Era Vulgaris - Queens of the Stone Age
Era Vulgaris Image
  • Summary: Josh Homme's fifth QOTSA disc includes guest appearances by The Strokes' Julian Casablancas and returnee Mark Lanegan. Oddly, however, the disc does not include its title track collaboration with Trent Reznor, which was released separately.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 33
  2. Negative: 1 out of 33
  1. 100
    They continue to find some clever ways to do a pretty dumb thing. [Jul 2007, p.112]
  2. In isolation you can imagine any of these songs may have appeared over the last 10 years giving a warm comforting feel, but listened in its entirety the effect is strangely soporific, a steady morphine drip running from start to end.
  3. With the band sounding listless and drained of ideas, it starts trying anything.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 86
  2. Negative: 4 out of 86
  1. TomB
    10
    The best album of the decade. I know it's a weak decade but I would rank this album along side Surfer Rosa, Siamese Dream, and Daydream Nation. The riff for 3s and 7s reminisces of the lone, cutting perfection of the opening seconds of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Expand
    • 2 of 2 users said yes
  2. AndrewA
    4
    Boring and flat, this is their weakest album. Most of the songs go nowhere. Apparently, now that Holmes is "alone" he needs a hand to help him pen some songs. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. p
    2
    I love the Queens and have seen them 6 times in their various incarniations, but I am very disappointed with this album. It does not compare as a whole to any of their previous offerings, and there are no stand out tracks that pepper the previous albums either. This album certainly does not rock or have any real passion instead it sound lifeless, dull and as if the band are bored. "Turning the Screw" is not a good song let alone one to open an album with, and "Sick, Sick ,Sick" is their weakest single yet. Not a good start. "I'm a Designer" is a mismatched song with a nice hook in the middle but the surroinding music just does not fit. "Into the Hollow" is straight off Lullabies to Paralyse" and alothough a good song I can't help feeling I have heard it before. "Misfit Love" is repetative beyond belief and "Battery Acid" has a terrible song structure that I am not used to from QOTSA who have a gift of blending great heavy rock with just the right pinch of melody. "Make it Wit Chu" was my favourite favourite song for years after hearing it on Desert Sessions, but without Mark Lanegans vocals the new version is nowhere near as dirty and sexy. However it is easily the best song on the album. "3's & 7's" and "Suture up your Future" are repatative and instantly forgettable and I cant even be bothered to write about the last 2 tracks! I am hoping that Josh and Co can recover their near perfect blend of solid dirty rock and melody that I believe is the best since the Pixies and come back with a stronger less experimental album full of loud rock sooner rather than later. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 86 User Reviews

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