Welcome to Sky Valley (also known as Sky Valley and Kyuss) is the third studio album by the rock band Kyuss. It was released on June 28, 1994, through Elektra and Chameleon Records. Welcome to Sky Valley was recorded in early 1993 and scheduled for release in January 1994. They sneak-previewed the completed album at Foundations Forum 93 and contributed the song “Demon Cleaner” to the sampler disc. Due to mild success from their previous album, Kyuss had been promoted from their subsidiary record label “Dali” to the main label “Chameleon”. On November 11, 1993, Chameleon Records abruptly shut down. Their joint-venture partner Elektra quickly picked up the band and scheduled the album for release in March 1994. The album was then delayed for another three months after that, eventually being released almost a year after being initially recorded.
Welcome to Sky Valley has been described as stoner rock and stoner metal. This is the first Kyuss album to feature bassist Scott Reeder, who replaced Nick Oliveri in 1992. Welcome to Sky Valley was the last to feature founding member Brant Bjork. 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.
Tracklist:
I
- Gardenia
- Asteroid (instrumental)
- Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop
II
- 100
- Space Cadet
- Demon Cleaner
III
- Odyssey
- Conan Troutman
- N.O. (originally performed by Across the River)
- Whitewater
- Lick Doo (Hidden track)
Kyuss
John Garcia: lead vocals, producer
Josh Homme: guitar, backing vocals, producer
Scott Reeder: bass, acoustic bass in “Space Cadet”, backing vocals, producer
Brant Bjork: drums, producer
Additional performers
Peter Moffett: additional percussion on “Asteroid”
“Madman of Encino”: backing vocals
Mario Lalli: lead guitar on “N.O.”
Production
Chris Goss: producer
Joe Barresi: recording engineer, mixing engineer
Jeff Sheehan: assistant engineer
Wade Norton: assistant engineer
Alexe Campbell: assistant engineer
Brian Jenkins: additional engineering
Eddy Schreyer: mastering engineer
Artwork
Alex Solca: photography
Skiles: art director
