This is the 3rd of 8 albums. Homme (born ’73) was originally from Palm Springs CA where he fronted a band called Kyuss from ’87-’95 that had a good local following and released 3 albums. After they split Homme went to Seattle to study business at Uni but fell back into music joining The Screaming Trees for a summer tour where he befriended Mark Lanegan. He formed his own band called Gamma Ray but there was another band of that name so they became QOTSA. Back in CA they released their first eponymous album in ‘98. Initially some band members came from his old band but from then on there has been a rolling change of band members with Homme being the only constant although this has stabilised recently. Homme played all guitar and bass on the first album though I haven’t heard it. In fact I only have 3 of them although I do know the 2nd album entitled Rated R (2000). This included Mark Lanegan on vocals on one track who joined after Screaming Trees split. It includes their breakout track Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret (31 UK). The sound on this album (which hasn’t really changed an awful lot since) could be described as stoner rock, a bit like grunge but it does have some earlier influences. There’s some similarities with Foo Fighters and in fact Dave Grohl played drums on most of the tracks on the next QOTSA album Songs for the Deaf (’02). Lanegan also sings on 4 tracks with the rest a split between Homme and bassist Nick Oliveri (who sounds rather like Dave Grohl). Like FFs they have their quite heavy moments but can also write a decent tune and have lighter songs. Generally there aren’t many guitar solos like old style rock and there’s more emphasis on the riff although there are exceptions like the epic Better Living Through Chemistry on Rated R. Lanegan’s downbeat vocal style suits the band but he didn’t stick around long. SFTD’s tracks are linked sometimes by fake radio announcements. First track You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire comes in hard with a decent riff and some Grohl-like scremy vocals (although there’s generally much less of this with their songs). No One Knows (15 UK) is a barnstormer of a tune with a kind of chicken pecking incessant riff which bursts out into a great chorus and a surprising change 3/4 of the way through. A ‘00s classic. Impossible to follow that up. 3rd track First It Giveth is heavier but almost as good with thundering drums by Grohl (how does he play so fast!?). Another great track. Grohl keeps this up on A Song For The Dead, sung by Lanegan (the 2 heaviest tracks on the album). The Sky Is Fallin’ is slower paced (which you’ll be grateful for:) but again is rifftastic and reminds me of Sabbath. Go With The Flow and Gonna Leave You are catchy tunes with a more indie new wave sound. God Is On The Radio (sung by Lanegan) has another top riff that ebbs and flows very nicely over 6 minutes. It may just of been heard by Tame Impala for their track Elephant. It has some good pregnant pauses and a beat that’s a bit like Mouldy Ol’ Dough but don’t let that put you off (if you know that!). Another rock classic for me. The title track is moody and dense but very well put together and must sound great live (I did see them at Glastonbury but can’t remember if they played it). The album ends on a lighter note with Mosquito Song. The album reached 4 UK 17 US and sold 900K which was their high point sales wise. Grohl was too busy with FF after this so left. I don’t have the 2 following albums (yet) Lullabies to Paralyze (’05) and Era Vulgaris (’07). Lanegan left during LTP. Dean Ferita joined on keys (he is also a member of The Dead Weather with Jack White). There was a 5 year gap after these albums partly due to Homme being bed-ridden for 4 months due to complications after knee surgery. He suffered from depression but eventually formed the album …Like Clockwork (’13). This is not as heavy as earlier albums and has grown on me. It’s a more mature album and definitely worth a listen. Dave Grohl plays on half of it. I also have the following album Villains (’17) but that’s taking longer to get into. They released their most recent album In Times New Roman… in ’23 and the same lineup has made the last 4 albums. So, a fine modern day heavy band and there aren’t too many of those that I have in my collection. 16/20. Fave tracks: No One Knows, God Is On The Radio, First It Giveth. (Spotify 6.6M)
