“…Like Clockwork” (Queens of the Stone Age) – Every Song Ranked

I’ve always been aware of Queens of the Stone Age and liked their work, but it was only when listening to “…Like Clockwork” in full for my 2013 Music Retrospective that I became a true fan.

This is such an excellent album, front to back, and there are individual songs here that have become recent favourites … but how would I rank every track?

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Muse Albums Ranked

2013: The Year In Music

“Rumours” (Fleetwood Mac) – Songs Ranked

Merriweather Post Pavilion (Animal Collective) – Every Song Ranked

Okay

10 – Kalopsia

The two most interesting things about “Kalopsia” are the meaning behind its title (“The delusion of things being more beautiful than they are”) and the fact it has Trent Reznor on backing vocals.

I’ve seen some people call it the thematic centerpiece of the album, which may be true, but it’s the most boring song by far. The quiet parts are dull and the loud parts are too broad.

Good

9 – The Vampyre of Time and Memory

Awesome title, but “The Vampyre of Time and Memory” is a lot slower than I wanted.

It’s not like I have anything against a slow song – in fact, some of my favourite moments on this album are on the slower side. But, other than the final chorus, this song in particular never lives up to its potential.

8 – Fairweather Friends

Elton John features on piano on “Fairweather Friends”. This is also a good time to mention that Dave Grohl does drums here, as well as on a lot of the album’s songs. Quite a star-studded backing band!

It’s a song about the people Josh Homme thought were his friends, but who weren’t there for him when he needed them most. A simple but powerful tune.

7 – If I Had a Tail

One of the weirder songs on the album, but that makes “If I Had a Tail” stick out to me. Its chorus is brash and almost ugly.

Great

6 – Keep Your Eyes Peeled

I love how dark and foreboding “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” is.

It’s such a fitting way to start the album. You know you’re in for a sinister yet ultimately catchy ride.

5 – …Like Clockwork

“Keep Your Eyes Peeled” was a great opener, but “…Like Clockwork” is an even more mesmeric finale.

It took me a couple of listens to finally understand it, but now I love how understated and haunting it is. It’s the least “Queens of the Stone Age” song I’ve ever heard but that works in its favour.

Not everything that goes around comes back around, you know …

4 – I Sat by the Ocean

“I Sat by the Ocean” is by far the most popular song on the album, with its Spotify streams almost tripling the second-most streamed (which is “If I Had a Tail”, if you were interested).

It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rock song, with maybe a tinge of Country in there too.

3 – My God Is the Sun

Other than “Smooth Sailing”, “My God Is the Sun” has the strongest, most immediately infectious start of any song on the album.

It stays at an incredibly high energy throughout – the riffs are always explosive.

Amazing

2 – Smooth Sailing

“Smooth Sailing” leans into the stank, and I’m all here for it.

Those riffs are dirty and sleazy, and the choruses are intensely catchy. The chaotic breakdown is what cemented this as a banger.

All-Time Great

1 – I Appear Missing

The more I listen to “I Appear Missing”, the more I realise it’s one of the greatest Rock songs of all time. Especially from the last two decades.

It’s such a clever use of chords and structure which always keeps you on your toes, and the lyrics hit me right in the feels. The massive ending especially, where the vocals, bass and guitar go crazy, will stick with me forever.

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