FELLINI DAYS

Personally, I think this is an excellent Fish album. "3D" is great as an atmospheric and moody opener that really rocks out for the last four-plus minutes; "Tiki 4" is simply masterful, the accoustic guitar riff and smooth vocals make it so pleasant and joyous that I could listen to the song over and over all day long -- and I have; "Dancing in Fog" has a great flow to it, and I find I cannot help but feel an urge to dance to the beat (though the hip-hop remix of it is probably the worst thing Fish has ever produced!); "The Pilgrim's Address" is effective as an anti-war song (the line about "killing a man whose father loved him just like me" is especially haunting given the current state of world affairs); and "Clock Moves Sideways" is a powerful prog-rock closer reminiscent of the "Fugazi" sound (and not just because the word appears in the chorus at the end). I even like "Long Cold Day" -- it's great to listen to if you are going through an ugly breakup and feeling a bit bitter. I openly concede that the other tracks are less moving, but what Fish album (with the exception of Vigil perhaps) does not have at least one or more less than stellar songs on it? Even "Raingods," my favorite Fish effort to date, has one or two songs that drag. What's good on "Fellini Days" is very, very good indeed and essential to any serious Fish fan. I highly recommend it.