Buckethead Pike Reviews
A review of Pike 79 'Geppetos Trunk' by Buckethead, released September 14th 2014
Good evening everybody, today we're back for another ride along guitar hero Buckethead's Pike album series, with Pike 79 'Geppetos Trunk'. So, let's begin. Woo!!
Released September 14th 2014, Pike 79 was the 3rd of 8 albums released that month, as usual dropping out of sequence. Glorious. The title 'Geppetos Trunk' is yet another nod to Buckethead's love of Disney, with Geppeto of course being one of the main characters from the Disney movie 'Pinocchio'.
The 7 track album kicks off with its title track and by far longest track 'Geppetos Trunk'. The 11.5 minute track leads with heavy riffage, with multiple effects, shifts and time changes throughout. It's an enjoyable jam with so much going that it's impossible to predict whats next. Good stuff, even though it's length does go slightly too long.
Track 2 'Yellow Brick Mold' continues with the heavy riffage, drums and effects. There's a nice section just over the 1 minute mark that see's out the song and probably should've been explored more. Still, an enjoyable track.
Track 3 'South Chamber of Pit' kicks in with a memorable riff that it utilizes throughout the song with numerous effects. It's a far more focused composition than the previous tracks. And at just under 3 minutes it's in and out. Good stuff. Best track so far.
Like the previous song, Track 4 'Solar Sled' locks on to a beat early on and rides with it until a nice shift around the 1 minute mark for some arpeggio noodling. Another enjoyable track in line with track 3.
For Track 5 'Landlakes' the heavy from tracks 1 and 2 return. Really kicking in around the 1.5 minute mark with some sweet headbanging riffage and heavy metal drums. It does slightly lose its way towards the latter part of the track but still its an enjoyable listen.
Track 6 is the albums shortest track 'Eyesblink'. It's quick paced, it sticks with its main riff and doesn't veer of course, using it effects nicely throughout. It could've easily gone longer, and should have. Whereas track 1 went too long, this one goes too short.
The album concludes with the gloriously titled 'Emotion Detecter'. The track is more of the same in line with tracks 1 and 2. It's an enjoyable enough listen but the riffage on display is certainly not as memorable as anything previous, and unfortunately doesn't end the album on a high note.
Overall, Pike 79 has some nice riffage and moments sprinkled throughout but doesn't quite it's reach full potential to where the songs reach that next level. Similar to Pike 30 'Mannequin Cemetery' I find the songs to be far more enjoyable when mixed in with other Pike songs, rather than listening to the album as a whole from start to finish. It's certainly not a standout pike but, its not bad.
After adding up the rating I gave for each track, It came to 59%, which I'd categorize as Average and feels about right . You can find my song ratings and breakdown on our website natternet.com
So, what's your rating for Pike 79? Be sure to let us know.
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 79 is 35. Then times it by 100.
Pike 79 'Geppetos Trunk' RATINGS (out of 5)
1. Geppetos Trunk **¾ (2.75)
2. Yellow Brick Mold *** (3)
3. South Chamber of Pit ***¼ (3.25)
4. Solar Sled ***¼ (3.25)
5. Landlakes *** (3)
6. Eyesblink **¾ (2.75)
7. Emotion Detecter **¾ (2.75)
Album length: 29:37
Total = 20.75 out of 35 (Album = 59%, Average)
1-20 % = Poor
20- 40 % = Below Average
40-60 % = Average
60-80 % = Good
80-100 % = Awesome
Buy the album HERE