Happy 25th Anniversary to Queens of the Stone Age’s second studio album Rated R, originally released June 6, 2000.
Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy, and alcohol
Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy, and alcohol
Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy, and alcohol
Oh, nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy, and alcohol
- “Feel Good Hit of the Summer”
On a hot summer day in July 2000, I made one of my Saturday trips to the gone-but-not-forgotten Sounds record store on St. Mark’s Place in New York. The mission was always the same: find some good shit to blast on my Discman as I made my way through Greenwich Village.
Starting with “z,” I methodically searched through the bins in reverse alphabetical order. When I arrived at “s,” I heard the words “Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy, and alcohol” blaring through the store’s speakers. It was sung three more times before they reached the chorus, which was “C-c-c-c-c-cocaine, uh.” That was sung two more times before going back to the beginning words. By the time the verse and chorus were sung again, I was buying what the band was selling.
A stray voice yelled out, “Who is this?”
The clerk replied, “Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA). It’s their new album, Rated R.”
I spotted two other regulars I would always see at Sounds, and they had the same look on their faces I probably had whenever I found a record or CD I wanted. When I discovered there were no more copies, I did what needed to be done. I ran to the register and told the clerk there were no more copies left. I followed with, “If that’s the only copy you’re playing, I’ll buy it.” It was mine at a discounted price.
Queens of the Stone Age’s Rated R, their raw and innovative second studio album, is a captivating blend of genres, with a gritty, hard-hitting sound that is both energetic and experimental. The album showcases a distinctive interplay between heavy, driving instrumentation and catchy melodic hooks, a significant evolution in the band’s style that broadened their appeal to a wider audience. The powerful drums and soaring guitars are balanced by memorable, singable melodies.
Listen to the Album:
The opening track, “Feel Good Hit of the Summer,” is an upbeat, catchy tune with a driving beat that makes you want to sing along. It’s far more nuanced than a simple, repetitive listing of controlled substances. I took it as a satirical jab at stoner rock, the subgenre that Queens of the Stone Age were often, and perhaps unfairly, categorized into. The term never did appeal to me because it seemed dismissive of the artists lumped into this category. I feel the same way about the term “yacht rock,” but we can table that discussion for another day.
The song was born of QOTSA’s leader Josh Homme’s plan to create controversy. “It lists drugs, but it doesn’t say yes or no,” he explains. “You say things that make them react. For some people, they were like, ‘That song, I gotta tell you, is bad, and you guys really need help.’ And other people realized that it’s almost like a social experiment. It got banned in some places and went to the top of the charts in other places.” In the June 22, 2000 edition of Rolling Stone, writer Ben Ratliff wrote, “’Feel Good Hit of the Summer’ could be unreleased Nirvana.”
Tracks like “The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret” exemplify a blend of styles, featuring tight rhythms and infectious choruses, while songs such as “Auto Pilot” highlight their innovative approach to songwriting, although Homme is not the strongest lyricist. The combination of introspective lyrics and powerful instrumentals invites listeners to explore themes of hedonism, alienation and desire.
Each track contributes to a cohesive narrative, weaving stories that show both personal and societal dilemmas. The infectious energy of tracks like “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” contrasts with the dark undertones of tracks such as “Tension Head,” illustrating the album’s dynamic range. The more somber tones found in “In the Fade,” highlight the album’s emotional range.
QOTSA’s Rated R was the shot in the arm rock needed in 2000. Rock no longer shocked, amazed, or disgusted you. It stood by watching while everyone else grew and expanded. In an interview with Rolling Stone’s Ted Alvarez, Homme stated, “It’s fun to push buttons. If you’re not making someone pick sides, it’s not art. There’s a fine art to messing with somebody. It’s only really good if they don’t know until it’s too late.” Even if it was for a short period of time, this album did just that.
Listen/Watch: