QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – Muscular Rockers Released Breakthrough Album ‘RATED R’ 20 Years Ago Today

Significant longplayers from yesteryear

Macho stone rockers QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (Palm Desert, CA) fronted by general Josh Homme released their critically acclaimed 2nd LP RATED R this day 25 years ago, on 6 June 2000.

It was the first one with former Kyuss (co-founded by Homme) bassist Nick Oliveri  (who was fired in 2004 following aggressive behaviour towards fans and his then-girlfriend) and the late great vocalist Mark Lanegan (1964-2022).

AllMusic wrote: “Longtime Kyuss fans might be disappointed at the relative lack of heaviness, but R’s direction was hinted at on the first QOTSA album, and Homme‘s experimentation really opens up the band’s sound, pointing to exciting new directions for heavy guitar rock in the new millennium.” – Score: 5/5

Singles: The Los Art Of Keeping A Secret / Feel Good Hit Of The Summer

– THE LOST ART OF KEEPING A SECRET –

– FEEL GOOD HIT OF THE SUMMER –
(Blistering live version)

ALBUM


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Instagram – All Albums

BIG BLASTS FROM THE PAST – 10 Classic Albums Turning 25 In 2025

Back in time

30 December 2024

PrimalTerminator

Band: PRIMAL SCREAM

Album: XTRMNTR
6th one, #3 in the UK.

AllMusic: “XTRMNTR is a nasty, fierce realization of an entire
world that has also lost the plot. It’s simply a protest, sonically
as well as lyrically, and maybe this would be a fine time to once
again rally behind something worthwhile.”

PLAY


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Instagram – Linktree
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Artist: PJ HARVEY

Album: Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
Her 5th longplayer. #23 in the UK. Platinum in the US.

NME: “A magnificent, life-affirming opus.”

PLAY


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Instagram – Linktree
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wHITEsTRIPES

Band: THE WHITE STRIPES

Album: De Stijl
The duo’s 2nd one. No. 137
in the UK. No. 38 in the US.

Rolling Stone: “Feisty and clever. Like everything about the White Stripes,
the album proves that you don’t need bombast to make a blues explosion.”

PLAY


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Instagram – Linktree
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Band: RADIOHEAD

Album: Kid A
4th LP. No. 1 in the UK, US, Ireland,
Scotland, New Zealand and Canada.

The Guardian:Even listeners raised on krautrock or
Ornette Coleman will find Kid A a mystifying experience.”

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Artist: RICHARD ASHCROFT

Album: Alone With Everybody
Solo debut.

NME: “Ashcroft’s newly discovered stability has done nothing
to blunt his powers of communication or reduce his belief in
the apocalyptic potential of music.”

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Band: SHELLAC

Album: 1000 Hurts
3rd full length.

AllMusic:True to Shellac form, the record is a sound purchase.
Within the domain of atonal, anti-commercial rock & roll, very
few are on their level.”

R.I.P. Steve Albini.

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Band: THE DELGADOS

Album: The Great Eastern
3rd longplayer. #12 in the UK, #37 in
their home country Scotland.

DIS: The Great Eastern is a majestic
journey of astounding beauty.

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Band: GRANDADDY

Album: The Sophtware Slump
Second LP.

The New York Times: “A heart-achingly beautiful requiem for
a culture in which progress and technology have led to alienation
and disposability”.

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Linktree
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Band: QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

Album: Rated R
Second one. #16 in the US,
#54 in the UK.

AllMusic: “R is mellower, trippier, and more arranged than its predecessor, making
its point through warm fuzz-guitar tones, ethereal harmonies, vibraphones, horns,
and even the odd steel drum.”

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AtTheDriveInn

Band: AT THE DRIVE IN

Album: Relationship Of Command
Their 3rd. #33 in the UK,
#116 in the US.

BBC Music: “Mesmerising. A statement of
grand intent that could never be followed.”

PLAY


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