Queens of the Stone Age - Villains - 2017

I can't really imagine there is any advantage at this point

this is the distillation of their robot rock. saying it's "cheap" is part of the intent. this album kills

the synths are so lowly pronounced that it's not worth focusing on

I had to remind myself they're on Matador now, and ask the question once again that was posed on the Arcade Fire thread: what's the advantage to being on a major vs. an upper-tier indie?

Right, but here they are on an indie, with a glossy video and an album produced by Mark Ronson. What more could a major (which they were on before!) really give them at this point?

Well, Matador is a bit of an outlier in the indie world having been infused with operational knowledge and cash from Atlantic and Capitol during the 90's. Arguably they're an indie that operates like a major but with very good taste, which is about as good as you could hope for in the collision between business and art.

This said, my assumption is that Queens would be on the majors without any hesitation if they could be but the Queens brand isn't as strong as it once was.

I don't feel like doing the research to prove it lol but I'm willing to bet they sell more records and are a bigger concert draw than a decent number of current major label bands are.

Like Clockwork (their first for Matador) was also their first #1 album.

x-post

True, but that also likely coincided with a weak week for new releases. The number of records you need to sell these days to debut at #1, if you're not competing with a blockbuster release, is woefully low. I believe the QOTSA #1 was something like 40k at most.

With majors these days is really just a matter of opportunity cost. Yeah, you could invest cash and operational attention into Queens who clearly can be part of the key roster on either of the big stages at Coachella but are you going to do that when you've got Beyonce, Gaga, and Kanye capable of millions of sold instead of thousands? Hell no.

I dunno. Feels like your logic is a bit fallacious in the age of streaming, not to mention the age of Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear, etc being on majors. I wouldn't be surprised if Homme et al straight-up didn't want to work with a major (and they don't need to, either).

I do wonder if this one will debut at No. 1 as well. Now that streaming (which gives huge boosts to hip-hop and R&B artists and does bupkis for pop and rock) in the picture I could see it topping the sales chart but not the overall Billboard 200, a la the Stone Sour record from a few weeks ago.

There's some T Rex/Neil Young influences on this record.

this shit starts out so funky

this album rocks

I'm trying to get the hang of it. There are great moments for sure, but I haven't come around on the slower/mid-tempoed stuff yet. I'm kinda withholding my reactions though until I give it a few more chances.

The first track is nuts, that's for sure.

"the evil has landed" is still my fav track

from the singles i imagined this record would be groovy but potentially depthless, but idk, the more mid-tempo stuff ("fortress" and "domesticated animals" especially) is buoyed by some of homme's best melodies imo

the last track is maybe my favorite qotsa song ever????

I just listened to that one again over lunch! I had kinda tuned out by that point when I gave the album a spin this morning on the way in. It's definitely one of the better songs. Might be my way in.

not sure about this one tbh

Up to no. 3 'Domesticated Animals" and I know that I'll be buying it.

The only remotely weak record Homme/Queens has made is Lullabies. And yeah, this single is pretty weak, poorest single since "little Sister."

Lullabies is great. It's a sprawling mess in the best way

I like Lullabies a lot. It has 4 or 5 of their very best tunes and the production is appealingly weird.

i am p much exactly with vm, lullabies only one that's not good/great, but ime it was/remains v popular

hmmph…

I would like it if Crooked Vultures came back… gives me my JPJ fix and I get to enjoy Grohl playing drums and not being pass/ag about music that ain't punk rock or butt rock…

xxxp are you kidding? that would be their high water mark imo

lucky bastards @ reading festival.

surprise guests.

1. Rated r (one of my favorite records ever made) 2. S/t, 3. Era Vulgaris, 4. Them crooked Vultures (totally think this record belongs in any such ranking) 4. Songs… 7. Lullabies

haven't listened to Clockwork and Villains enuff, but know that they're better than

…Lullabies…

the Vultures record drags like hell imho

These guys have 4 million Spotify listeners. That's like half of led zep.

i really love the single in the context of the album

I'm gonna be the asshole that says they are a great band but also thinks the original s/t is still the best

S/t is by far the best then songs for the deaf then rated r

close your eyes and dream me home

Liking this more and more with each listen. Fortress and the title track are actual dad-rock par excellence.

Fortress is quickly becoming a favorite. The production in some ways was difficult for me to connect with, especially the drums. However, the almost underdeveloped synths and similar drum sound on each track makes the album feel more uniform. And it swings

first spin through, fortress jumped out. we'll see what grows

First and last tracks are amazing. I want to see the full musical based on this soundtrack.

This album clicked with me this morning!

Sometimes I need time to dig on the album that is not the album I wanted.

I still think Ronson makes drums sound click and sometimes the guitars they are being crunched thru some old sampler

but I see the sort of arty/poppier/glammier thing that Homme was going for and maybe Ronson got him in a different zone

They are a remarkable band in many ways.

I love the singles so much more within the context of everything else

yeah me too

the back half of fortress where it turns into sabbath's "snowblind" as played by crazy horse...

head like a haunted house has those t-rex backing vox too

The "Telegram Sam" (and "Keep Your Hands To Yourself' !?!) is strong in "Un-Reborn Again".

totally feel that way McCain

i love that this record's intro is literally a lyrical ode to the powers of rock

this album is incredible and i think the band has peaked over these last 2 records

It's a very good album

This is so amazing I can’t believe the whole world doesn’t love it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JvOfnYZvNU

Just a guess but maybe the whole world doesn't yet love it because "The uploader has not made this video available in your country".

Oh god damn.

A new song - Emotion Sickness - has leaked* and is a fun, glammy stomp. I haven't listened closely to the lyrics, which were the weakest part of Villians for me. The new album will be called In New Roman Times, which makes me want to gag.

*will be released Thursday.

Sorry, the album will be called In Times New Roman. You can see how I got mixed up though.

The interweaving guitar parts on the chorus remind me of Built To Spill. I'm kinda flipping out about it.