Josh Homme vs John Garcia
Happy New Years Sputnikers! The disbandment of Kyuss resulted in Josh Homme (guitarist) founding Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA), and John Garcia (vocalist) forming several bands and pursuing his own solo career. Here goes a comparison of their select discographies, post Kyuss. |
| 1 |  | Slo Burn
Amusing The Amazing
Amusing the Amazing (1997) vs. The Kyuss/QOTSA EP (1997). Slo Burn released their 4-track EP, Amusing the Amazing, to immediate fanfare - securing a spot on the 1997 Ozzfest; only to break up shortly thereafter in 1998. A pity, as the tracks released (as well as the 5-demo tracks from 1996) showed huge promise for Slo Burn - who definitely retained a strong Kyuss vibe. The Kyuss/QOTSA EP contained the first three songs by QOTSA - If Only Everything, Born To Hula, and Spiders and Vinegarroons (the first two also appearing on a 1996 Gamma Ray EP). A good first showing for QOTSA, but Slo Burn wins here. |
| 2 |  | Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age (1998) vs. Coping with the Urban Coyote (1999). The 1998 self-titled release by QOTSA was the closest that QOTSA ever came to sounding like Kyuss, with strong stoner rock grooves permeating throughout. Coping with the Urban Coyote was a competent hard rock release by John Garcia's new band, Unida. Both albums are great, but the QOTSA self-titled album is a stoner rock classic and wins here. |
| 3 |  | Queens of the Stone Age
Rated R
Rated R (2000) vs. The Great Divide (2001, unreleased). Rated R by QOTSA sees a shift in musical direction, pulling in more stoner punk ala inclusion of Nick Oliveri in the band. QOTSA is on fire at this time. Comparatively, Unida is struggling and are unable to release their new album (still unreleased to this day, but burned copies exist). The Great Divide was a great, although somewhat disjointed, album - but Rated R was superb and wins here. |
| 4 |  | Hermano
Only a Suggestion
Songs for the Deaf (2002) vs. ...Only a Suggestion (2002). John Garcia forms a new band, Hermana, releasing a short but powerful first album - the energy in Only A Suggestion cannot go unnoted. Meanwhile, QOTSA reaches their early peak, pulling in Dave Grohl on drums and creating a loose concept album revolving around a drive from LA to the Joshua Tree area. This is a tie, as both of these albums are high in my rankings. |
| 5 |  | Queens of the Stone Age
Lullabies to Paralyze
Dare I Say... (2004) vs. Lullabies to Paralyze (2005). Not the best album by either band - Dare I Say does not have the same energy that Hermano demonstrated prior, and QOTSA had fired Nick Oliveri (a huge contribution and component of their sound). Will have to give this win to QOTSA. |
| 6 |  | Hermano
Live at W2
Live at W2 (2005) vs. Over the Years and Through the Woods (2005). Both bands (Hermano and QOTSA) release a live CD/DVDs in 2005 - and both are great. Will give Hermano the win here - as QOTSA live is limited without Nick Oliver. Also, the AC/DC cover on LIve at W2 is worth the purchase. |
| 7 |  | Hermano
Into The Exam Room
Era Vulgeris (2007) vs. ...Into the Exam Room (2007). Last release by Hermano - a definite step up from Dare I Say and a great listen. Era Vulgeris - IMO, this album is the worst of their entire discography and is almost unlistenable. Hermano wins here. |
| 8 |  | Vista Chino
Peace
Them Crooked Vultures (2009) vs. Peace (2013). 2009 sees Josh Homme form Them Crooked Vultures, a supergroup also including Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones. Although a good album - it does not hit the highs of prior QOTSA releases. Converesely, in 2010, John Garcia forms Kyuss Lives (later named Vista Chino due to lawsuit with Josh Homme) with former Kyuss members (Brant Bjork, Nick Oliveri) and the masterful guitar player Bruno Fevery. Peace is released in 2013 and is an incredible stoner rock album, soaked with fuzz and psychedelic wanderings. Peace is in a class by itself, not similar to prior Kyuss releases IMO - but a monumental album nonetheless. John Garcia/Vista Chino wins here. |
| 9 |  | Queens of the Stone Age
...Like Clockwork
...Like Clockwork (2013) vs. John Garcia (2014). John Garcia's first solo album is incredible - incorporating a multitude of his own songs crafted with his prior collaborators. But Like Clockwork is a return of QOTSA to greatness - and it barely takes the win here. |
| 10 |  | John Garcia
The Coyote Who Spoke in Tongues
Have to give John Garcia a +1 here for his masterful, acoustical re-imagining of his solo work on this album. |
| 11 |  | John Garcia
John Garcia and the Band of Gold
Villains (2017) vs. John Garcia and the Band of Gold (2019). If Era Vulgeris was the worst QOTSA album made, then Villains is not far behind. Villains seemed highly forced and brought nothing great to the table. On the other hand, John Garcia's second album establishes him and his new band, and benefits strongly from mixing by Chris Goss (the historical Kyuss producer). No comparison here - John Garcia wins this one by a landslide. |
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