Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Best in a While, January 26, 2006
I'm surprised by how negative people are being in response to this. People seem to expect that everything Buckethead does needs to be one big, long superhuman guitar solo. Well, plenty of that is here and if you want way more where that came from you've got Metatron, Cobra Strike, and on and on. What impresses me about this one is the range. It starts out with "We Are One" with Serj Tankian on vocals. Buckethead's robotic rhythms lend themselves perfectly to Tankian's manic themes, leading me to wish that Tankian would stay put with Buckethead, as I like this better than anything that System of a Down does. Then there is "Running from the Light," which evokes gospel singing and has something of the tender side of Buckethead that we heard on Colma. I like "Coma," another softer one, even better: the morbid lyrical theme works well. Then there is the prime death metal contained on "Funbus" and "The Hand." The vocalists on these really capture the insanity that should go with Buckethead at his wildest; Maximum Bob on "The Hand" is especially incoherent, sounding like someone who should be institutionalized (still can't figure out why his hand has the meaning to him that it does).
While this record doesn't necessarily blow your mind on a continuous basis, it is certainly a highly enjoyable and versatile piece to blast while you are in the car. I haven't enjoyed a Buckethead piece as much in years.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fingercrackin' Good, May 3, 2006
Buckethead refuses to be pigeonholed, except when temporarily joining washed up arena metal acts, and as a result most of the record-buying public has no idea what he's really about. Buckethead's longtime fans also don't know too much about this mysterious virtuoso, but his terrifyingly innovative and innovatively terrifying guitar work is a must for music lovers of the troubled-loner or misunderstood-genius persuasions. Buckethead is a master of many genres on guitar, most of them loud and scary, and his wide-ranging and earshredding licks can be deemed as bizarre as his getup, or as evidence of an evil genius at work. This album features a slew of cutting-edge singers to back up Buckethead's wall of guitar skronk, most notably System of a Down's Serj Tankian, who also produced. The singers add some structure that brings Buckethead's traditional instrumental strategy into the somewhat more easily understood realm of concise songs, and this new strategy actually works in building appreciation for his guitar mastery. Noteworthy tracks early on this album include the very SOAD-like aggro-angst of "We Are One" and the slightly electronica and very creepy "Three Fingers." The middle of the album unexpectedly mellows out with three very believable power ballads in which Buckethead shows some surprise sensitivity, culminating in the majestic "Waiting Hare." The final three tracks bring back the full-on guitar terror, and the fearsome genre-smashing groove of "Nottingham Lace" is a pinnacle of Buckethead's lifetime of guitar near-godhood. Not bad for a weirdo who can barely see through that mask. [~doomsdayer520~]
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buckethead is a madman, January 4, 2006
This album is absolutely amazing. While some older fans may be offended by this album (not all, but some), this album is definitely worth checking out. In terms of music, it serves as a perfect counterpoint to lighter, more shred-dependent albums like the classic Monsters And Robots. This album is actually more heavy, and is getting into very deep metal. However, thrown into the mix for good measure are other types of music to create the biggest melting pot of music you're ever likely to experience in an album whose length clocks in at a mere 41:24. Here are the tracks:
1.) and 2.) Intro/We Are One- This is basically one track, and will be reviewed as such. Here we have perhaps one of the greatest tracks on the album, and definitely a very heavy track indeed. Buckethead shows off all his talent here, from shredding to ripping to grinding to just plain noise. Serj's vocals perfectly fit the song, and most of the ambience in the song is not effects, but actually Serj's vocal overdubs. Very cool track, and the intro is also a nice touch. 5/5
3.) Botnus- From the heaviness of the last track comes death metal. Efrem Schulz provides death metal vocals over Buckethead's massive riffs. As a person who is not a fan of death metal, I found myself strangely drawn into this tune. Also strange, this song's "bridge", where Buckethead plays a soft guitar passage after the word "serenity", this song, perhaps the heaviest on the album, contains one of the softest and most beautiful music passages on the album. Truly a great tune, even for people who aren't fans of death metal. 5/5
4.) Three Fingers- A rap song, Bucket-style. With loops flying and guitar a'blazin', Saul Williams speaks and sings compelling vocals over a Buckethead attack of notes. Has to be heard to be believed. 5/5
5.) Running From The Light- Not for every fan, certainly. I'd put it as perhaps the most commercial song on the album, as if I heard it on commercial radio and didn't know it was Bucket, I'd probably hit the kill switch. Still, the song is fantastic, and makes for a great listen. 4/5
6.) Coma- Beauty. The vocals by Serj and Azam Ali are absolutely compelling and wonderful over Buckethead's arpeggios. Dan Monti's drum effects are also very well suited to this beautiful tune. Highly recommended. 5/5
7.) Waiting Hare- Serj and Shana Halligan sing awesome lyrics- Shana the verses, both the pre-chorus, and Serj the chorus- as Buckethead plays swaying ambience into a Tom Morello-esque chorus. This is probably the best song on the album, next to We Are One, Coma and Nottingham Lace. 5/5
8.) Interlude- A cute little ditty that gets its own piece, unlike Intro/We Are One, because its so off in a different direction. It's very nice, with a mandolin and a voice singing some very sappy lyrics. Makes for a good time, 5/5 for what it is: an interlude.
9.) Funbus- Probably my least favorite song on the album. Yes, there is shredding, but its very out of place on this album, and the growling chorus and twistedly fast verses are very hard to groove to. Although the "why has humor died in music" part is fantastic, the track is just too weak in my opinion. 2/5
10.) The Hand- One of my personal favorites on the album. Maximum Bob is an absolute freak, and Buckethead's tapping and shredding insanity does nothing to comfort one during the barrage of twisted vocals emerging from the man's mouth. The mix of the chaos of the track over the top of the intro from the beginning of the album is almost too crazy to be true. When Maximum Bob laughs, chills will run down your spine, as its coming from an absolutely insane place. The middle section feels like a fun house from hell, as Bob rambles to himself while Buckethead performs guitar pyrotechnics, and an opera singing tops the chillingly terrifying cake. Truly something to hear. 5/5
11.) Nottingham Lace- A Buckethead classic. I have loved this song ever since it was available as a download from Buckethead's website, and I am glad it has finally found a place on an album. After all the guest vocalists and musicians, its fantastic to hear a truly solo Buckethead track, where he is allowed to stretch out and show off his abilities over a compelling guitar loop. Buckethead at his best. 5/5
Overall, a wonderful album. Give it a listen, its more than worth the price.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
And an extra order of biscuits....
This CD is one of the most unique and suprising albums Ive ever heard. At turns it is beautiful, melodic, grinding, upbeat, downbeat, fast, slow, soothing, aggravating, perfect,...
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Published on December 24, 2005 by Killer Shrike
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~ Buckethead
~ Buckethead
~ Buckethead
~ Buckethead
~ Buckethead
by Buckethead 
