With the release of their 11th studio album, Phish has reminded us that there is more to look forward to than the cookie cutter music of artists akin to Miley Cyrus and Jay Sean. Joy, which was self released September 8, seems to be a more serious take on Phish’s music. Could it be that it was because they turned 25 last November? It's possible, the album celebrates as well as looks back on all the years they have experienced together. The lead track expresses this clearly, “Backwards Down The Number Line” starts with ‘Happy happy, oh my friend/Blow out candles once again’. Joy’s lyrics draw from ideas about dealing with drug addiction to the death of Trey’s sister after her long battle with cancer and even singing about ocelots. As far as the signature jamming Phish is known for, the album is somewhat lacking as most of their studio albums are. The track “Time Turns Elastic” is a noteworthy jam song, although more of a “constructed progressive rock opus”, it runs thirteen minutes long, and it was recorded live in the studio over the course of 278 takes. Personally I think it was worth the time because it is a close to studio perfection as they come. This album is worth taking a look at for sure, but if you are not familiar with the music of Phish, it is not a true gage of their caliber. If you really want to understand Phish, take a look at their live album “Slip, Stitch, and Pass”.
More Than A Pleasure, A Real Joy
by Will Hastings
With the release of their 11th studio album, Phish has reminded us that there is more to look forward to than the cookie cutter music of artists akin to Miley Cyrus and Jay Sean. Joy, which was self released September 8, seems to be a more serious take on Phish’s music. Could it be that it was because they turned 25 last November? It's possible, the album celebrates as well as looks back on all the years they have experienced together. The lead track expresses this clearly, “Backwards Down The Number Line” starts with ‘Happy happy, oh my friend/Blow out candles once again’. Joy’s lyrics draw from ideas about dealing with drug addiction to the death of Trey’s sister after her long battle with cancer and even singing about ocelots. As far as the signature jamming Phish is known for, the album is somewhat lacking as most of their studio albums are. The track “Time Turns Elastic” is a noteworthy jam song, although more of a “constructed progressive rock opus”, it runs thirteen minutes long, and it was recorded live in the studio over the course of 278 takes. Personally I think it was worth the time because it is a close to studio perfection as they come. This album is worth taking a look at for sure, but if you are not familiar with the music of Phish, it is not a true gage of their caliber. If you really want to understand Phish, take a look at their live album “Slip, Stitch, and Pass”.
With the release of their 11th studio album, Phish has reminded us that there is more to look forward to than the cookie cutter music of artists akin to Miley Cyrus and Jay Sean. Joy, which was self released September 8, seems to be a more serious take on Phish’s music. Could it be that it was because they turned 25 last November? It's possible, the album celebrates as well as looks back on all the years they have experienced together. The lead track expresses this clearly, “Backwards Down The Number Line” starts with ‘Happy happy, oh my friend/Blow out candles once again’. Joy’s lyrics draw from ideas about dealing with drug addiction to the death of Trey’s sister after her long battle with cancer and even singing about ocelots. As far as the signature jamming Phish is known for, the album is somewhat lacking as most of their studio albums are. The track “Time Turns Elastic” is a noteworthy jam song, although more of a “constructed progressive rock opus”, it runs thirteen minutes long, and it was recorded live in the studio over the course of 278 takes. Personally I think it was worth the time because it is a close to studio perfection as they come. This album is worth taking a look at for sure, but if you are not familiar with the music of Phish, it is not a true gage of their caliber. If you really want to understand Phish, take a look at their live album “Slip, Stitch, and Pass”.
