Era Vulgaris - Queens of the Stone Age
Era Vulgaris Image
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 136 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 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.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33
  1. Uncut
    100
    They continue to find some clever ways to do a pretty dumb thing. [Jul 2007, p.112]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Spiky and cool where 'Songs For The Deaf' was smooth and tanned, tense and alien where that record was baked and ready to party, 'Era Vulgaris' is a record that feels like rust and stings like battery acid.
  3. Playlouder
    60
    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.
  4. Village Voice
    30
    With the band sounding listless and drained of ideas, it starts trying anything.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 87
  3. Negative: 4 out of 87
  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. Ikarus14
    8
    The sound and direction are questionable, but it's still a great album.
  3. j30
    7
    Good album from a great band. I was blown away by their earlier work (QOTSA, Rated R, and Songs for the Deaf), nothing has been nearly as good since then. This feels like they're trying to reinvent themselves and I'll be interested to hear where they go from here.… Expand
  4. TravisH
    4
    Let me start off by saying QOTSA is probably my favorite band of all time. I was so excited to get this album but it just falls flat. The songs seem to be a jumble of riffs that never go anywhere. After seeing Kyuss perform many moons ago i instantly fell in love with this style of music that was so unique and groundbreaking. Maybe it will grow on me but i doubt it. Rehashing the desert sessions does not a good album make. Sorry Holmes, I'm not feeling this one.… Expand

See all 87 User Reviews

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. The Complete Columbia Album Collection - Johnny Cash
    Metascore: 99
  2. Rumours [35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] - Fleetwood Mac
    Metascore: 99
  3. Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 2 - Miles Davis Quintet
    Metascore: 92
  4. Jama Ko - Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
    Metascore: 91
  5. Like a Rose - Ashley Monroe
    Metascore: 89
  6. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
    Metascore: 89
  7. Your Turn - Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog
    Metascore: 88
  8. The Graceless Age - John Murry
    Metascore: 88
  9. Minute by Minute - The James Hunter Six
    Metascore: 88
  10. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness [Deluxe Edition] - Smashing Pumpkins
    Metascore: 88
  11. Music For the Quiet Hour/The Drawbar Organ EPs - Shackleton
    Metascore: 87
  12. M B V - My Bloody Valentine
    Metascore: 87
  13. Beautiful Africa - Rokia Traoré
    Metascore: 87
  14. Random Access Memories - Daft Punk
    Metascore: 87
  15. LSXX [Last Splash: 20th Anniversary Edition] - The Breeders
    Metascore: 87
  16. Annie Up - Pistol Annies
    Metascore: 87
  17. Rage Against the Machine XX [20th Anniversary Edition] - Rage Against the Machine
    Metascore: 87
  18. Without a Net - Wayne Shorter
    Metascore: 86
  19. In Time - The Mavericks
    Metascore: 86
All Current Music »