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Album Review: QOTSA, ...Like Clockwork
Indie | Monday 3rd June 2013 | Robert
Ever since the announcement from Josh Homme about an impending album, the hype about QOTSA’s latest offering has reached stratospheric proportions, with news of superstars such as Sir Elton John, Trent Reznor and Alex Turner appearing on the album fuelling the flame, and rumours of a secret gig in London, we finally get to see if ...Like Clockwork lives up to the hype...
1. Keep Your Eyes Peeled
Hitting it off with the sound of breaking bottles, we are hit square in the face by a barrage of thundering guitar riffs. “Don’t look, just keep your eyes peeled”, sings Josh as if to warn us to strap ourselves in for the rest of the album. Great track featuring vocals from Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters).
2. I Sat by the Ocean
Now the fun begins! Arguably the best riff in the whole album, I challenge anyone to keep their head still as the balls to the walls rock ‘n’ roll guitar takes over. This is what a desert rock anthem should sound like.
TOP TRACK
3. The Vampyre of Time and Memory:
Ultimate piano melancholy and Josh singing ‘I want god to come and take me home...’ instantly sent shivers down my spine. An amazing ballad which ends with an epic crescendo. Also reminiscent of some of the slower Black Sabbath tracks.
4. If I Had a Tail:
Wow! The pulsating drum beat over the fragile glassy riff transforms itself into a swinging rock and roll head bangin’ classic, and instantly brings to life the images of the post-apocalyptic portrayed in the music video. This is ruthless, gory, messy, dirty, fun.
TOP TRACK
5. My God Is the Sun
First single from the album released back in April. Just when you thought things might slow down, you are pushed further into the back of your seat as Dave Grohl’s explosive drumming, layers of relentless guitars and Michael Shuman’s pulsating bass lines grab you by the neck and throw you into one hell of an awesome track.
TOP TRACK
6. Kalopsia
A sinister heart beat and breath intro guides you slowly into a slow dark romantic ballad, which comes to life around the 1 minute mark, exploding into an anthemic kaleidoscope of guitar bashing loudness, only to gracefully fall back into dreamy stoner rock territory.
7. Fairweather Friends
The melancholic monk-like ‘aahs’ of the intro hurl us head-first into a mosh pit featuring blues piano and vocals by none other than Sir Elton John. A combination as unlikely as blue cheese and dark chocolate, but one which surprisingly works just as well. One of the top tracks in the album by far.
TOP TRACK
8. Smooth Sailing
Without a doubt, one of the sexiest riffs I’ve ever heard. This masterpiece is dirty, groovy and swaggers in the room with the attitude of a bad boy on steroids. Lyrics include “Bruises and hickies, stitches and scars” and the bumper-sticker worthy “I blow my load on the status quo”.
9. I Appear Missing
The ideal soundtrack to a zombie movie, the slow haunting marching guitar becomes more and more urgent as the listener is teased with a range of start-stops and a hint of progressive zest, making this one of the more interesting tracks of the album.
10 …Like Clockwork
A slow, dark, piano-driven acoustic ballad. Josh Homme sings “it’s all downhill from here”, with haunting synths in the background, but I beg to differ. The track drives off into a crescendo of roaring guitars and slowly flutters down with a slightly psychedelic overtone, bringing us to an epic end of an epic album.
Verdict:
QOTSA aren’t just part of the party. They are pretty much the life of it, and they are inviting anyone who isn’t afraid to flirt with the dark side to tag along for the time of their fucking lives. They have once again “blown their load on the status quo” and given us an amazing album. Stunning stuff!
Rating: 8.5 / 10
Top Tracks: I sat by the Ocean, If I had a Tail, My God is the Sun, Fairweather Friends
Robert Carbonaro
