1. Rated R (2000)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gH0-3c1RCw Restricted to everyone, everywhere, all the time. So goes the little rating label in the corner of Queens of the Stone Ages sophomore LP. Its a tongue-in-cheek nod to Rated Rs unadulterated brand of hedonism, and its inherent thematic content of sex, drugs, and just about everything else conceivable that is associated with both of those topics. With this in mind, one would think caution is rightly warranted, but on musical grounds, this is one of the most essential listens of the decade. Where QotSAs debut is relatively stable and focused in style, Rated R is fuelled by a mischievous urgency. The instantaneous hooks which had already been showcased were paired with an increased characteristic of playfulness, and a much more wholehearted penchant for trippy structures and elaborate instrumentation. From the off, Rated R is presented in an unapologetic burst of frenzied character; with Feel Good Hit of the Summer laying the groundwork for an album which comes across like a lazy grin, a sly wink, and affirmation that youre in good (if unhinged) hands on this musical adventure. Given its spring-loaded, topsy-turvy sequencing, Rated R is constantly surprising in how well its individual parts flow together. One explanation is that not only do QotSA embrace their own flamboyant tendencies (the opening three minutes alone should convince listeners as such), but they follow through and invest every available second with vivid colour. The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret amalgamates lackadaisical grunge-rock with a sharply melodic sensibility, chased by the sedate pairing of Leg of Lamb and Auto Pilot. Within the albums first ten minutes, the effect is already intoxicating: with QotSA running at full tilt, the variation comes across as logical rather than alienating, and the group fully initiate listeners into their sonic dream-space with the heady heights of Better Living Through Chemistry: a twisted, mind-boggling jam of epic proportions. When the hangover begins to creep in, were presented with the legitimately profound In the Fade, on which Mark Lanegan makes his first (and possibly finest) appearance among QotSAs ranks. Tension Head comes slamming in like a screaming hangover (Im feeling so sick, Oliveri repeatedly howls), before a brief moment of peace is granted in the sublime acoustic waves of Lightning Song. Its left to I Think I Lost My Headache to tee things up with a bizarre, brilliant combo of robot-rock and parping free jazz. Just recounting all these individual moments of gold is enough to make one hungry to hear Rated R all over again. Its attention to detail is of such a high calibre (without ever sounding fussy) that it hits home on both micro and macro levels. Here we are granted a glimpse of Queens of the Stone Age at their most charmingly madcap, and Rated R is their open invitation to join them for the ride. Take it. Highlight: Feel Good Hit of the Summer There are more accomplished, affecting, and impressive songs to be found on QotSAs sophomore LP, but in terms of what best captures the albums appeal in excelsis, theres just no other choice. Feel Good Hit takes every strand of its parent albums DNA - hedonism, ridiculousness, squalling heaviness, and mind-numbingly catchy mantras - and crushes it all into two minutes and forty-three seconds of pure carnal mayhem. With no disrespect to the bands eponymous album, Feel Good Hit is QotSAs proper real statement to the world, marking the moment when Queens of the Stone Age transcended from bearers of solid riff-rock, and instead became their own institution: a flagship rock troupe for the twenty-first century, packing oodles of charisma and bags of wild, sonically entrancing ideas. Which is your favourite and why? Get stuck into the comments and let us know!
Michael Perry
Contributor
Film and Literature student, keen bloggist, and aficionado of most things music, film, and TV. I've also been told I should stop quoting pop-culture as often as I do in everyday conversations.
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