siLLy puPPy One of the few albums that was available only at BUCKETHEAD concerts, his 18th album and final of 2006, CRIME SLUNK SCENE is yet another collaborative effort of our favorite chicken lover along with Dan Monti and Travis Dickerson. Due to the availability only on tour, this one has become quite the collectible and a case when YouTube is your best friend despite a sold out repressing. A proposed newer pressing is supposed to happen in 2017. The CD version includes two extra tracks “Micha Gigan” and “Slunk Parade AKA Freaks In The Black” not found on the vinyl edition. I love the album cover. A SLUNK is a prematurely born animal. Look into the eyes of the chickens. They will tell you the tale of the CRIME SLUNK SCENE.

This is one of BUCKETHEAD’s more accessible albums with less focus on the avant-garde and more of a mix of funk and alternative metal styles however tracks like “Col. Austin VS Col. Sanders AKA Red Track Suit” are aggressive and thrashy but most tracks like the funky introduction “King James” are mid tempo funky metal and distorted alternative metal such as the slinking distortionfest called “Soothsayer” which sails on for just over nine minutes. “We Can Rebuild Him” adds a little avant-garde guitar workouts amidst a more recognizable alternative metal riffing approach although it does have sped up super heavy metal sections with emphasis on speed.

My favorite track is the diverse “Electronic Slight Of Hand” which manages to include a whole barrage of styles and tempos which includes alternative metal riffing, heavy thrash segments and angular avant-garde rhythm dances along with nice melodic soloing all prancing about in BUCKETHEAD’s special spastic way of delivering his jittery riffing that bounce along and even includes some sort of cool counterpoints. “Mega Giigan” is a spastic little metal masterpiece as well as it unleashes some monstrous riffs, a series of guitar squeals and simulates the famous battle with Godzilla as Tokyo is razed to the ground.

CRIME SLUNK SCENE is a continuous battle between the laid back and the hyperactive as styles shift around abruptly and unexpectedly. While many of the styles laid down would become a staple on many editions of the Pike series, the tracks on this one are exquisitely constructed to make quite the interesting listen. Easily accessible even upon first listen and just enough avant-garde touches to keep the listening experience unique and in no doubt who is performing all the jittery guitar gymnastics. Another great edition in the BUCKETHEAD universe.