A PICTURE OF NECTAR

Phish's third album (I gather) is a complicated affair for someone unfamiliar to the band - and this is my case. Certainly it sounds like another Phish record but on this one not only are the Grateful Dead references still evident but it clearly appears those guys heard also the excellent A Pocket Full Of Kryptonite debut album from Spin Doctors.

Most of the songs on this album are very typical of Phish swaying from Country-rock to bluesish-rock to mainstream rock with good musicianship. The tracks are shorter than usual and only a few of them allow for much instrumental interplay that we are used as soon as you see them in concert. The three longer tracks (Stash, Tweezer & Mango Song) will appeal to progheads for obvious reasons, but progressive nirvana is not to be reached with such an album. Too many references to country music are made but in general musical directions are too wide and unfocused for this group to be relished by progheads.

As a confirmed proghead but knowing only five albums from them, I can assure potential listener that although good musicians, I have yet to really enjoy a studio album but I rate highly the live album. It seems to me that Phish's main appeal is as a live band.