siLLy puPPy B U C K E T H E A D PIKE 234 - COUPON 15th album by BUCKETHEAD in 2016 (released on March 31) Clocks in at 29:47 ALL instrumental EVERYTHING performed for you by Buck-buck-buck-buckethead This one has only two long tracks

“Nail In The Clock” (13:50) starts out with distorted oddly timed guitar chords and then creates a rather theme song type of riff that falls in and out of melody while the tone changes from distorted to wah-wah-ish. It then goes on for a while alternating thrashy riffs with the post-metal type meanderings and then brings in the theme song type riff once in a while with accompanying lead guitar around it. This one is very progressive and experimental and the most interesting track i’ve heard from BUCKIE all year. This one is actually keeping me very interested as it changes up everything a lot but yet has similar variations on themes. Like nice guitar note bends, beefy bass lines and drums that follow the strange time sigs like a flock of birds in unison. The track evolves nicely into an appropriate shredding solo. Wow. This one has it all. It has atmosphere, technique and the element of surprise unlike way too many of these PIKEs lately. I’m utterly thrilled to hear something that does it for me!!!

“Coupon” (15:57) starts out slow with atmospheric ambient synth sounds and a slow guitar jangle. After a proper build up it bursts into a nice mid tempo guitar riff. The treble range is pure space rock and although a little Pink Floydish in tempo and style, sounds very different. Maybe more like a Steven Wilson solo only a little scarier with some haunting bends in tandem with a grungy bass line and nice ambient atmosphere. This one is highly melodic and the tones and effects of the instruments are quite pleasing. I’m liking this one a lot as well but it’s not nearly as wild and progressive as “Nail In The Clock.” This one is more predictable as it is a recurring melodic line over the bass and drums. Despite it being pleasing, it doesn’t change things up enough to warrant its time length. An ok but not outstanding track.

LOVE track 1 which is worth the price of admission LIKE track 2 which is nice background music but nothing out of this world