#15 - Phil

Queens of the Stone Age

Rated R

2000

Alright everyone, we’ve officially entered the cream of the crop; every album from this point on I consider a flat-out masterpiece. Let’s kick off this homestretch with one of the most consistent yet underrated bands of the decade: Queens of the Stone Age.

The Queens and I first met in the summer of 2002 when I saw the music video for their greatest hit, “No One Knows.” I loved the song so much that I immediately purchased their album without reading a single thing about it. These guys are everything you could want in a rock band – fun, druggy, intelligent, ambiguous, and at times even scary. As I purchased subsequent albums, I became more convinced that this was one of the most talented and versatile rock bands of the decade. This notion was finally solidified when I heard their shortest and most awe-inspiring record to date, Rated R.

If I could nominate one album on my list for most “stoner-friendly,” it would be this one. The songs on Rated R don’t give a shit about moving you lyrically; in fact, they carry just the opposite goal. “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” consists of nothing more than listing off drugs this band has undoubtedly partaken in… but it rocks out so hard that you care even less than they do! “Auto Pilot” feels like a substance high so great you’ve completely lost control of yourself, with its brilliantly driving guitar riffs reemerging throughout the entire record. “Quick and to the Pointless” is just what it says it is, but lead singer Josh Homme’s total immersion into the song’s unstoppable head rush brings you to a place where for two minutes you’ve forgotten everything your life consists of. As the title suggests, this is one album not suitable for children. -P.W.

“We are Queens of the motherfucking Stone Age.” My good friends from high school went to go see these guys open up for Zwan in 2004 and supposedly these were the first words out of Josh Homme’s mouth. They still tickle me. Rated R is actually the only Queens of the Stone Age record I’ve listened to in completion and not just for this list’s purposes. They’re a good band and make a very effective stoner rock. Despite their heavy-hitting reputation, on Rated R they definitely have surprisingly more spacey, atmospheric moments. These complement the more rock-out moments that make you want to throw up the horns. - Ryan

I can't help but laugh at the lyrics for "Feel Good Hit of the Summer", sorta silly in their conception and even more-so once you hit the identical second verse. "Nicotine, valium, vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy & alcohol / C-c-c-c-c-cocaine!" Rising from the ashes of stoner-metal kings Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age aren't quite as heavy, but they make up for most of that through their soft, subtle experimentalism found throughout their records. While I haven't ever gotten caught up in the QotSA fanfare they put out some of the best driving music I can think of. Maybe they just sound like classic rock already? - Steve