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I am normally not into discussing tastes in music, it's like telling someone that the color green is better than red or something. But I was expecting something really out of the ordinary before I watched this video. Something extraordinary, since you posted it, but, thanks for sharing but...
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I wholeheartedly disagree. Listen to Colma. Very heartfelt. I will say that some of his stuff, to me, IS "un-listenable garbage" but his catalog is enormous. It can't all be masterpieces. I think he's one of very few guitarists who can play almost any style from the heart. I also know that a lot of people like to find or imagine fault(s) in extremely technically adept players.I am normally not into discussing tastes in music, it's like telling someone that the color green is better than red or something. But I was expecting something really out of the ordinary before I watched this video. Something extraordinary, since you posted it, but, thanks for sharing but...
... this video of Buck is, too, one of the ones that makes me still think what on earth people see in this guy? I've bought several official DVD's that he has released, and I try to re-listen, and listen again to get into it. Some CD's too. Or try to follow him, if he has moved on in any way. I've never ever been so "left cold" by such a versatile and technically gifted guitarist. All the other videos and solos posted here, I can at least sense something intriguing in them, even if the actual music ain't my bag. Buckethead, boring, even when up to speed. Lackadaisical, indifferent. All this skill, and no sense of build up dramas, lyricism, tension and release, and generally sounding still Robot like (he has a few albums of the Robot theme in them) even when he tries to play slow and with feeling. I know a lot lauds him, and adore him from the moon and back (including Pat Metheny, no less). He is a monster shredder though, but I can't get off my feeling that there's still something important lacking, in spite of all his - seemingly - unlimited technical virtuosity. He does not varying the chord changes at all, and it's just some mechanic groove going on in the background. When he has some lick, or riff going he seems not be able to repeat it with variations, it's just the first run of the lick that gets repeated ad nauseam. Granted, he's definitely not alone on this, but considering his skills, he ought to know better.
I can't get off the feeling that he's still in his "child prodigy" years, that plays just to impress his parents, or grown ups, and plays music just to impress others. No real motivation to push his art or music forward in paths that hasn't been treaded before. Sort of a 3 year old child plays Rachmaninovs 2nd piano concerto so you just drop jaw. And thinking "what would a boy with that talent be when he's older...my oh my!!!! ". And now he got older, but ... still, no progression at all, anywhere, in anything. Still treading water and are stuck in the same rut as in the 80s, (or stuck at 3 years old) and neither faster, nor slower, with more feeling or has learned to write an even remotely decent tune/composition.
But that's only me, I am glad he strikes a chord with someone else out there. As I said, different strokes for different people. And while it is someones favorite guitar solo, and may be someones all time favorites, then I'll guess I can make a fair judgement of that persons opinions, in/on anything else musical, and by and large, it wouldn't be someone I would trust playing with in any band, or trust for guidance in some music I haven't heard. Bucketheads shtick, or novelty act is starting to wear a bit thin by now, but I think he still will be playing like this in his 80s. I e you can't hear if the music he plays in his 80s is really done by then, or from when he was 4-5 years old. No progression. Can't get off that - slight - "Deliverance" vibe I get from him and his music.
And if you think I am just slaying all shredders, I think late Shawn Lane had got it all down, way better, someone who - actually - Buck lauded himself. Guthrie Govan is another one, that can make much more imaginative musical experimentation/variation, out of his stunning virtuosity. But Buck? Sorry, still too cold and sterile. I was expecting him to mature in one way or another over the years.
