Buckethead

Known best by the general public for wearing a KFC bucket on his head, and by hard rock and metal fans for his absolutely prolific guitar work, Buckethead has released his most listenable and melodic album yet with “Enter the Chicken.” Produced by Serj Tankian of System of a Down, Enter the Chicken features not only Buckethead, but the musical talents of his friends as well. Saul Williams, Efrem Schulz, Maura Davis, Azam Ali, and Tankian himself all give guest performances on this disc. Gone are the over-extended, complicated guitar solos in favour of shorter, more vocally-focused tracks… this being so, Enter the Chicken is not an album that may necessarily please long-time Buckethead devotees, but nonetheless it’s demonstrative of the Buckethead-ed one breaking some new ground, and not doing a half bad job in the process.

Tracks one and two, “Intro” and “We Are One” essentially blend in to one another, and as such will be treated like the same song. It’s heavy, it’s dark, and Buckethead absolutely rips in and shows off while Tankian effectively wails over the noise – “Intro/We Are One” is undoubtedly one of the highlights of Enter the Chicken. “Botnus,” the second song, has Efrem Schulz providing death metal-esque vocals alongside Buckethead’s guitar, but seeing as I myself don’t have much of an appreciation for this style of music, I wouldn’t rate this track very high at all. Thankfully “Three Fingers” comes next. The first time I heard this, I swear my mind exploded. With Saul Williams rapping, Buckethead wailing on his six string, and a psychotic loop running the show, “Three Fingers” is a tune that is not only highly enjoyable, but completely unforgettable as well.

“Running from the Light” is certainly the most radio-friendly track on Enter the Chicken and, while it’s not horrible, it’s not Buckethead’s forte either. The sixth track, “Coma,” is forgettable, but it’s saved by “Waiting Hare.” With back-and-forth vocals by Maura Davis and Tankian, “Waiting Hare” is compelling and gorgeous, and definitely a song that requires more plays than one. Then come “Interlude” and “Funbus” which, in my opinion, really bring the album down and would have been better off left in the tank.

“The Hand” is chilling and chaotic… but almost too much so for my liking. Maximum Bob’s vocals on this track make me uncomfortable, but I can see how, from a metal fan’s perspective, it all might be of some significance. And “Nottingham Lace”, which finishes the album, is pure Buckethead at his most brilliant. There are moments where it risks sounding like a series of guitar exercises, but even so, it remains a worthwhile song.

Enter the Chicken is by far the most un-Buckethead thing Buckethead has ever done. Keeping this in mind, the album good for what it’s worth… and while it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s still an effort and a step in a new direction for Buckethead. Progress and change are respectable for any artist, and so kudos to Buckethead and all his talented friends!  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Intro
02. We Are One
03. Botnus
04. Three Fingers
05. Running From The Light
06. Coma
07. Waiting Hare
08. Interlude
09. Funbus
10. The Hand
11. Nottingham Lace

Run Time: ??:??