Era Vulgaris (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Era Vulgaris
Type = studio
Artist = Queens of the Stone Age


Released = June 12, 2007
Recorded = July 2006 – April 2007
(see below)
Genre = Hard rockcite news| url=http://www.rekordsrekords.com/asktheband/100406/newrecord.mov | publisher=qotsa.com | title=Ask the Band |date=2006-11-04 | accessdate=2006-11-05]
Alternative rock
Length = 47:53
54:42 (UK version)
Label = Interscope, Rekords Rekords
Producer = Josh Homme, Chris Goss, (The Fififf Teeners)
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jvfyxz85ldse link]
* "Entertainment Weekly" (C+) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20041757,00.html link]
* "Filter" (88%) [http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=14461&c=3 link]
* "Hot Press" (8/10) [http://www.hotpress.com/music/reviews/albums/2925797.html 5/21/07]
*"Kerrang!" Rating|4|5
* "NME" (8/10) [http://www.nme.com/magazine link]
* Pitchfork (6.2/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/43529-era-vulgaris link]
* "Q" Rating|2|5 Jul 2007, p.102
* "Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/queensofthestoneage/albums/album/14898800/review/14933379/era_vulgaris?source=queensofthestoneage_rssfeed link]
*Scene Point Blank (7.9/10) [http://www.scenepointblank.com/reviews/1335 link]
* "Spin" Rating|4.5|5 Jul 2007, p.102
* "Uncut" Rating|5|5 Jul 2007, p.112
Last album = "Over the Years and Through the Woods"
(2005)
This album = "Era Vulgaris"
(2007)
Next album =
Misc = Singles
Name = Era Vulgaris
Type = studio
single 1 = Sick, Sick, Sick
single 1 date = 2007-05-08
single 2 = 3's & 7's
single 2 date = 2007-06-04
single 3 = Make It wit Chu
single 3 date = Unknown
single 4 =
single 4 date =

"Era Vulgaris" is the fifth full length studio album by American hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age. The album was completed in early April 2007cite web |url = http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/04/06/strokes-qotsa-foofighters-marilynmanson-rogerwaters/ |title = Smoking Section: Playing poker with the Strokes, Foo Fighters album news, Marilyn Manson's "dirty" film, Roger Waters calls from the road |accessdate = 2007-04-10 |author = Scaggs, Austin |date = 2007-04-06 |publisher = "Rolling Stone" ] and released on June 8, 2007 in some countries, June 11, 2007 in the United Kingdom and June 12, 2007 in the United States.cite web |url = http://www.qotsa.com/ |title = Queens of the Stone Age official website |accessdate = 2007-04-10 |date = 2007 ] The tracks "Sick, Sick, Sick" and "3's & 7's" were released as singles in early June,cite web | url = http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/uncut/news/9737 | title =Queens of the Stone age unveil new album artwork | accessdate =2007-07-14 | publisher ="Uncut" ] with a third single "Make It wit Chu" released around Halloween of 2007.

The album debuted at number fourteen on the U.S. "Billboard" 200 charts selling 52,000 copies in its first week, [cite web |url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003601008 |title = Toby Keith's 'Big Dog' Heads Straight To No. 1 |publisher = "Billboard" |author = Hasty, Katie |date = 2007-06-20 |accessdate = 2007-06-21 ] which was a decline in comparison to the previous album, which opened at number 5 with 91,000 copies sold in its debut week.cite web |url = http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/queensofthestoneage/articles/story/7225493/50_still_attacking_chart |title = 50 Still Attacking Chart |publisher = "Rolling Stone" |date = 2005-03-30 |accessdate = 2007-06-18 ] In other countries it has reached much loftier debut positions, mostly in the top ten, such as number five in Canada where it sold approximately 10,000 copies in its opening week. [cite web |url = http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/Q/Queens_Of_The_Stone_Age/2007/06/20/4276193-ca.html |title = Wilburys, QOTSA shake up charts |author = Williams, John |publisher = Canoe Inc. |date = 2007-06-20 |accessdate = 2007-06-21 ] The album debuted at number nine at United World Chart, selling approximately 149,000 copies worldwide in its first week. [cite web |url=http://www.mediatraffic.de/albums-week26-2007.htm |title = United World Chart |date = 2007-06-22 |publisher = Mediatraffic.de |accessdate = 2007-06-22 ]

Overview and background

While 2002's "Songs for the Deaf" was said to be inspired by Josh Homme's tedious drive through the Southern Californian desert, the inspiration for "Era Vulgaris" came from Homme's daily drive through Hollywood.cite web |url = http://www.dose.ca/features/summer2007/story.html?id=427427a2-bd57-4422-9bf0-314751d6608d&k=120 |title = Album Spotlight: Josh Homme spills on new Queens of the Stone Age record, Era Vulgaris |accessdate = 2007-05-11 |author = Adler, Heather |date = 2007-05-08 |publisher = Dose.ca ] He described the record as "dark, hard, and electrical, sort of like a construction worker," [cite web |url = http://www.rekordsrekords.com/asktheband/100406/newrecord.mov |title = Ask the Band |accessdate = 2007-05-09 |date = 2006-11-04 |format = .mov |publisher = [http://www.qotsa.com/ qotsa.com] ] …it's like dirt, clearly seen."cite web |url = http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42335-qotsas-homme-talks-new-lp-motivations-pirates |title = QOTSA's Homme talks new LP, motivations, pirates |accessdate = 2007-04-13 |author = Maher, Dave |date = 2007-04-13 |publisher = Pitchfork Media ] The album's title "Era Vulgaris" refers to the Latin term for Common Era. The title was chosen by Homme because he thought "it sounds like 'the Vulgar Era', which I like, because that sounds like something that I would like to be part of… I mean I think we're in it, and I'm stoked".

Two tracks from the album had previously been released or performed elsewhere. "Into the Hollow" was previously performed by producers Josh Homme and Chris Goss as , and "Make It Wit Chu" was previously recorded as a Desert Sessions track,cite web |url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003558815 |title = QOTSA Rocks Hard, Fast On 'Era Vulgaris' |accessdate = 2007-06-17 |author = Cohen, Jonathan |date = 2007-03-15 |publisher = "Billboard" ] as well as appearing on their live album "Over the Years and Through the Woods".

Production

Pre-production speculation and contributors

In June 2006, in an interview on the Australian radio station Triple J, Jesse F. Keeler, the former bassist from Death from Above 1979, revealed that he would be playing bass on an upcoming Queens of the Stone Age album, but said that he would more than likely not be touring with the band due to his desire to spend more time with his girlfriend. [cite web |url = http://www.abc.ne.au/triplej/mel/listen/mp3s/dfa.mp3 |title = "Mel in the Morning" interview with Jesse Keeler (mp3) |accessdate = 2006-06-30 |date = 2006-06-22 |publisher = Triple J ] Eventually on the DFA internet forum, Keeler revealed that due to conflicting schedules, he would not be appearing on the album. In a July interview with "NME", Homme confirmed that the band was back in the studio, writing, but he remained unwilling to reveal who would appear in the band on the new record: epigraph
quote =That's not a healthy question. You'll ruin the surprise. We've gotta keep our cool.
cite =Josh Homme in interview with "NME" in July 2006cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/queens-of-the-stone-age/23516 | publisher="NME" | title=Queens of the Stone Age return | date=2006-07-05 | accessdate=2007-05-09] The album was expected to include guest performances from Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, Julian Casablancas from The Strokes,cite web |url = http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/14048512/spring_music_preview_fifty_musthear_albums/3 |title = Spring Music Preview: Fifty Must-Hear Albums |accessdate = 2007-06-17 |date = 2007-04-05 |publisher = "Rolling Stone" ] former band member Mark Lanegan, Billy Gibbons of ZZTop, [cite web |url = http://www.spin.com/features/news/2007/02/070223_qotsa/ |title = Casablancas, Reznor Rumored Guests on QOTSA Album |accessdate = 2007-06-17 |date = 2007-02-23 |publisher = "Spin" ] and (jokingly) deceased humourist Erma Bombeck.cite web |url = http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/video_news/queens_of_the_stone_age_will_not_settle_down_except_for_fans.html |title = Queens Of The Stone Age Will Not Settle Down, Except For Fans |accessdate = 2007-02-13 |date = 2007-03-09 |publisher = Ultimate Guitar Archive ] However, of these only Casablancas' and Lanegan's tracks appear on the U.S. release. Casablancas performed synth guitar and backing vocals on "Sick, Sick, Sick", and Lanegan sang backing vocals on "River in the Road". Ultimately, scheduling conflicts prevented Gibbons from appearing,cite web |url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003571642 |title = Reznor Guest Spot Adds Mystery To QOTSA Album |accessdate = 2007-04-13 |author = Cohen, Jonathan |date = 2007-04-13 |publisher = "Billboard" ] while Reznor's track "Era Vulgaris" was released separately on the "You Know What You Did" promotional CD, as well as on the UK release of the album.

Recording

The album was recorded "with exactly zero input from [record label] Interscope Records" between July 2006 and April 2007 at Cherokee Studios, Hollywood, Steakhouse Studios, Los Angeles and Studio City Sound, Van Nuys and mixed at Bay 7 Studios, North Hollywood, California. Recording and mixing were by Alain Johannes, [http://qotsa.com/digibooklet/ Liner notes of "Era Vulgaris"] from Qotsa.com] while the album was produced by Josh Homme together with Chris Goss as the Fififf Teeners. The primary contributors to the recording were Homme, Troy van Leeuwen, Joey Castillo, Johannes and Goss.

epigraph
quote =We basically started a year ago. And like I said, we didn’t really have anything written. So it was a long process. It was the longest I've ever taken to make a record, frankly. I've made records over the process of a year but this was the first time it's ever been my total focus for that long. This was the first time I've ever done that...total focus for 10 months.
cite =Troy Van Leeuwen in interview with SuicideGirls, June 16, 2007cite web |url=http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Queens+of+the+Stone+Age%3A+An+Interview+With+Troy+Van+Leeuwen/ |title=Queens of the Stone Age: An Interview With Troy Van Leeuwen |last = Broadley
first = Erin |accessdate=2007-07-18 |format=interview |publisher= SuicideGirls ]

Goss and Johannes were replaced by Dean Fertita (keyboard) and Michael Shuman (bass) for later bonus track recordings and the subsequent supporting tour. Regarding the bands line-up changes for "Era Vulgaris", Homme commented "I like combinations that no one would expect…It's the cool part of any surprise party."

Musical style and influences

"Era Vulgaris" displays influences from many different genres.cite web |url=http://www.fhmonline.com/articles-4698.asp |title=Queens of the Stone Age – Era Vulgaris |accessdate=2007-08-11 |format=online review |work=Album Reviews |publisher="FHM"] The album departs from the softer, hollowbody guitar sound of their previous album "Lullabies to Paralyze" with heavy, crunchy guitars and adding in some industrial influences.cite web |url=http://www.whiskey-soda.de/story.php?id=17744&seite=2 |title=Queens Of The Stone Age - Interview mit einer Steinzeitkönigin |accessdate=2007-08-27 |format=interview |publisher= Whiskey Soda ] "Rolling Stone" noted the influence of "New Wave synth geek Gary Numan…all over this record." Musically, the album has been described as "brand new retro",cite web |url=http://music.ign.com/articles/795/795923p2.html |title=IGN: Era Vulgaris Review |accessdate=2007-08-14 |format=album review |publisher=IGN ] a fusion of "punk, rock, blues and southern grit" ("FHM"), and slower, moodier, and groggier than the bands previous efforts.cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/content/music/queens_of_the_stone_age |title=Queens Of The Stone Age |last=Gowing |first=Liam |accessdate=2007-07-18 |format=review |publisher = "The A.V. Club" ]

Marketing and promotion

Behind the scenes and promotional contest

Shortly after the album's announcement in February 2007, a video was posted on the band's official website showing Homme, Castillo and Van Leeuwen jamming. [cite web |url = http://www.rekordsrekords.com/qotsa/videos/Q2.1.mov |title = Initial teaser video |accessdate = 2007-02-23 |date = 2007-02-23 |format = .mov |publisher = [http://www.qotsa.com/ qotsa.com] ] Along with brief footage of the recording session for "Misfit Love", the last 6-7 seconds of the video contained footage of the recording of "3's & 7's" accompanied by studio-mastered audio. A second video of the recording of the album surfaced subsequently on YouTube, depicting the band (this time including Alain Johannes) recording a new track, "Turning on the Screw" in studio. [cite web |url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bWzvlFyS_Y |title = Queens of the Stone Age Creating Era Vulgaris |accessdate = 2007-03-05 |date = 2007-03-05 |publisher = YouTube.com ]

In early April, the official band website was updated with a 37 second excerpt from "Sick, Sick, Sick". This was replaced, however, by the complete song, "3's and 7's", which was later removed. QOTSA fansite [http://www.thefade.net/ thefade.net] announced a promotional contest for fans to win "a special package" from the band,cite web |url = http://www.thefade.net/ |title = Enter Your Address, Win a Special QOTSA Package! |accessdate = 2007-04-08 |date = 2007-04-06 |publisher = [http://www.thefade.net/ thefade.net] ] confirmed as legitimate by the band's webmaster. On April 13, packages were sent to selected winners containing a CD entitled "You Know What You Did" with the sole track "Era Vulgaris",cite web |url = http://forum.rekordsrekords.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=40663&st=0 |title = Qotsa.com competition forum thread |accessdate = 2007-04-13 |date = 2007 |publisher = [http://forum.rekordsrekords.com/ Rekords Records forum] ] which Homme separately confirmed would not be appearing on the record, although it was included as a bonus track on the UK edition. The CD was accompanied by a handwritten letter asking fans to share the song in any way possible:

Bulby, Xfm and soundtracks

Quote_box
width=30%
align=right
quote=We’re making these mock commercials for the new record. Josh was talking about this kind of naïve point in time when TV and commercials kicked in with cartoon characters selling cigarettes and stuff like that. Like Fred Flintstone buying Camels. So we decided to invent a character called Bulby to sell our new record.
source=Troy Van Leeuwen in interview with SuicideGirls The full track "Sick, Sick, Sick" was leaked onto the Internet, countered by the posting of a promotional video to the official site featuring a "sales pitch" for "Era Vulgaris" by two talking lightbulbs , followed by streaming of "Sick, Sick, Sick" with official lyrics displayed in the background.cite web |url = http://boss.streamos.com/flash/interscope/qotsa/eravulgaris/video/bulbycommercial.flv |title = Lightbulb sales pitch video |accessdate = 2007-04-21 |date = 2007-04-21 |format = .flv |publisher = [http://www.qotsa.com/ qotsa.com] ]

On May 2, 2007, Homme, Van Leeuwen and new band member Dean Fertita appeared on London radio station Xfm, performing an acoustic set that included the tracks "3's & 7's", "Into the Hollow" and "Suture Up Your Future". [cite web |url = http://www.xfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=403461 |title = Queens Of The Stone Age Live On Music: Response |accessdate = 2007-06-17 |date = 2007-05-18 |publisher = Xfm ]

It was announced that tracks from the band will appear in video games "Madden NFL 08", "" and "Rock Band", [cite web |url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=72016 |title = Queens of the Stone Age Unveils New Lineup |accessdate = 2007-05-08 |date = 2007-05-07 |publisher = Blabbermouth.net ] specifically that the track "3's & 7's" would be featured in "Madden NFL 08" [cite web |url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1563549/20070628/timberlake_justin.jhtml |title = Timberlake/Timbaland, QOTSA, Swizz, Daddy Yankee Rock 'Madden 08' Soundtrack |accessdate = 2007-08-04 |author = Totilo, Stephen |date = 2007-06-28 |publisher = MTV ] and "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock". [cite web |url = http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/810/810113p1.html |title = Even More GHIII Tracks Revealed |accessdate = 2007-08-04 |author = Hatfield, Daemon |date = 2007-08-02 |publisher = IGN ] Both "3's & 7's" and "Sick, Sick, Sick" are available as downloadable content on "Rock Band" and "Rock Band 2", as they share the same Music Store. [cite web |url = http://www.rockband.com/dlc |title = DLC Credits |accessdate = 2008-10-01]

Artwork

The album's cover features the two lightbulbs from the promotional video, Bulby and his pirate accomplice (pictured right), marking a change from the plainer designs of the bands' previous albums. According to Homme, the light bulb represented "…what you perceive to be a "great" idea that really is not that great of an idea".cite web |url = http://www.virginmedia.com/music/interviews/queensofthestoneage.php |title = Queens of the Stone Age interview |accessdate = 2007-05-09 |author = Josh Homme, Joey Castillo (interviewees) |date = 2007-05-09 |format = .wmv |publisher = Virgin Media ] The cover was a slip of paper, with a simplified credits page on the back side, marked with the outline of the record. The typography follows an Old English style font; Blackmoor, with the 'Spermy Q' seen on their album "Songs for the Deaf".

An art booklet was also included, featuring "Bulby" and several other characters which unfolded to display a pin-up advertisement for the album, following the 50's advertising satire as the rest of the album art followed. The lack of liner notes for the album was remedied when the official website allowed users to view an e-booklet, containing more detailed liner notes, lyrics, and previously unseen artwork. The green light bulb with the pirate hat and peg leg is known as "Patchy".

The lightbulb characters were created by Liam Lynch [cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=11&title=qotsa_bulby_returns&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#comments |title=QOTSA: Bulby returns |accessdate=2007-08-14 |format=blog post |publisher="NME" ] with overall art direction from Jason Noto of [http://www.morningbreathinc.com/ Morning Breath Inc] .

Reception

Reviews for the album were generally positive, earning a rating of 75 out of 100 on Metacritic, a decline from their previous two studio albums.cite web |url = http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/queensofthestoneage/eravulgaris?q=era%20vulgaris |title = Era Vulgaris, Metacritic rating |accessdate = 2007-08-10 |publisher= Metacritic] "Uncut" and Allmusic's reviews were particularly glowing, with the latter noting how "Era Vulgaris" is "as different from "Lullabies" as that was to their dramatic widescreen breakthrough, "Songs for the Deaf".cite web |url = http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jvfyxz85ldse |title = Queens of the Stone Age, Era Vulgaris |accessdate = 2007-08-10 |author = Thomas Erlewine, Stephen |publisher = Allmusic ] "The Observer" also commented on the albums change in direction, commenting that the band had "turned its back on the mainstream" and that the album was "uneasy and brooding" and "Gripping stuff".cite web |url = http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/reviews/story/0,,2080716,00.html |title = Queens of the Stone Age, Era Vulgaris |accessdate = 2007-05-20 |author = Hodgson, Jaimie |date = 2007-05-20 |publisher = "The Observer" ] "Rolling Stone" gave the album four stars for the first time since the band's self titled debut,cite web |url = http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/14898800/review/14933379/era_vulgaris |title = Queens of the Stone Age, Era Vulgaris |accessdate = 2007-08-10 |author = Sheffield, Rob |date = 2007-05-30 |publisher = "Rolling Stone" ] commenting that "Era Vulgaris" is Homme's fifth Queens album, and like the others, it's intricately crafted, meticulously polished and ruthlessly efficient in its pursuit of depraved rock thrills." [cite web | last =Sheffield | first = Rob |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/14898800/review/14933379/era_vulgaris |title=Era Vulgaris: Queens of the Stone Age: Review: Rolling Stone |accessdate=2007-08-27 |publisher="Rolling Stone" |date=2007-05-30 ] New York Times critic Jon Pareles selected the album as the 10th best release of 2007.

A number of reviews were negative, however; "Q" magazine gave the album two stars out of five, while "The Village Voice" criticized Homme for lack of originality, describing the record's sound as "listless and drained of ideas".cite web |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0724,farrar,76903,22.html |title=Queens of the Stone Age's Era Vulgaris |accessdate=2007-09-09 |format=review |work=Music |publisher="The Village Voice" ] "The Guardian" slated the record as lyrically clichéd and lacking the input of former bassist Nick Olivericite web |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2097390,00.html |title=Queens of the Stone Age, Era Vulgaris |accessdate=2007-09-09 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=2007-06-08 |work=Film & Music |publisher="The Guardian"] and "Entertainment Weekly" delivered the closing indictment that "there isn't a single song here that you'll remember, or want to return to, two summers hence."cite web |url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20041757,00.html |title = Queens of the Stone Age, Era Vulgaris |accessdate = 2007-08-10 |author = Sinclair, Tom |date = 2007-06-08 |publisher = "Entertainment Weekly" ]

"Era Vulgaris" had sold 198,000 copies in the US, and 521,000 copies worldwide before falling off the charts. Since it fell off the chart, it has sold 223,000 copies in the US, and 600,000 copies worldwide.Fact|date=October 2007 The US sales are a drop off from their previous album, as "Lullabies to Paralyze", had sold 342,000 copies in the US by March 2007. - though Lullabies to Paralyze had been selling for two years whereas Era Vulgaris had only been selling for several months. Neither album achieved the commercial success of the band's 2002 release, "Songs for the Deaf", which had sold 986,000 copies in the US alone as of June 2007. [cite web
url = http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/articles/_a/queens-of-the-stone-age-enter-new-era/20070602093909990001
title = Queens of the Stone Age Enter New 'Era'
author = Jonathan Cohen
publisher = AOL
date = 2005-06-02
accessdate = 2007-06-18]

Track listing

All tracks were written by Joshua Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo, except where noted. [cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE57F1BDE46AB7220CF80304ADCB562E608FE44F78F172C0456D3B82D4ADC2022E508C18281B6E574BC66ADFF2EA3160ED2C0EF5EF6DE6F2D4CF0&sql=10:jvfyxz85ldse |title=Allmusic entry for "Era Vulgaris"
accessdate=2007-07-18 |publisher=Allmusic]
# "Turnin' on the Screw" – 5:20
# "Sick, Sick, Sick" (Homme, Goss, Van Leeuwen, Castillo) – 3:34
# "I'm Designer" – 4:04
# "Into the Hollow" – 3:42
# "Misfit Love" – 5:39
# "Battery Acid" – 4:06
# "Make It wit Chu" (Homme, Johannes, Melchiondo) – 4:50
# "3's & 7's" – 3:34
# "Suture Up Your Future" – 4:37
# "River in the Road" – 3:19
# "Run, Pig, Run" – 4:40

Bonus tracks

* "Running Joke" – 2:57
** UK/Japanese/Australian/New Zealand/iTunes release bonus track.
* "Era Vulgaris" (featuring Trent Reznor) – 4:23
** UK/Japanese/Australian/New Zealand release bonus track. Previously released as both a contest-winning promotional single ("You Know What You Did") and as a free download.
* "The Fun Machine Took a Shit & Died" – 6:55
** Japanese/Brazilian/Mexican/German/Russian release bonus track. An earlier, rougher studio take was previously released as a 7" single that was given out to fans at a Brixton Academy show after the band could not play there several times. The song was noted on the sleeve of "Lullabies to Paralyze". This is a new version of the song, and a free CD single containing the song was given away with preorders of "Era Vulgaris" through certain websites. It can currently be heard on a streaming player via the band's website.
* "White Wedding" (Billy Idol cover) – 3:52
** Best Buy exclusive download when album is bought. Also available on the "Make It Wit Chu" CD single.
* "Goin' Out West" (Tom Waits cover) – 3:56
** Exclusive f.y.e. download when album is bought. Initially available only on the album's U.S. release date, June 12, 2007. Subsequently made available on the "3's & 7's" 7" single, as well as the import version of the "Sick, Sick, Sick" single [cite web |url = http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QEINNQ |title = Sick, Sick, Sick (Limited Edition EP) |accessdate = 2007-09-09 |publisher = Amazon.com]
*"I'm Designer" (Primal Scream Remix) – 3:48
** Circuit City exclusive download when album is bought.
*"Needles in the Camel's Eye" (Brian Eno cover) – 3:23
** Available on the "Make It Wit Chu" CD single.

Era Vulgaris Tour Edition tracklisting

Disc 1

# "Turnin' on the Screw" – 5:20
# "Sick, Sick, Sick" (Homme, Goss, Van Leeuwen, Castillo) – 3:34
# "I'm Designer" – 4:04
# "Into the Hollow" – 3:42
# "Misfit Love" – 5:39
# "Battery Acid" – 4:06
# "Make It Wit Chu" (Homme, Johannes, Melchiondo) – 4:50
# "3's & 7's" – 3:34
# "Suture Up Your Future" – 4:37
# "River in the Road" – 3:19
# "Run, Pig, Run" – 4:40
# "The Fun Machine Took a Shit and Died" – 6:57
# "Make It Wit Chu [Acoustic] " (Homme, Johannes, Melchiondo) – 4:50
# "Era Vulgaris [Richard File Remix] " (featuring Trent Reznor) – 6:06
# "I'm Designer [UNKLE Remix] - 6:11

Disc 2 (Live In Amsterdam)

# "Monsters in the Parasol" – 3:34
# "Misfit Love" – 6:41
# " If Only" – 3:43
# "I Think I Lost My Headache" - 6:10
# "Into the Hollow" – 4:13
# "Go With the Flow" – 3:22
# "Regular John" - 10:59
#"Avon" – 3:18
# "Song for the Dead" - 7:13

Limited edition vinyl

On December 4th, Interscope Records released the album on triple 10" vinyl records pressed in Nashville's historic [http://www.urpressing.com/ United Record Pressing] . The LP version has been expected since the CD version's release which has art that features ring marks commonly associated with vinyl records. The LP includes the bonus track "Running Joke."

Personnel

According to the album liner notes, the contributors were as follows:

Band line-up

*Josh Homme – vocals (lead, backing), guitar (lead, acoustic, electric), percussion, bass guitar, lap steel guitar, piano (electric, rhodes, "badly tuned"), organ, "percussion ball"
*Troy Van Leeuwen – keyboard, guitar (lead, "crazy delay"), lap steel, backing vocals, bass, "the percussion part that's a bitch", Moog, rhodes
*Joey Castillo – drums, percussion

Guest appearances

*Alain Johannes – bass, guitar (acoustic, counterpoint, harmonic), fiddle (counterpoint, "cig"), marxaphone, backing vocals
*Chris Goss – keyboard, "the chicken pluckin guitar", "twinkley bits", organ, piano (electric, "eclectic"), bass, backing vocals
*Julian Casablancas – casio guitar, vocals ("Sick, Sick, Sick")
*Serrina Sims – backing vocals
*Brody Dalle-Homme – backing vocals
*Liam Lynch – backing vocals
*Mark Lanegan – harmony vocals ("River in the Road")

This list is exhaustive of the core eleven tracks (see above), but does not take into account contributions to bonus tracks.

Technical

Technical credits for the album are as follows: [cite web |url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jvfyxz85ldse~T2 |title = Era Vulgaris: Credits |accessdate = 2007-09-09 |date = 2007 |publisher = Allmusic]

*Chris Goss & Josh Homme (as the Fififf Teeners) - producers
*Alain Johannes - engineer
*Alain Johannes & Joe Barresi - mixing
*Justin Smith - mixing assistant
*Stephen Marcussen - mastering
*Jason Noto - design, illustrations
*Dr. Mark A. Williams - A&R

Release and chart positions

Album chart positions

References