It's been 6 years since Queens of the Stone Age released their last album Era Vulgaris, but this was certainly worth the wait. The first few songs on '...Like Clockwork' feel like QOTSA have picked up exactly where they left off in 2007, but as you progress through the album the mood changes. For me it sounds like Homme was listening to a lot of Bowie while writing the album. The song 'The Vampyre Of Time And Memory' kicks this off and I had to check to make sure I had put on the right album and not drifted into Bowie's back catalogue. The album continues in the same vein until the final few songs until it returns to classic Queens once more. Not to say that this middle section is bad, it's not, it's great (Even though I wouldn't be a huge fan of Bowie). It's just different, but Homme puts his own stamp on it, his fantastic eerie voice ghosts through each song.
Former QOTSA band members Nick Oliveri and Mark Lanegan appear on the album as backing vocalists. Former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters lead Dave Grohl also makes an appearance, playing drums on most of the album after Homme had sacked drummer Joey Castillo during recording. Arctic Monkeys front man Alex Turner also appears on the album, co-writing 'Kalopsia' and backing vocals and guitar on 'If I had a Tail'.
After listening to the album for the fourth time today, I've been trying to find reasons not to like it. I can't find any. The album doesn't present itself as great and shouldn't be, but it just is. It's not as heavy or grungy as former QOTSA albums but it works.
Give it a listen, it will grow on you
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9/10
Pat
IMBlog
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