Buckethead vs. Jimi Hendrix

TheBig3 · 12-07-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Salami

Bit like comparing Nirvana with Bach, in a way.

Nirvana's a lot more fun and exciting, but doesn't really compare with Bach.

Sure, I guess so. Though I don't know if I'd say

Buckethead:Hendrix::Nirvana:Bach

Though I see your point - and agree with it - so long as we're not making the analogy.

Mrd00d · 12-07-2011, 02:29 PM

First of all, thanks Jans.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

Buckethead is a unique guy, but I never would put on his record to just listen to it. Its generally in the background of something I'm doing. I own 6 of his albums and no two are the same (though Electric Tears and Colma are closer than any others). I think BH stands as a testament to whats possible. He's highly innovative but to some degree he's on par with things like the Mushroom Jazz albums or any lo-fi beat offering in that its a nice platform to work off of.

Jimi to me is a little too one-dimensional for my liking, especially when compared to BH, but overall he's a far better songwriter (songwriter period). I'm not sure the two of them are comparable but if I have to choose I'd say BH. I just find a lot more value in what he puts out, even if some of it can be ridiculous. (Much of Monsters & Robots for example).

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

Sure, well what I mean is you can listen to Jimi (at least what I've heard) and you sort of get the idea that you're listening to Jimi. I hear people try to say he was Jazz-like now and again but I never really bought it.

I will say he has his own sound, and I don't want to disparage him, I like him, but BH is all over the map. Jimi to me was working his sound like a punching bag, BH seems to be trying to create new aural landscapes. This may be a time thing, I don't know how boundry-pushing Hendrix was because I wasn't alive when he was new, but in relative terms, he's got less in his bag of tricks than BH does.

Again, I don't think they're comparable so making this comparison unintentionally diminishes what Hendrix did.

Second of all, thank you Big3 that's what I'm talking about. That's what this thread should be. We're finally back on topic!

Which other 3 records (besides Monsters & Robots, Electric Tears, and Colma) do you have? I've got everything he's touched and while I wouldn't recommend everything, if you're interested I can point you in the direction of some new BH works.

Besides his 30+ solo albums, I think the real treasure of Buckethead is his side projects. The work he does with Shin Terai, with Bill Laswell, with Bootsy Collins, with Les Claypool all hold even more relevance to me than his solo works and that's saying a bit I'd say. Here is where he really explores different territories. There's the fusion-y, jazz-y Arcana, there's Axiom Funk, there's Science Faxtion.

I agree comparing the two is 'apples and oranges' because of the different times they were around, but I believe if Jimi WAS around at the same time, BH might still have more versatility. Jimi is a better songwriter, absolutely.

TheBig3 · 12-07-2011, 03:02 PM

In addition to Monsters & Robots, Electric Tears, and Colma I have

1. Somewhere over the Slughterhouse
2. Bermuda Triangle
3. Giant Robot

So obviously I'm way back in the discography. But to your point about his solo projects, I'm not sure what I've heard thats considered "side projects" given that he works with a lot of these folks on his albums as well, but I think you push yourself to new heights when you play with others.

At the outset, one is better than another, but you synthesize at some point, and from there its a race to the top. If you've got some selected tracks you'd like to recommend, i'd love to give them a listen.

Salami · 12-07-2011, 03:21 PM

I'm giving "Population Override" a go at the moment. I don't think I can make any comment yet, but I'm certainly enjoying it a lot more than Colma.

TheBig3 · 12-07-2011, 03:24 PM

Really? Well Colma can be polarizing if you're not into that style of music. I'd guess its his most accessible album.

If you're looking to try some different things I'd say these 3 (off hand) are my favorites.

1. "Sketches of Spain (For Miles)" (Colma-like)
2. Welcome to Buckethead Land (takes a cue from Crazy Train)
3. Help Me

Salami · 12-07-2011, 03:34 PM

I'll give them a go. What kind of styles is he into with those? If I know one thing, he likes to experiment around with many different ideas. Perhaps he ought to belong to his own genre!

blastingas10 · 12-07-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Salami

Although you have a point, I've always been scared of judging technical ability by "notes per second".

That's a good point. For example, Just because you can shred a pentatonic scale really fast doesn't make you better than someone like Andres Segovia, even though you may be spitting out more notes per second than him.

I don't think Hendrix was one-dimensional, although I see how you (not you, Salami) could think that. He had his patented Hendrix style that was very inventive and innovative, and he didn't stray far from it. However, there were many sides to Hendrix and his style, like Salami mentioned.

I do think he was getting into Jazz later on in his career. He was jamming with Miles Davis towards the end of his life and I think it would have been likely that he was the guitarist on Bitches Brew, instead of Mclaughlin. Davis often had his guitarists emulate Hendrix. He was even so impressed with Hendrix's improvisational ability that he compared him to John Coltrane. It was even very likely that he was going to join ELP and turn them into HELP (Hendrix, Emerson, Lake and Palmer), but unfortunately he died right before they were scheduled to jam. There's no telling where Jimi was headed in his musical career. He was without a doubt heading into new territory.

I recommend Decoding the Tomb of Bansheebot, Salami. It's one of his best in my opinion.

Click this link and give it a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShMTteXAYTg

Salami · 12-07-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

That's a good point. For example, Just because you can shred a pentatonic scale really fast doesn't make you better than someone like Andres Segovia, even though you may be spitting out more notes per second than him.

This is true. Although in Dragonforce's case, they don't bother with scales at all. Look them up if you feel like some really cheesy power metal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

I don't think Hendrix was one-dimensional, although I see how you (not you, Salami) could think that. He had his patented Hendrix style that was very inventive and innovative, and he didn't stray far from it. However, there were many sides to Hendrix and his style, like Salami mentioned.

Remember that time when he played the guitar with his teeth? And got some really weird sounds out of it? It seems to me that he is prepared to try anything! What a man.

Mrd00d · 12-07-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Salami

I'm giving "Population Override" a go at the moment. I don't think I can make any comment yet, but I'm certainly enjoying it a lot more than Colma.

Population Override was probably my favorite for the longest time. I find it more beautiful and moving than Colma, Electric Tears myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

In addition to Monsters & Robots, Electric Tears, and Colma I have

1. Somewhere over the Slughterhouse
2. Bermuda Triangle
3. Giant Robot

So obviously I'm way back in the discography. But to your point about his solo projects, I'm not sure what I've heard thats considered "side projects" given that he works with a lot of these folks on his albums as well, but I think you push yourself to new heights when you play with others.

At the outset, one is better than another, but you synthesize at some point, and from there its a race to the top. If you've got some selected tracks you'd like to recommend, i'd love to give them a listen.

Slaughterhouse Over the Prairie, right? I think Somewhere Over the Slaughterhouse is a track he does. Brain fart.

Bermuda Triangle is a trip. If you need a reason to get Population Override, it's the track "Too Many Humans"

=================================

As for some side project stuff, I'd say for starters:

A little of this, a little of that. There's more. I'm just in a hurry for dinner ...

TheBig3 · 12-07-2011, 06:22 PM

Released

June 5, 2001

Recorded

2000-2001 at Pilo's Loft

Genre

Electronica, experimental rock, avant-garde, industrial metal, acoustic

Length

46:55

Label

Stray Records

Producer

Travis Dickerson

Buckethead chronology

KFC Skin Piles
(2001)

Somewhere Over the Slaughterhouse
(2001)

Funnel Weaver
(2002)

Released

January 30, 2009

Genre

Experimental rock, avant-garde, hard rock, heavy metal

Length

41:48

Label

Hatboxghost Music

Producer

Dan "Brewer" Monti

Buckethead chronology

Albino Slug
(2008)

Slaughterhouse on the Prairie
(2009)

A Real Diamond in the Rough
(2009)

12-07-2011, 03:02 PM	#283 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	In addition to Monsters & Robots, Electric Tears, and Colma I have 1. Somewhere over the Slughterhouse 2. Bermuda Triangle 3. Giant Robot So obviously I'm way back in the discography. But to your point about his solo projects, I'm not sure what I've heard thats considered "side projects" given that he works with a lot of these folks on his albums as well, but I think you push yourself to new heights when you play with others. At the outset, one is better than another, but you synthesize at some point, and from there its a race to the top. If you've got some selected tracks you'd like to recommend, i'd love to give them a listen. __________________ I've moved to a new address

12-07-2011, 03:24 PM	#285 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Really? Well Colma can be polarizing if you're not into that style of music. I'd guess its his most accessible album. If you're looking to try some different things I'd say these 3 (off hand) are my favorites. 1. "Sketches of Spain (For Miles)" (Colma-like) 2. Welcome to Buckethead Land (takes a cue from Crazy Train) 3. Help Me __________________ I've moved to a new address

12-07-2011, 06:22 PM	#290 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Released June 5, 2001 Recorded 2000-2001 at Pilo's Loft Genre Electronica, experimental rock, avant-garde, industrial metal, acoustic Length 46:55 Label Stray Records Producer Travis Dickerson Buckethead chronology KFC Skin Piles (2001) Somewhere Over the Slaughterhouse (2001) Funnel Weaver (2002) Released January 30, 2009 Genre Experimental rock, avant-garde, hard rock, heavy metal Length 41:48 Label Hatboxghost Music Producer Dan "Brewer" Monti Buckethead chronology Albino Slug (2008) Slaughterhouse on the Prairie (2009) A Real Diamond in the Rough (2009) __________________ I've moved to a new address

12-07-2011, 03:21 PM	#284 (permalink)
Salami Get in ma belly Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 1,385	I'm giving "Population Override" a go at the moment. I don't think I can make any comment yet, but I'm certainly enjoying it a lot more than Colma.

12-07-2011, 03:34 PM	#286 (permalink)
Salami Get in ma belly Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 1,385	I'll give them a go. What kind of styles is he into with those? If I know one thing, he likes to experiment around with many different ideas. Perhaps he ought to belong to his own genre!