Queens of the Stone Age preview

I got a taste of three new QOTSA tracks from the upcoming LP, Era Vulgaris. Slated for a June 12 release, the new LP is expected to feature an all-star lineup of studio musicians, including guitarist Alain Johannes (Eleven, Chris Cornell band) drummer Joey Castillo (Danzig), Troy Van Leeuwen (A Perfect Circle), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Mark Lanegan (The Screaming Trees, and Mark Lanegan Band), Julian Casablancas (The Strokes) and Trent Reznor (what band is he in?).

Besides attracting respected musical talent on the past few albums and tours, Queens has had a knack for creating marvelously hook-y radio hits. Who doesn’t sing along in the car to falsetto chorus of “If Only” from their eponymous debut? Check out the manic repetition in “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” and Barrett Martin’s mellotron and the unmistakable chug-chug of Josh’s guitar on “Lost Art of Keeping a Secret” from the star-studded sophomore record, Rated R. Lullabies to Paralyze from two years ago brought “Little Sister” to the airwaves with enough jam block to make Christopher Walken blush and there was a welcome but unexpected solo by Billy Gibbons on “Burn the Witch.”

“3’s and 7’s” may be the first single from Era. Notable for its lo-fi strumming intro and zany slide guitar hook, it is a big uptempo barn-burning romp of a song. Performed live, each player is going to get a moment in the spotlight.

The drummer has a to stay on point through “3’s” – it’s no one-dimensional 4/4 piece. In fact, “3’s” is as hard to pin down as it is to tap your foot to. There are elements of previous QOTSA efforts, including a few bars of overdriven arpeggio at 2:20 through it’s three-and-a-half minute running time. At the three minute mark, there is fuzzy bass solo that kindles up memories of departed bassist Nick Olivieri. The last solo is a new take on the signature guitar sound of frontman Josh Homme that results from high signal compression. This sound has been present since the beginning; the first minute of “Regular John” from QOTSA is basically a primer on the Josh Homme sound(tm).

The title track “Era Vulgaris” (“The Common Era”, in Latin) opens with a fade-in reminscient of a Ride The Lightning stomp. The song, described as a commentary on the modern world, proceeds in fits and starts as the time signature is jumbled erratically over the next four minutes. By the middle of the song, I am reminded of the cadence of “Immigrant Song” from Zep III. According to an interview on pitchforkmedia, found here, the second vocalist is indeed Trent Reznor. This same interview declares that despite being the title track, it will not appear on the album. Go figure. With its longer running time, non-traditional structure and rambling nature, I am convinced that this would not have appeared on the radio anyhow.

Listen to an excerpt of “Sick, Sick, Sick,” the third song I received, in the YouTube video linked below, complete with narration by their new mascot, Bulby.
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For tour dates and a recipe for cocaine margaritas, see www.qotsa.com