So tomorrow I will dive into the pikes, but first some thoughts on Buckethead's pre-Pikes discography:
First of all, just getting this far is a pretty big achievement for me. I remember when I first discovered Buckethead, before the Pikes started, I thought his discography was huge. I hadn't discovered the likes of Frank Zappa or Devin Townsend or other highly prolific artists, so 25+ albums was an insane amount. I always wanted to marathon his discography sometime, but once he started doing the Pikes I pretty much gave up on that idea.
The biggest surprise for me was how consistent he was. It takes awhile for the high quality albums to come, but once they do they're pretty much all good with only a few clunkers. I enjoyed almost everything after Bermuda Triangle. With the exception of his early electronic period, you really can't divide Buckethead into eras the way you can with someone like Zappa. He shifts gears a lot and there isn't much obvious progression from album to album. This can be frustrating as there are some ideas I would've liked to see him build on. On the other hand, it keeps things interesting.
You can group his albums based on styles. This might make it easier for the aspiring Buckethead fan. Here are my recommended albums for each style:
The "Traditional" Buckethead
This is the shred based guitar oriented music Buckethead is best known for. The majority of his work could fall into this category, even some of the stuff I've placed in other categories. But I'm mainly focused on heavier, riff driven stuff.
Giant Robot - This might be nostalgia talking, as he has better albums, but this album had a charm that I was disappointed never really returned in his music. There's some interesting music in here with a lot of variety. Come for his rendition of Star Wars, stay for the infectious Binge and Grab.
Crime Slunk Scene - This has one of his most famous tracks: Soothsayer. Like Island of Lost Minds, it focuses on catchy riffs and great guitar playing.
Albino Slug - This is one of his most diverse albums. He displays a lot of different styles here and even incorporates his mellow side more, which was separate for a long time. This is a really good one to start with if you want to hear Buckethead's range as a musician.
The Mellow Buckethead
This is the side of Buckethead I like best. He writes great riffs, but his more acoustic sounding stuff just can't be beat. He really sets a great mood with these albums. I recommend listening to them all, but I'll limit myself to three:
Colma - This is probably the best known of this group, probably because it came out first. A very calming but dark album.
Electric Tears - Recommending for Sketches of Spain, but there's so much great music here. Much more hypnotic than Colma.
Captain EO's Voyage - The last album I listened to. This one does feel like a musical journey. Some of the most ethereal music I've ever heard. Really captures the emptiness of space.
The Electronic Buckethead
This is my least favorite side of Buckethead. I love electronic music, but I don't think he's good at it. That being said:
Funnel Weaver - Check this one out for a taste of his electronic side. It gives you a nice sampling of that style in the form of 50 short tunes. Nothing overstays its welcome and there are some interesting ideas throughout the album. Give it a try and if you're interested there are several albums from this period to check out.
The Experimental Buckethead
Of course Buckethead is also known for occasionally dabbling in the avant-garde. This stuff isn't going to be for everyone, but he has some interesting ideas in these albums.
Kaleidoscalp - This album had an interesting concept. it revolves around Buckethead manipulating the circuits on instruments to create sound effects over the music. There's some weird stuff on here and it gets old after awhile, but it's worth a shot anyway IMO if you want to hear his experimental side.
Forensic Follies/Needle In a Slunk Stack - These two are grouped together because they might as well be a double album. They are both an exploration in xenochrony - a technique that consists of taking parts of an existing song to create something new. It was something Frank Zappa did a lot and I find it fascinating. He creates some interesting glitchy sounds on these albums.
Spinal Clock - This one features the banjo as the main instrument instead of the guitar. It's a very dark minimalist album. Put this on if you want some creepy vibes.
Other
These are albums that are more one offs and aren't really part of any particular category.
Enter the Chicken - Most Buckethead music is instrumental, this one is mostly vocal driven. Some really good songs on here. Good introduction to Buckethead if you prefer vocals in your music.
Population Override - This is his closest venture into Jazz fusion. It's also a collaboration album which is rare for him. The synth leads add a new color to his sound that make this album stand out in a big way. One of my favorites.
The Cuckoo Clocks of Hell - The heaviest Buckethead album. This one is pure metal. If you want brutality, this is the one to go for. It's heavy, dark, abrasive, but still retains Buckethead's signature groove and melodic sense.
But he sure liked it!
