Buckethead Pike Reviews
A Review of Pike 8 'Racks' by Buckethead, released September 20th 2012
Good evening everybody, today we're back with another crawl through guitar hero Buckethead's monumental Pike album series with Pike 8 'Racks'. So, let's begin. Woo!!
Released as a trilogy on September 20th 2012, alongside Pike 9 & 10, Pike 8 Racks clocks in at just under 30 minutes, making it the shortest Pike album release up to that point.
As with most of the early Pike releases it was one of the only albums to be sold with it's original cover art. The instantly memorable double shadow Buckethead. Glorious.
'Racks' opens with the song 'The Snow Rabbit'.
Heavy distortion and growls takes charge in a song that really finds it footing in the latter half of the track, with 2 short solid solo's and a cool double layered outro. At just under 3.5 minutes its a good opener.
Track 2 'Telekinite' really picks up the tempo with heavy riffage that doesn't slow down for any of its 3 minute duration. An enjoyable track that probably would've been better as the albums opener. But still, It's one of the better tracks on the album.
Track 3 'Asbury Park Boardwalk' slows things down with Buckethead in chill mode, evoking images of lazy days at the beach. It's placement on the album is somewhat out of place given the direction of the rest of the tracks before and after, but it's a never bad thing to change things up, and Asbury Park Boardwalk certainly does that.
Up next the 'Castle of Dr Cadaver'. Buckethead has left the boardwalk and is back to the heavy, with cool riffage and some bass synth growls complemented by it's slow looming drum beats. The song starts off promising but does slightly lose its way towards the latter part of the track, before picking back up again for the outro.
From Dr Cadavers Castle we go to track 5, 'Sunbursts'. This is where Buckethead really shines. Mesmerizing tone, masterful handling of the guitar that's packed full of emotion. Even after 8 years and over 260 Pikes since it's release, 'Sunbursts' remains one of my all-time favourite Buckethead tracks. With one of my favourite solo's that he's ever produced. Simple yet effective. 5 stars, all day every day.
Track 6 'Chamber of Slunks' opens with a cool marching style riff that breaks off into more heavy metal riffage. Unfortunately it's the shortest track on the album at 1 minute 18 seconds and is crying out to go longer, especially with it's headbanging outro picking up the pace,
Track 7 'Spiderwall' is the 2nd shortest track on the album and although it does muster up images of spiders crawling up the walls, it's certainly not a track you'll have on repeat or one that you'll remember by the albums end.
Track 8 'Coffin for a Penny' is a slow feel good song in the same vein as the previous 'Asbury Park Boardwalk' although I enjoyed this one more and could've happily listened to it for another few minutes.
Next up, Track 9, 'Fomalhaut'. Named after one of the brightest stars in the sky. This is Buckethead in heavy experimental, mode with those notorious guitar pops and crazy shreds licks. Definitely not one for everybody, but if you like this side of Buckethead. Binge away.
The album concludes with track 10 'The Patrolman'. And just like track 5 'Sunbursts', this is the Buckethead we came to listen to. An outstanding 7.5 minute crawl that fly's by in no time. The Patrolman is one of the few Pike songs that Buckethead has actually played live, so clearly he loves it just as much as we do, and boy do we love it!
Overall Pike 8 is an album of peaks and valleys, I don't feel it flows as well as some of Buckethead's previous Pikes, but when it hits it's high points like 'Telekinite' 'Sunbursts' and 'The Patrolman' it really is a joy to listen to.
After adding up the rating I gave for each track, It came to 61%, which I'd categorize as Good and a mid-level Pike album release.
So, what's your rating for Pike 8?
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 8 is 50. Then times it by 100.
Pike 8 'Racks' RATINGS (out of 5)
1. The Snow Rabbit *** (3)
2. Telekinite ***½ (3.5)
3. Asbury Park Boardwalk **½ (2.5)
4. Castle of Dr Cadaver **¾ (2.75)
5. Sunbursts ***** (5)
6. Chamber of Slunks **¼ (2.25)
7. Spiderwall *½ (1.5)
8. Coffin for a Penny **¾ (2.75)
9. Fomahaut **¼ (2.25)
10. The Patrolman ***** (5)
Album length: 29:56
Total = 30.5 out of 50 (Album = 61%, Good)
1-20 % = Poor
1- 40 % = Below Average
40-60 % = Average
60-80 % = Good
80-100 % = Awesome!
🤘Buy the album here🤘