My first proper experience of the revolving door membership, Josh Homme-driven QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE came back in 2001 when they played the UK's Milton Keynes Bowl on a bill that saw them follow MEGADETH but preceding THE OFFSPRING and AC/DC. Maybe not the ideal line-up to stick them in but I can recall standing there transfixed as the band played out their set with a long, almost dreamlike heavy-psychedelic finale that seemed to go on for ever yet seemed so right as the afternoon sun shone down.

Subsequently I got into the then current album "Rated R" for a while but somehow 2002's breakthrough "Songs For The Deaf" failed to raise much excitement beyond the classic "No One Knows" and consequently I ended up ignoring "Lullabies To Paralyze" (2005) perhaps subconsciously giving up the chances of regaining the feeling of the live show and writing off my interest in the band.

Forced exposure to this new album however has brought those distant memories of the impressive live experience right back into focus and although I doubt that the sun was as hot as I now recall, this album at last captures that superb vibe that the QUEENS hit that day. A superbly coherent album that is instantly recognized as them it just seems to envelop the listener and meander along drawing you seamlessly from song to song.

Hinting occasionally at past "Feel Good Hits" in the harder material like "3's & 7's" or "Sick Sick Sick" the real stand out tracks are the more mellow, laid back fare of "Suture Up Your Future", "Into The Hollow" or the excellent Desert Sessions remake "Make It Wit Chu". A definite late 60's hippy flavor is in place with the psych-tinted metal of "Run Pig Run" and mention must also be made of the supremely observant lyrics on "I'm Designer" that showcase HOMME'S unique outlook at it's best.

It falls a little short of perfect but at last, for me anyway, the QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE just got interesting again.

- Leslie

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