siLLy puPPy PIKE 145 - KAREEM’S FOOTPRINT is the 44th album released by BUCKETHEAD in 2015. Within the vast swath of darkened album covers, this one stands out by being mustard yellow. BUCKETHEAD once again plays all instruments, the album is completely instrumental in a jam fashion and keeping true to the other PIKES clocks in near the half hour mark at 28:36 and five shorter tracks with only one reaching over six minutes.

This is another weird funky one. The title track starts the album off with a strange drum beat that is confusing because it sounds like a hyperactive electronica album kicking off but then the funky bass joins in and suddenly we have a very energetic funk groove going on. After a few measures the distorted guitar starts in and kind of does its thing, drops out and then starts in again with a more aggressive riff. The bass and drums play in sync and the guitar continues to drop in and out. Funky but avant-garde funk metal that is really energetic. The bass line is on fire on this one and clearly keeps the guitar at bay because it is fairly subdued throughout the 5:59 run. This one is pretty cool. Avant-electro-funk metal anyone?

Track two “Inosanto: Kali Master” clocks in at 5:57 and begins with an aggressive metal guitar riff that echoes a bit at the end of each cycle. The bass and drum (machine) are fast and heavy and a metal guitar riff alternates with an electronically manipulated guitar that changes up the tones and distortion levels. This one has some cool guitar slides, hammer ons and rip roaring shredding. This also has an industrial metal stop / start chord thing going on occasion. I like this one as well!

Track three “Jabbar’s Fly Swatter” is the longest track clocking in at 8:28. This one starts with a funky bass line and slows down the frenetic pace of the first two tracks. It begins sounding like it could be on a Parliament or Funkadelic record instead of sounding like a BUCKETHEAD track. This one eventually gets some distorted guitar behind it and then drops in and out with the funk. The track is okay but this one has too much length and not enough substance to back it up. Not really diggin’ it.

Track four “Fake Beard Fight on Macau” clocks in at 4:35 and starts out with a heavy series of metal guitar chords and then the drum machine joins in and then an echoey guitar effect. It all then turns to a echoey grungy guitar riff and then a solo. This pretty much continues and there are some strange electronic notes that do a little slide thing with power chords on guitar. This one is okay but nothing special.

Track five “Get Going Fella” is the shortest track at 3:37 and yet another funk track. Starts out with a bass line only and then drums. Bass line becomes less predictable melodically and has strange quirkiness in time sigs but is still basically funk. Grungy guitar joins in. It all repeats. This one is nothing special either.

I really like the first two tracks but the final three are pretty boring. 2.5 stars