aaamusic | On 10, Jan 2022

When you come across “Best Albums of All Time” lists, undoubtedly, you’ll find the Queens of the Stone Age on some of these lists. The Queens of the Stone Age have made seven studio albums since the mid-90s, solidifying their place as one of the most prolific rock bands of the modern era. 

What are the best Queens of the Stone Age albums? Read this album guide to find out. 

Queens of the Stone Age: A Brief History

The Queens of the Stone Age (also known as QOTSA) is an American rock band that formed in Palm Desert, California, in 1996. Lead vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme founded the band, and he is the only person who has been a constant member of the band throughout its multiple lineup changes in the past several decades. 

In addition to seven studio albums, the Queens of the Stone Age have also released one live album, fourteen singles, three extended plays, and three promotional singles. 

Queens of the Stone Age: Studio Albums 

Let’s take a closer look at the studio albums the Queens of the Stone Age have released:

Queens of the Stone Age 

Released in 1998, this was their debut album. The album was released by Loosegrove records, and it was primarily written and recorded by the band’s founding member, Josh Homme. 

In 2011, the album was remastered and reissued with three additional tracks. 

Rated R

Rated R debuted in 2000 and was produced by Interscope Records. This album was a commercial and critical success, and it became the band’s breakthrough album. 

“Feel Good Hit of Summer” and “The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret” were two singles from the album that helped the band achieve mainstream success. 

Songs for the Deaf

Released in 2002, Songs for the Deaf was the last album to feature the band’s original bassist, Nick Oliveri. This is a loose concept album that also received critical acclaim. In fact, it helped the Queens of the Stone Age earn their first gold certification in the United States. 

Lullabies to Paralyze 

This album was released in 2005, and it debuted #5 on the Billboard Top 200. During its first week of release, it sold 97,000 copies in America. The album has also been certified gold in the UK. 

Era Vulgaris 

Released in 2007, Era Vulgaris is the Queens of the Stone Age’s fifth studio album. The album debuted #14 on the US Billboard Top 200, and it reached the top ten spots in several other countries. 

…Like Clockwork 

This album was released in 2013 under Matador Records. This is the first album from Queens of the Stone Age to feature full contributions from keyboardist and guitarist Dean Fertita and bassist Mike Schuman. 

The album hit #1 on the UK Album Charts, and it hit #1 on the Billboard Top 200. This made it the first Queens of the Stone Age album to top the US charts. 

Villains 

Released in 2017, Villains is the most recent studio album from Queens of the Stone Age. This was the first album produced by the band to not feature any special musical guests. 

Villains received widespread critical acclaim, and it was nominated for the Best Rock Album at the 2018 Grammy Awards. 

Queens of the Stone Age Albums: Time to Listen 

Now that you know about the Queens of the Stone Age albums, it’s time to take a listen to some of them! Even if you’re not a huge fan of rock music, you’ll undoubtedly find something you like about their music. 

Check back in with our blog to learn about more historic music albums!