long time. I certainly recommend checking out …Like Clockwork, especially if you’re a “fairweather” fan like me.
About the Author
Greg Giannetti A king among men, this miraculous example of perfection graces us with his presence on the internets where he can write about his opinions on things that totally matter. Greg also knows the true secret to life - lots of naps.
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