Btw, I think it goes without saying that we are all thrilled that they’re all writing music and performing together as Phish. We’re all Phish fans, so I assume we’re all happy about that.
For me, that happiness is not so blinding that I don’t form opinions about WHAT they’re playing, though. Maybe that sounds ungrateful - like I should just lap up whatever they produce because OMG PHISH IS BACK - but to me, part of being a Phish fan is accepting my own honest feelings about their music. It’s okay for them to have some songs I don’t like. They’re a better, more diverse band for it. I’d rather they played such a variety of music that some of it doesn’t appeal to me, than only play songs that I enjoy. That’d get boring quick. (Plus, when would I go pee if it wasn’t for tunes like TTE, Bug, or the first half of Chalkdust??)
This. I love Page’s singing and playing, and he’s a skilled arranger. But writing melodies and lyrics and developing unique musicial concepts aren’t his strong suit, IMO.
I still think Page should put together a totally different kind of band and play big-band jazz standards or something, he has a real affinity for those classic tunes. It’d enable him to have a personal pet project on the side without the pressures of creating as much original music himself.
As one of the bigger critics in this thread, I just want to say “Stealing Time” & “Ocelot” get my votes for Best Phish Tunes In Years.
And I love that TTE is musically ambitious … but in the same way that simple can be great, complex can be crap. Besides, my gripe with that tune is its lyrics.
I haven’t heard Page’s album. Or half of Trey’s solo albums. Or Inside Out. Totally way way more interested than the whole band.
In some ways I think Trey would be better off if he just accepted his musical gifts lie in writing weird proggy stuff, irreverent material and high energy white dude funk. Trey and Marshall’s strengths lie in making weird “word salads”. I’m sure they fancy themselves as Neil Youngs/Lou Reeds but it’s just not quite them. They have their ups and downs and I’m not saying the newer stuff is bad, though.
I wish they would sort of revisit an approach to writing that yielded stuff like “Theme From the Bottom” and “Free” that seem to strike a balance between musical complexity and simplicity as well as meaningful lyrics. I’d also like to see some more “Tube” styled jams. So if anyone talks to Trey just let him know that and I’m sure he’ll get right on it.
I kinda feel that the out pouring of love for Mike’s songwriting is a bit of a backlash to some of the crap trey writes. I mean I like mike songs and they are weird and phishy but his tunes… aside from Mike’s song, aren’t jam vehicles… do you really want a 25 minute Round Room?.. how 'bout a 30 minute Weigh? It’s just a different writing style and if the majority of songs were written by him phish would be a completely different band imo. I dig his tunes and they are refreshing but even the crappiest of trey songs can eventually rock your balls off.
You really gotta get rid of that sig, man. It has to load every time I pull up a page your posts are on. Kind of annoying for something that doesn’t really add any content.
to go back on topic, sorta… I’ve felt that RR is their best album lyrically. Song like Bathtub Gin, when listened to as a non-fan, are stupid… along with Reba etc… but within the context of phish they totally work.
So, for someone like me who was never seen Doctor Who and is now intensely interested, what would be the best way to go about watching it? I don’t get BBC America, so I can’t watch it on TV. And it seems like the show has been going on for so long, I’m afraid everything would just fly over my head. Suggestions?