LOOK UP THERE

BUCKETHEAD completed the year 2011 with five releases in the PIKE series and PIKE 5 - LOOK UP THERE (the 34th BH album overall) finishes out the year. This one was released simultaneously on August 17 alongside with the repackaged "Pike 3 - 3 Foot Clearance" and "Pike 4 - Underground Chamber." This one contains only two long tracks and the album clocks in at 32:29. In the early PIKE days we also get extra hands on board. While BUCKETHEAD performs guitars and bass, someone named Brewer hands programming and extra bass parts as well.

The shorter of the two tracks "Golden Eyes" (10:51) starts things in the mid-tempo range with an echoey guitar riff and ambient background noises with a steady drum beat. It is all eventually joined in by a bluesy Hendrix inspired guitar style with riffs and licks. This is one of the earlier examples of how BH likes to repeat a two or three chords into infinity and riff and solo around them. While somewhat engaging at first becomes a little too repetitive and well, boring. This are my least favorite kinds of BH tracks. The repetition and recycled styles from past masters that eventually, incrementally lead up to a fully developed BH solo are okay, but i'm more often than not ready to push the fast forward button. This is exactly the case. While some of the guitar antics are interesting, the repetitive melodic flow isn't.

The second longer title track (21:38) takes up 2/3 of the album and starts like the last, with a mellow echoey guitar riff that is slowed down that has some ambient background sounds and is joined in by some percussion although this is light percussion. This is also a slow burner that repeats the same few chords to infinity and layers different guitar antics over them. The guitar starts out with slow bluesy licks and then develops into more aggressive solos. Despite the solos becoming ever more quickened and more notes inserted into every measure, the overall feel is still quite chilled and the guitars remain on blues mode with traces of wah-wah ever so increasing as the track progresses. This one is supposedly built off the last part of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" chord progression with Page's solos as an inspiration, but i'm sorry to say that this isn't anywhere as interesting as the original and goes on waaaaaaaay too long.

For me, BUCKETHEAD is at his best when he's unapologetically experimental letting the creativity burst through with full force. Albums like PIKE 5 - LOOK UP THERE are ultimately too monotonous, too repetitive and too lackluster to grab my attention. Those who love predicative chord changes that more than wear out their welcome with adeptly performed guitar solos over them will surely love this album, but for those who crave the unrestrained BUCKETHEAD such as i will find this a little sleepy for their tastes. One of the greatest things about BH is that he can appeal to many crowds with none of us loving everything. This just happens to be one that i am not enamored by.