Let’s get s’more arguing going on up in this forum. Tell us your choice for definitive Phish studio album and live album/show.
‘Billy Breathes’ is not my favorite studio album, but I think it’s the one I’d reach for if I was trying to get someone into Phish. I think it’s at this point inarguable that it’s Phish’s version of ‘American Beauty’, not in a 1-to-1 comparison, but in the sense that it was each band’s studio masterpiece that is different from everything the band had done before and yet it still made sense with the rest of the band’s output. Plus I think they’re both great albums to drink to. Oh and I think ‘Billy Breathes’ is the best put together and paced of all the Phish studio albums: it just flows together so organically and naturally. Plus from ‘Train Song’ to ‘Prince Caspian’ is probably my favorite mellow half of an album of all time. OF ALL TIME. I wish I had it on vinyl so someday my kids would cherish it the way I always cherish side 3 of ‘Electric Ladyland.’
As for live album or show: if I could only play one show or album for someone that would capture the live greatness of Phish in the way that ‘Billy Breathes’ capture the studio greatness of Phish…I’d have to say 12/7/97 or 11/27/98. Both shows are great for beginners and for hardcore Phishheads. 12/7 has funk, great segues, rarities, and one of the greatest first sets of all time. 11/27 has variety, a Mike’s Groove followed by a raging Antelope, and one of the best second sets of all time.
I like your style Greg!
BILLY BREATHES is definately PHISH’s American Beauty.
As for live, nothing beats 3-22-93 Roxy. It’s teh fuckin bomb OMG fvcking roxxors…
Picture of Nectar is definitely my vote for studio phish. The diversity of that album really reflects Phish’s vision. As for live show: 6/18/94 UIC PAvilion does the trick. THen again I always vote for that show.
I really don’t think there is a definative album or Live show…I mean…I guess you could say that The Show is pretty difinative…after all it is THE SHOW…but to a person who only saw them up until '96 or something, it wouldn’t at all be definative of what phish is to them…Every album is so different, I don’t think any of them define the “phish sound”…I don’t really view phish as having a “sound” so I don’t think any live album or show could define them…
My opinion: Phish can best be defined by every album they recorded and every live show they played…that’s why we should all want to heard all of them…unless you have heard every single live show, this is kind of a pointless thing to even try to discuss…I think any show I’ve heard by phish is definative of Phish at that time/date/venue/state of being…I can throw any random date up here or any album and call it definative because it is…so why argue about any of this.
Because it’s fun to argue!
OK pretend it’s a desert island and you can only have one studio and one live album/show.
^
Now we’re talking…
this probably changes on a daily basis for most people.
Having to listen to 1 studio album for months and months while living on an island, I’d probably take SOTG. Rift and Farmhouse are close seconds.
Live shows??? 1??? What???
I think it should be mandatory to exclude all Halloween, NYE, and Festival shows. Just a regular 2-set Phish show.
At this moment, which means zero because it will probably change in 30 minutes, I’m leaning towards 7.11.00 both for musical standouts (set II) and sentimental reasons (first show ever). Can’t beat that powerful combo!
I think the key to this discussion is like Greg said, if you had to pick one album or show to play for someone to get them into Phish which would they be…of course you can’t ‘sum up’ Phish in this manner, but in the event you meet someone who’s never heard of Phish (like I do every day living in merry ole England) what would you play for them?
I’d have to go with Picture of Nectar for an album (excluding live albums for the purposes of this thread) or maybe Rift…naw… Nectar
Then I’d also have to go with my phirst show, 8-8-98, which may be bad because I’d probably talk too much through it cuz I’ve heard it a million times and it changed my life and all…but it’s a good one for newbies with some good covers.
Although it’s awesome, I’d suggest NOT playing the East Rutherford show w/ BB King for someone to hear Phish for the first time, because I did this for one of my housemates (who happens to be into the blues anyway) and now whenever I ask if I can put some Phish on he’s like ‘yeah just put on the BB show dude’…overkill.
Vernixx, I’ve actually seen you mention this show twice, but according to HelpingPhriendlyBook, the Roxy shows were in February of '93, cause 3-22 was the full Gamehenge narration show. I don’t know, you may want to check it out so I can find the actual show you’re referring to and obtain it.
-Daniel
Fine…desert Island, NOT DEFINATIVE…I guess it would kind of suck being that there would be no electricity…I probably wouldn’t care all that much…I would take Big Cypress 12/31 just to look at the setlist all day, and probably SOTG because I could at least read the lyrics and remind myself of all the fun I used to have listening to it.
Cypress out, NYE '95 out, Oswego out, Lemonwheel out, Remain in Light out, Clifford Ball out…you get the point. Those shows are incredible in and of themselves, it’s not fair to include them with other choices.
It’s like saying “pick a player in NBA history to start your franchise not named Jordan, Abdul Jabbar, Bird, Johnson, Malone, O’Neal, Olajuwon, McHale, Chamberlain, Russell, Erving…” It makes you think a little more.
Definitive album: Junta
I would choose Junta because it sums up, for me, what Phish are:
Goofy
Tight
Loose
Talented beyond all talent
Amazing composers
Unique
Definitive live: I couldn’t name one without thinking about it a bit more BUT a favourite of mine is the Live Phish Vol.7 show - some time in August 1993… THE ANTELOPE!
If I couldn’t have the Show with me on the island, I would rather not have any show because it would drive me fucking insane not being able to listen to the show…I really don’t know how to pick a favorite other than that…They are all too good…how do you guys really have a favorite? I don’t even have one that I think is worse that the rest…(okay maybe Coventry)… Maybe 11/21/97, but dammit…I would always end up regretting not picking 11/22…I refuse to answer any more on this thread.
^
i dont think i have 1 all-time “favorite” but at any given moment if i had to answer the question, I’d probably have a range of 10-15 shows that I would use as the answer consistently.
But i do see what you’re saying…it’s incredibly difficult
Just pretend Cypress doesn’t exist. Pretend it’s a legend. That’s the only way I can remain sane, having never heard it.
Studio = Rift
Live= 6-19-95 for no other reason then that it was my first show and a damn good one if you ask me.
Studio - Junta
Live - 6/18/94
Pretty simple for me. These just each stand out in my mind so much. I would miss the other stuff though…
Epic bump.
I dunno, Junta & 12/29/94 I guess.
It’s interesting to look back at some of my posts from FOUR YEARS ago to see how I viewed Phish then compared to how I view them now.
Junta is the best album of the 1980’s. better than master of puppets even.
How? I would like some elaboration sir.