Stone Age Complications

To rock fans, b-sides are usually the spot on the 7" (or perhaps more precisely nowadays, the extra tracks on a Euro CD-single) where bands can let their hair down. And with the release of Stone Age Complication, Queens of the Stone Age are no different. Now before you start salivating over the thought of QOTSA finally collecting all their b-sides and rarities on a single disc, Complication is a mere six tracks in length. Issued in 2004 as a holdover for fans who were patiently awaiting the follow-up to Songs for the Deaf, Complication is a fine little taster of uncommon QOTSA tracks. Included are three great covers -- the Kinks' "Who'll Be the Next in Line," the Subhumans' "Wake Up Screaming," and the Cramps' "Most Exalted Potentate of Love," as well as a pair of leftover originals -- "Born to Hula" and "The Bronze" -- which could have easily fit on either Queens of the Stone Age or R. The only headscratcher of the bunch being a remix of their big radio breakthrough, "No One Knows," especially when there were so many great uncommon tracks to choose from ("You're So Vague," "Infinity," "Ode to Clarissa," etc.). Hopefully one day a more thorough QOTSA b-sides collection will find its way into the shops. ~ Greg Prato|