Queens Of The Stone Age
Era Vulgaris
Interscope/Universal


QOTSA front man Josh Homme has a subtle sexiness that only he (as a blue-eyed bloodnut) can pull off. Without naming names, 'Era Vulgaris' delivers the appeal as if its only remaining founder has had a certain someone, known for sex appeal, rub off on him in both musically and in album art direction. Do you know a man by the name of Jesse 'The Devil' Hughes?

Sick Sick Sick is the first single from the record, showcasing well-known dirty, cranking guitar fuzz while instating that aforementioned overt sex appeal. The spaced out Suture Up Your Future is oppressed by a creeping bass undertone which peppers it with sultriness. The latter half of the record takes a myriad of tangents including an orchestraic sounding piece played on guitar in Run, Pig, Run, a reflective rock lullaby (Running Joke) and an expanding, marching drum pattern in River In The Road. However, the eventual product remains true to form.

This has to be the sauciest and cheekiest record from QOTSA since 'Rated R' and in ways it's as if everything old is new again. The sly pop track Make It Wit Chu and the pulsating Misfit Love rely on Homme's manner of execution and without it they wouldn't have featured on my repeat list (along with 3's and 7's which deserves a mention for its memorable opening guitar sequence). 'Era Vulgaris' can become repetitive to a point but boasts ultimately infectious riffs, novel effects and drum work.

The last record came across as a project to please the fans as QOTSA endured downtime after popularity with 'Songs For The Deaf' and the departure of Nick Oliveri. The band now has found stability in an ensemble cast and welcomed popular names Trent Reznor and The Strokes' Julian Casablancas to 'Era Vulgaris' which I believe is the reasoning for a far consistent record. I don't press skip once listening to this record and for want of a better phrase it is truly 'all killer, no filler'.

Monika Laskowski