Phish - Recommendations?
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Topic: Phish - Recommendations?
Posted By: Jim Garten
Subject: Phish - Recommendations?
Date Posted: January 24 2007 at 03:33
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As most of you know, I'm a bit of a dyed in the wool 'old school' prog fan, but I keep hearing more and more of the American band, Phish.
From what I can make out, they're definitely progressive in their outlook, very good musicians individually and in a group context and appears to have a huge following. The only reason I've avoided taking a chance on them in the past is they're always referred to as a 'jam' band, and most fans seem to go for the live albums, rather than the studio ones - not difficult with Phish, as they appear to have a couple of dozen live albums to choose from, so they seem to be of the same opinion as their fans. Now I'm not against bands jamming at all - so long as they can keep it together; The Allman Brothers were a classic case of a band who could happily wander off into long improvised sections, but the core of the song stayed true, so it remained listenable. On the other side of the coin, you have bands like The Grateful Dead who, despite every effort on my part to try to "get" them, bore me rigid (and I've tried several albums over many stages of their career). So then - Phish... give me an overview; do you think someone with a love of 'classic' 1970s rock, but a broad spectrum of additional musical tastes (which do not include Grateful Dead type jamming) could get into them - if so, where to start? Cheers guys. JG ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Replies:
Posted By: ViolinCyndee
Date Posted: January 24 2007 at 03:40
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I LOVE Phish!! "Picture of Nectar" and "Junta" are my fav studio albums. AMAZING composition and playing!
And.. I have seen them live a few times....even got an autograph from Trey when they were playing in clubs!
------------- http://cdbaby.com/cd/cyndeeleerule www.cyndeeleerule.com |
Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: January 24 2007 at 16:51
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I'm going to repost what I wrote in another thread. Phish is an incredible band though an introduction to their later part of their career may give a bad first impression:
"As far as Phish goes (and if you're into jazz fusion) I would try either Junta (tends to generally be a fan favorite), LAWN BOY (which is my favorite), A Picture of Nectar, or Rift. Those are their first four albums and are all fantastic for more of a jazz fusion-ish (acid funk?) type sound. It's very hard to pinpoint them to one genre. Everything they've done though has been quality music (in my opinion.) Billy Breathes is incredible for a soft rock acoustic-ish album and Story of a Ghost is one of my favorites (as it's a cohesive concept album. As for single songs if you're not that interested in purchasing/downloading an entire album: Reba (incredible prog instrumental section, vocals at the beginning are strange), Stash (Santana-ish, very good), Split Open and Melt (strange acid-funkish), Mound (interesting blend of funk, blues, country, jazz) and for a great instrumental (or 99% instrumental)- THE DIVIDED SKY <---highly recommended (though not very jazz-fusiony. Just very emotionally powerful)" Their styles range from anything thats jazzy, jazz fusion, country, prog, funk, acid/psychedellic funk, rock, acoustic mellow rock, bluegrass, metal (though just 1 or 2 tracks and probably anything else that can be thought of. The problem, generally with hearing only one song by phish is that it may be the one 3 minute country song they threw on the album, or the 5 minute acid funk part with spoken word vocal. It's very hard to describe them but I did the best I could. Enjoy ! 
Oh wait! The one thing I wanted to clear up is the seemingly continuous comparison that Phish gets to the Grateful Dead. Apart from their extensive and incredible live shows, they have not too much in common. Phish is much more adventurous in my opinion (though their music is more modern sounding.) They also have VERY cohesive studio works that are intricately written NOTE for NOTE and generally not just jamming. They have two concept albums too (Rift and The Story of a Ghost) that are both fantastic too if thats your thing. Alright enough talking for me. ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 03:53
Many thanks, much appreciated  - it's interesting though that you've not mentioned their huge catalogue of live albums which is where a lot of people (it seems) tend to start with this band.
Now, you're not trying to get my hopes up, are you? I'm not going to buy an album & and up with two hours of absolute wibble, am I? 
Thanks again! -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
FragileDT wrote:Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 11:18
| Jim from another old schooler, you should try RIFT! intelligent and well done. I have heard most of their catelog and this one stands out above the rest, IMO. |
Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: January 26 2007 at 18:48
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Yeah DallasBryan, Rift is a great album as a whole, absolutely. Have you heard Story of a Ghost (their other concept album)? It's great as well (though not AS good as rift.)
And Jim, let me know what you think with whichever album/song you chose. Hope I helped! ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 27 2007 at 15:40
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Coincidentally I've been trying to find a studio album by Phish,
and the local 2nd hand had two this afternoon, at 4 quid each (and a
hint of sale or return). I tossed a coin and came away with Slip Stitch & Pass - yet to find out what I bought myself. Until this album I had only heard the live recordings of the complete White Album and Quadraphenia covers - and IMHO the vocals are off-putting. This whole subject of jam is a confusion to me - so having a real attempt to make sense of the term and the music (s). Hooked on the jazz rock end of the genre, e.g. Medeski Martin & Woods, Motet and Garaj Mahal - and just in the jazz fusion field those 3 are widely different. Umphrey's McGee is more prog-like . However, one PA member has sampled me with Robert Randolph & The Family Band who call themselves gospel or spiritual jam... Check out the US indie label/promoters Home Grown: from whom I bought a live Garaj Mahal recording and a double sampler of ~18 jam band of various shades playing live. The package of CDs reached the UK with a magazine providing details of~50 bands promoted one way or other by Home Grown - and musically there is broad range of styles although there seems to be both more blue grass and soul jam bands than the straight rock jam bands. Found a cheap double live CD by The String Cheese Incident (Carnival 99) on Amazon UK and was disappointed by the mix of blue grass and jazz rock fusion on the set. Bela Fleck & Co - really have the edge. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: January 28 2007 at 23:23
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^^^ "Slip Stich and Pass" is a live album. It's a very good live album in my opinion, but doesn't showcase the brilliance of phish in the studio for me. ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 29 2007 at 05:54
So I've just discovered!!!!  The liner notes are written in a script that is difficult to read - still not bad and so a track up on next Thursday's radio show.------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: January 29 2007 at 18:59
Just out of curiosity, which track are you putting up? ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: January 30 2007 at 03:47
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OK, guys, you've convinced me; I'll try them - Dallas & Fragile, be it on your heads if I'm wasting my money here, but I've just ordered 'Rift' from Amazon.
It'd better be good - I paid nearly £4.00 for it  -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 30 2007 at 09:50
Weigh ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 30 2007 at 09:51
As much as I paid, phew!  But I haven't added in the cost of shoe rubber walking to the shop.------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: January 31 2007 at 00:42
Rift is definitely a great phish studio album but not AS progressive and strange as they've done. But theyre are some incredible tracks on it, and it really will show you the diversity of the band. Some highlights: Maze, My Friend My Friend, Weigh, All Things Reconsidered, Mound, It's Ice. Lawn Boy is much more prog/progressive, but rift is a very well composed album. ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: January 31 2007 at 00:43
Ahh, weigh is a great track. ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: February 20 2007 at 07:52
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I have a nsaty feeling I may be spending a great deal of money in the near future expanding my knowledge of Phish...
Just got the 'Rift' album & even though I've only given it a cursory listen so far, am very impressed; initially the track which grabs me the most has to be 'Maze', but it's obvious there's a thread of humour running throughout the album without taking things to parody. Many thanks for the recommendations here - all I now need to do I check out the 327 live albums they appear to have released... or is that 328 
-------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: February 25 2007 at 02:29
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Jim, after Rift you may find a let down, I have been through many of their recordings and some touch on Rift's intelligence none seem to capture them in the studio like that one. I compare it with Buddy Guy's blues collection only Stone Crazy(the french one, not the compilation, captures Buddy in his glory, very impressive, but the rest falls into just OK. Or maybe their godfathers the Grateful Dead, enormous catalog and I find Garcia's solo Garcia(which was also the core to there best live performances) as being the pinnacle and everything else is downhill. IMO
Anyway, Junta and Picture of Nectar are probably good places for further exploration.
Thanks for not lopping off me head, Jimmy!
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: February 25 2007 at 03:28
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instead of phishing in a dry lake, may I recommend some other intelligent albums from the 90's ?
MICHAEL BROOK - COBALT BLUE 1992
http://rateyourmusic.com/misc/link_image?album_id=23387&q=Michael+Brook+Cobalt+Blue">
 inventor of the synthax, collabs with Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno, spacey synthe guitar, you may have to purchase this in a set with Live at Aquarium, out of stock as a single CD release, last I checked.
STEVE JOLLIFFE - ZANZI 1996
ex-Tangerine Dream member, multi instrumental englishman(Steamhammer). One of the most original kosmiche releases I have heard in the 90's, very good!
RONNIE MONTROSE - MUSIC FROM HERE 1994
guitar god uses multi pedals and guitar synthes, Blow by Blow of the 90's. Interesting cover art, thats Ronnie sitting(spiritual warfare) with grandma, as they both try to influence the one in the crib. hmmm
GROVJOBB - VATTERNAS FEST 1999
http://rateyourmusic.com/misc/link_image?album_id=192803&q=+Grovjobb+V%c3%a4ttarnas+fest">
 swedish amanita inspired music, with that special Scandi sound of yesteryear(Bo Hansson, Archimedes Badkar, traditional), guitars almost like sequencers to folk styled output. very unique and intelligent for todays music.
THE MERMEN - AMAZING CALIFORNIA HEALTH & HAPPINESS ROADSHOW 2000
unique psychedelic surf guitars floating on pacific ocean maritime synthes, take me away!
XAAL - SECOND ERE 1995
hints back to Shylock and Carpe Diem brought into 90's surrounding
ABRAXAS POOL - S/T 1997
santanas abraxas band back together without Carlos, Neal Schon(Journey) takes the lead and Michael Shrieve back on the drumset, with Weather Report bassist, they dont make music like this anymore.
AL KOOPER - REKOOPERATION 1994
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: February 25 2007 at 03:42
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maybe not so prog-related! although in some sense the first two could fall into prog related, after all I have resently seen The Church in the progarchives.
 BECK - MELLOW GOLD 1994
http://rateyourmusic.com/misc/link_image?album_id=368&q=+Beck+Mellow+Gold">
 MEDESKI MARTIN & WOOD - UNINVISIBLE 2002
http://rateyourmusic.com/misc/link_image?album_id=14917&q=+Medeski%2c+Martin+%26amp%3b+Wood+Uninvisible">
 RONNIE EARL - COLOUR OF LOVE 1997
ELASTICA - S/T 1995
http://rateyourmusic.com/misc/link_image?album_id=1828&q=+Elastica+Elastica">
 HAPPY MONDAYS - PILLS, THRILLS & BELLYACHES 1990
DAN HICKS - BEATIN' THE HEAT 2000
http://rateyourmusic.com/misc/link_image?album_id=72262&q=Dan+Hicks+Beatin%26%2339%3b+The+Heat">
 WYNTON MARSALIS - MR. JELLY, LORD
http://rateyourmusic.com/misc/link_image?album_id=108060&q=Wynton+Marsalis+Mr%2e+Jelly+Lord%3a+Standard+Time+Volume+6">  |
Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: March 04 2007 at 20:53
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Completely disagree DallasBryan! Sorry!
I would say JUNTA, LAWN BOY, or PICTURE OF NECTAR. The humor is there the whole way and they are all incredible (and I think they are better than) Rift. I also love all of their other albums, though they are less prog. The Story of a Ghost (I find) to be a great psychedellic/funk type album. Billy Breathes is also a great mellow rock album in my opinion. But if you want the funk-ish strange humor I recommend the early 3 for sure. I also would recommend almost any live albums. I just recently purchased COLORADO from 1988 and it is VERY strange with the entire early GAMEHENGE story, which is a strange, spoken word/sung concept album by Trey before Phish. Also, if you're a big fan of the song MAZE check out some live versions of it. It was one of their biggest live songs, some of them go on for about 20 minutes. Incredible live song. EDIT: Just listen to the song "REBA" that was recently added to the streams on the archives. What an incredible song. ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: March 07 2007 at 20:10
thanks for the correction, as I wouldn't claim to be a Phish-master,only in the passing thru their discography there is an endless amount of over-noodling junk. Think we have pointed a music veteran towards a good bit of their quality output, while trying to point him around an expensive dive into large amounts of aimless mishmash, which was the original intention.
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