Kyuss Albums (4)
'...And the Circus Leaves Town'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 11
Label Elektra
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
As their swan song Kyuss left the hard rock community with a densely recorded album of their trademark sound. It's just unfortunate they didn't try to experiment more as they did on their previous works, Sky Valley and Blues For The Red Sun. Instead they relied on similar formats. Luckily the production and performances are top notch and the layers of sound create a wall of distortion that even outdoes the band's own catalogue. And unlike those past records ...And the Circus Left Town has a number of tracks that are catchy and almost seem formatted for the radio, "One Inch Man" and "El Rodeo." They just don't impress after two other landmark albums. ~ David Thomas, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After creating a classic with their second album, Blues for the Red Sun, desert metal gods Kyuss faced the unenviable task of delivering the goods once again for a new label, Elektra Records. And they almost pulled it off with 1994's stellar Welcome to Sky Valley. The album's 13 songs are divided into three "suites" which fully display the band's impressive creative range, from furious metal to psychedelic grooves, and anything in between. The first and most consistent of these suites starts with the huge guitar riff of "Gardenia" (which resembles molten lava flowing down the side of a volcano), continues into the moody space jam instrumental "Asteroid," and culminates in the strangely titled yet superbly diverse "Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop." Other highlights include the solid thrashing of "100 Degrees," the prog rock instrumental "Whitewater," and the rather mellow (by Kyuss standards) "Demon Cleaner." But no song exemplifies the Kyuss sound as well as the aptly titled "Odyssey," which opens suite number three and provides a veritable blueprint of the band's unique combination of ingredients. The track begins with a cryptic melody, explodes into a ferocious riff, glides into a psychedelic bridge, then returns to full-throttle for its conclusion. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
'Blues for the Red Sun'
Release Date 1/1/1992
Tracks 14
Label Chameleon
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
With Josh Homme's guitar tuned down two whole steps to C, and plugged into a bass amp for maximum distortion, stoner metal pioneers Kyuss achieve a major milestone in heavy music with their second album, 1992's Blues for the Red Sun. Producer Chris Goss masterfully captures the band's unique heavy/light formula, which becomes apparent as soon as the gentle but sinister intro melody gives way to the chugging main riff in the opener, "Thumb." This segues immediately into the galloping "Green Machine," which pummels forward inexorably and even features that rarest rock & roll moment: a bass solo. "Thong Song" alternates rumbling guitar explosions with almost complete silence, and "Mondo Generator" plays like an extended acid trip. The slow build of the epic "Freedom Run" and the driving "Allen's Wrench" are also highlights, and though the album is heavy on instrumentals, these actually provide a seamless transition from song to song. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Hindsight is always 20/20, but Kyuss' promising debut album, 1991's Wretch, was completely ignored by media and public. This is quite understandable, as a paltry production job fails to capture the band's earth-shaking guitar rumble, and only repeated listens allow full appreciation of the band's developing songwriting skills. The album's finest moments find the band in mid-pace, locking onto massive grooves on "I'm Not," "Big Bikes," and the awesome "Son of a Bitch." While less impressive, they still manage to inject memorable hooks and catchy riffs into full-tilt thrashers such as "Love Has Passed Me By," "Isolation," and the especially savage "Hwy 74." ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
