Muchas Gracias: Best Of [Import, Original recording remastered]

Kyuss | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Wea Int'l
• ASIN: B00004XO65
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,639 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Un Sandpiper

2. Shine

3. 50 Million Year Trip (Downside Up)

4. Mudfly

5. Demon Cleaner

6. A Day Early And A Dollar Extra

7. I'm Not

8. Hurricane

9. Flip The Phase

10. Fatso Forgotso

11. El Rodeo

12. Gardenia (Live)

13. Thumb (Live)

14. Conan Troutman (Live)

15. Freedom Run (Live)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Kyuss used to play long, drugged-out heavy rock sets with their amplifiers pointed toward the desert horizon. Since their dissolution in the mid-1990s, they've achieved a near-legendary reputation. Meanwhile, band members Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri have gone on to court commercial success as narco-pop icons Queens of the Stone Age. Sadly, Muchas Gracias besmirches Kyuss' good name; much of this supposed best-of consists of a number of alternative (read: inferior) takes on Kyuss standards. Sure, the likes of "50 Million Year Trip (Downside Up)" and "Flip the Phase" offer a reasonable introduction to the down-tuned, bass-heavy grind of the stoner-rock sound. But compared with the riches for offer on their albums proper--see the mighty Blues for the Red Sun--Muchas Gracias is inadequate. --Louis Pattison

Product Description

'Odds and sods' compilation for the late lamented stoner rock pioneers. Digitally remastered and includes B-sides, live and rare tracks including, 'Un Sandpiper' (CD5 B-side), 'Shine' (7' B-side), 'Mudfly' (CD5 B-side) and live tracks taken off a limited edition version of their epic 'Sky Valley' (1994), 'El Rodeo/Gardenia', 'Thumb', 'Conan Troutman' and 'Freedom Run' plus much more. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should have been titled "Rare and Unreleased", October 9, 2000

By 

Kill the Robots (Salt Lake City, Utah USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Muchas Gracias: Best Of (Audio CD)

These are all great songs from Kyuss; however, I see this album just as a way for the label to milk whatever they can from this band. First of all, they call it "Best of..." I'm sorry, but usually a best of album is just that, the best and most known songs from a band. There are a few classics on here, but the majority of the album is comprised of songs that were never released on any Kyuss albums. They should have just called it "Rare and Unreleased", because thats what it is. These songs have been floating around on the Web and the underground for sometime now, and any 'true Kyuss fan' has already heard them all. But, this is still a good CD to have in your collection if you want the whole nice package and all. So, give in to the man and dig deep into those pockets.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Really A 'Best Of', But Interesting Nonetheless, January 1, 2007

By 

Tom Chase (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Muchas Gracias: Best Of (Audio CD)

Think of this compilation more as a point of accessibility into rare Kyuss songs, as this really isn't a collection of Kyuss' most stellar work - despite being labelled the 'best of' the band. However, that is not to say one should overlook this as it contains some previously unreleased songs, including live cuts and some works from the Kyuss/QOTSA split EP that was previously released on the now defunct Man's Ruin label. So really this album is for Kyuss fans, and will not really act as one of those accessible compilations that will spark a new casual fan.

Firstly to look at the positives of this release - the rarities. The opening track "Un Sandpiper" is a typically bluesy Kyuss song, held together with a great swaggering rhythm and some idiosyncratic jamming/noodling, especially by guitarist Josh Homme. The song was an instant hit for me, recalling the unmistakably fuzzy and epic journeys the glory albums "Blues For The Red Sun" and "Welcome To Sky Valley" ensued so effortlessly. The next track, "Shine" was released on a split single but is another rarity. This song is an all-instrumental affair, offering more of the trippy bluesy swagger but this time combined with a rather visceral and aggressively toned `chorus' section. Other standout rarity work includes the two-part "Fatso Forgetso" piece that was initially released on the now out of print Kyuss/QOTSA EP. On this album the shorter track is re-named "Flip The Phase" as opposed to "Phase II" on the original EP. The two tracks are excellent, especially "Phase I" with its slow-burning lead riff and a divine closing encompassing bongos and congas, chilled back vocals and trippy guitar playing. "Mudfly" is really a bit of filler, and seems a rather pointless waste of two minutes on a supposed `best of' album. But then, this really shouldn't be treated as your typical compilation, so I suppose it will have to do.

As for the live cuts, they are decent and enjoyable at first, but plagued by the inevitable poor recording. The mix seems a little too bass heavy, which might have been perfect in person live, but on the cd it creates a lot of unwanted distortion, and also the cymbal hits seem a little overpowering. But hell, Kyuss live cuts are rare, so hardcore fans will savour these.

Now for my biggest problem with the album, the choice of their `classic' material. From BFTRS they selected the excellent "50 Million Year Trip" which is a fine piece and encompasses everything one could want from Kyuss and furthermore stoner rock - big riffs, fuzzy tones, raspy vocals and an amazing trippy closing section. "Thumb" and "Freedom Run", the two other tracks I would pick from that album are also included. However they are in live format, which is fine for the Kyuss fan who already has the studio cuts, but really I would have liked to see these classic tunes in studio format to balance out the compilation better, and attract any potential new fans. The biggest disappointment selection wise is the sincere lack of material from "Welcome To Sky Valley", with only "Demon Cleaner" and "Gardenia" (which is live anyway) making the album, overlooking such gems as "Supa Scooper" and "Space Cadet". Their final LP, "And The Circus Leaves Town" is represented reasonably, "El Rodeo", perhaps the highlight of that album, is present here, but the inclusion of "Hurricane" over tracks such as "Phototrophic", "Catameran" and the jaw-dropping jams of "Spaceship Landing" bemuses me a little.

So really this compilation lacks a whole bunch of Kyuss' best works from their classic studio albums, but acts nicely as a means to obtain rare and unreleased gems.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You go crazy over Kyuss,you'll love this one..., December 23, 2005

By 

Blue Eyed Soul (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Muchas Gracias: Best Of (Audio CD)

As they ARE the single most unappreciated band ever to walk to earth, it's hard to find neat old recordings of their music, especially B-Sides and live stuff. This CD has both!!! It's a great buy for those who fell in love with Sky Valley, Blues For the Red Sun, and ...And the Circus Leaves Town. GET IT NOW AND BE HAPPY!!!