Music Review :: Queens Of The Stone Age + City & Colour

If it hasn't been made obvious yet, I'm no writer. To write a review, especially for music, I always feel like you need to be really clever with your words and how you describe each song, how the album flows, etc. That's not how I know how to describe music. I could describe how I feel about each drum track, each bassline, sure. But, I'd rather just talk about how it makes my heart feel.

This week is a big week for me, musically. Two very important albums to my heart have been released. And even thought I've already listened to each album well over 20 times each, having heard leaks a few weeks earlier (don't worry, I always purchase both CD and Vinyl formats for both these bands, for collection purposes), the album releases aren't in the least bit less exciting.

I'm probably lying when I say I'll make these brief, because I can see myself rambling about collaborations and release goodies already. I had full intentions of making this short but it's really not. I'm actually really nerdy when it comes to musical tid bits and facts.

City & Colour :: The Hurry And The Harm

What: The fourth studio album by Alexisonfire vocalist/guitarist Dallas Green as a solo artist. 

When: The album was unofficially leaked on May 22nd and available for pre-order in April, but was officially released today, almost exactly 2 years after his last release, Little Hell. 

Where: Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tennessee

How: As usual, Dine Alone Records are releasing both CD and Vinyl with Deluxe bundles, including buttons, a poster and a t shirt. Limited Super Editions included a guitar but have since sold out. The iTunes pre-order includes bonus tracks.

Who: With Daniel Romano away doing his own solo projects (leaving Dallas to all the guitar parts for the first time), I was kind of bummed. But I couldn't help but get excited when I heard that other musicians were on board, particularly Matt Chamberlain (Pearl Jam) on drums and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs) on bass. 

Thoughts: This is the first album since he quit Alexisonfire to pursue his solo career (which he wrote about in "Of Space In Time"). With Alexisonfire being one of my absolute favourite bands, I was very critical of this and almost made the decision to boycott City & Colour all together. But his ability to make his albums cathartic but at the same time very uplifting, draws me in every time. I can't help but be completely enamoured by his lyrics and emotions. As hard as the Alexisonfire break up was for the band and for me personally, it would be silly for me to just throw away one of my favourite musicians for a personal choice I could not do anything about. I usually listen to City & Colour when I'm feeling down or when I'm in the tub, but this album has been playing on repeat no matter what mood I'm in. It's upbeat and catchy, which is a breath of fresh air compared to his later work which has been known to be very sad and slow. 

Despite the repetitive use of Alexisonfire lyrics in his solo work, Dallas has proved himself as a better songwriter with Little Hell, and even more so with this album. On a comparative basis between all his albums, I'd rate this as a 4/5. To compare it to all other music as of late, I'd give it a 3/5 (I could do without the first 4 songs, in fact I don't even listen to them). 

Favourite Tracks: Two Coins, Commentators, Thirst and Death's Song.

Queens Of The Stone Age :: ...Like Clockwork

What: The highly anticipated and self-produced sixth studio album by Queens Of The Stone Age.

When:  While the tracks unofficially leaked earlier in May, it was "officially leaked" by the band on May 28th on iTunes. The album was officially released today, six long, excruciating years after their last album, Era Vulgaris.

Where: Josh Homme's studio, Pink Duck in Burbank, California.

How: The album was available for multiple pre-orders, including an alternate blue coloured cover LP and a double LP vinyl that includes a thick cover with a 20 page book. All versions include MP3 downloads. The band also did plenty of promos including the launch of www.likeclockwork.tv, showing 5 videos for songs off the album. Small, exclusive performances were also done to promote the album, including a show on May 8th in Antwerp called "Club 69", where tickets were won by 69 couples and they were the only ones in attendance. Another show at the Wiltern was broadcasted live on May 23rd.  

Who: The first album to have contributions by members Michael Shuman and Dean Fertita. And with Joey Castillo leaving the band, most of the drum tracks were done by Dave Grohl who also performed all the drums on Songs For The Deaf. The rest were recorded with Joey and the title track with new drummer, Jon Theadore (The Mars Volta). The album was to be produced by the extremely talented Trent Reznor but due to a long recording process the band decided to produce themselves. Trent appears on a couple songs, as well as other friends such as Mark Lanegan, Alex Turner, Brody Dalle, Jake Shears, Nick Oliveri, Alain Johnannes and believe it or not, the most amazing Sir Elton John. 

Thoughts: The reason I initially decided to listen Queens Of The Stone Age was because I had heard that Dave Grohl was on their album Songs For The Deaf. I'll listen to anything Dave has any association with, even if he just mentions it in an interview. I trust his musical instincts more than my own. So, of course, I almost shat myself upon hearing that he would be recording with them again. And there was a tiny shred of hope that he'd be touring with them as well, until they announced Jon Theodore was joining the band. That was a whole other excitement on it's own. And so I ramble...

I have been waiting six years for a new QOTSA album and to be honest, they could have released a dirty pile of crap and I still would have loved it. That being said, this album is so far from a pile of crap I don't even have the words to describe it. It's darker than their other stuff and some would say it's not as hard as their other albums. Sure, the tone and pace of ...Like Clockwork is barely what their previous albums have been, and Josh's vocals aren't as in intoxicating, but, the album doesn't fall short in the lyrics department. Sure, you'd probably have to read up on where all the special appearances are because they're mostly hidden in the background on two or three songs. But just the mere thought of Josh Homme in a studio with his wife Brody, Dave Grohl, Trent Reznor, Alex Turner and Elton John is enough to give any Rock fan a musical boner. 

I started reading reviews of the album after it was officially leaked but quickly exited my browser after reading three people whine about every detail. Granted, this album is quieter and less infectious than their later work, but that still doesn't stop it from kicking you straight in the teeth. Rated from their catalog I give ...Like Clockwork a 4/5. Even though it may not be their best work, it's still extremely well written, considering he's dealt with a lot of changes and shifts in his life and it really shows. But did Josh live up to the highly expected hype of delivering the album of the year? I'd say so. I give it a 5/5 and it will most definitely be the album to beat for everybody else this year, and it's only June. 

Favourite Tracks: Smooth Sailing, I Sat By The Ocean, The Vampyre Of Time And Memory, Kalopsia, If I Had A Tail and Fairweather Friends. Or basically just the entire album.