Phish Sucks.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Can someone please explain to me the allure of Phish, and other bands of that ilk, using an answer other than "Dude, it's about the music" (God knows I've heard that a million times already) or "Drugs make it good."

 

 

I do like jazz, and appreciate freeform improvisation. However, there is a fine line to be crossed between creativity with structure and self-indulgent noodling. There is plenty of music in which the band members can express themselves musically and still keep things from becoming too monotonous. However, Phish, for me, ends up on the wrong side of the line.

 

I am aware that they are musically talented, however, it seems they're putting their musical talents to waste by just playing for potheads. They claim to be "all about the music," but by virtue of simply being a well-known band, there has to be a degree of intervention by the record label in the affairs and actions of the band.

 

So, please feel free to agree with me, prove me wrong, or just give me what I'm become accustomed to in this argument, "Dude, you don't get it, man."

[Guest Harry Hood]

As a big Phish fan, I feel the need to come to the rescue. Let's hope I do well.

 

Personally I like Phish because when I started getting into them, a friend gave me a CD, I wasn't accustomed to any sort of music like the kind that Phish played. I had been predominantly a huge Pink FLoyd fan. So when I went from listening to depressing and introspective Floyd, which I still love, when I heard a song like Sparkle by Phish, it was like a kick in the face. I loved it something new something great. It escalated from there.

 

I know a lot of people really dig Phish due to the live shows. That's the thing that differentiates them from most other groups in my mind.

 

I am aware that they are musically talented, however, it seems they're putting their musical talents to waste by just playing for potheads. They claim to be "all about the music," but by virtue of simply being a well-known band, there has to be a degree of intervention by the record label in the affairs and actions of the band.

you see they do claim all aobut the music, and to them if you catch an interview on them it seems pretty clear. But as you said, there is a small degree of label intervention. But their label has realized that they don't sell a lot of albums, I'm pretty sure they don't have any platinum sellers. So they kind of let them go do their own thing.

 

Back to the live shows though, that's the bread and butter. Their type I and II jams are ususally breathtaking during some songs. Does it get a bit pretentious sometimes? Yeh but what band doesn't? I can't wait for the festival this year, it's going to be great.

 

Sorry if this is a bit disjjointed I'm still feeling my last night.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Personally I like Phish because when I started getting into them, a friend gave me a CD, I wasn't accustomed to any sort of music like the kind that Phish played. I had been predominantly a huge Pink FLoyd fan. So when I went from listening to depressing and introspective Floyd, which I still love, when I heard a song like Sparkle by Phish, it was like a kick in the face. I loved it something new something great. It escalated from there.

See, perfect example. Pink Floyd was incredibly creative in their albums and performances, but was able to keep things structured. You had a huge outpouring of ideas and concepts, but it was never a rambling mess.

[Guest mesepher]

Phish is OK... one thing I think they lack is emotion. Trey's playing can be as dry as a desert highway sometimes. You mentioned about the jamming being monotonous and that is sometimes the case... Trey has a habbit of playing the same groove over and over and over so you have a point there. I prefer the early Phish myself, and the band members side projects and sit ins. Trey's band put on a good show last summer and Page McConnel always does a nice job on keys. Fishman was involved in starting the AMAZING Jazz Mandolin Project... so he's not so bad. Mike Gordon... well, he can play some nice stuff... although he's a bit too goofy when it comes to producing videos, haha.

 

What other "jam bands" have you checked out? One thing I love about improvisational music is the vast variety of styles and influences that come out during the shows. I don't know of any mainstream band that will rock out, get funky, get down and dirty with the blues, play some jazz and then play a few over the top covers all in one show.

 

Drugs make it good

if you need drugs to enjoy something, then you obviously don't get it. (not you man... people who tell you that)

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I don't mind Anastasio with Oysterhead too much, but I absolutely loathe Phish. They bore me to tears. Back at college, I was surrounded by people that were WAY too into Phish, The Grateful Dead and String Cheese Incident in particular. Wretched shit that runs together like a bunch of watercolors turning brown. Sucks sucks sucks.

[Guest Spicy McHaggis]

So, please feel free to agree with me, prove me wrong, or just give me what I'm become accustomed to in this argument, "Dude, you don't get it, man."

I don't think Phish sucks. But I do agree that there is quite a lot of rambling in their more current stuff. I have "Round Room" and, as an album, it was ruined by creative jams and melodies being played over and over until they turned themselves into monotonous garbage. I think Phish is also a little weak lyrically.

 

I'll get flamed...but DMB is just so much better, for me, because they're more structured. And they don't let their creativity exhaust itself simply to turn out 15- and 30-minute songs.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I think Phish is also a little weak lyrically

 

How can you think that when they utilize pure poetry like..

 

"Step into the Freezer.

Uncle Ebeneezer."

 

Dave Matthews is another one of those bands where I don't understand why people get into it so much. I find him to be equally as boring as Phish, only with an incredibly annoying voice, that sticks out like a sore thumb since his band is decent. His lyrics have never impressed me one bit, and when he tries to write a radio hit, 3-5 minutes of absolute vomit gets thrust upon the world.

[Guest nl5xsk1]

I was wicked into Phish from about 1992 - 1997, and now consider myself rather indifferent to them. Would I see them if I could get tickets? Yes. But will I bust my ass to get tickets? No.

 

Phish live can be very hit and miss - the secret is to sit down or go for a water/beer run or take a bathroom break during the "miss" parts. But as long as they don't play long-ass versions of songs just for the sake of making it a long-ass version I have no issues. (thinking of a song like Cavern when it's stretched out to like 10 minutes; it just gets redundant)

 

I hate their recent attempts at lyricism now more than I ever hated the nonsense of Picture of Nectar or Junta ... when they were writing just weird combinations of words it was OK, but now that Tom Marshall wants to be a serious "lyricist" he sucks.

 

Phish fans are one of the reasons why I stopped going to shows so much ... you can only have some 15 year old that's been to like 5 shows bitch at you for sitting down during Down With Disease so many times. THESE are the people that say that the show is so much better with drugs, and who's got their molly and all that shit. Fuck them, gives the entire scene a bad rap.

 

And don't get me started on bands like Dave Mathews or String Cheese or the Dead ... at least with Phish I can still find some positive things to say. Not with the other bands (although both Widespread Panic and MMW are still good)

[Guest The Czech Republic]

when he tries to write a radio hit, 3-5 minutes of absolute vomit gets thrust upon the world.

"I Did It" might be one of the most hideous songs to ever be spawned from any musician in the modern era. Gives "Macarthur Park" a run for its money.

[Guest Spicy McHaggis]

when he tries to write a radio hit, 3-5 minutes of absolute vomit gets thrust upon the world.

"I Did It" might be one of the most hideous songs to ever be spawned from any musician in the modern era. Gives "Macarthur Park" a run for its money.

Umm....

 

Couldn't agree more.

 

And I'm the biggest DMB fan on this board.