Era Vulgaris - Queens of the Stone Age
Era Vulgaris Image
Metascore

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

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 136 Ratings

  • 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. 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. 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. With the band sounding listless and drained of ideas, it starts trying anything.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 87
  2. 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