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Date Posted: 05:16:55 05/11/03 Sun
Author: E. S. Anderson
Author Host/IP: 24-197-185-109.dul.mn.charter.com / 24.197.185.109
Subject: Lane, Buckethead, and Co.

It is my understanding that Shawn has recorded with Eric Gales; hopefully, we will one day get to hear the music they made (as well as all the other unreleased Lane music). Knowledge of this collaboration got me to thinking about how everyone always wants Shawn to work with this or that person; additionally, there is always talk of how Shawn wants to work with this or that person. Oftentimes, when someone other than Shawn mentions a collaboration canidate -- typically on guitar -- the individual is technically gifted, but would be otherwise ill-suited for a joint musical endeavor with Shawn.

I think Shawn is talented enough to play with just about anyone, but the following guitarists -- if we momentarily limit it to that instrument -- would be especially good matches: Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, and Buckethead. Holdsworth for they share so much in common and Shawn is about the only guitarist who could musically communicate with Holdsworth on his level and style; McLaughlin for similiar reasons -- and for their shared interest in Indian music. And then there is Buckethead . . .

Shawn Lane and Buckethead on an album together is something that many of us dream about, but would it be an all-out speedfest or would they usurp expectations and release a turgid album of New Age atmosphere? Well, I think it would be neither of those avenues of scant reward. Buckethead, it may be said, is no Shawn Lane, but this is not a bad thing. Besides, how many people are at Buckethead's level? Lane strikes one as having more depth and being more stylistically diverse, but Buckethead is musically diverse in that he can readily adapt his playing to different musical settings.

I do not think Buckethead's playing limited, immature, or shallow; rather, he has chosen a very mathematical, atonal mode of playing. Every facet of his playing is so specialized that it can strike the listener as monotonous because it is such an alien sound that they cannot differentiate amongst it. Once one becoems accustomed to it, the full-spectrum of its riches begin to appear. Anyway, I think if the Lane/Buckethead collaboration finally comes into being it will be wonderful for the following:

a) Buckethead is capable of so much more than we usually hear -- especially if in the right setting with the right musicians. Listen to his "horn" solo on the sixth track of the _Arcana_ album for just one example.

b) Remember that Lane assembled, but did not play, a guitar recording inspired by Conlon Nancarrow that he did not think humanly playable. Buckethead learned to play it through wide-interval eight-digit tapping. In fact, much of his style was extrapolated from it. Having the dedication and skill to play something that Shawn Lane thought unplayable . . . damn!

c) Two of the most forward-thinking and talented players ever to grace the instrument playing together.

I could go on and am tempted to do so, but I shall stop here. I guess I just wanted to address all of the Buckethead naysayers who downplay him so much compared to Lane. Perhaps what they say is true, but all the same they sell Buckethead short and when people play at that level the standard comparisons and criticisms just do not hold. If they do record together, we'll probably have an album of avant-garde classical-techno guitar that we will all cherish for a long time. Well, I at least hope it happens.

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