QOTSA are so concerned with pleasing themselves that they don't give a damn for the audience. Then again, they're exceptional players, especially augmented here by Dave Grohl on drums, Mark Lanegan on vocals, and Dean Ween on guitar; plus, they're very good songwriters, whether they're writing technically intricate riff-rockers or throwbacks to ...

QOTSA are so concerned with pleasing themselves that they don't give a damn for the audience. Then again, they're exceptional players, especially augmented here by Dave Grohl on drums, Mark Lanegan on vocals, and Dean Ween on guitar; plus, they're very good songwriters, whether they're writing technically intricate riff-rockers or throwbacks to Nuggets. Above all, QOTSA are a muso band -- a band for musicians and those who have listened to too much music. Why else did the greatest drummer and greatest guitarist in '90s alt-rock join this ever-shifting collective? They wanted to play with the prodigiously talented Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri, two musicians who share their taste and willingness to jam. It results in what is easily one of the best rock records of 2002. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi