10 Greatest Hard Rock Album Openers
9. Feel Good Hit of the Summer - Queens of the Stone Age
At the beginning of the 2000's, Queens of the Stone Age were still relatively anonymous in the rock scene. Though Josh Homme had certainly made a name for himself in the underground scene with bands like Kyuss, it was anyone's guess whether this idea of a revolving door band would have any staying power. Coming out with Rated R just a few years later, the entire rock world got a taste of this band's power.
Though "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" may be far from the hookiest song on the record, it definitely puts the right foot forward with the a thick-as-hell bass groove from Nick Oliveri. From a structural perspective, the song doesn't really have too many bells and whistles, down to the lyrics just being a list of drugs plucked from Homme's subconscious.
On the other hand, you don't really need to have a doctorate degree to understand the heart of this track. It might not have sweeping solos or anything, but the song checks every box of what makes rock and roll so captivating in the first place. Queens of the Stone Age could have easily made this track a sonic bludgeoning of a tune, but when it comes to opening an album, sometimes it's better having a solid right hook.