Top 10 (vol. 9, Phish studio albums)
Ok, ok, this is a REALLY narrow topic, but I’ve always wanted to put my opinion of the subject on the record so here it is, in order.
10. Hoist - Completely tight (not in a good way), and over produced with a horn section and back-up chorus. Too much heavy guitar solo. Favorite track is “Lifeboy”.
9. Billy Breathes - Too slow for me, but if you like that kind of thing, this is the album for you. Good, but slow, kind of depressing songs. This album has too much of a somber mood for me to really love. Favorite track is (other considerations aside, wink*) “Character Zero”.
8. Undermind - This is a really simple bare bones effort from them, almost like an album of commercial jingles. Its full of short catchy hooks, and is lacking the jammy and compositional components that elevate the other albums for me. Favorite track is “Scents and Subtle Sounds”.
7. A Picture of Nectar - They’re really tightening up here (not in a good way), and swaying a little too heavy rock for my taste. The songs you always hear off this album are those heavier rock songs, however, there are some great B-side tracks on this one. Favorite track is “The Mango Song”.
6. Farmhouse - I know, I know, how could I put this, the most commercial album, above those earlier works? The fact is that its a pretty good, funky little album. Favorite track is “Piper”.
5. Rift - The most conceptual album, great album art. They were definitely tightening up by then (and again not in a good way), but this was complex enough that the tightness doesn’t detract. Favorite track is “Silent in the Morning”.
4. Round Room - This is probably the biggest surprise for the hard core phan. This really is the most under appreciated album. There are great jammy tracks and some longer compositions too. It listens more like a late 80’s/early 90’s Phish album instead of the post-millennium album it is. Favorite track is “Walls of the Cave”.
3. Junta - Great quirky album. Would be higher if it weren’t for all the garbage on the second disc. I don’t care what the purists say, the so called ‘bonus’ tracks should be called ‘penalty’ tracks. Favorite track is “You Enjoy Myself”.
2. Story of the Ghost - This is the funkiest album and Mike gets all the attention he should always get in the mix. Favorite track is “The Moma Dance”.
1. Lawn Boy - Simply the best. They weren’t shying away from the long progressive rock compositions, and were really hitting their stride. Favorite track is “Run Like an Antelope”.
Keenan
phish made 10 albums?
ha… yeah. I must admit that while this is a most impressive display of Phish knowledge and that much at least i recognize, I also had no idea Phish has made 10 (studio) albums. And judging by the “top” in the title, I can only assume that they have made even more. I own and love Rift… but shortly after buying that CD i gave up on buying them altogether… CDs that is.
A very nice list Keenan… sadly, it doesn’t mean much to me. I can only say, “You are probably right.” and nod, content to be ignorant.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I think the post is wonderful. And I am sure that Phish-heads the world over will find your list very enlightening (truly). I also encourage others to write about what they know, what they feel, what they are passionate about here on the blog… even if Keenan’s post isn’t getting the attention it may in fact deserve from this group of bloggers, at least it was a fresh thought. Please remember readers the blog is for anyone, anytime, anywhere… while we strive to maintain a good site with good content and interesting conversational topics, don’t let that deter you from jotting a few ideas down on a post… you never know what interesting conversation could spawn from it.
I’m sorry keenan to get on my soapbox in your thread… bad form, and once again… good post
T
Actually, I bet phish-heads the world over might just be the strata of the population that takes exception to this list, as they are more likely to have a tattoo of a horse hanging in a harness on their back and to think that Demand is the greatest track of all time… and subsequently be saying, “what the hell is this guy smoking!!! putting hoist at number 10… completely tight in a bad way?!?! Pffsst!!!”
Then, again… I’m sure this list is basically definitive. Right Keenan.
Thats kind of the response I would expect. The fact that Round Room is 4th would probably also raise some eyebrows, but thats my list.
consider my eyebrows raised.
Update:
Joy, Phish’s newest album, “drops” tomorrow, although its been streaming on the band’s MySpace page for a few day now. Having listed to it all the way through about a dozen times now, I think its appropriate to discuss how it fits into the current list. Also, this month’s issue of Rolling Stone has a review of the album which is more than suspect in it credibility. It claims Joy is the best Phish album to date, even better than Billy Breathes, the reviewer’s previous favorite Phish album. Totally ridiculous. Joy does feature the best Mike Gordon written song since Rift’s Weigh; Sugar Shack shows off some of the song writing Gordon has obviously been honing during the break (which is on impressive display on his latest solo effort The Green Sparrow). And the prog-rock influenced Time Turns Elastic is at least an attempt, although a forced one, at the kind of long compositional song writing that made Phish great and makes their live music so dynamic and amazing. Unfortunately, producer Steve Lillywhite returns from their last collaboration on Billy Breathes, and it doesn’t take much listening for it to become sadly obvious. Joy shares with Billy Breathe the same down beat sappy impotent feeling. All in all, I think I would slide Joy in ahead of Undermind at the 8 spot, by far not Phish’s best effort, but not their worst either.