One of these days you guys are going to figure out that Mike is the last member of Phish writing songs that have any Phishiness left in them. Trey clearly doesn’t want to play Mike’s songs, so any new Phishy stuff isn’t being worked out. For reference, refer to Sugar Shack, which was pretty much mangled every single time last year. To me, Sugar Shack was the one song on Joy that harkened back to the Phish of old.
grab me some haterade why dontcha…
Not saying I don’t like Joy, because I do. It’s just that Joy is more of a traditional rock record and a pretty far departure from the likes of Rift, wouldn’t you say? The band has evolved over time into a more traditional rock band in some respects. It seems like some fans can’t accept that. I can. Not a hater here in the slightest. 
Typically I prefer the words to be narration or banter. Silly Fee type stuff with reccurring characters like Millie. Or even the always contrversial Gotta Jiboo 
. When I want some ballads I’d go with Jerry. No more than 1 per set if they must.
I think I’m flashing back to 2003. They really flooded the atmosphere with some narccicistic sounds that year.
-see Cheesy Answers
Thanks for the great post!!
Couldn’t agree more…I find these songs to be boring, repetitive and lame…Row, row , row your boat gently down the stream…
I think as fans we look back on the old material and it conjures up the romance that some of us had with the band going into this whole thing. Would I have traveled all the way from Chicago to both coasts on multiple occasions to hear the newer Phish songs? Nope. I traveled because I knew that I would expect the unexpected. I knew that I would get an exploration and a different version of “YEM” or “Reba” each and every time. This was the mid to late nineties, I was in my twenties and the exploratory road combined itself with the exploratory music of Phish to create a perfect balance and journey for my transition from youth to accepted adulthood.
Those songs still sound great.
It is important to understand that Phish cannot write or play at the manic pace that years past allowed. They are both physically unable to play at that technical level and have gone through a transition in life that all of us as adults are forced to go through with time. We grow up and our playful approach to life becomes more reflective, refined and mature. A lot of people can turn this on and off and can write music in a child like vein throughout their whole career. It’s not so easy for everyone and I completely understand how a body of work can change as people grow up and go through different experiences.
I don’t look down on Trey for not playing Gamehendge songs in a stream every tour or falling back on the gimmicks that embedded their live show into the hearts and minds of so many people that established their fan base in the early years. My expectations have changed with time as the band has changed. I have no idea how people do tours these days with Phish considering the constant replaying of the same songs and with the same “jam” formula with the past couple of tours. I used to not be able to predict where an improvised part would go on any given concert. I can predict almost every guitar solo now. It’s still pretty fucking great to be at a show because they are all masters of their instruments even to this day.
Time Turns Elastic? I love this song! Joy? It’s a great tune!
I think that it is important to grow out of the mindset that the band members are no longer in their 20’s and 30’s and that the evolution of this band is not something that we should hate but something that we should understand as happening naturally. This is Phish. Phish was that and now it is this. They are still doing interesting things and it still brings people to message boards, concerts and events to mull over the old days and speculate on the new.
I’m just happy they are still a band and still bring out the classics. Do I regularly listen to 2009 shows on my ipod? I really can’t say that I do other than when they happen. I catalog the show and usually move onto something that is more my speed.
Do I think that the younger generation benefits from Phish touring and opening doors to those listeners? Hell fucking yes.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOVIxEAj7oI[/youtube]
All this talk about this Trey solo song not being Phish-y enough doesn’t really make sense…it’s not a Phish song, it’s a Trey song. Why should everything Trey plays have to sound like Phish? I’m sure if Phish does end up playing it it will end up taking on a more Phishy vibe and melting some faces somewhere along the line. Lyrics are a very minuscule part of the Phish sound anyway, imo, and this, to me, doesn’t seem like a song that is really going to be making the Phish repertoire anyway.
Seriously, I’m tired of the “artists need to evolve” excuse propping up late-period forced weak material. Happens all the time. I’m down with evolution; I’m not into poor craftsmanship.
I don’t care if artists change. In fact I want that. I love variety. It’s quality I’m on a rant about.
I love all this talk about this band v solo v older material v new stuff.
::sips coffee::
I have nothing good to say except I’ll never forget the first time hearing Dinner and a Movie… ahhhh I remember it like it was yesterday ::wavy transition to dreamy flashback:: Hanging out at the University of the Arts, Philly, Fall 89’ smoking the hydroponic green buds and drinking beer… Listening to the music I felt I had met an old lover…I licked and hugged the cassette tape… It was then I knew… phish was as close to me as my own left nut. lol
Why stop there?
Trey has obviously changed as both a songwriter and a person. Can we at least give him the benefit of the doubt considering what he has done in the past?
While I certainly see your point about Trey’s new material, I think you guys are giving it too much weight. It’s not as if these ballads will ever become the centerpiece of Phish’s catalogue. Sure, you can say his writing is not as creative and doesn’t capture as much raw energy as the old songs. I agree with that.
That being said, assuming that Phish is becoming an ordinary band because of these ballads makes me laugh. Maybe I’m naïve, but after hearing their progress last year and attending eleven shows, I am rather convinced that Phish still has creative energy and the potential to do things which exceed our expectations.
“Light” from last year (The Gorge, Indio, MSG, etc.) is a good example of how a new song can be taken to the next level.
And Trey is still my favorite guitarist 
Devin, it says in the article that woman and trey have written songs for Phish too, that will be debuted this summer. 
looking at the songs he’s written since 04 (90% of which it seems are ballads), no…
there’s nothing we can do about it. trey’s gonna do what he feels, but …
Nice influence on Trey, Post Hiatus Guy 
just kidding Panky
Ah…I didn’t even see that you posted a link to an article…I thought this was all just spot on Hank speculation. Well…carry on then. Female songwriters basically suck period…(Joni, Patti and Kate Bush are rare exceptions). Trey really oughtta know better.
Just some random thoughts:
I always wondered what a Phish album would sound like with only Fish, Gordo and Page writing songs and lyrics, with Trey taking a back seat to the whole process… 
Phish (mainly Trey) has written some of my favorite “Pop” songs ever… 
I kinda tossed aside BDTNL and Light when I first heard them (Hampton BDTNL and Fenway Light), and now look at those tunes… 
Show of Life does not move me now, but who knows, knowing Phish, that could change quickly… 