There is something quietly menacing about "Era Vulgaris", which is quite a feat for a record as uncompromisingly loud as this one. Still, lurking under all that earth-shattering distortion lies something waiting for you to let your guard down so that it can pounce, a brooding, hungry shadow.
Which makes sense for the miscreant's manifesto that is the latest QOTSA album. Josh Homme held the mirror up, and let's just say he wants to finish what he saw there. And he's not just reflecting himself, but our whole sorry, hedonistic, self-absorbed community at large. But he's not condemning, no no. He's inviting us to the party for one last glut of vice before the whole thing burns to ashes in a brilliant glorious flash. Once again, videos with *** were created by my own self.
1. Turnin' On The Screw***
There's a strange dichotomy at work in this song that I couldn't quite fathom at first. From the get go, the instrumentals drive into you hard, and keep on twisting. The vocals, on the other hand, hover aloof and unconcerned with the acidic muck happening beneath them. It's like an inexperienced mash-up artist has chosen some tracks that don't quite mash well. But then Josh shuts his muttering mouth so that he can better concentrate on throttling his guitar. That tortured wrangling is his true voice, and the lofty tone coming out of his mouth is only a cracking facade.
2. Sick, Sick, Sick
This track is a siren's song of meat-grinding proportions. A virulent junkie anthem if I ever heard one, and I'm not just talkin' about smack. I'm talkin' about sex, violence, you pick your poison and let it consume you. Ever wanted to eat yourself into oblivion? QOTSA have, and they like it there. They want you to join them in the abyss, and then they want to do things to you there. Apparently that's The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas singing backup, but I'll be damned if you can tell, which is par for the course with QOTSA albums. No matter how brightly you shine when you walk into the studio, Josh will bring you into the fold, and you'll like it 'cause he said so. I'm including a second version of the video below, even though it doesn't contain the whole song, 'cause it's got the decrepit cartoon bulbs from the cover.
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3. I'm Designer
Take note, all you merry hipsters, QOTSA are very angry at you. They've been lurking about in the feral breeding grounds on the edge of mainstream rock 'n roll for far too long to put up with your preening. Everyone's pure till the price gets just right, so wipe that look off your mug. The Queens just want to beat some sense into you before you go signing anything.
4. Into the Hollow***
A creepy little number, both musically and lyrically. The song begins with what sounds like an old music box, and then raises a pulsing lament. It seems to be leading you somewhere as the beat drives on, the melody slowly cascading upward, sounding almost heavenly at times. Which would be calming if it wasn't for the fact that this is a song about wanting to die, but not wanting to die alone. The hair on my arms actually stands up as the finale fades to the steady beat of a heart monitor and then out completely.
5. Misfit Love
This one actually seems a little superfluous to me. Granted it's got all the grinding goodness of most QOTSA tracks, but it doesn't have any real stand out breaks, and lyrically it recycles the themes of desolation and desperation that are already well represented earlier in the album.
6. Battery Acid
Though it begins with the lumbering crash of a rampaging behemoth, Battery Acid quickly picks up the pace. As Josh yells about robots and leeches (and he's looking at you), the instrumentals careen towards the brink, stopping only for a bridge that verges on mockery, with it's modern rock growl-shouts, before plunging back into the fray.
7. Make It Wit Chu***
A welcome breather from the thrash, "Make It Wit Chu" is a masochistic soul single, almost sweet, like the misunderstood backseat fumblings of sweaty teens. Reason can go fuck itself while I fuck you, it says. Awww, QOTSA got a crush on. And then, inexplicably, the song ends with what sounds like the intro to the worst B-Movie horror flick you've never seen.
8. 3's & 7's
A rollicking request for innocence, "3's & 7's" is the closest this album comes to a mainstream rock single. It's full to the brim with chunky riffs and hooks, it's short, and it's mean. It's good to know QOTSA can pull this out of the hat if they want to.
9. Suture Up Your Future
Once again, the vocals float eerily over mounting layers of guitar, bemoaning the futility of hope, until it all comes crashing down, wave after wave, over us. The haunting repetition of the final chord chills me. It is both beautiful and terrifying, and then it is gone.
10. River In The Road
"River in the Road" is a post-apocalyptic nightmare of cartoon proportions, and it's coming to eat your young. Run while you still can.
11. Run, Pig, Run
Ah now, this is the QOTSA I love! Every time you think the song has settled, it jumps up and slaps you in the face. Comfortable? Switch! The guitar line types out a quick staccato against the sludge, as a chorus of the damned drones aimlessly onward. And to end it, as one, all the instruments and voices rise into a miraculous wall of noise and then quit.
Bonus Track. Era Vulgaris
This is the title track from the album, and only a band as ridiculously rock 'n roll as QOTSA would leave a kick-ass song like this one, featuring Trent Reznor of all people, off of it. It's the TITLE TRACK for cryin' out loud. It was included as a bonus track for the UK edition, those lucky bastards. Being the benevolent slag that I am, I have included it here for you. Enjoy!
Queens of the Stone Age: Era Vulgaris
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