Review Summary: A very unique and entertaining album.
Kaleidoscalp
Buckethead
This album is not for everyone. I'm gonna start off by saying that. If you're not a fan of experimentation, circuit bending, or headbanging metal, then you probably won't like this album. This CD is full of those three things. This also happens to be a pretty interesting listen if you're in the right mood for it.
For those of you that don't know you Buckethead is, he's the KFC bucket-wearing avant-garde guitarist whose played with Praxis, Guns N' Roses, Viggo Mortenson, and others. He has released over 20 solo albums and has appeared on over 100 more.
Anyway, let's get down to the review.
This album really does have its pluses and minuses. First of all, the circuit bending does really sound cool at points. In Music Box Innards from 0:29-0:39 and from 0:58-1:02 are good examples. Sometimes, though, it just kinds of gets in the way. This is rare, but it does happen occasionally.
The guitar tone remains pretty much the same throughout almost the entire album. This is either good or bad, depending on your point of view. It helps keep the songs somewhat structured, but also makes the riffs sound more similar to one another.
Speaking of riffs, this album has some great ones, 0:51-1:02 on 'Pylon Shift' is one of a great headbanging riff. Pretty much all of the songs have strong metal riffs that hold the song together over all the noise. Also, the drumming is absolutely insane on this album. Yes, I'm pretty sure its programmed, but whatever, it's still awesome! 2:27-2:42 on 'Frankenseuss Laboratories' is some of the fastest double bass pedaling I've ever heard. Also, obviously, Buckethead's guitar-playing is great on this album.
The album starter (Frankenseuss Laboratories) begins with an ambient opening. Then at 0:38 the guitar-playing starts and is really cool. The riff played is great. Then it shifts gears and goes into a heavier riff. The drumming is absolutely incredible throughout this enitre album. Overall, this song is really cool. It has tons of great riffs.
The second song (Stun Pike And Jack In The Box Head) is good, but probably not as good as the last track. A really cool riff starts at 0:39 and goes until 1:00. There are some really weird sounds in this song.
This whole album is constantly shifting gears so that just when you think you know where its going to go, it does a 90-degree turn and goes in another direction. For example, the song 'Pylon Shift' has heavy metal elements, cercuit bending, acoustic balladry, and an experimental amibent section. All in one song. And this is just song on the album.
The problem with this album is sometimes, songs that aren't completely wacky or experimental get forgotten about because they sound like most of the other songs on the album. For example, 'Breakfast Cyborg,' despite having some really cool riffs, sections, and circuit bending, blends in with the rest of the album. However, had this been on almost any other album, it would be a very unique track.
There are also two interlude tracks on this album that break up the steady flow of craziness- they are 'The Bronze Bat' and 'The Sticker On Hallucinogens.' 'The Bronze Bat' is an almost Hallowe'en-ish style track. There is some type of organ in the background I think, with some circuit bending overtop of it. It's only 0:38 seconds long and is the shortest song on the album.
'The Sticker On Hallucinogens' is the best song on the album. It's greatness is unbelievable. It's a great headbanging track that is also perfect to dance too. This song have been nominated for a Grammy. Seriously though... this song is pretty much noise. It's a pretty pointless song, although it is random and an interesting interlude.
One of the more underrated songs on the album in my opinion is 'Citadel.' It's a highly experiemtnal song withs some voice samples starting at 0:33 and going until 0:44. It has some great riffs, especially one starting at 1:01. It also has some good shredding starting at 0:53 and going until 1:01, and in other spots throughout this song. I also like the 'Frankenseuss Laboratories'-style double-bass pedalling starting at and going until 2:57-3:13. There is also great riff overtop of this double-bass pedalling.
The second last song on the album, 'The Android Of Notre Dame' is an almost remix of another Buckethead song 'Tribute To Dimebag Darrell.' The original song was pretty much the same song, but without all the crazy effects overtop. They're both good songs, but this way, the song blends in with the rest of the album better then if was its original format. There is also some great shredding in this song that starts at 1:51 and goes until 2:00.
The end song 'She Sells Sea Shells By The Slaughterhouse' is almost anti-climatic. This whole album is full of heavy metal and circuit bending and the last track is... an acoustic ballad? It's a heartfelt and beautiful song. There is a hidden track starting at 7:15 that is pretty much just a bunch of noise.
Overall, this album is a lot of fun. There is so much chaos going on that you almost can't help but enjoy it. However, if you're not a fan of experimentation, circuit bending, or headbanging, then you're probably not going to like this album as much as someone who does enjoy those things.
Recommended tracks:
Frankenseuss Laboratories
Music Box Innards
Pylon Shift
Citadel
The Android Of Notre Dame
She Sells Sea Shells By The Slaughterhouse (0:00-2:39)
4/5
