Queens of the Stone Age – Perfecth – Album Review
by Killian Laher

Queens of the Stone Age have been around nearly 30 years, believe it or not, and this time they have gone a different way on album number nine.  This is a mature, almost lounge-style album.

It’s Only Love has a slinky, menacing tone to it and even has some strings halfway through, so we know we’re on new territory here. Insignificant Other is a kind of light, poppy bop, a bit like mid-70s Rolling Stones.  Where The Goth Girls At is a little heavier, a bit like one of their more subdued tracks from 20+ years ago and is one of the stronger tracks here.

The unfocused sound of Mono lumbers along pleasingly, while the acoustic strums of From The Cliff and Easy Street feel very slight.  Sunday struts in an old-fashioned way with guitar riffs that accompany, rather than dominate.  The album hides two of the better tracks at the end; Phantom Limb is a relatively complex song, one to get lost in.  And it feels great when the final track, Run Away From The Mob, bursts into life midway through, a massive release of tension.

It’s not an unqualified success.  The album feels a little slight at nine tracks and 36 minutes total. You’d miss the band kicking up a racket like on previous albums, but it’s good to see them trying something new.

Insignificant Other: