...Like Clockwork
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...Like Clockwork is the forthcoming sixth studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, due for release on June 3, 2013 on Matador Records. Self-produced by the band, it is the first Queens of the Stone Age album to feature full contributions from bassist Michael Shuman and keyboardist and guitarist Dean Fertita, who both joined the band in 2007 to tour in support of its fifth studio album, Era Vulgaris (2007), and recorded its bonus tracks.
The band began recording ...Like Clockwork in November 2011, initially hoping that collaborator Trent Reznor would produce the album. Following a tumultuous recording period, which included the departure of long-time drummer Joey Castillo, founding member Josh Homme described the album as "documenting the journey of moving forward, you know. It was a tough time and I thought, 'I can run away from this, or I can run into it.'"[2]
Overview and background
Plans of recording a follow-up to Era Vulgaris had been mentioned since 2008,[3] but recording would not begin until August 2012.[4] In March 2011, Homme stated, "Doing the rehearsals for the first record is really defining the new one. It's been turning the new record into something else. What we were doing was kind of bluesy, and now it's turned into this trancey, broken thing. The robots are back!"[5] In May 2011, Homme explained to BBC Radio 1, "We're going to take our one last break that we would get for a month, come back and do Glastonbury, then immediately jump in the studio. Our record will be done by the end of the year. We have enough songs."[6]
In November 2011, frequent collaborator Alain Johannes stated that he was currently in the studio with the band, stating, "We had a late night with Queens again. [...] Just putting in days, super top secret, but it’s going to be amazing. I’m really excited about it. [...] Once we start the process, it goes to completion. So I can’t say exactly when, but it’s a really good start."[7]
Production
Recording and contributions
On August 20, 2012, the band stated via their Facebook page that they were recording their new album.[8] Tumult that surfaced during the recording of the album provided inspiration for the LP's title. Homme explained to Rolling Stone magazine: "We'd have these great victories and then something would go south for a bit, and we'd go, 'It's like clockwork!' I think a sick sense of humor is what's always been our preservation mechanism, so this time we're using that sick sense of humor for a title."[9]
In November 2012, Homme told BBC's Zane Lowe that Joey Castillo had left the band and that drums on the new album would be performed by Dave Grohl, who performed on Songs for the Deaf.[10] Homme also confirmed that the album would be released prior to their performance at the Download Festival in June 2013. In addition to Grohl, other former members contributing to the album include former bassists Nick Oliveri[11] and Alain Johannes[12] as well as vocalist Mark Lanegan.[13]
A number of collaborations from different musicians have also been announced for the new album, including Trent Reznor,[14] Jake Shears,[15] Alex Turner, James Lavelle, Brody Dalle,[12] and Sir Elton John.[16] John ended up on the album after surprising Homme with a phone call, telling him he needed an "actual queen" on the record.[17] In addition to Dave Grohl's drum contribution, the record also features performances by former drummer Joey Castillo as well as a track by new drummer Jon Theodore on the title track, "...Like Clockwork".[18]
Promotion and announcements
In March 2013, the band announced that the new album, titled ...Like Clockwork, would be released in June 2013 on Matador Records.[19][20] On March 22, 2013, the band teased the album artwork for ...Like Clockwork on Facebook by an artist known as Boneface.[21] They premiered a new song titled "My God is the Sun" at Lollapalooza Brazil on March 30, 2013.[22] The performance saw Jon Theodore make his live debut with the band. The studio version of "My God is the Sun" premiered on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show on April 8, 2013. It was then confirmed by the band's official Facebook page that the song would be released on iTunes on April 8. On May 6 half of the song "I Appear Missing" was launched from the website www.likeclockwork.tv.[23] On May 8, the band performed a couple of their new songs on a small intimate concert in Antwerp ('Zuiderpershuis'), called 'Club 69', an exclusive show with only 69 invited couples. Tickets had to be won on Studio Brussel. They played for example ‘My God Is The Sun’, ‘I Sat By The Ocean’, ‘Keep Your Eyes Peeled’ and 'The Vampyre of Time and Memory'. Few days later, on May 14, part of the track "Kalopsia" appeared on the site. On May 15, part of the track "Keep Your Eyes Peeled" was also revealed. A full leak of the album first appeared on May 15 on SoundCloud. The same day, the band performed If I had a Tail and My God is the Sun in the Dutch TV show De Wereld Draait Door.
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Keep Your Eyes Peeled" (featuring Jake Shears) | 5:04 |
2. | "I Sat by the Ocean" | 3:55 |
3. | "The Vampyre of Time and Memory" | 3:34 |
4. | "If I Had a Tail" (featuring Alex Turner, Nick Oliveri and Brody Dalle) | 4:55 |
5. | "My God Is the Sun" | 3:55 |
6. | "Kalopsia" (featuring Trent Reznor) | 4:38 |
7. | "Fairweather Friends" (featuring Elton John, Trent Reznor, Nick Oliveri and Mark Lanegan) | 3:43 |
8. | "Smooth Sailing" | 4:51 |
9. | "I Appear Missing" | 6:00 |
10. | "…Like Clockwork" | 5:24 |
Personnel
Album line-up
Guest appearances
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References
- ^ "QOTSA Name Jon Theodore as New Drummer, '…Like Clockwork' To Also Feature Alex Turner". Antiquiet. 2013-03-26.
- ^ "Josh Homme: 'Dave Grohl makes something good, great' | News". Nme.Com. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
- ^ Lindsay, Andrew. "QotSA to reconvene next summer". Stereokill.
- ^ "Queens of the Stone Age to begin recording in January". 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
- ^ Homme, Josh (2011-03-10). "Josh Homme: 'Queens of the Stone Age play trance robot music for girls'". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Queens Of The Stone Age: 'Our record will be done by the end of the year'". 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
- ^ "Alain Johannes Updates Fans On Eleven, Chris Cornell, QOTSA & More @ Antiquiet". Antiquiet.com. 2011-11-14. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
- ^ "Facebook page for Queens of the Stone Age". Facebook.com. 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (2013-04-11). "Reuniting With Queens of the Stone Age Bassist 'Was Easy,' Josh Homme Says". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ^ "Dave Grohl joins Queens Of The Stone Age for new album". 3 News NZ. 7 November 2012.
- ^ "Nick Oliveri Is Also on the New Queens of the Stone Age Record @ Antiquiet News". Antiquiet.com. 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ a b "Alain Johannes, Nick Oliveri, and Brody Dalle recording vocals for QOTSA". twitter.com. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
- ^ "Queens Of The Stone Age confirm Mark Lanegan's appearance on new album". NME. 2013-01-28.
- ^ "Trent Reznor to Guest on New Queens Of The Stone Age Album @ Antiquiet News". Antiquiet.com. 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ "New QOTSA Album to Also Feature Scissor Sisters Frontman @ Antiquiet News". Antiquiet.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ "Elton John is Also on the New QOTSA Record". Antiquiet.com. 2013-02-06. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ^ "Elton surprises Homme with call". 3 News NZ. April 22, 2013.
- ^ http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/PressReleasePrint.jpg
- ^ "Queens of the Stone Age Preview '...Like Clockwork' Album, Sign to Matador". Spin. 2013-03-22.
- ^ Firecloud, Johnny (2013-03-22). "Queens of the Stone Age Tease New Album '...Like Clockwork'". Antiquiet.
- ^ "2013". boneface. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
- ^ Maia, Diego (30 March 2013). "Queens of the Stone Age vai tocar música inédita em show de hoje" (in Portuguese). Veja São Paulo. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ "Facebook page for Queens of the Stone Age". Facebook.com. 2013-04-04.
- ^ "Queens of the Stone Age - Kalopsia". YouTube. Retrieved May 14, 2013.