Welcome to Sky Valley

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other Template:Category handler Template:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Blues for the Red Sun1992...And the Circus Leaves Town1995studioWelcome to Sky ValleyKyuss_Welcome_to_Sky_Valley.jpgKyuss Template:Start dateEarly 1993<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Sound City (Van Nuys, California)* Stoner rock

stoner metal Template:Duration* Elektra
Chameleon* Chris Goss
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Template:Music ratings Welcome to Sky Valley<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (also known as Sky Valley and Kyuss) is the third studio album by American stoner rock band Kyuss, released on June 21, 1994, through Elektra and Chameleon Records. The album was the band's first to include Scott Reeder on bass, who replaced Nick Oliveri, and the last of theirs to include drummer Brant Bjork, who left the band shortly after recording concluded.

Background and compositionEdit

Welcome to Sky Valley was recorded in early 1993 and scheduled for release in January 1994.<ref name="Touring+promotion">Template:Cite magazine</ref> They sneak-previewed the completed album at Foundations Forum 93 and contributed the song "Demon Cleaner" to the sampler disc.<ref name="Touring+promotion"/> 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.<ref name="Touring+promotion"/> 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<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and stoner metal.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.

ReleaseEdit

On CD, Welcome to Sky Valley was originally released with its ten total songs contained in three tracks, 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".Template:Citation needed The album's liner notes instruct the listener to "Listen without distraction".

The band Tool covered "Demon Cleaner" live twice (albeit with slight lyrics changes),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> with bassist Scott Reeder joining them onstage during the performances: March 27, 1998, in Los Angeles, California, at The Hollywood Palladium,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> March 29, 1998, in San Diego, California, at The Rimac Theatre.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song is also featured in the video games Guitar Hero: Metallica and The Crew.