Review Summary: The mind behind the mask.
Buckethead is a musician shrouded in mist. It has never been proven what how his voice actually sounds, or what his face presently looks like. There has been some speculation if the man was born with a brain disability such as autism, which could be used to prove his inhumane abilities with the guitar. With hands that could palm a watermelon, Buckethead is able to play at speeds only some other virtuosos are capable of. However, there is a side of Buckethead that many people seem to overlook, and this doppelganger can be found on Electric Tears.
It’s a weird thought to actually try to prove with corresponding facts to each shady detail, but maybe Buckethead is truly two people. One is the man most people recognize, the incredibly fast and ferocious soloist. The other man is a lot stranger and harder to recognize. He excavates poetic beauty into his guitar, stringing together melodies made of gold. The second man does not have a single intent on providing a face melting guitar solo in the bridges, but instead focuses on syncopated guitar lines that combine with beautiful ambience.
This is an album where Buckethead exposes his emotions and intertwines them with the music. From All in the Waiting’s smooth and happy relapse, to Angel Monster’s frightening and troublesome harmony, Electric Tears is a spectrum of poignancy that Buckethead has painted himself. All of the songs contain at least some form of acoustic guitar, while some contain a few electric guitar samples as well. Padmasana has one of Buckethead’s most emotional guitar solos, which plays along cherubically among a peaceful acoustic guitar. Not once has this man sounded so down to earth in his music, yet the complexity of thoughts and emotion scattered throughout the oasis of music makes this album sound extremely heartfelt.
Buckethead proves to be a man of surprises, as this may be one of his most original albums he has ever created. Within a teardrop of electric goodness, Buckethead conveys emotions and thoughts in a way that sounds impossible on paper. Even when songs like The Way to Heaven show signs of faster guitars and melodies, Buckethead stays on a more monotone and calm approach to the music. Though there are some songs that stray a little bit on the boring side of things, there aren’t many flaws to behold. Electric Tears is a defining moment in Buckethead’s career, listen to this album with your eyes closed; and lose yourself amidst the hail of sentimental beauty.
