Queens of the Stone Age - 3's & 7's

It's ja-ja jakka ja-ja, jakka ja ja ja jaaaow, and there's not much doubt that Josh Homme has just given himself wanker's cramp in a heartbeat with the intro riff to this, the lead single from the forthcoming Era Vulgaris. Back is the fretboard flippancy that wrenched Queens of the Stone Age clear of the "purely for the stoner rock crowd" bracket to begin with as quirky rhythms take over, like If Only on a copious amount of crack. More by-the-numbers than its download-only Casablancas cameoing compatriot (Sick, Sick, Sick) but it nevertheless makes for a short and sweet southern fried hors d'oeuvre before the big feast. [Johnny Langlands]