Muchas Gracias (The Best Of Kyuss) [Remastered] - Kyuss > Reviews > adios

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Average
Value for Money

Advantages:	Classic
Disadvantages:	Marketed as a best of  -  what?

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Just becuase this is a shameless record company money-maker it dosen't mean you shouldn't enjoy it! Elektra clearly hoped to mug a few people with these tracks that had already appeared on Kyuss singles in the early 90s. Unlike many best of albums I've heard such as Alice In Chains (Greatest Hits) and Nirvana's recent self titled, this does not offer much for someone new to the band. The album tracks number 5 with 10 others from the back end of singles.

The album begins with Un Sandpiper, which confirms suspicions this isn't going to be easy going for newbies. An 8 minute workout on one riff is fairly typical Kyuss but not their most accesible. However for fans it will be thoroughly enjoyable.

Track 2 is Shine, a weird Scott Reeder-composed track full of odd sound effects and Josh Homme soloing then thrashing then soloing. At 6 minutes and with no lyrics it's not going to be much fun for people expecting hit single style recordings, but again if you like Kyuss its hard to dislike this.

50 Million Year Trip deserves to be on a Kyuss best of album. It comes from their '92 album "Blues For The Red Sun" and is possibly the best Kyuss track ever. The perfect riff from Homme is complemented by Nick Oliveri's bass, both spiral under John Garcia's tortured vocals while Brant Bjork drums powerfully. This is probably my favourite Kyuss lineup, not to take anything away from the members who came in as replacements on the two following albums. The track fades out beautifully.

Mudfly is another instrumental bass-hevy oddity like Shine, this is the first track to dip under 5 minutes. Disposeable perhaps but only due to the quality elsewhere. Enjoyable nonetheless.

Demon Cleaner is probably the most obvious Kyuss single, not because it has been toned down to meet pop/rock standards in terms of playing, but because it makes more sense. There are lyrics and singing, and the track builds up, theres singing then a solo. It's still Kyuss, but it follows the standard metal song structure. A masterpeice.

A Day Early A Dollar Extra is like an interlude between the mid-paced Demon Cleaner and the heavier I'm Not which follows. Quiet and contemplative.

I'm Not if from Kyuss' first major label album, "Wretch". "Wretch" was criminally underproduced compared to their later releases produced by Chris Goss from Masters Of Reality. Kyuss are more punk/metal here too, and you can tell they haven't completely developed as a band. Its a good track; if "Wretch" had been better produced it would have attained the classic status the other Kyuss albums reached.

Hurricane is from Kyuss' last studio album. It's fast and frantic, a 2 minute burst that is nonetheless heavy. One of the better short Kyuss tracks.

Flip The Phase is similar; very similar. Although it's excellent I think the two should have been split by something a bit different.

Fatso Forgetso is a tribute to Fatso Jetson, a local band who's members (especially Mario Lalli) inspired Kyuss in many ways. It's another 8 minute monster in the vein of Un Sandpiper, with lyrics thrown sparsely over endless riffing and soloing. About halfway it changes into something funky and solos its way to the finish line.

El Rodeo is another off Kyuss' last album "And The Circus Leaves Town". The intro's spanish guitar is cool (especially because it's simple enough for me to play!). The track gets heavier about 2 minutes in and the vocals start. Lyrics are as usual, they don't make a lick of sense unless you're int the right "mood". This definetly belongs on the best of.

The CD closes with 4 live trakcs that were b-sides. Gardenia, Thumb and Freedom Run are all classics and belong here in their album forms; its not that Kyuss aren't a great live band, just that live recordings almost always lack something. Conan troutman is a fair track, a bit chaotic for my tastes.

In the end Freedom run (live) if a fitting end to Muchas Gracias, and indeed to Kyuss' album career; they dissipated into bands such as Queens Of The Stone Age, Slo Burn, Unida, Hermano, Mondo Generator, Fu Manchu and many others. There were rumblings about the band reforming a while back, when Josh, Nick and Brant were together, but John Garcia seems to be the uncooperative party (I've read he is hard to work with). In the end it was a necceseary tragedy that Kyuss broke up; if it hadn't happened perhaps the world would never have heard classic tracks like "If Only" (QOTSA), "Thorn" (Unida) or King of The Road (Fu Manchu). It's just a shame this farewell leaves the listener feeling slightly ripped off.