Queens of the Stone Age - Over the Years and Through the Woods

Queens of the Stone Age
Over the Years and Through the Woods
Interscope Records
Grade: A-

This massive live CD/DVD makes clear that Queens of the Stone Age are one of the best rock bands on the planet as things currently stand. Even if you initially scoffed at their name, but took another look when Dave Grohl was playing drums for them, you haven’t been able to escape the Queens over the past few years. Whether accurate or not, I’ve always associated lead singer Josh Homme as quintessential strange desert-California speed rock; something that is both cool and terrifying simultaneously. Over the Years… showcases the Queens ripping through fantastic sets in London (Brixton Academy and Kokos), with nearly flawless performances and recordings. Save for the crowd and some mic misses on vocals, you’d be hard pressed to figure it was a live recording. Never a big fan of watching recorded performances of bands, the Queens do about a good of a job as possible with an array of digital cameras picking up every angle and interspersing other clips in-between. But, for a straight performance, the CD is a much better way to ride. Joining Homme in this current line-up are Joey Castillo (drums), Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar, bass), Alain Johannes (guitar, bass), and Natasha Shneider (keys), but the DVD also includes a considerable amount with Nick Oliveri. Bonus features on the DVD includes live footage from various times in the Queens’ history, including early stuff and guests spots by Billy Gibbons and Grohl. Over the Years and Through the Woods is an unquestionable must-have for fans of the Queens and even casual fans might want to at least give the CD a spin or two to see how live records should be done.