Queens of the Stone Age Over the Years and Through the Woods Genres:Rock, Metal You can think of this feature-length concert DVD/live album, which features all the crucial Queens hits from their studio albums, as a "to go" version of their decibel-happy shows, but that really won't be doing the three ... more »and a half hours of live, rare, and acoustic performances and behind-the-scenes footage of the band and their pals like Dave Grohl, Mark Lanegan, Billy Gibbons, and former Queens bassist Nick Olivieri making fools of themselves, justice.It might help to think of Over the Years as a 21st-century version of Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same for the volume of its material, or even A Hard Day's Night for its willingness to show the Queens having a laugh, but they'd rather you see and hear it for what it really is--the definitive encapsulation of the band and their music from their not-so-humble beginnings to their current status as one of the rock's biggest and most dynamic acts.Included in the concert footage from the band's sold-out Brixton Academy and Koko shows in London last summer are live favorites from Rated R and Songs for the Deaf such as "No One Knows," "Feel Good Hit of the Summer," and "Go with the Flow," as well as new Queens classics from their latest album Lullabies to Paralyze like the smash single "Little Sister" and their most recent bombshell, "Burn the Witch." In addition to the three-plus hours of live and uncut Queens mayhem, Over the Years also boasts 75 minutes of audio bliss that covers all the bases Queens fans need to get the rush of their favorite songs performed live and loud shot directly into their homes.Also included are the brand-new track "Fun Machine" as well as "Make It Wit Chu," a previously unreleased gem from singer Josh Homme's fabled Desert Sessions, an ongoing series of collaborative songwriting and recording sessions where marquee musicians such as PJ Harvey and Deen Ween are invited down to his studio Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, California, to join him in collectively exploring new musical terrain.« less
You can think of this feature-length concert DVD/live album, which features all the crucial Queens hits from their studio albums, as a "to go" version of their decibel-happy shows, but that really won't be doing the three and a half hours of live, rare, and acoustic performances and behind-the-scenes footage of the band and their pals like Dave Grohl, Mark Lanegan, Billy Gibbons, and former Queens bassist Nick Olivieri making fools of themselves, justice.It might help to think of Over the Years as a 21st-century version of Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same for the volume of its material, or even A Hard Day's Night for its willingness to show the Queens having a laugh, but they'd rather you see and hear it for what it really is--the definitive encapsulation of the band and their music from their not-so-humble beginnings to their current status as one of the rock's biggest and most dynamic acts.Included in the concert footage from the band's sold-out Brixton Academy and Koko shows in London last summer are live favorites from Rated R and Songs for the Deaf such as "No One Knows," "Feel Good Hit of the Summer," and "Go with the Flow," as well as new Queens classics from their latest album Lullabies to Paralyze like the smash single "Little Sister" and their most recent bombshell, "Burn the Witch." In addition to the three-plus hours of live and uncut Queens mayhem, Over the Years also boasts 75 minutes of audio bliss that covers all the bases Queens fans need to get the rush of their favorite songs performed live and loud shot directly into their homes.Also included are the brand-new track "Fun Machine" as well as "Make It Wit Chu," a previously unreleased gem from singer Josh Homme's fabled Desert Sessions, an ongoing series of collaborative songwriting and recording sessions where marquee musicians such as PJ Harvey and Deen Ween are invited down to his studio Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, California, to join him in collectively exploring new musical terrain.
CD Reviews
Next Best Thing To Bein' There
apeshallnotkillape | Brooklyn, NY United States | 11/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Y'know, it's kinda funny...every time a new QOTSA album comes out, Josh Homme always says the new band is 'the best lineup ever' or something along those lines. As a huge fan of Dave Grohl and someone who really appreciates what he contributed to SONGS FOR THE DEAF, I must say I was pretty dubious of Josh's claim this time.
I needn't have worried. This version of Queens is a monster.
See, I highly dig LULLABIES..., but it doesn't really have a strong 'band' presence to it, probably due, I hate to admit it, to the absence of Nick Oliveri. What's good about this effect is that it really makes the strength of the songwriting stand out...
The great thing about this CD/DVD is that when a bunch of talented, tight and passionate musicians like the ones assembled here tear into these songs, they find all kinds of fresh new blood in those veins. Joey Castillo pounds the hell out of his kit, very ably stepping in for Mr. Grohl on the SONGS... songs, and propelling the new stuff into Rock God Valhalla. It's also awesome to watch Troy Van Leeuwen and Alain Johannes from Eleven and The Desert Sessions trade off instruments like the virtuosos they are. Natash Shneider (also of Eleven and the Desert Sessions) adds just the right elements, musically and aesthetically, and the JoshMan himself is in perfect form, whether firing off a face-melting solo, hitting all the targets with that laser-perfect falsetto, or verbally destroying a would-be heckler who tries to ruin the show.
Oh, and a note to Travis:
Enough already with the 'hardcore fan' routine. If you're really a hard-core fan of QOTSA, you would know that Nick Oliveri wasn't an original member, although he did come to be an important collaborator with Josh Homme. Look, Nick is awesome and all, but he's also a crazy motherf***er who got kicked out of the DWARVES, for cryin' out loud. I wouldn't believe anything he said in some rock rag any more than I would believe any of Josh's myriad versions of events. It was personal, it was business, but it wasn't OUR business. The QOTSA flag flys with Josh, so love it or leave it, just like Oliveri.
P.S. Looks like Mark Lanegan didn't get fired after all, doesn't it?
"
Queens Give The Fans What They Want
Julia | Canada | 11/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Last week I had the great pleasure of seeing Queens as the opening act for Nine Inch Nails. Their combination of mindblowing energy and musicianship made this truly one of the best gigs I have ever been to (I enjoyed Nine Inch Nails as well)
Simply put, if you're a serious Queens fan this CD/ DVD is essential.
Excellent sound quality on the audio CD- I especially loved the extended versions of You Can't Quit Me Baby (one of my all time favourite Queens songs), No One Knows, Song for the Dead and Long Slow Goodbye. Josh Homme is in great voice and the band is super tight throughout.
The DVD is also very enjoyable just to see a band totally engrossed in their own world and music. Excellent and very varied setlist- you get to hear a lot of older Queens material as well as rare tracks such as the mellow I Wanna Make It Wit Chu from the Desert Sessions and Fun Machine, a lost track from the wonderful Lullabies to Paralyze. Cool bonus features with guests and former band members such as Dave Grohl, Nick Oliveri and Mark Lanegan, but the picture and sound quality varies quite a lot. Heads up on another cool feature: you get a commentary if you change the audio setup to French. If you're expecting theatrics and pyrotechnics you've come to the wrong place, for Queens it's really all about the music.
And one last warning for all the **** smokers out there, better pick a different show to heckle at next time ;)."
Rather Enjoyable
07/19/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For a true QOTSA fan this DVD has moments of brillance and much to my deight contains great footage of Nick and Dave going hard. The production values and sheer size of the project are no where near the scale of the RHCP at Slane Castle dvd but this somehow just re-enforces the intimate setting in the theatre where the main event takes place. The HD cameras are great but when the director gets, in my opinion, too much slack as far as creativity goes he/she ruins some of my favourite songs with poor angles and terrible effects. Don't let that overshaddow the great effort of the band because Josh really is a joy to watch. Overall a really great DVD with some of the extra's a huge highlight. Basically you should buy the DVD just for the cutting shots of the band recording No One Knows while playing it live. Everything else is a bonus. You do have to be a fan of them to enjoy it to its full."
A Band That Cares For Its Fans
Peter F. Podnar | 11/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a QOTSA fan, you can't get any better than this.
What I really appreciate is that Josh really seems to care for his fans. For the price of one CD, you get the live CD and then a 2-hour show shot in HD (widescreen 16:9) and mixed in surround (The liner notes don't say if there is a DTS 5:1 mix).
But more importantly, the DVD shows the band at their best. You can really see the joy of five musicians making music. What I'm most happy about is the song selection of the DVD.
As much as I love PTL, Queens put a lot more emphasis on their older material and some B-Sides. If your a Queens fan, you have to buy this!"
Great collection, check out Easter Eggs
Alisa M. Smith | Atlanta, GA | 01/06/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are enough reviews extolling the virtues of this DVD. All fail to mention that if you turn on the French Language Subtitles you will get audio commentary tracks for all the bonus tracks! If you watch all the way through the credits it cuts to the video of 'First It Giveth' just Josh and Nick."
