Queens of the Stone Age - peddlers of heavy, yet totally
catchy rock – fit into the category of bands that have one classic album in
their discography that everything they have ever released since is always
compared to. Songs for the Deaf, of course, is that one album. While some may
argue that Rated R which preceded it is equally as good, Songs for the Deaf
gets the edge for it's more successful marriage of thick, stoner metal guitar work with a Beatles-esque
pop sensibility. It was an artistic triumph in that it could go from being
mainstream and poppy (“Go With the Flow”, “Do It Again”) then all of a sudden
morph into something completely unfit for commercial radio (“Six Shooter”, the
title track.) It’s a compelling listen from start to finish, and should
seriously be owned by everyone who gives even the slightest damn about heavy music.
