Perfecth Blue...
By TIM DAVID HARVEY
Perfecth-ion, no lisp, comes in the formidable form of the Queens Of The Stone Age's brand-new album this New Music Friday. 'Perfecth', their nine-track, ninth studio-album, is their first since they were 'In Times New Roman...' in 2023. All for quite the definitive, and deluxe, discography. From their eponymous, 1998 debut, to the 'Songs For The Deaf' that made them rock household names, like 'No One Knows' with the Nirvana of Foo Fighter Dave Grohl on the skins. Not to mention the 'Skin On Skin', 'Medication' of the 'Lullabies To Paralyze' follow-up, or those 'Villains' with super-producer, Mark Ronson.
Inspired, like recent years tracks from Lana Del Rey and Fall Out Boy, by kintsugi, the Japanese art of restoring broken pottery with gold, to honour the cracks. 'Perfecth' shows us exactly that. And that's the reason for the misspelling on the new QOTSA LP. "That title is funny when you’re in a group, but it ain’t so funny when you’re alone," frontman Josh Homme told NME of the concept of an album he produced with bassist Michael Shuman. Following their three-year hiatus, this album follows the three record cycle of their discography, according to Homme, finding his way back home. The rock Matador record, recorded in LA's Sound City, Sweetzerland, Pink Duck, Shangri-La and New Orleans (Maringy), has been in the works for over a decade, and it's a finally honed work of art, all the way down to the blurred image of the artwork, from Homme and company.
Featuring the singles, and incredible videos, for 'Where The Goth Girls At?' and 'Run Away From The Mob' (with Grohl), if this all sounds so eerily familiar, don't worry, you're not being haunted this Halloween eve. Except for the lead single 'Easy Street', and the echoes of 'Insignificant Other', that were heard at the end of the Stone Age last release. The bold, beautiful and brilliant La Blogothèque assisted 'Alive In The Catacombs' (the amazing album, acoustic set and concert film) to the bones of some live, lived in performances from the skull rockers. Nothing from the fabulous French Take Away, not even Bon Iver singing to our 'Heavenly Father', raises the spirits quite like this. Unless you're talking about the spirited service to the great Iggy Pop for the 'Sunday' best album highlight. Better put on a shirt, let alone a good pair of pants.
Holding Homme through his personal struggles, like the cover art, this perfect piece fits it all together in 'Mono' and stereo for these Post Office Box 7095 Hollywood Blvd #835, Hollywood, CA. 90028 lyric post card (highest in quality, lowest in price) video. From the 'It's Only Love' lonely solidarity beginnings, to the penultimate 'Phantom Limb' drug trip. Yet it's 'From The Cliff' that will really have a hold on you. "Sun shines on your lips/My fingers trace your hips/The breeze reminds me of Spain/Again I know all I have to do/Is be in love with you," won't let go...and with good reason. There's a beauty to the brutal look of these raw rockers that is bluesy and signature all at the same time. One embossed in a gold leaf offering that reveals more beneath that cracks of a man and his band that went deep into the tunnels and chambers of the most famous burial site in Paris. Those same cracks, like the late, great Leonard Cohen said are "how the light gets in". You want it darker?
Playlist Picks: 'Where The Goth Girls At?', 'Mono', 'Sunday'.
Spin This: Queens Of The Stone Age - 'Alive In The Catacombs'.






