siLLy puPPy PIKE 123 - SCROLL OF VEGETABLE is the 21st album released by BUCKETHEAD in 2015. This one follows suit in the PIKE world and clocks in near the 30 minute mark at 28:31. Yet another instrumental rocker with chicken lover playing all instruments. This one has four tracks.

The first track “Nest Boxes” is an energetic rocker not unlike many of the other PIKES. This one clocks in at 7:52 and has a metal riffing that reminds me of early albums, like way back with his debut “Bucketheadland.” Has a kinda recycled feel to it and not really diggin’ it. Sounds stale and like he’s desperate for ideas. Nothing interesting really happens in the entire run.

Second track “Pirate Treasure” sounds as exotic as a Captain Cook adventure around the pre-industrial world, but….. it’s NOT! It’s a boring instrumental rocker that lasts 9:19 too long! Bascially a boring riff accompanied by bass and drums with a slight tinge of distortion and a whole heap of mediocrity. Yawn.

Track three is “Perchment” and this one rocks! Great metal riffage with a nice thrashy veneer. The energy is high and is accompanied by nice guitar, bass and drums with a semi-proggy delivery. The riffs are galloping through the pastures of the metal world but unfortunately only lasts 1:45.

Track four is the title track and starts off with an electronically induced guitar riff that sounds pretty cool. It alternates with other riffs and is mid-tempo and has a rather clean guitar tone. A rather common sound in the BUCKETHEAD repertoire but because of the combo effect of the riffage, sound effects and just plain ingenuity makes this my fave of the album. It just has a sustaining entertainment value that i’m truly diggin’ like a mole in the Great Plains of Kansas.

Like most of the PIKEs this one has great parts and lame parts. Really the only track i really love is the finale title track. The rest is ok but nothing to get excited about. BUCKETHEAD is really hard to rate but somebody’s gotta do it so F—K it. 3 stars