Kyuss - Blues for the Red Sun (Review: Dan)

I was downloading Kyuss when it was uploaded so I guess that was fortunate. I was downloading it because I was doing a bit of Josh Homme research, just because he's an interesting fella I suppose and he has done quite a lot.

I'm annoyed at the genre tag of 'stoner rock'. I didn't know what that means before I listened and I still don't really understand now. I don't know who the vocalist for Kyuss is or what he's doing now...I think nothing of any value to the music industry today, which is no real surprise. He isn't very good really, but I think it depends. I hate him on Thong Song, absolutely dire...

Matt (Stanley) said to me that after just the first two tracks you can tell it's a Homme record but...I don't know if I could. In fairness I'd never listened to a full one prior to this week, so I guess this felt like a bit of a treat. In terms of Homme's guitarwork, it's fantastic. He's a really good player, and he has really done well to get to where he is today. I don't know who the mainman of Kyuss is but they have also done a great job on this album. It's got a fantastic flow to it, and it all feels connected by its series of magnificent instrumentals.

Opening title 'Thumb' is a pretty decent song, it's one of the better vocal tracks and it's got a good bit of music behind it. The song 'Mondo Generator' is also a good one, and I am also aware that Nick Oliveri (bass) named one of his other bands after this song. I listened to a song of theirs, it wasn't very good though.

Standout track for me is 'Writhe'. I think this is the track which says everything about Kyuss. Well, certainly the way I see them. I think the vocal style is best this way, and it's got a decent riff and it makes a good listen.

Even though Kyuss exists no more, I think it was probably just a great stepping stone for Josh Homme to make himself one of the better known guitarists of today's music generation. I certainly prefer Blues for the Red Sun to what I've heard from Queens of the Stone Age's 'Songs for the Deaf'.
Overall I'd score the album a 4/5. A decent album, I'd recommend it to any one on this blog. Although I think the Chief just did that...

Dan

Highlights:
All of the Instrumentals
Writhe
Thumb