Colma
On his third solo album,Colma, Buckethead has refined his fluid, impressively articulate guitar style, exacting a precise and occasionally jazzy tone from his instrument. Encompassing a tremendous range in both tempo and expression, Buckethead is an ideal guitar hero for the year 2000. Melodic, psychotic, and with loads of flash, he has all the burning technique of folks like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, but remains steadfastly oblivious to any real commercial considerations. Accompanied by bassist Bill Laswell, drummer Brain (Primus), DJ Disc, and cellist Terry Untalan, Buckethead embraces a plaintive, near-ambient sound structure while occasionally unleashing torrid spasms and blinding guitar runs. Alternating between gentle, haunting lyricism and meta-metal explorations, Buckethead engages in instrumental guitar warfare like no other.--Mitch Myers