Buckethead

5 13 10 31 (2017/18)
I forgot I ordered this honestly. My anticipation died down considerably after the near 6 month delay and the online reviews, but that might've been a blessing in disguise because that was enough time to get over the fact that this isn't much more than a glorified Pike.

With all that being said, this was a lot better than I expected. It's a clearly a Halloween-y album, which can be incredibly hit or miss, but here I think he effectively combined creepy atmospheric moments with guitar goodness. I love the use of organ all over this album. There are some genuinely sinister moments that are also musically satisfying. Then there are moments that are purely atonal noise, but it works because it is all mixed with riffings. One second Buckethead will be playing an evil organ riff, then it'll be a few seconds of noises, then some shredding, then some funky slap bass. It's great! There's also a funky synthesizer solo in there that is so tasty. One thing I've complained about with the Pikes is how I wish Buckethead would collaborate with other musicians or expand his instrumental palette. He does the latter on this album and it's a much welcomed change of pace.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with 5 13 10 31. It does feel like a Pike, but it does seem a little more thought out than a Pike. It's a little more creative, a little more sonically satisfying, and a little more coherent than some of his other long form pieces. Yes it is a little disjointed, but it actually seems purposely disjointed and all the parts at least complement each other.

The vinyl itself is an OK package. I really dig the album artwork. The record just comes in a generic sleeve and the sides aren't labelled anywhere other than the matrix (I didn't think to check the matrix until after listening and realized I listened to the two sides in reverse order, oh well). Record was a little dirty but easy to clean. The rollout and promotion of this album was a joke, but the music is great and that's all that matters. One of the best things he's done recently.
 
Glad you liked it. I wonder, now that the vinyl is out, whether he'll make the download available somwehere. Would be a unique release if he does choose to list it on Bandcamp; everything online made available through the Pikes/Bandcamp portal has been exclusively a Pikes release. Maybe he'll start making all the other own-label stuff available digitally through Bandcamp too; that would be a smart move.
 
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Not a lot of footage (people tend to gravitate towards posting videos of tracks/songs they know) but there are reports/videos of some pretty deep cuts being played by Bucket on tour right now; a few Pike tracks as well as a few other real surprises e.g.

Ghosts of Broken Eggs ~ Pike #101 - The Hollow Hills
Coupon ~ Pike #234 - Coupon
Fourneau Cosmique ~ Pike #274 - Fourneau Cosmique
Griffin's Spike ~ Pike #3 - 3' Clearance
Dawn Appears ~ A Real Diamond in the Rough
Bachethead ~ Electric Sea
Baptism of Solitude ~ Electric Tears
Botnus ~ Enter the Chicken
Wondering ~ Colma

First few dates reported same-old-same-old in terms of setlist; but he seems to be adding more & more tracks as the tour progresses. Interesting...
 
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The same kinda thing as Forensic Follies, only this time he succeeds a bit more with it. Not a boring release, but not as good as his prime cuts.

Rating: 6.8/10

Somehow I skipped over A Real Diamond In The Rough, so I'm going to go back to that one. I hear that it's gonna be mind-blowing...
 
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It was not mind-blowing. It was, however, very good. No real stand-outs, and the album itself isn't much of a stand-out compared to some of the others, but it's certainly an enjoyable listen. Better than the last two I heard. Good stuff, a little overrated but I get why people like it.

Rating: 8/10
 
As someone over at Buckethead.TK said:
...far and away best show iv seen in 10 yrs. oscar got plucked out of the crowd to do soothsayer encore while bucket hit the foot pedals for him, craziest shit iv ever seen!!!!!!"
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He can play; he's not just some random. But I don't know how Buckethead knows who he is or recognised him in the audience. By all accounts it was totally spontaneous & unorganised. Still, that was cool as fuck of him to do that.
 
CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
Not a lot of footage (people tend to gravitate towards posting videos of tracks/songs they know) but there are reports/videos of some pretty deep cuts being played by Bucket on tour right now; a few Pike tracks as well as a few other real surprises e.g.

Ghosts of Broken Eggs ~ Pike #101 - The Hollow Hills
Coupon ~ Pike #234 - Coupon
Fourneau Cosmique ~ Pike #274 - Fourneau Cosmique
Griffin's Spike ~ Pike #3 - 3' Clearance
Dawn Appears ~ A Real Diamond in the Rough
Bachethead ~ Electric Sea
Baptism of Solitude ~ Electric Tears
Botnus ~ Enter the Chicken
Wondering ~ Colma

First few dates reported same-old-same-old in terms of setlist; but he seems to be adding more & more tracks as the tour progresses. Interesting...
Click to expand...
Oh my, the Pikes deep cuts just keep on coming!




 
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CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
Not a lot of footage (people tend to gravitate towards posting videos of tracks/songs they know) but there are reports/videos of some pretty deep cuts being played by Bucket on tour right now; a few Pike tracks as well as a few other real surprises e.g.

Ghosts of Broken Eggs ~ Pike #101 - The Hollow Hills
Coupon ~ Pike #234 - Coupon
Fourneau Cosmique ~ Pike #274 - Fourneau Cosmique
Griffin's Spike ~ Pike #3 - 3' Clearance
Dawn Appears ~ A Real Diamond in the Rough
Bachethead ~ Electric Sea
Baptism of Solitude ~ Electric Tears
Botnus ~ Enter the Chicken
Wondering ~ Colma

First few dates reported same-old-same-old in terms of setlist; but he seems to be adding more & more tracks as the tour progresses. Interesting...
Click to expand...
For reference:



And I suppose I better start taking a note of these tracks; particularly the Pikes tracks before I forget...

Griffin's Spike ~ Pike #3 - 3' Clearance [2011]
Claymation Courtyard ~ Pike #51 - Claymation Courtyard [2014]
Shaded Ray ~ Pike #121 - Shaded Ray [2015]
Herbie Climbs a Tree ~ Pike #156 - Herbie Climbs a Tree [2015]
Ghosts of Broken Eggs ~ Pike #101 - The Hollow Hills [2014]
Coupon ~ Pike #234 - Coupon [2016]
Fourneau Cosmique ~ Pike #274 - Fourneau Cosmique [2018]

Wondering ~ Colma [1998]
Baptism of Solitude ~ Electric Tears [2002]
Fountains of the Forgotten ~ The Cuckoo Clocks of Hell [2004]
Botnus ~ Enter the Chicken [2005]
Dawn Appears ~ A Real Diamond in the Rough [2009]
Bachethead ~ Electric Sea [2012]
 
So... apparently Howie D of Backstreet Boys was randonly in the audience at Buckethead's Houston gig yesterday. Cue impromptu duet of I Want It That Way which Buckethead sounds like he doesn't quite know, despite covering it last tour with Brain & Brewer...



:lol:
 
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This was an absolutely lovely album. One of my favorites, certainly. Most of his mellow stuff have always had a little something off, but he got closest to perfection here.

Rating: 9/10
 
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