Search - Michael Shrieve, Jonas Hellborg :: Octave of Holy Innocents

This album is NOT ABOUT BUCKETHEAD!

Madhater | Carbondale, IL United States | 09/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My father is a huge Michael Shrieve fan and that in part with my love for both Jonas and Buckethead is what turned me onto t his band long ago. In many ways this CD was the culmination of a few of my favorite solo musicians, and anyone who says that these musicians are not on par with each other is crazy. Shrieve's delightfully jazzy percussion, teamed with the almost frolicking guitar work from everyone's favorite masked psycho, all backed by precise while dimmed bass work. Unfortunately Jonas Hellborg has very few moments in the music where his intrumental talent shows the song Fara and Fauna is the best for Hellborg while Child King and Death That Sleeps Within show both Shrieve and Bucket's ability to perform quick paced almost acid like neo-jazz. Buckethead's catchy guitar tunes, though not allowed to unleash any of his sonic abilities, is by no means limited by this fact as Colma proved only to well. The Acoustic work on this album is nothing to scoff at and at the very least the drums are amazing. It is very rare to hear well done drums, led alone drums that draw the ear rather than just set a beat and pace.
This CD is a work of modern artistic expression. As an avid Buckethead side project man, I would say this CD is in a class by itself. Most of his other stuff is heavily electronic or very soft. Octave of The Holy Innocents however captures Buckethead's ability to lead a song's rhythm while still, even in these strange surroundings, wander about musically and seemingly frolick with the giutar. This CD is much less commercial or produced as most of Buckethead's other stuff. If you can get a copy and you like Buckethead's side projects, I would listen to some samples first. If you like Jazz or Acid/Neo-Jazz then pick this album up now! You will not regret it, nor will fans of Jonas Hellborg."