Stone deaf

The first thing that strikes me about Queens of the Stone Age, and perhaps what sets them apart from their contemporaries, is the difficulty one has in defining their sound. Described variously as stoner rock, stoner metal, and by the singer himself as "robot-rock," the Queens base their songs around crunchy gritty guitar hooks, fantastic driving drum beats, and a frenzied repetition of patterns and themes. Songs for the Deaf is an album that is at once innovative, compelling, intense and at times often brutal.

Songs for the Deaf takes a few listens to settle in, but it is well worth the effort. The production is slick and compliments their style of music well. Queens of the Stone Age use traditional rock as their foundation upon which to experiment a little with sounds, so that the listener never quite knows what to expect. In this way the Queens avoid being dangerously pigeonholed (although NME Magazine tagged them as the "greatest living rock band"). Admittedly some of the tracks on the album lean more toward the hardcore end of the spectrum, songs such as the opener "You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar But I Feel Like a Millionaire" and "Six Shooter," which all feature churlish screaming and furious guitar strumming.

The better tracks on the album are subtler in their approach and allow the inherent charm of the song, and fine musicianship of the Queen's band members to shine through. Songs such as "No One Knows," "Go With The Flow" and the hidden track "Mosquito Song," are all highlights and feature mysterious threads of melody, catchy guitar hooks and intriguing lyrics.
The Queens of the Stone Age are a successful group in the sense that they work within a tradition, yet aren't afraid to add their own creative flourishes, all the time remaining true to their hard rock roots.

If you're not afraid of anything too hard or too fast, give this album a listen.

Kylee Dean-Willcocks