Queens of the Stone Age - Like Clockwork (2013)

After the rather disappointing "Era Vulgaris,"QOTSA have reinvigorated their sound with guest musicians and a lot of new, interesting ideas. From the dark, experimental "Keep Your Eyes Peeled" to the infectiously groovy "Smooth Sailing" to the haunting title track, this is a very diverse, intricately crafted record meant to showcase the full extent of the band's musical talents. Another particular strength of the album is how the guests' parts don't outshine the band and really just flow naturally with the music. "Like Clockwork" won't have the revolutionary impact that "Songs for the Deaf" did back in 2002, but it does show that this band is still relevant and can still pump out great tunes.
9/10