Welcome to Sky Valley
Encyclopedia
Welcome to Sky Valley is the third studio album by American stoner rock/metal
band Kyuss
, originally released on June 28, 1994.
after the recording of Kyuss' previous album, Blues for the Red Sun
. Welcome to Sky Valley was the last to feature founding member Brant Bjork
for 16 years until his return.
The song "N.O." was originally recorded by Across The River, a band fronted by Mario Lalli
and featuring bassist Reeder. After Reeder left The Obsessed
and joined Kyuss, Bjork suggested they record "N.O." as a tribute to Across The River.
On compact disc
, Welcome to Sky Valley was originally released with three tracks containing its ten total songs, with an additional, fourth hidden track. It was later re-released with all ten tracks separated individually. However, most commercially-sold versions of the compact disc contain the three tracks, a setup which is meant to encourage listeners to experience it as a full album instead of as a collection of separate songs. Guitarist Josh Homme claimed in an interview that the band "just wanted it to be like hell to play on a CD player". The album's liner notes instruct the listener to "Listen without distraction".
The band Tool
covered "Demon Cleaner" during a show at the Hollywood Palladium
, with bassist Reeder joining them onstage during the performance.
The song also features on Guitar Hero: Metallica
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
band Kyuss
Kyuss
Kyuss is a rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. After forming in the late 1980s and releasing an EP under the name Sons of Kyuss in 1990, the band shortened its name to Kyuss. Over the next five years the band released four full-length albums, and one last split EP in 1997 with...
, originally released on June 28, 1994.
Album information
Welcome to Sky Valley was recorded in early 1993, but due to the collapse of the band's record label (Dali), its release was delayed until mid-1994. It was the first Kyuss album to feature bassist Scott Reeder, who replaced the departing Nick OliveriNick Oliveri
Nick Steven Oliveri is an American musician from Palm Desert, California. He plays bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and is a vocalist...
after the recording of Kyuss' previous album, Blues for the Red Sun
Blues for the Red Sun
Blues for the Red Sun is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Kyuss, released in 1992. While the album received mainly favorable reviews, it sold only 39,000 units....
. Welcome to Sky Valley was the last to feature founding member Brant Bjork
Brant Bjork
Brant Bjork is an American musician from Palm Desert, California, who is a drummer, producer, guitarist and one of the more notable figures in the stoner rock and Palm Desert scenes.-Early career and Kyuss:...
for 16 years until his return.
The song "N.O." was originally recorded by Across The River, a band fronted by Mario Lalli
Fatso Jetson
Fatso Jetson is an American desert rock band from the Palm Desert, California area, formed in 1994 by ex-Yawning Man members Mario and Larry Lalli, along with Tony Tornay. The Lalli cousins are often credited as the fathers of the desert strain of stoner rock later made famous by bands such as...
and featuring bassist Reeder. After Reeder left The Obsessed
The Obsessed
The Obsessed is a doom metal band from Maryland led by Scott "Wino" Weinrich, who also fronted Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan, Place of Skulls, The Hidden Hand and W.I.N.O.. Formed in 1976, they first split up in 1986 when Wino Saint Vitus, but reformed four years later...
and joined Kyuss, Bjork suggested they record "N.O." as a tribute to Across The River.
On compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, Welcome to Sky Valley was originally released with three tracks containing its ten total songs, with an additional, fourth hidden track. It was later re-released with all ten tracks separated individually. However, most commercially-sold versions of the compact disc contain the three tracks, a setup which is meant to encourage listeners to experience it as a full album instead of as a collection of separate songs. Guitarist Josh Homme claimed in an interview that the band "just wanted it to be like hell to play on a CD player". The album's liner notes instruct the listener to "Listen without distraction".
The band Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
covered "Demon Cleaner" during a show at the Hollywood Palladium
Hollywood Palladium
The Hollywood Palladium is a theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, Art Deco style and includes an 11,200 square foot dance floor with room for up to 4,000 people.-History:...
, with bassist Reeder joining them onstage during the performance.
The song also features on Guitar Hero: Metallica
Guitar Hero: Metallica
Guitar Hero: Metallica is a music video game developed by Neversoft and distributed by Activision. The game was released in North America on the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 on March 29, 2009 and on PlayStation 2 on April 14, 2009, with a European release in May 2009...
Track listing
- Movement I – 17:46 (Josh Homme, Brant BjorkBrant BjorkBrant Bjork is an American musician from Palm Desert, California, who is a drummer, producer, guitarist and one of the more notable figures in the stoner rock and Palm Desert scenes.-Early career and Kyuss:...
)
- "GardeniaGardenia (Kyuss song)"Gardenia" is a song by Kyuss first released on their 1994 album Welcome to Sky Valley. It was written by the band's drummer, Brant Bjork.-Accolades:-Tracklisting:# "Gardenia" - 6:53# "Un Sandpiper" - 8:16...
" – 6:54 - "Asteroid" – 4:49
- "Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop" – 6:04
- Movement II – 14:50 (Homme, Scott Reeder)
- 4. "100°" – 2:29
- 5. "Space Cadet" – 7:02
- 6. "Demon Cleaner" – 5:19
- Movement III – 18:19 (Homme, Bjork, Reeder, Mario LalliFatso JetsonFatso Jetson is an American desert rock band from the Palm Desert, California area, formed in 1994 by ex-Yawning Man members Mario and Larry Lalli, along with Tony Tornay. The Lalli cousins are often credited as the fathers of the desert strain of stoner rock later made famous by bands such as...
)
- Movement III – 18:19 (Homme, Bjork, Reeder, Mario Lalli
- 7. "Odyssey" – 4:19
- 8. "Conan Troutman" – 2:12
- 9. "N.O." – 3:47
- 10. "Whitewater" – 9:00
- 11."Lick Doo" – 0:57 (hidden track)
Promo tracklisting
- "GardeniaGardenia (Kyuss song)"Gardenia" is a song by Kyuss first released on their 1994 album Welcome to Sky Valley. It was written by the band's drummer, Brant Bjork.-Accolades:-Tracklisting:# "Gardenia" - 6:53# "Un Sandpiper" - 8:16...
" – 6:50 (Brant Bjork) - "Asteroid" – 4:50 (Josh Homme)
- "Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop" – 6:03 (Josh Homme)
- "100°" – 2:29 (Josh Homme)
- "Space Cadet" – 7:02 (Josh Homme/Scott Reeder)
- "Demon Cleaner" – 5:19 (Josh Homme)
- "Odyssey" – 4:19 (Josh Homme)
- "Conan Troutman" – 2:12 (Josh Homme)
- "N.O." – 3:48 (Mario Lalli/Scott Reeder)
- "Whitewater" – 8:58 (Brant Bjork/Josh Homme)
Personnel
Kyuss:-
- John GarciaJohn Garcia (singer)John Garcia is a vocalist who has been a member of Kyuss, Slo Burn, Unida and Hermano. His vocals have become synonymous with modern stoner rock and the desert rock sound.-Kyuss:...
- Vocals - Brant BjorkBrant BjorkBrant Bjork is an American musician from Palm Desert, California, who is a drummer, producer, guitarist and one of the more notable figures in the stoner rock and Palm Desert scenes.-Early career and Kyuss:...
- Drums - Josh Homme - Guitars
- Scott Reeder - Bass
- John Garcia
- Lead guitar on "N.O." by Mario LalliFatso JetsonFatso Jetson is an American desert rock band from the Palm Desert, California area, formed in 1994 by ex-Yawning Man members Mario and Larry Lalli, along with Tony Tornay. The Lalli cousins are often credited as the fathers of the desert strain of stoner rock later made famous by bands such as...
- Produced by Chris GossChris Goss (U.S.)Christopher Ryan Goss, born August 17, 1958, is an American record producer and musician.-Selected discography:Throughout his career Goss has worked with a wide range of musicians in various genres.* 1988 - Masters of Reality by Masters of Reality...
& KyussKyussKyuss is a rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. After forming in the late 1980s and releasing an EP under the name Sons of Kyuss in 1990, the band shortened its name to Kyuss. Over the next five years the band released four full-length albums, and one last split EP in 1997 with... - Engineered & mixed by Joe BarresiJoe BarresiJoe Barresi is an American record engineer and producer who has worked with bands such as Kyuss, The Melvins, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Coheed and Cambria, Tomahawk, L7, The Jesus Lizard, Parkway Drive and Bad Religion.-Biography:...
- Assistant engineers: Jeff Sheehan, Wade Norton, Alexe Campbell
- Additional engineering: Brian Jenkins
- Recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, CA
- Mixed at NRG Studios, North Hollywood, CA
- Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Futuredisc Systems, Hollywood, CA
- Photography: Alex Solca
- Art Direction: Skiles
- Additional percussion on "Asteroid" by Peter Moffet
- Additional peculiar background vocals: Scott Reeder, Josh Homme & Madman Of Encino