The Ping - Lullabies to Paralyze

This is my first time ever really listening to Queens of the Stone Age. I was first introduced to them, oddly enough, through an appearance on Saturday Night Live this past season. Will Ferrell hosted as an alumnus of the show. During their second performance on the show, QOTSA took the stage and played the cowbell-laden "Little Sister" (from Lullabies to Paralyze). Throughout the entire song a cowbell drives the beat and if I had my wits about me at 12:45AM on a Sunday morning, I would have been watching for what happened next. Gene Frenkle (Ferrell), the fictitious 5th member of Blue Oyster Cult, took the stage mid-song with the cowbell and the rest was history. (I really wish I could find a reliable site that hosts the video of the performance. It was epic.)

The album itself starts with a subtle lullaby-style song but after that, takes you on a rock (if you'll pardon the term) tour de force. Lullabies to Paralyze is one of the most legitimate and solid rock albums I've heard in a very long time. Nearly the entire album consists of freestanding tunes with tightly played guitar riffs and well-mixed vocals.

The band didn't do it all themselves, though. They had some help from some friends in the industry. Shirley Manson lends her vocals to a track "You Got a Killer Scene." Not one of my favorites, but it is still a good song on all fronts. In fact, it sort of has the feel of a Garbage song in parts, to be honest. Billy Gibbons (one of the bearded axe players from ZZ Top) joins in on "Burn the Witch". His eerie background vocals and harsh, bluesy guitar make the tune roll along like an upbeat death march –very cool. Yet other visitors from QOTSA’s past contribute on this record. Since I know little of their history, I won't go into further detail on that. I will only add that this group has had some pretty impressive talent on tap in the past, not the least of all being Dave Grohl.

Since I got it, the tunes have been in a heavy rotation on my iPod. I'd give this album a very solid 4 out of 5 stars. I'd also highly recommend it to anyone who has not listened to the Queens of the Stone Age much. You may be as pleasantly surprised as I was. And if you take my advice and borrow it or buy it, give it a few listens before you really judge it. One more thing, here's my challenge to you: While listening, I dare to not bob your head or tap your foot to “Little Sister.” It's damn near impossible.