If
you're a guitar player or just someone who really loves listening to
guitar music, chances are you probably have heard about Buckethead,
the weird masked guitar virtuoso with spectacular skills on the
fretboard. But thing is, most people who've heard his music (or the
few popular ones like Jordan, Soothsayer, etc) simply categorize
Buckethead as just another shredder, playing blazing fast solos and
making weird chicken noises from his killswitch.
But
the truth is, behind the KFC bucket, behind the mask and the kung-fu,
Buckethead is one of the greatest guitar players to have walked the
Earth. Of course, the 'musician' aspect of this player frequently
gets lost behind the weird stage persona and robotic dancing, and
that's also what makes him truly underrated in the public eye. But if
you actually take the time to listen to some of his albums and pikes,
you'll discover some genuinely incredible pieces of music.
And
based on my experience (and I've heard a lot of great players over
the years), Buckethead has played some of the most tasteful,
memorable and aesthetic guitar music that you'll ever hear. Moreover,
Buckethead belongs to those rare pantheon of musicians who can cover
the entire gamut of musicality possible on the instrument—which
means he can dazzle the listener with scorching arpeggios and
breathtakingly fast licks as well as create truly evocative solos and
soulful passages by using only a few notes. That's the true measure
of musical virtuosity, right there.
But
I'll just let the music do the talking. So here are the 12
instrumental guitar tracks from Buckethead that all guitar
enthusiasts should listen to. And if you've thought earlier that
Buckethead is just another fretboard athlete from the 90's, these
tracks will change your perspective on this Nunchuck-wielding,
break-dancing Guitar Hero forever.
Sail
on Soothsayer - This track combines both sadness and beauty in a
gorgeous mix that will make you listen to it over and over again.
Buckethead also does a lot of cool, aesthetic stuff on this one. It
starts with a moody riff and follows with a long, mournful solo that
gets more soothing as it goes on. There are also some parts where it
truly feels like the guitar is crying out in sadness. That's how
emotionally powerful this track is.
Walk
on the Moon - This track is an amazing showcase of Buckethead's
composional prowess on the guitar. Remember those two-note melodies
that make up some of the most memorable musical scores in the films?
(like Jaws or The Martian). This track is similar to those
and aptly demonstrates the fact that Buckethead can create pure magic
with using only a few well-placed notes.
Night
of the Slunk - This track is one of the staple pieces of almost any
live Buckethead concert and for good reasons. Firstly, Night of the
Slunk contains perhaps the most intoxicating, addictive riff that
Buckethead has written and lastly, it also includes some truly
out-of-the-box guitar passages that you can only hear in a Buckethead
track. A truly signature piece of guitar music, Night of the Slunk
also ends with a screeching, relentlessly fast solo. So what's not to
love?
Gigan -
It starts out with a heavy, stomping riff and then quickly bursts
into some of the most wildly melodic shredding you'll ever listen.
Gigan also showcases some truly unorthodox passages that really
shifts the mood in the track, while also delivering some killer licks
in places. Even though it's really short, this track has the power to
make you hit the replay button as soon as it's over.
Ghost -
One of the best tracks in Colma, Ghost is an aesthetically charming
piece of acoustic guitar music that can hook pretty much anyone. The
whole track has a certain eerie but beautiful vibe that really grows
on the listener. If you love the acoustic guitar, you simply owe it
to yourself to listen to this track.
Electric
Sea - This track is just a pure expression of melancholic sadness, a
true rarity in the world of guitar music. There's so much emotional
beauty here, you just have to experience it. Words can't do justice
to this track, this is the kind of music you'd just want to breathe
into. A far cry from the metal infused flavors of the earlier tracks
in this list, Electric Sea is not just great guitar music, it's also
an emotionally affecting expression that truly captures Buckethead's
musical virtuosity. Don't take my word for it, just listen to those
achingly beautiful bends at 6:04.
Earth
Heals Herself - A long, introspective piece of soulful guitar music
that paints a meditative look at the continuous onslaught of human
madness on this Planet. Evocative and beautiful, poignant and
melodically rich, this track also features some really tasteful
keyboard work from Travis Dickerson, who Buckethead collaborated with
during the recording of the Population Override album. This track is
also a fitting showcase for the melodic side of Buckethead. And yes,
gotta love the moody chord progression at the start.
Padmasana -
This is one of those rare tracks that you just don't want to end. And
it's already over eleven minutes long, so that's really saying
something about the sheer musicality in this track. Just listen for
yourself.
Jordan -
Probably one of the most well-known tracks in Buckethead's entire
discograpy, but that's not why it's in this list. The reason is that
Jordan is one of the most catchiest and addictive piece of music
Buckethead has ever wrote. And yes, he also shreds like there's no
tomorrow on this one.
Soothsayer -
Ah, this is the track that first introduced me to Buckethead and it's
the kind of music that can make anyone an overnight fan. Yeah, it's
that good.
Soothsayer starts with a melodic, soothing riff and soon explodes into a visceral mix that perfectly balances both musicality and technicality. Even though Buckethead does a plethora of technical stuff here (this track features some of his fastest shredding), he always does it in service of the feel, which is the emotional core of the track. Soothsayer is essential Buckethead and shows that he's one of the very few shredders in the world who can tell emotionally compelling stories with his chops.
Machete -
Even though Buckethead has literally hundreds of genuinely great
tracks, Machete stands out as (probably) the most intoxicating one
that sounds better and better each time you listen to it. I won't
even begin to describe it with words cause it won't work and it's
best to just soak the music with your senses. More than yet another
great guitar track, Machete is just pure sonic elixir—nuanced, alive and downright unforgettable.
Nottingham
Lace - Where do I start? Nottingham Lace is kind of the
creme-de-la-creme opus among all of Buckethead's discography. Sounds
too over-the-top? Well, let's see—this track features the single
most memorable riff Buckethead has ever written and has possibly the
greatest guitar solo that he has ever recorded. Yeah, I told you it's
epic.
The
riff that kicks off this track is drenched with swagger and will get
you musically high after the first few seconds. And the solo that
starts at the 2:37 mark is pure electric adrenaline—furious,
tasteful, evocative and liberating. It's hard for a guitar solo to be
anything more, really. And it ends with a spectacular shower of
tasteful notes that will get you higher every time you listen to it.
So if there's someone you know who hasn't discovered Buckethead yet, just point him/her to this track and witness the euphoria.
Now
let's focus on the Pikes series, which are self-contained musical
adventures that sees the next level of evolution in Buckethead's
artistry. As of this writing, there are around 250 pikes, each has
the power to take the listener on a journey. While I'd suggest anyone
to go to this link to know which kind of music suits you (there are a
ton of flavors to choose from) from the pikes, I've also picked a few
of these that I think will appeal to a broad range of audience. Here
they are:
Hold
Me Forever (in memory of my mom Nancy York Carrol), Celery, Blue
Tide, Claymation
Courtyard, Rainy
Days, Cove Cloud, Backwards Chimney, Footsteps and Tucked
into Dreams.
I
hope this list serves you as a springboard to Buckethead's
discography and helps you discover some truly memorable pieces of
guitar music. I always thought that he's just too underrated and
deserves more audiences than anyone that I've ever listened to. And
that's what made me write this list, in hopes that more and more
people discover Buckethead and his music.
And
with that, this long list comes to it's end. Do you agree with this
or is there something I missed out? Shoot away in the comments
section.
Good list. I'd add tag of war from unison. His lead on the second half of the song is one of his best. Have you heard it?
ReplyDeleteNo, but I will. Is that a pike or from an album? Actually,the purpose of this list was to introduce Buckethead to new listeners who want to get into his music, kind of a musical 'launching pad' for beginners. Peace.
DeleteIt's from a Laswell album, alot like Praxis. Here it is.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/WIU4j4ll_0E
Incredible album, listen to all of it.
Just heard it, amazing. Great track with an intoxicating solo. Thank you so much for the link and I'll hear the rest of the album too. Peace.
DeleteAgreed on your list of recommended Pikes that have broad appeal. I'd also add Look Up There, Shaded Ray, Ourselves, and Sparks in the Dark.
ReplyDelete