siLLy puPPy PIKE 140 - HATS AND GLASSES is the 39th album released by BUCKETHEAD in 2015. A PIKE tradition now, BUCKETHEAD handles all instrument duties, the album is all instrumental and it clocks in near the 30 minute mark at 32:17. This one has two long tracks.

Track one “Hats” clocks in at 18:31 and starts out with a heavy riff with electronically embellished sound effects. In fact the sound effects that distort the guitar are a major part of this album’s charm. Like other PIKES, this one is an extended jam with riffs trading off with leads. This one has lots of progressive time sigs, tonality changes and a frenetic energetic delivery. There are some really cool transitions from metal to electronica that are really seamless showing how excellent is the production value. Although this one is kinda meh, it has a certain charm to it with a cornucopia of things that interrupt the usual alternative metal hohum. At times there is a Run-DMC type of hip hop drum beat with weird electronic embellishments accompanying it. Not bad.

Track two “Glasses” sounds like an AC / DC hard bluesy rocker! Ugh! Boring! It has some virtuosic bluesy leads but still sounds like that late 70s / early 80s hard rock thing except this goes on waaaaaay too long and of course needs some vocals. It does have some changes but pretty much sticks to the bluesy rock and metal shtick. Not bad but really not too exciting either. This has been done to death at this point in history and there is nothing on this PIKE that warrants anything special. Great background music though :)