As previously reported, three of the four original members of influential stoner-rock outfit Kyuss (basically everyone except Josh Homme) recently reunited to form Kyuss Lives!. Featuring John Garcia, Nick Oliveri, and Brant Bjork, along with guitarist Bruno Fevery, the band is currently touring Europe, and they’ve now mapped out their first U.S. performances in 15 years. Two shows have been announced for New York and Los Angeles on September 23rd and October 8th, respectively, with more dates said to be coming in the weeks ahead. The Sword will open both the New York and Los Angeles dates and tickets will go on sale Friday, April 29th.

Below, you can watch Kyuss Lives! play three three songs during a recent gig in Oslo, Norway:

Kyuss Lives! 2011 Tour Dates:
05/04 – Gold Coast, AU @ Coolangatta Hotel
05/06 – Brisbane, AU @ Tivoli
05/07 – Sydney, AU @ Luna Park Big Top
05/08 – Melbourne, AU @ Palace Theatre
05/10 – Adelaide, AU @ Fowlers
05/11 – Perth, AU @ Capitol
05/13 – Auckland, NZ @ The Powerstation
05/14 – Auckland, NZ @ The Powerstation
06/17 – Copenhagen, DK @ Copenhell Festival
06/19 – Clisson, FR @ Hellfest
06/21 – Lisbon, PT @ Incrivel Almadense
06/22 – Porto, PT @ Hard Club
06/23 – Vitoria, ES @ Azkena Rock Fest
06/24 – Merignac, FR @ Le Krakatoa
06/25 – Paris, FR @ Le Bataclan
06/26 – Imola, IT @ Sonisphere Festival
06/28 – Hannover, DE @ Capitol
06/29 – Dresden, DE @ Alter Schlachthof
06/30 – Tilburg, NL @ 013
07/01 – Luxembourg @ Rockhall
07/02 – Belfort, FR @ Les Eurockéennes
07/03 – Athens, GR @ Rockwave Fest
07/14 – Dour, BE @ Dour Festival
07/15 – Trondheim, NO @ Jorddust Festival
07/16 – Tromoso, NO @ Bukta Festival
08/02 – Lokeren, BE 2 Lokerse Feesten
08/05 – Wacken, DE @ Wacken Open Air
05/15 – Wellington, NZ @ Hunter Lounge
09/23 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
10/08 – Pomona, CA @ The Fox Theater
11/11 – Sanitago, CL @ Teatro Teleton
11/12 – Buenos Aires, AR @ Teatro Colegiales
11/13 – Sao Paolo, BR @ The Clash Club

So it’s no surprise that, now that the rest of the original lineup is reuniting, Homme won’t be joining the band. According to FasterLouder.com.au, singer John Garcia, bassisit Nick Oliveri, and drummer Brant Bjork do not share Homme’s distaste for nostalgic reunions, and have come together as Kyuss Lives for a European tour. This news comes early, thanks to a leak via the tour section of Amsterdam’s Paradiso club website (hello, March 29th).

Scott Reeder, who replaced Oliveri beginning with the band’s third album, said in 2008, “I think everyone but Josh would do it in a heartbeat. Back in the day we were always told, ‘You gotta strike while the iron’s hot,’ and Josh’s is still red hot.” Like Homme, Reeder will also not be a part of this reunion. Bruno Fevery will replace Homme on guitar.

Earlier this year, Garcia completed a “Garcia plays Kyuss” tour; in a preview of things to come, Oliveri and Bjork played with him during his set at June’s Hellfest in France.

We will update you when the dates are confirmed, and we will cross our fingers for some U.S. dates.

The basics are there, but no matter how you slice it stoners have a big hand in the music industry. For every metalhead, raver, square dancer, and b-boy there will forever be someone on this planet indulging in reefer culture and surrounding themselves with proper tunage for tokage. While we all know some of the standard inclusions on a list such as this, I’ve taken it upon myself to have them mentioned at CoS. This list is a hefty helping of both generic ganja standards and a few original endo pieces.

A few of these recordings might not surprise you at all, but while I did some research into popular selection, I also pulled from my personal stash (no pun intended) to give a distinct element to it. So without further ado, let us sit back, relax and turn the clocks to 4:20PM (or AM) for our Top 10 Stoner Albums in no particular order!

10. Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile (1999)

An atmospheric, industrial double album of the late 90s, Trent Reznor’s melancholy masterpiece is not typically labeled for its smoker use.  In fact, one could say it has potential as a shroomer recording- do not be fooled. “Just Like You Imagined” is the stand-out track to which true industrial fans get truly industrial whilst constructing MacGuyver bongs from toilet paper tubes.

9. The Doors – The Doors (1967)

If ever there was a drug culture, Jim Morrison was part of it. Mr Mojo Risin is your epitome of the beatnik hippy with his band The Doors on an album that caused much controversy over the final track, “The End”. Coincidentally, while “The End” and “Break On Through” were censored for metaphorically referencing drug use and incest – this eponymous debut is still considered a major pothead album (we can thank Jim’s twisted imagination and Manzanek’s keyboards for that).

8. Queens of the Stone Age – Rated R (2000)

Fuzzy Mudhoney guitars are prevalent and the first song “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” features only one lyric…”nicotine, Valium, vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy and alcohol – c-c-c-c-c-cocaine!”  Need I say more?

7. Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti (1975)

Someone is going to see this and ask why we didn’t mention IV. Like it or not, the classic-yet-overplayed “Stairway to Heaven” is almost too expected. While pondering this, you’ll be kind enough to remember grand stoner tracks such as “Kashmir” with Plant’s infamous guiar-turned-violin, or “Bron Yr Aur” and “Houses of the Holy”. Thank God for Zeppelin!

6. Kottonmouth Kings - Hidden Stash II (1991)

The first of many albums by California rap group Kottonmouth Kings to utilize punk rock. Why did this CD get mentioned amongst the greats? For further reference, take a listen to “Killa Kali” and “Life Rolls On”.  Nothing like straight west coastin’.

5. The Allman Brothers Band – The Allman Brothers Band (1969)

“Whipping Post” is a dead ringer for stoner rock with it’s mildly haunting introduction and psychedelic overall feel. While the album sold poorly upon initial release, this classic rock debut again makes me wonder how I’d have turned out had I been raised in a late 60s America.

4. Kyuss – Welcome to Sky Valley (1994)

Kyuss was named for a death god in Dungeons & Dragons; they play rock music for stoners; they look as if they’ve recently come off a spiritual journey through the Nevada desert.  With tracks like “Odyssey” and “Space Cadet”, how could anyone overlook this?

3. Beck – Mellow Gold (1994)

If anyone was high while writing their songs, I’d have initially placed bets on Beck. Besides the title sounding like an Acapulco knock-off, the album that brought him national attention features a sad but original attempt at rap called “Loser” while also introducing us to very eclectic multi-instrumentalist sounds some never thought existed.  What better way to spend your day far out than to listen to something so very far out in itself.

2. The Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream (1993)

If stoner rock had a subset, it would be shoegaze – a genre that made standing on stage while playing solos and staring at your Chucks a pastime. The Smashing Pumpkins (and Corgan himself) in all their fame and tragedy had a lot of impact on alternative music, and if you have never passed the blunt while “Rocket”, “Hummer”, or “Cherub Rock” was playing the background you don’t know what you’re missing! Talk about distorted collages.

1. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

Music concrete is a term meaning the use of organic or naturally occuring sounds to create music. Dark Side of the Moon made notable use of this in songs like “Time”, “Money”, and “Brain Damage”.

You know this album cover by memory, as it is associated with almost everything ganja. If you don’t believe me, note the DSOTM banner in Reuben’s room during a scene from Dazed and Confused where they’re all getting stoned. Hell, even the main character’s nickname is “Pink” Floyd! I could not say here what has not already been said about this landmark progressive rock album or the band itself, so I’ll settle with saying that this is a staple for any audiophile, dope fiend, pothead, or prog rock listener without question.

Lastly, our honorable mentions…

The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Reasons for naming this in the honorable mentions should be self-evident in the title track, alone. Someone was on something during the time it was recorded, no doubt. Sadly, this whole album was left off our countdown due to the occasional mini-freakouts it induces.

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Legend

What better way to sum up stoner music than by noting a famous reggae Rastafarian who truly believed in being able to inject happiness into the world through music? Why was this not included for our top 10?  Because reggaeton has turned a respectable genre into a club hop battleground. Rest in peace, my dear legend.

Modest Mouse – Good News For People Who Love Bad News

As radiant as this CD is, I could not in good faith post it due to what happens once you are high and begin singing “Float On” in your worst soprano – people lose their hearing and that can be dangerous.

Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Left off partially due to aforementioned deafening scenarios during the title track, and also because while I advocate free choice of sexual preference this is not an album most would play unless toking solo. My regards to Mr. Taupin.

Cypress Hill – Greatest Hits from the Bong

In a way I feel guilty for bringing up Kottonmouth Kings and not Cypress Hill, but then I remember that unlike Cypress Hill, they weren’t made a complete joke after “Rap/Rock Superstar”. They are the godfathers of stoner rap and rap-core, but be honest – how long can you really put up with B-Real’s Drescher impersonation?

In closing, I leave you with a quote by Pink Floyd from the song “Brain Damage”, off of Dark Side of the Moon:

“The lunatics are on the grass…remembering games, and daisy chains and laughs.”