Queens Of The Stone Age

09/05/2000 8:33 PM, LAUNCH
Janiss Garza

Queens Of The Stone Age isn't a band in the traditional sense of the word--but then, its mercurial take on hard rock isn't traditional either. When its self-titled debut came out in 1998, it was a trio. Currently it may be a sextet, including sound and lighting man Hutch. But the lineup could change at any given moment, and on QOTSA's latest album there's a long list of guest artists which include Mark Lanegan and Rob Halford--a pair of names no one ever expected to see on the same disc!

The Palm Desert, Calif. outfit is primarily two guys--guitarist and ex-Kyuss member Josh Homme, and bassist Nick Oliveri, who spent time in the Dwarves. Both of them sing lead vocals on various tracks on this disc (with the exception of "In the Fade," sung by Lanegan), and they also did most of the songwriting. So they're the main ones responsible for the strange aural journeys that make up Rated R. It's tempting to say they're at their best on hypnotic, primal tunes such as "Feel Good Hit Of The Summer" (basically a recitation of various substances, legal and otherwise) and "Monsters In The Parasol," but that would be slighting the quirky-yet-sparse "Leg Of Lamb" and the spacey "Better Living Through Chemistry." The groups even brings something fresh to more orthodox rock forms like rootsy blues ("Auto Pilot") and--yes--glam rock: "Quick And To The Pointless" gives "over the top" a new meaning. QOTSA have created something not only adventuresome, but fun--sophisticated music fans will love this LP, as will those who are just looking for a good time.