Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf

Interscope

August 27th, 2002.

Queens of the Stone Age's third studio album hits the road running with full beams engaged - even though it's mid summer and the sun's at it's highest point. Little care is given as to what is supposed to occur - the rules here are set to free form. Do what thou wilt; do what you feel, go with the flow.

20 years of desert driving, radio station indecision, and Alt-Rock records that border on the precipice of anthemic mutations sees Songs for the Deaf take its place among the powerhouses of the rock world. Breathe in the Palm Desert dust infused air. Soak in the Palm Desert sun - as carcinogenic as it may well be; red hot and blistering. The heat is ramped up to the nines and a stranger is screaming in your ear for the name of the track on the radio. You have no idea what it is; it's also too loud to even hear and make sense of. A good time had by all by lifes estimations. Ambiguity of action is dependent upon agreement of situation. The devil whispers sweet lullabies in your soul - the offer is enticing, but are you willing to give up the goods?

Dave Grohl sits behind the drummers seat and provides a bombastic - as usual - performance. The sheer power of his drum battery is a spectacle in itself. Providing enough energy to power a country single handedly, Grohl's playing sets up the foundations for Songs for the Deaf to become a truly ferocious affair - albeit it one that never quite gets out of hand; it's all within the parameters of what QotSA are known for - semi-sleazy, borderline shoegaze irreverence. Songs for the Deaf took the power in which the band is delivered through to the next level. It remains unmatched on the Richter scale to this day.

The sketches in between add so much character - both in an ironic and literal sense. Experiencing individual tracks outside of the album usually ends in expecting the radio hosts to close out proceedings. When these types of things occur you know that the album is an undertaking designed for a whole playthrough - start to finish. When it comes to albums and their whole universe - material, artwork, stylistic choices - Songs for the Deaf is the full package.

Not sayin' good night, just sayin'.