The previous Queens album, 2002's Songs for the Deaf, brought Nirvana/Foo Fighter Dave Grohl back to the drum pedestal he had abandoned post-Nirvana and elevated the Queens to the platinum mainstream with the breakout singles "No One Knows" and "Go With The Flow." Both Nick Oliveri and Dave Grohl make their departures in before this album.

Now Queens Of The Stone Age's fourth album without Grohl or Oliveri has put up to the test of the anticipation of the album. Though with the 2 departures from Homme's side does hurt the album. Homme still manages to hold the album very well throughout. Most of the album consists of buildups of the guitar like "Everybody Knows Your Insane". But some are explosive and completely opposite from the soft closer like "Little Sister". "Burn The Witch" brings back Langern from his previous efforts on the "Songs For The Deaf" 2002 album release. Its a great track and one of the shining moments on the album. The first half of the album is a really good beginning especially Medication. Though the 2nd half of the album does lack the lust of the first half because of the long track length on it. Tracks like "The Blood Is Love" is really drawn out. Overall the album consists of old Queens Of The Stone Age and new moments on both sides of the album. The negative is that Homme couldn't drive the album in the same energetic swing that Songs For The Deaf did.

Grade: B+

Im gonna check this one out. I really liked Songs for the Deaf.

then prepare to be bummed out

is it that bad, huh? oh...now i have it. Well I'll get started...

my roommate picked it up a few days ago so i got a chance to listen to it in full in the car yesterday afternoon (as opposed to hearing mp3s come up randomly in winamp)

while it does gets better with a few listens it pales in comparisson to songs for the deaf (and i get the impression that it's one of those albums that has a finite replayability). it seems as though homme was intentionally taking a step back with this record to go for an earlier / simpler sound. there ARE a few subtle shifts in the typical stop / go qotsa dynamics but overall it sounds like just another queens of the stone age album. nothing really stands out to my ears. 'medication' is good but it could have easily been called 'the feel good hit of the summer - part 2', which is unfortunately the impression this album leaves me with, like a rehash of everything that came before with nothing new really added.

overall it's still better than the crap that gets played on the radio, but i'm also comparing it to the crap that gets played on the radio. so draw your own conclusions.

There's some good tracks that i like and some that i really don't. And as you said, nothing really stands out. Quite a good listen anyway...

i find qotsa a bit limited ,i love "go with the flow" and a few others tho for me the highlight of that album is lanegans voice on track 4.bubblegum is a great album but for those in the know uncle anaesthesia is up there with"new york dolls" &"pleasant dreams" by the ramones as a candidate for greatest pop album ever

i thought that songs for the deaf was naff, but this one clicks with me like rated r did. this album just makes me feel like i'm walking through really dark, magical woods.

Rated R is sweet.
Songs for the Deaf is sweet.....minus the pointless little radio bits (that makes the album hard to listen to over and over)
Lullabies To Paralyze - I have only listen to it a few times, but it seems kinda medicore... I like a few songs etc but overall I think it is decent.... I give it a C+

Yeah overall I thought they did ok. I didn't expect it to be considering the departures of some members.