Lullabies To Paralyze

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Lullabies to Paralyze is the first Queens of the Stone Age album released since the rather messy departure of co-conspirator Nick Oliveri, but this by no means sounds like a Josh Homme solo project. Granted, opening track "Lullaby" is a mellow ballad, but as it's sung by Mark Lanegan, it can hardly count as Homme's flirtation with self-indulgence. And besides, once "Medication" kicks in with the tell-tale chugga-chugga guitars that have marked every previous QOTSA release, it'd be impossible to mistake this album for anyone else. The loss of Oliveri is almost compensated for by the appearance of some top-flight guests: from Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top (on the appropriately bluesy "Burn the Witch" and on the penultimate track) to Garbage's Shirley Manson and The Distillers' Brody Dalle. Best of all, though, is the accelerating riff of "Someone's in the Wolf", which is one of the most air-guitar-worthy songs of recent years. On the whole, Lullabies to Paralyze is never as good as Rated R or Songs for the Deaf, but few modern rock albums are. If the Queens of the Stone Age have one fault, it's that they've set their own standards too high. --Robert Burrow

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Customer reviews

review by: Wattsenhausen date: 2007-06-21 rating:
The best record I have ever heard
Alright? I've said it. This is the best record I've ever heard, which, by definition, means I think it's better than the majestic Songs For The Deaf. No snap decision this; I bought this when it came out, I thought it then, I haven't changed my mind. Maybe my mind was more open at the time because I wasn't really aware of the importance of Nick Olivieri's role prior to his departure - but I certainly don't think that the album is poorer because he's not on it. In fact, I was delighted that Alain Johannes was able to contribute (and then bring his "Eleven" partner Natasha Schneider with him on the tour).

So what is it about this record? Well, how can you describe the beauty of a diamond? The musicianship, the mood, the production, the groove, the SONGS, they are all superb. Each has its own stamp, while being unmistakeably Queens': pop-rock of "Little Sister" and "Broken Box", ultimate laid-back late-night groove of "Killer Scene", "Like A Drug" and "Long Slow Goodbye", the beautiful "I Never Came", the bizarrely atmospheric "The Blood Is Love", and the pounding beat of "Medication" and "Insane". And the best track? Vocally, musically, and just the way it makes me feel, it's "Tangled Up In Plaid". Brilliant.

I've noticed from some of the later reviews that this record might have been unfairly judged initially. Well, let me fly the flag: Songs For The Deaf was majestic, this is even better.

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review by: rockchickextraordinaire! date: 2007-06-06 rating:
rockin
this is rock genius. it has everything you'd expect from QOTSA and more. Gotta love little sister for it's awesome foot tapping groove, and skin on skin, one of their filthiest songs yet!

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review by: date: 2007-04-22 rating:
Josh continues to push rock and roll boundaries
As a hardcore Queens fan, I feel duty bound to defend this album, which received less favourable reviews than Songs for the Deaf or Rated R. Admittedly, its not quite up there, but lets be fair, what is? Lullabies to Paralyze is a very solid entry into Queens of the Stone Age's back catalogue. If anything, the album is too long and it is some of the latter tracks that sound a bit like - whisper it- filler. I know, shocking on a Queens release, where normally the bar is so high it hits the roof. But lets not forget that the first ten tracks on the album are all quality. The is so much is like here: the schizophenic dark pop of 'Everybody Knows You're Insane' the catchy as hell 'In My Head' (if Radio 1 had picked up on it, it could have been huge but no they suck too much), the groovy, swamp stomp of 'Burn the Witch' or the tight, fast paced 'Little Sister'.
Although long time Queens collaborators are present (Alain Johannes, Troy Van Leeuwen, all too briefly Mark Lanegan), some major personalities are missing since Songs for the Deaf - namely Nick Oliveri and Dave Grohl. Joey Castillo fills in nicely for Grohl but there is a gap where Oliveri's vocals used, and no amount of guests can fill it (Josh's wife Brody Dalle, Shirley Manson, Billy Gibbons). No matter, this is Josh Homme's show and arguably it always has been. His vocals have never sounded as good and musically he is undoubtably one of the best guitarists and songwriters of his generation.
A special mention goes to album highlight 'Someone's in the Wolf' - the musical equivalent of Little Red Riding Hood going into a dark forest at night. Its a unique Queens rock workout that is atmospheric and technically brillant, the kind of sound that they excel in. Overall, an amazing album that has a very occasional dip in quality but still far exceeds 99% of other rock bands output.

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review by: date: 2007-04-04 rating:
Because it isn't "Songs for the deaf", doesn't make it a bad album
I absolutely love this album and cannot stop playing it still - months down the line from buying it.
Yes, OK so Songs for the deaf was a great album and it had Dave Grohl (who I love) but this album is far better in my opinion. I think it has about 6 outstanding tracks on it and the others are still great or at least worth listening to.
Move on from Songs for the deaf and enjoy the new QotSA.
I can't wait for the next album.


review by: Mr root-down date: 2007-03-10 rating:
The weakest QOTSA album.
I've left writing a review for this album for a long time to see if I would grow to love it more but I'm afraid I haven't. There are some briliant songs on here (Burn the Witch, Somethings in the Wolf) but it just gets too repetetive in the second half. Rated R and SftD both had a much wider range of musical styles. Lullabies gets stuck in a robotic-sleaze sound for most of the latter stages. Although Oliveri is a miss the most obvious problem is not enough Mark Lanegan. Hommes voice is too falsetto on this album and it needs something to break it up.

Still brilliant musicianship right through the band though. Just lacks sparkle.

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