B-Sides/Collaborations: Queens Of The Stone Age- Era Vulgaris feat: Trent Reznor

Back in 2007, Queens Of The Stone Age released their album, Era Vulgaris. An album in their catalog that I find to be very underrated and often over looked. This album featured some of the band’s best material since Songs For The Deaf. Another thing I’ve always dug about this particular album is the production. There’s a really dirty, distorted vibe that is crisp and clear but feels hard and heavy. Through and through this is a rock record. Live when these songs are played they are grittier than the album and makes it even better. There is a song that was recorded for the album but, would eventually become a b-side called “Era Vulgaris” sometimes more known as “You Know What You Did.” This track was released originally part of a fan site contest for fans to win a “special package” from the band. Selected winners received a CD entitled You Know What You Did with the sole track “Era Vulgaris”, which singer/guitarist Josh Homme confirmed would not be appearing on the record despite being the title track, though it was included as a bonus track on the UK edition. This song features guest vocals from the one and only Trent Reznor. It’s one of those songs that when you hear you wonder why it was left off the original track listing. It’s that good. If you’ve never heard this track you are in for a treat!

Queens Of The Stone Age- “Era Vulgaris (aka You Know What You Did):”

New Release: Quicksand- Giving The Past Away

Last year Quicksand released one of the best albums of 2021 with Distant Populations. If you haven’t heard that album, go do that! And now today, Quicksand has released a new single (by way of a sort of B-Side from Distant Populations) called “Giving The Past Away.” The origin of this song is quite interesting too. “The working title for this song was ‘Greatest Quicksand Song Ever’ so you can imagine it was a very tough call leaving this song off ‘Distant Populations’,” the band comments. “The only reason we could agree on to leave it off was that we wanted to have some really strong material in reserve for later in the year. Ultimately the title came from the most prominent line in the song which is an embrace of the present which is very in line with our thinking with ‘Distant Populations’. We’re super proud of this one and are very psyched to share it with the world.” It’s crazy to think that a song this good didn’t make the record but, that only leaves the door open for more awesomeness from one of the best bands in rock! Quicksand will be heading out on a North American tour with Helmet and Clutch starting September 13 in Toronto and ending October 23rd in New York. And don’t forget to listen to Distant Populations!!!

Quicksand- Giving The Past Away:

Quicksand- Distant Populations:

B-Sides: Chelsea Wolfe- Green Altar

Over the past few years, one artist I’ve really come to enjoy is Chelsea Wolfe. When you listen to her music, words and voice, you instantly get swept away by the etherial vibe and beautifully haunting melodies. The last album she put out, Birth Of Violence, was one hell of a record. The stripped down nature of the songs along with the eerie sensibilities, permeate as you are drawn in more and more. During the sessions for Birth Of Violence, there were a couple other songs recorded for the album but, didn’t make the final cut. One of those songs “Green Altar” is an absolute stunner. Speaking on the song Chelsea said “‘Green Altar’ is a cherished song that unfortunately didn’t make it onto the album. It’s a love song I wrote after finding out that my dear friends (artist) Bill Crisafi and (designer) Hogan McLaughlin were engaged. I envisioned them getting married in a lush, green outdoor space outside of some majestic castle ruins.” Now that you have that vision in your mind, as you listen to the song, you can sense that in there. What a tremendous song this is. I personally would love to hear this become part of the set list rotation.

Chelsea Wolfe- Green Altar:

Chelsea Wolfe- Birth Of Violence:

B-Sides: The Smashing Pumpkins- Ugly

It’s truly amazing how many great songs The Smashing Pumpkins have that are B-Sides. During the Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness era, not only did they write 28 songs for the alvum but also a whole plethora more which wound up being the box set, The Aeroplane Flies High. One of my favorite songs in the set comes from the “1979” single. That song is “Ugly” and it’s one hell of a great song. One of those B-Sides that you hear and right off the bat think, why wasn’t this on the album?! One day, I’d love for Billy Corgan to put together a whole album of Mellon Collie songs and Aeroplan songs into a full album and see what that sounds like.

The Smashing Pumpkins- Ugly:

B-Sides: Korn

 

Korn will be celebrating their 25th year as a band this year (2019). On top of that, they are releasing their 13th studio album, The Nothing, in September. This band has been going non-stop for so many years. Throughout that time, they’ve amassed quite the catalog of songs. So many songs, that a lot of them didn’t make it to the albums and got used in other ways, whether it was soundtracks, b-sides, etc. I thought why not delve into some of Korn’s b-sides.
Sean Olson (from The Crow City of Angels Soundtrack):

 

 
Proud (from I Know What You Did Last Summer Soundtrack):

 

 
This Broken Soul (from Debut Album):

 

 
Kick The PA (from Spawn Soundtrack):

 

I Can Remember (from Follow The Leader):

 

Layla (from Debut Album):

 

 

Camel Song (From End Of Days Soundtrack):

 

 

Christmas Song (From Debut Album):

 

 
Haze (From “Untitled”):

 

 

Out Of You (from The Serenity Of Suffering):

 

 

Baby (From The Serenity Of Suffering):

 

 
Calling Me Too Soon (From The Serenity Of Suffering):

 

B-Sides: Audioslave

The other day I woke up with the Audioslave song “Moth” in my head. That song is from their highly underrated third album, Revelations. If you haven’t ever delved into that one, I suggest you do, it’s incredible! While on my little Audioslave kick, I remembered that there are a few songs that were “B-Sides” and I thought I’d share those with you. So here we go!

Audioslave- Give (from their debut):

 

 

Audioslave- Super Stupid (Funkadelic Cover from Out Of Exile):

 

 

Turn To Gold (Quick Story:  Audioslave was originally called “Civilian.” After they got together and starting recording, a sound technician leaked this song on the internet):

 

B-Sides: Slipknot

Last week Slipknot released a new song from their upcoming new album, which is due out in 2019. Naturally, I went on a kick of listening to them for a few days. While having my own personal listening party, I started to think about all the b-sides they have from their albums. Well now, here they are.

 

From Slipknot:
Get This:

 

 

Snap:

 

 

Despise:

 

 

Interloper:

 

 

Me Inside:

 

 

Purity:

 

 

From Volume 3- The Subliminal Verses:
Don’t Get Close:

 

 
Scream:

 

 
Danger Keep Away (Full Version):

 

 

From All Hope Is Gone:
Child Of Burning Time:

 

 
Til We Die:

 

 

From .5- The Gray Chapter:
Override:

 

The Burden:

 

B-Sides: Mastodon

Since the turn of the century, there is a band that I truly feel is the band of the 2000’s. That band is Mastodon. From the moment their album Remission was released all the way till their newest, Emperor Of Sand, Mastodon, has been the most consistent and best band of this new era. On each album they’ve been able to push themselves creatively and have made timeless and classic albums. Mastodon, doesn’t have many b-sides, though I’m sure their vault is full of great songs they didn’t use. Here are a few tracks that didn’t make their albums.

 

Deathbound (from The Hunter):

 

 
The Ruiner (from The Hunter):

 

 

White Walker (from Game Of Thrones Soundtrack:

 

 

 

Cold Dark Place EP (North Side Star, Blue Walsh, Cold Dark Place were recorded for Once More Round The Sun. Toe To Toes was recorded during Emperor Of Sand):

 

B-Sides: Foo Fighters

 

Over the course of the Foo Fighters career and nine albums, they have accumulated quite a few B-sides. Some of these songs are quite awesome and others you can hear why they were left off the records. None the less, you should check out these tracks. You might find some that you really dig.

B Sides: Nine Inch Nails

It’s really interesting to think about all the B-sides a band has. A lot of the time the songs that didn’t make the album are actually really good but just didn’t fit in the scheme of things. The other day while in the car with my wife, the Nine Inch Nails song “Non- Entity” came on and it got me thinking about all the songs that Trent has written over the years that didn’t get put on albums or even released. So naturally I went on a binge of listening to all the B-sides, covers and unreleased tracks by Nine Inch Nails that I could. Here are a bunch of my favorites.