Which Queens of the Stone Age album to start?

EADGCoffee · #1 05-20-2011, 10:08 AM

I don't listen to these guys, but I've heard their bassist is pretty good, or at least gets some cool tones. I'm looking for some new music right now, so can anyone recommend me an ALBUM by them that I should listen to?

Thanks-

**Adam Barkley** · #2 05-20-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADGCoffee

I don't listen to these guys, but I've heard their bassist is pretty good, or at least gets some cool tones. I'm looking for some new music right now, so can anyone recommend me an ALBUM by them that I should listen to?

Thanks-

The two that I would recommend a novice to check out first would be:

1. Songs for the Deaf
2. Rated R

Those two are both incredible modern rock albums. I can't imagine a rocker not liking/loving both of those records.

From there, if you liked Rated R more, get the Self-Titled disc. If you liked Songs for the Deaf more, you could try Lullabies to Paralyze. I'd recommend Era Vulgaris only for someone who liked everything else and wanted to complete the discography. While it has some good/great songs on it, it is by far the weakest album in my opinion.

Rthm · #3 05-20-2011, 10:23 AM

There epynomus (or however that's spelled) album is excellent, as is Era Vulgaris and Lullibies to Paralyze. as for specific songs, Sick,Sick,Sick, Burn the Witch and Mexicola. have fun!

Terry Funk · #4 05-20-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADGCoffee

I don't listen to these guys, but I've heard their bassist is pretty good, or at least gets some cool tones. I'm looking for some new music right now, so can anyone recommend me an ALBUM by them that I should listen to?

Thanks-

Most would say Songs For The Deaf, because it's their breakout album, and it's a really great album, but if you are listening especially for cool bass work supporting some great hard rock, then I'd go Rated R first. Nick Oliveri IMO has one of the nastiest P-Bass (I assume) tones that I've ever heard.

milhouse · #5 05-20-2011, 10:31 AM

Quoted for truth!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Barkley

The two that I would recommend a novice to check out first would be:

1. Songs for the Deaf
2. Rated R

Those two are both incredible modern rock albums. I can't imagine a rocker not liking/loving both of those records.

From there, if you liked Rated R more, get the Self-Titled disc. If you liked Songs for the Deaf more, you could try Lullabies to Paralyze. I'd recommend Era Vulgaris only for someone who liked everything else and wanted to complete the discography. While it has some good/great songs on it, it is by far the weakest album in my opinion.

shaggy45 · #6 05-20-2011, 10:36 AM

"Over The Years And Through The Woods" is my favorite..its a live album and it kicks ass..better sounding than the studio stuff to me.

EADGCoffee · #7 05-20-2011, 11:18 AM

Thanks guys. I picked up Rated R and Songs For the Deaf and started with Rated R. I like what I hear so far!

Mattosaur · #8 05-20-2011, 01:20 PM

If it's Nick Oliveri's bass tone in particular you're listening for, consider that he left the band after Songs for the Deaf.

Tituscrow · #9 05-20-2011, 03:30 PM

Songs for the deaf every time. Brilliant album, with some mighty fine bass work. A master at just locking down that rock groove. Nothing too flashy or extravagant, but a good solid heartbeat to an awesome LP.

TripleDouble · #10 05-20-2011, 03:34 PM

Check out Kyuss and Probot while you're at it...

paganjack · #11 05-20-2011, 03:37 PM

Songs for the Deaf is definitely where to start. It's a really solid record from start to finish. All their albums are majorly excellent though.

Jonyak · #12 05-20-2011, 03:42 PM

Their self titled, and rated R are the best.

This is coming from someone who followed them from early kyuss up to when nick left the band.

chuck norriss · #13 05-20-2011, 03:56 PM

QOTSA Live @ the Premier. You'll get a good sense of how they run things, however the bass tone isn't as clear & articulate as the albums.

Lullabies to Paralyze doesn't have as much standout bass parts as prior work but great bass & guitar tones & enjoyable songs. That's not to say it's more pop, just more around the vocals & a little less intense. Slightly. "In My Head" "Little Sister" "Broken Box" are my favorites.

Songs For the Deaf--can't beat the intensity of the opener, "You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar." "Song For the Dead"--great fast intro to that song. "No One Knows" is great. Grohl is very tight on drums. Not carzy about the slower songs or the last few songs on this album.

Era Vulgaris is a good album. More artistic. A lot of cool spongy guitar tones. See: "Sick Sick Sick" "Make It Wit Chu" is very cool laid back. Good but I didn't run out to get this one.

If you like Josh Homme/Dave Grohl/JPJones there's Them Crooked Vultures. "No One Loves Me Neither Do I" there's that sick part at the middle of the song. Highlight of the album.

AcidFripp · #14 05-20-2011, 04:12 PM

I think that Era Vulgaris is their best album but it's not their most popular nor is it their most acessible.

You made a good choice, OP. Listen to Era Vulgaris next, though!

LC transplant · #15 05-20-2011, 06:50 PM

My fav is certainly "rated R", followed by the eponymous first album and then the uber trendy "songs for the deaf". I have not listened to any of their albums since Nick was sacked, although Josh's new band with SFTD drummer Dave Grohl and bass legend JPJ is my favorite album of 2010 hands down. I got into the band when SFTD came out, and then discovered their earlier stuff, I didn't care for the songs I heard on the radio after Nick was kicked out, and have been not listening to the albums out of principle. A cool thing about QOTSA is that every album has a different lineup, with the exception that Josh and Nick were the constants. From what I understand from the music press it was an ugly breakup, and I got my fellow bassists back, ya heard?

Duckwater · #16 05-20-2011, 08:22 PM

My favorite Queens Of The Stone Age album is Rated R, Nick Oliveri's bass tone is really amazing on it. They always have great bass tones, but a lot of the time they get lost under Josh Homme's guitar. Check out Kyuss & The Desert Sessions as well.

jollygiantchris · #17 05-20-2011, 10:30 PM

I prefer Rated R it has the best songs and is the most consistent. I also like the first one and Songs for the Deaf. After that I go meh on them real quick.

aidanmay · #18 05-30-2011, 04:12 AM

Songs for the deaf, then rated r are my favorites as they have more variety, structure and energy about them. The other ones are good but a little more ...I dunno...generic?
Also I personally find Kyuss overrated

EricssonB · #19 05-30-2011, 04:21 AM

Might sound pretty cheesy, but QOTSA/Kyuss changed my guitar playing forever. I was huge into both in 2005 and have played bass and guitar in standard-C (two steps down) since then.

I'm most partial to their earliest three albums, but I like them all. Haven't dug the groove as much since Nick left.

BROKEN OHMS · #20 05-30-2011, 05:47 AM

Start with the self-titled and work your way up. They're all great but different sounding albums.
Josh played bass on the first one.
Nick Oliveri(p bass) on Rated R & SFTD
Alain Johannes, Troy and Josh have all shared bass duties on the last two albums...mostly with semi-hollow Gibsons I think.