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intereact!Queens of the Stone Age
Retail Price (not our price): $13.98
Release Date: 2005-03-22
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...
| Disc 1 |
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com
Nick Oliveri may have departed, taking his naked bass playing skills with him, but Queens of the Stone Age remains in good hands with co-founder Josh Homme. Putting extracurricular projects like Eagles of Death Metal and the Desert Sessions briefly on hold, the restless front man keeps things dependably loud and sludgy on the group's third album. Monster riffs, choppy rhythms, explosive melodies, and, yes, even a generous serving of cowbell, propel standout songs like "Medication" and "Little Sister" on the follow-up to 2002's breakthrough Songs for the Deaf. Friends also lend a hand. ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons shreds through the reverberating "Burn The Witch," while Garbage's Shirley Manson and the Distillers' Brody Dalle join Homme for a tantalizing threesome on "You Got A Killer Scene." -- Aidin Vaziri
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5
1) A more mature sound with the new lineup [Rating: 4 out of 5]
80% of the tracks here are excellent. It is immediately apparent that this is not the same QOTSA from the previous 3 albums (especially when you look at the live material from the subsequent tour on Over The Years And Through The Woods). A darker sound with some amount of blues influence. "Tangled up in Plaid," "Someone's in the Wolf," and "Long Slow Goodbye" are definite standouts. Highly recommended.2) Awesome Album... Lives Up To It's Title [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I listen to a lot of different kind of music (everything you can think of except for rap, and even then I like some hip-hop) but typically I mostly listen to hardcore punk and various GOOD metal bands (there is a staggering amount of horrible ones.) This is neither punk nor metal and yet it is the first time I felt compelled to write a review about anything, that's how good it is. I bought "Lullabies to Paralyze" in hopes that it would do just that... which it, actually, surprisingly enough did. I was going thru a rough time and for some reason out of the hundreds of albums I own of all different types of music, this is the ONLY one that helped me get thru the worst time of my life. Although I regret to say now I can't bring myself to listen to it because whenever I hear any of the songs it brings me right back to that time, but that's a personal thing. It's a good album. You should buy it.3) You made a killer album there, man [Rating: 4 out of 5]
The title "Lullabies to Paralyze" has kind of an ominous ring to it, a sort of sweet and evil combination of words that comes off as foreboding. Open the CD booklet and you'll see Josh Homme's mysterious, tripped-out and yes, evil lyrics lurking within, among sinisterly drawn animals inhabiting a dark forest. Despite all this, QOTSA's fourth album is loaded with accessible, high-energy rockers that don't drift at all from the band's past stellar work. Sure, Homme's echoed vocals and the slowed-down interlude on "Someone's in the Wolf" contain a foreboding vibe; but these elements of the song are surrounded by a lively riff, crisp-as-a-razor drums and an overall familiar sound that's expected from this band. Similarly, the dark and driving riff on "The Blood is Love" conjures fond memories of some of the more mesmerizing and drawn-out fare from the great Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R album (2000). These two songs aside, "Lullabies to Paralyze" is nothing to be afraid of.The CD begins placid enough, just a gentle acoustic guitar and Mark Lanegan's rugged, deep croon. Like an explosion, though, the short-but-sweet "Medication" kicks in with a vengeance. Its pile-driving riff reminds me of the song "Regular John" from QOTSA's mighty debut album, Queens of the Stone Age (1998). However, it's not all just polished guitar riffs and scorching ax licks. "Lullabies" contains gems like "I Never Came," a laid-back ditty with soft vocals by Homme, funky percussion and yes, great guitar work. "You Got a Killer Scene There, Man" shows the soulful, bluesy side of Homme and his ever-changing band, while "Long Slow Goodbye" takes the CD out in a tuneful, sentimental and somewhat unexpected way. Fans of QOTSA's past work won't likely be disappointed in this CD. In fact, the head-bobbing riffs splattered all over the album are as good as anything this band has ever released, and that's saying a lot. The pleasingly heavy sounds and lyrics heard on "Tangled Up in Plaid," "In My Head" and "Little Sister" fit right in with the tunes from any past album the band has put out. That's not to say these songs aren't original-sounding compositions, because they are. Homme is one of the most unique rock and roll artists to come along in a while, and his constantly changing band lineup might actually keep QOTSA fresh-sounding and relevant, rather than stagnated. Pick this one up if you like great rock music.4) Just A Bit Too Flawed To Be Up With Past Classics [Rating: 4 out of 5]
The news that Oliveri was booted out by Homme did make me skeptical. Being a massive fan of Kyuss (for those unaware, the band the two played in before the QOTSA days), and a fan of all of QOTSA's releases, I felt the combination of Homme and Oliveri was one of the best in today's rock world, and taking ones influence away would be harmful. And I believe this is evident with "Lullabies", as it is their most hit and miss release yet - often excellent, but sometimes falling into uninspiring dirge.The hard rocking edge and emphasis on melody that was recurrent in their fantastic "Songs For The Deaf" album is repeatedly visited in the start of "Lullabies". "Medication" fashions that lovely bent for a good riff that Homme has always ensued in his different bands. "Everybody Knows You're Insane" has the typically weird and off-centre vibe QOTSA execute with ease. Their catchy and melodic pop-rock style is shown in the wondrous "Tangled Up In Plaid", my favorite track on the album, and again later with the hit single "Little Sister" and the lush choruses of "In My Head". So the opening of this album is very sharp and concise, almost refining the classic QOTSA styles into one side. To me these opening six songs are exactly what QOTSA should be doing, focusing on the niche they have carved out over the years, and adding and stripping the sound.The problem with "Lullabies" comes in the last half of the album which is painfully hit and miss. Homme can create some inspired music that drags you into the weird and wonderful world he portrays. Just go back into the catalogue, songs such as "You Cant Quit Me Baby", "The Sky Is Falling" and "Song For The Deaf" execute that eerie and dirgey style that borders on being a ballad in a very warped sense. These songs keep the attention, they create atmosphere and really balance the faster rocking songs the band is renowned for. The final half of "Lullabies" has some really hit and miss slower work - inspired at times, but frustratingly lifeless all too often. "I Never Came" is probably my favorite of the ballad styled songs, demonstrating Homme's melodic and pop sensibility, and hitting home with a good, earnest and relatable theme of relationship hardships. The theme is not original at all, but Homme's vocal delivery and poetic lyrics give it an honest and emotional edge. Unfortunately "Lullabies" really slips off the excellent pace. "Someones In The Wolf" is an overly long dirge that just doesn't do the trick for me. It becomes quite dull and never really picks up. And this pretty much applies for the rest of the ending, "The Blood Is Love" and "Skin on Skin" keep on this dull, lacking momentum, and gradually the album comes to a close.The stark hit and miss of "Lullabies" bemuses me. Homme clearly shows he can create some class without Oliveri as there are some real great rock songs here. But some of this album feels forced, feels like Homme was pushing a cool idea into a lengthy song as opposed to one riff, or one bridge. The longer songs just don't have enough about them, simple as that. Because of these songs I was a bit dissapointed with the album, as I wanted Homme to create another sprawling and classy release. The throw-away ending songs are made that much more frustrating by the opening songs which show exactly what Homme IS capable of. Hopefully the next album will be a more consistent affair.5) Ultimate album of 2005! [Rating: 5 out of 5]
This album had a hard time leaving my CD player...LTP was an addictive drug that could not be rehabilitated...The S**t was that good man! QOTSA's albums just keep getting better and better! It's more calm than the others' and I couldn't care less for their single "Little Sister", but tracks 3,6,10,12,13, and 14 stood out like no other. Unfortunately, I don't have that anymore a douche bag friend of mine lost it >=I! The calmness in this masterpiece contains major groove, and superior melodies that I can only hope to achieve higher intensity on the next album! Josh Homme is just songwriting genius, a flawless artist I have followed since his departure with Kyuss. I recommend to start fresh wit their sophomore album "Rated R", but if you see this album & only this in the racks...Grab with both hands & don't let a good friend lose such a divine album for you! Bonds before Bros!!!!!