I’ve never thought this was up to par with the 3 albums before it, nor do I think it could keep up with the 4 after it. I’ve just never gotten into it.
I don’t want to speak for everyone… But I am pretty sure a lot of people will disagree with you… In my opinion, Rift is the best to listen to beginning to end.
rift is a gem indeed. i wasn’t too into it for a while. but, it’s slowly turned into one of my favorites. i just can’t stop listening to “it’s ice”
It’s so tragicically romantic, GIRLS LOVE IT
Far better than the previous 3, production-wise,
IMHO, this is where phish’s studio career started to take off
i will say this. the first time i heard it i thought it sucked. when i got to listen to it at home and pay attention to it, i would go as far as saying that’s the best recorded album ever. the sound of it and the flow is surreal. it is a-o-k with me.
I also respectfully disagree. I love Rift!!! It flows so smoothly.
Rift was the second studio album I bought after Hoist…I thought from start to finish it was better than Hoist. “Horn” and “My Friend My Friend” are the 2 best songs on the album. Well all the songs contain some of Phish’s best lyrics (along with Billy Breathes).
I love RIFT…I remember buying it the day it was released and I still cherish it.
It’s Phish’s equivalent of Sgt. Pepper’s. And Billy Breathes is Abbey Road. Figuratively speaking, of course. It’s ridiculous and obscene to compare anything The Beatles did with anything Phish has done and will do…
But Trey is obviously a huge Abbey Road fan
I know it’s my favorite Beatles album!! “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” rules!
So many great live performance tunes came off Rift. I never get sick of it. I think its #1.
While I love My Friend, My Friend, Horn, Rift, and others, I just haven’t really gotten into Maze and stuff. Any recommended Mazes for me?
Rift is by far their best studio album in my eyes.
Maze is the shit. period.
Hmmm… I wouldn’t say Rift is my favorite, but in a way I would say it’s the best. Does that sound weird?
…and please, let’s also not forget MOUND!
Every tune a winner!
When Rift came out, I almost shit my pants after a run through! This album is AWESOME! The 93 tour to follow was GREAT too! I still listen to Rift a lot.
I was on a bus tour of the Grand Canyon/Las Vegas/San Diego area a few years back and at the Grand Canyon we all hung out at a bar. In the jukebox besides the useless c&w and
top 40 pop was Rift!! As I had a few bucks, I fed the machine my money and picked some tunes exclusively from that CD. My tour companions, who were mostly from Australia (and probably not as exposed to Phish music) started liking it, really getting into it. Some people asked me about Phish and I was happy to tell them. By now I think the Australian phan community has grown!!
Rift seems to be me to be the best studio recording from Phish because of its ability to work around a certain theme. Sure the theme is a little ethereal and its hard to pin down but from the jacket cover to the ebb and flow of the songs it really feels almost story like. I think as a complete piece it is very sophisticated and cohesive. Plus esquandoles is right about there being so many great live jams that spawn from this album. Rift and Hoist, i think are the only two albums that really seemed to spring board phish’s attitude and excitement.
I think Rift is their best CD by far.
Over the years Rift is the one phish album I listen to the most… Rift, fefy, lengthwise, maze… the whole album… sparkles:p But like any studio album (or live recording for that matter) one gets tired of it after a while and then takes a break till one can listen to it again with fresh ears…
It’s hard to say what Phish’s best studio album is because they all have good and bad points. I think Rift is great because there are so many really good songs. It’s pretty epic.