I'm sick. It sucks. Hence the lack of updates. Queens of the Stone Age rules and they say it best: SICK SICK SICK! I'll admit it probably not what Mr. Homme was thinking when he wrote this jam, but fuck it...I'm sick.
No competition. One wears a swan as an outfit. One lives in the desert and kicks out jams of epic proportions daily and effortlessly. This dude has the resume of all resumes: Kyuss, Fu Manchu, The Bros, The Operators and a little known project called Che. He recorded this 7-track gem with ...And The Circus Leaves Town-era Kyuss drummer Alfredo Hernandez, who also played the kit on the Queens of the Stone Age self-titled debut, one of my favorite LP's ever.
Their one and only album, Sounds of Liberation, is a groove fest...A bad-ass motherfucker of an album. You almost feel your handlebar mustache growing as the album plays on. "Hydrulicks" kicks things off with one of the best riffs ever laid to tape. It's worth the admission price for this cut alone. "Pray For Rock" is a sweet jam as well, a track full of slow-burning powerchorded bliss. They're all amazing. If you like the first QOTSA LP, this is the perfect companion.
Bottom line here: Brant Bjork kills it with any project he's involved in. If you're feeling fancy, check out Somera Sol, his solo acoustic disc from 2007. The guy can do no wrong. Check out his new album, Punk Rock Guilt too.
Che Promo Interview Video: Brant Bjork & The Operators: "My Ghettoblaster"
and for some old-school fun, Kyuss' "Demon Cleaner". This is awesomeness of epic proportions. As QOTSA says on the sticker of their "R" LP: "If you don't know, you're stupid". Amen.
We're getting real fancy this week. I mean Fine China fancy. In fact, if it gets fancier than this, I don't want any part it. Queens of the Stone Age have always been extra careful to not be careful and 2007's Era Vulgaris is not only no exception, it's the prime example. Queens' fifth record is an experimental affair, full of killer hooks, dirty-ass guitars and ZZ Top grooves. Add two special guest spots from Mark Lanegan and you got yourself a monster record on your hands.
The track that comes correct with the highest percentage of fancy is easily "Make It Wit Chu", an old Desert Sessions tune, reworked and tweaked with Josh Homme doing his best Lanegan impression on lead vocals. I swear , this is one of the sexiest songs ever written. Damn that handsome Josh Homme.
Check this out and feel free to make it wit yourself if need be. It's that good.
What's it with Dave Grohl and drumming? Whatever band he's in, regardless of the instrument he chooses to play, the drummer is the secret weapon. I always felt that his powerful drumming and beautiful harmonies was the glue in later-era Nirvana. His amazing chops on QOTSA's "Songs For The Deaf" made that record. Tight production mixed with his precise skill propelled that record and in the eyes of the masses, the band in general. However in his own band, it's Dave Grohl that takes the backseat to Taylor Hawkins, a drummer of more finesse and skill than himself. It's pretty awesome that Dave realizes this. It's also pretty awesome how awesome Taylor is and how he pulls a Dave by being the anchor of the Foo Fighters. Same deal: Powerful drumming, amazing backing (and sometimes lead) vocals and very solid songwriting.
A lot of people are unaware of his solo record, Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders, one of the best-named bands/records ever. It's a great 70's rock revival album. Think parts Thin Lizzy, The Who, Rush, a bit of FF and his own personal touches thrown in for good measure. In fact, I dig this record way more the the last two Foo Fighters albums (three if you include the boring Skin & Bones live record). There's a killer element of accesible prog flowing through the album, really letting his talents shine through.
Of course it's a great record so it sold for shit. Go get it. Bargain bin it up! Beyond being attached to Dave Grohl at the hip, Taylor is an amazing talent on his own and this record clearly shows it.
Look, I'm not going to talk about all the Queens of the Stone Age records today. Not even a few. Even though I know more about all their side projects, past projects, future projects and other mindless info...Enough to even bore me sometimes, I'm only going to speak on why the QOTSA self-titled debut is perhaps one of the most flawless records in rock n' roll history and that Josh Homme is a goddamn genius. A riff machine, who chose to simplify it all down to the basic elements of drums, vocals, bass and guitars. Little multi-layering and some of the sweetest grooves since "Cheap Sunglasses". There's a reason Billy Gibbons loves Queens (and not much of one for liking Nickelback).
The album is fucking perfect. "Regular John", "You Would Know", "I Was A Teenage Hand Model", and "Avon" just hit so hard and they groove like a motherfucker...Scratch that. 10 motherfuckers.
A lot of people don't know that this record (which has been out of print for about five years) does not feature Nick Oliveri at all. He's in the pictures on the sleeve and back cover but only began his time in Queens after recording was finished. It's all Josh and Alfredo Hernandez, who also plays drums on one of my favorite stoner records ever, Che (with Brant Bjork). QOTSA have become one of my favorite bands and have employed some of my favorite musicians. They keep putting out amazing music and don't ever show signs of staleness. I just tip my hat to Stone Gossard and his Loosegroove Records imprint for signing Gamma Ray (the previous name of QOTSA) and putting out this fancy record.
Anyone who's down with the mid to late 90's budding Stoner scene knew about Karma To Burn. In fact, in 1996 Roadrunner Records (who were struggling to find their identity; Post-Max era Sepultura, pre-Nickleback, riding with bad hip hop and dance records), put out a CD Sampler of some kick ass jams, featuring Fu Manchu, the first official recording of Queens of The Stone Age ("18AD") and a new band called Karma To Burn.
Roadrunner picked them up for a deal and released their self-titled debut in 1997 to rave reviews and a ton of critical acclaim. A solid record, but by no means a classic. Some great tracks on there, but some real filler as well. Apparently, three-fourths of the band felt the same way and decided the singer was the "filler". They decided this quickly too. Within a month, I was checking them out for the first time live, playing direct support to Corrosion of Conformity (along with Drain sth and local South Florida heroes Gonemad), on the "Wiseblood" Tour.
I guess Roadrunner decided having a band with no singer wasn't marketable, so they dropped 'em. Spitfire picked them up and Karma To Burn went on to release two unbelievably great LP's, Wild Wonderful Purgatory and Almost Heathen. The riffs are so good, you never miss a singer or even feel that one was ever needed. In fact, when they toured on these records, they played a lot of the older stuff off the Roadrunner release and no vocals were missed there either. Just a bad-ass power trio.
In 2002, rumors were circulating that Karma To Burn was going to record a new record, with a little help from some serious fucking friends. They would provide the rock and a series of vocalists would sing on different tracks. I know that the following had signed up: Neil Fallon (Clutch), Pepper Keenan (COC), Kirk Windstein (Crowbar) and I'm pretty sure John Garcia (Kyuss, Hermano, Slo-Burn) was down as well. Unfortunately they broke up prior to laying tracks down and all we're left with is three records.
Last year, Metal Mind Productions re-released all three CD's in a beautiful box set, complete with demos, bonus tracks and live performances. It's limited to 1,500 copies and since their a German label, it costs a bloodsucking $56 dollars! Their debut is out of print but easily available used and their last two releases are still in print.
I love how Roadrunner thought that instrumental rock was unmarketable. Look at how things have changed in just 10 years. Some of the most important and genre-bending bands out there today either have no singer, or use vocals very infrequently. Just a few examples: Explosions In The Sky, God Is An Astronaut, ISIS, Mogwai, Cult of Luna, Pelican...The list can go on forever.
True trailblazers, but in reality, just three dudes who fucking rock.
I love Stoner Rock. I don't care if it's a tag that Stoner Rock bands dislike. If you sing about getting stoned and play your banged up $129 Strat thru a bass amp with chorus, fuzz and distortion, you, my friend, are in a Stoner Rock band. In the recent issue of Decibel Magazine, they dedicate nearly half the issue to the knowns (Queens of The Stone Age, Clutch, Wino, Fu Manchu) and unknowns (Electric Wizard, Bongzilla, a mountain of late 60's and early 70's riff-heavy groups) of the history of this awesome genre. They do leave out COC and Crowbar, which irks me, since I believe that COC's "Deliverance" and Crowbar's "Odd Fellows Rest" are some of the best records in and out of the genre, ever.
Clutch likes to distance themselves from the tag, but dudes, you write songs like "Willie Nelson", to which the chorus goes "I don't know if I'm coming or going/If it's them or me/One thnig's for certain/Willie Nelson only smokes killer weed". Right. I'm sure he does. Oh yeah, this song was first released onn the High Times magazine compilation, "High Volume". QOTSA distance themselves as well, but face it Josh...Your roots are in Kyuss, the originators of Desert Fuzz. Even if it didn't make the list (which it did, at #8), the self-titled Queens CD frm 1997 is not only their best LP, it's one of my favorite albums. Not a second of wasted material on it. Nearly flawless.
So of course, of all the killer Stoner bands, I think I found the best one to drop twelve bucks on. Thank you Southern Lord Recordings for fooling me once again. After reading an article about a riff/groove-heavy power trio (I fucking love power trios...Who doesn't?) about Weedeater, I picked up their new LP, "God Luck and Good Speed". Best.title.ever. Unfortunately, not best music ever. Not even fucking close. I dug it upon first listen, but as with most Southern Lord releases (Wino-related bands being the only exception, cause he's the God of The Riff), it's takes a horrible turn for the worse on repeated listens. It's heavy, distorted and unbelievably sloppy...Even for a bunch of potheads.
For killer new records by bands that might not be stoner rock (or they might be), check out the following releases:
Mondo Generator- Dead Planet Brant Bjork- Tres Dias Coliseum- No Salvation The Hidden Hand- The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote Clouds- Legendary Demo Zozobra- Harmonic Tremors Queens of The Stone Age- Era Vulgaris Unsane- Visqueen Clutch- From Beale St. To Oblivion Melvins- (a) Senile Animal Alabama Thunderpussy- Open Fire
Check out this clip of "Streetside" by The Obssesed, feturing Scott "Wino" Heinreich. I saw these dudes open for White Zombie in 1994. They had a brief run with Columbia for this one record "The Church Within". It kills:
If you dig it, also check out ANYTHING from the countless bands that Wino has shaped and formed over the years. This dude IS a walking riff machine:
Saint Vitus The Obsessed Spirit Caravan Place of Skulls The Hidden Hand Probot
I'm sick. It sucks. Hence the lack of updates. Queens of the Stone Age rules and they say it best: SICK SICK SICK! I'll admit it probably not what Mr. Homme was thinking when he wrote this jam, but fuck it...I'm sick. 
No competition. One wears a swan as an outfit. One lives in the desert and kicks out jams of epic proportions daily and effortlessly. This dude has the resume of all resumes: Kyuss, Fu Manchu, The Bros, The Operators and a little known project called Che. He recorded this 7-track gem with ...And The Circus Leaves Town-era Kyuss drummer Alfredo Hernandez, who also played the kit on the Queens of the Stone Age self-titled debut, one of my favorite LP's ever. 
We're getting real fancy this week. I mean Fine China fancy. In fact, if it gets fancier than this, I don't want any part it. Queens of the Stone Age have always been extra careful to not be careful and 2007's Era Vulgaris is not only no exception, it's the prime example. Queens' fifth record is an experimental affair, full of killer hooks, dirty-ass guitars and ZZ Top grooves. Add two special guest spots from Mark Lanegan and you got yourself a monster record on your hands.
What's it with Dave Grohl and drumming? Whatever band he's in, regardless of the instrument he chooses to play, the drummer is the secret weapon. I always felt that his powerful drumming and beautiful harmonies was the glue in later-era Nirvana. His amazing chops on QOTSA's "Songs For The Deaf" made that record. Tight production mixed with his precise skill propelled that record and in the eyes of the masses, the band in general. However in his own band, it's Dave Grohl that takes the backseat to Taylor Hawkins, a drummer of more finesse and skill than himself. It's pretty awesome that Dave realizes this. It's also pretty awesome how awesome Taylor is and how he pulls a Dave by being the anchor of the Foo Fighters. Same deal: Powerful drumming, amazing backing (and sometimes lead) vocals and very solid songwriting.
Look, I'm not going to talk about all the Queens of the Stone Age records today. Not even a few. Even though I know more about all their side projects, past projects, future projects and other mindless info...Enough to even bore me sometimes, I'm only going to speak on why the QOTSA self-titled debut is perhaps one of the most flawless records in rock n' roll history and that Josh Homme is a goddamn genius. A riff machine, who chose to simplify it all down to the basic elements of drums, vocals, bass and guitars. Little multi-layering and some of the sweetest grooves since "Cheap Sunglasses". There's a reason Billy Gibbons loves Queens (and not much of one for liking Nickelback). 
