RIFT

For the casual listener, I reccommend the newer stuff like Farmhouse or the Story of the Ghost. For the progger, this is the finest Phish album in the catalog- even more so than their superb debut Junta. The band had been touring behind the highly eclectic A Picture of Nectar for months, and they returned to the studios in their off time from the road to focus on a quasi-concept album. The result is the most cohesive conceptual Phish studio set in the groups repitoire.

Rift is a phenomenal set of songs - full of depth, quiriky and interesting lyrics, complex song structures, a touch of musical humor, Zappa-esque compositions and passages, jazzy excursions and top notch musicianship culled from years of rehersal and touring. With fiery tracks like the classic Maze and the title track, to the gentle shores of the mind with Fast Enough for You and Silent in the Morning, this album has a little of evreything with a little to spare.

There is something very unique and wonderful about Trey Anastasio's compositions - multi-sectioned passages complete with intricate fuges, riffs, jamspace and precise execution. Its Icecan be filed under prog with any of the classic and interesting pieces of any band in the genre. Those who are wary to call Phish a "progressive rock" band should definitely hear this one before they make that call.

There should be something here for any prog fan. And no - they do not sound like the Grateful Dead, despite the conventional wisdom. Take it from me - i have dozens of show from both groups.

Get this disc, and venture onto the Ice