Buckethead Pike Album Reviews
A review of Pike 131 'Down the Bayou Part One' by Buckethead, released April 29th 2015
Good evening everybody, today we're back with another glorious deep dive into guitar hero Buckethead's Pike album series, with Pike 131 'Down the Bayou Part One'. So, let's begin. Woo!!
Released April 29th 2015 Pike 131 'Down the Bayou Part One' was released 4 days after Pike 130 'Down in the Bayou Part Two', because, of course it was, it's Buckethead. And for anyone outside of America who doesn't know what a Bayou is, it's basically a swamp. Ideal for dumping a carcass.
The 4 track album kicks off with its title track and longest track, the 10 minute 'Down the Bayou Part One'. With it's slow beat, pounding drums and fairly simple but effective riffage and occasional guitar twang, the song paints the perfect picture of what its like Down the Bayou. Dark, southern, with hints of Delta blues. It might be too simple and plodding for some, but for me it has a fantastic vibe and isn't a style of song that Buckethead has explored that much, so it's a welcome change.
Track 2 'Swamplands' leads with more slow beat southern blues. There's some shades of Buddy Guy's 2001 album 'Sweet Tea' and again the guitar work is understated but is everything it needs to be to set the environment it lives in. Good stuff.
Track 3 is the 7.5 minute 'Moss'. Picking up the tempo, this one has a more upbeat vibe leading to a nice pick me up around the 4.5 minute mark. The track is a welcome shift from the previous slow beat tracks and helps the album move nicely along.
The album concludes with the almost 5 minute 'Murky Waters'. With the title possibly being a nod to Blues legend 'Muddy Waters'. Slowing things back down slightly, the solo work is more prominent and the drums and that guitar tone is perfection. Around the 2.5 minute mark Buckethead locks onto a riff and continues it for the next 2 minutes, on other occasions this could feel tiresome and repetitive, but for this album and the journey its taken us on, it works.
Overall, Pike 131 is everything it's labeled as, it's Buckethead down in the bayou playing slow southern blues. A lot of times you'll see Buckethead's album titles, cover art and song names and have no idea what they mean but with 'Down the Bayou' the albums cover art, title and song titles match the vibe of each song on the album to perfection.
Down the Bayou has a ton of character, is an understated gem and an album that I revisit often. If you're looking for flashy, jaw dropping Buckethead this isn't the album, this is Buckethead setting a scene, painting a picture and taking us along for the ride.
After adding up the rating I gave for each track, It came to an impressive 71%, which I'd categorize as Very Good .And you can find my individual song ratings & breakdown on our website natternet.com
So, what's your rating for Pike 131?
To work out what percentage you'd give the album, rate each song out of 5 stars, add up your total and divide it by the total score possible, which for Pike 131 is 20. Then times it by 100.
Pike 131 'Down the Bayou' RATINGS (out of 5)
1. Down the Bayou Part One **** (4)
2. Swamplands ***½ (3.5)
3. Moss ***¾ (3.75)
4. Murky Waters *** (3)
Album length: 29:20
Total = 14.25 out of 20 (Album = 71%, Very Good! )
1-20 % = Poor
20- 40 % = Below Average
40-60 % = Average
60-80 % = Good
80-100 % = Awesome