Songs for the Deaf

If you judge a man by the company he keeps, it's safe to say Josh Homme is a very talented one. Already regarded as something of a deity for being in now-defunct stoner-rockers Kyuss, this third album from his own Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf, is proof it's not through reputation alone that Homme maintains such status. This is a terrific record, due in no small part, one suspects, to the talents Homme and fellow Kyuss expat Nick Oliveri had on hand. The other Queens on this album are former Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan (Homme spent some post-Kyuss time playing with the Trees) and Foo Fighter Dave Grohl. Lanegan has long been a Queens collaborator and is now a permanent member, while the former Nirvana sticksman also declared himself a fixture before his Foo Fighters again recently took precedence. Grohl is hitting the skins on Songs for the Deaf, and what an ideal foundation to build on. This album is a marked step forward from 2000's R. It's more fully formed - the songs are better and the production infinitely better, courtesy of Homme's co-producer, Eric Valentine. Stylistically, it runs the gamut from metal to pop, from prog to glam, but starts like a runaway train with the shredding You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire, the walls of shearing guitar making R seem almost paper-thin. It sets the scene for most of the album; it's Queens with extra beef, and lush vocals from Homme, Lanegan and Grohl. Standout tracks are the anthemic First It Giveth, the glam-rock stomper Do It Again and The Sky is Fallin', although the latter is marred by a lead break that's so Spinal Tap you'd swear Nigel Tufnel was one of the album's many guests. The only other low point is Six Shooter, Nick Oliveri's paint-stripping squalls making it a forgettable track on an album otherwise distinguished by vocal competency. Homme takes the lead on most tracks, but Lanegan is unmistakable on the Trees-sounding Hangin' Tree and the boogie crawl of God Is In the Radio, and that may just be Grohl singing the poppy Another Love Song. Songs for the Deaf is a loud and clear winner.

-- Jo Roberts