Why is Phish under Prog-Related?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Proto-Prog and Prog-Related Lounge
Forum Description: Discuss bands and albums classified as Proto-Prog and Prog-Related
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29325
Printed Date: June 18 2025 at 08:06
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Topic: Why is Phish under Prog-Related?
Posted By: darkshade
Subject: Why is Phish under Prog-Related?
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 23:10
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this came up in an Iron Maiden topic, but i figured i should bring it up. Phish is under prog-related, yet they have amazing prog albums, and some i consider up there with the greats. i dont seem to see enough arguement that they should stay prog-related. people say because after a certain point they moved from prog to a different style. if im not mistaken, didnt most of the classic 70's bands do that when the 80s came? (or sooner) Except Phish played in their style, just not prog, although almost every album after they left the prog scene had at least one prog song per album. so could someone please clue me in as to why they are not under some other subgenre of prog? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
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Replies:
Posted By: cuncuna
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 23:47
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Maybe he is related to prog somehow... ------------- ˇBeware of the Bee! |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 23:47
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are there even Phish fans here? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 23:48
he? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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cuncuna wrote:Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 23:49
Hi!
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Posted By: cuncuna
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 23:51
I don't know if they are even. If they have someting to settle as Phish fans, it is not of my bussines.  ------------- ˇBeware of the Bee! |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 23:57
IMHO i think they are. Their first 4 albums were completely prog, the 4th being a concept album
after that they strayed away from prog a little, still keeping their overall sound however.
one album, Story of the Ghost, was a fluke in their line of not so prog albums, with the song 'Guyute' being one of the best prog songs ive ever heard
so yea, i think they are prog ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 23:58
hello!
 im looking for other points of view. may i ask what yours is? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 23:59
The song 'Stash' is pretty much a jazz song with electric guitar over it. 'You Enjoy Myself' is very similar. I say that Phish should be under Art Rock.
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 03 2006 at 00:01
same here. im not sure theyd fit anywhere else on the site other than art rock. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: October 03 2006 at 00:03
A few of their songs are a bit Psychedelic/Space Rock-ish, but not enough to permanently put them under that category.
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 03 2006 at 00:11
no matter what the songs seem like (space rock, psychedelic, jazz, funk, fusion, etc) they're progressive. look at David Bowie, Divided Sky, Rift, Maze, Stash, Tweezer, Guyute, You Enjoy Myself, Reba, Fluffhead/Fluff's Travels, Punch You in the Eye, Bouncing Around the Room, My Friend My Friend, The Lizards, Dinner and a Movie, It's Ice, Weigh, Pebbles and Marbles, What's the Use, Weekapaug Groove, Squirming Coil, Slave to the Traffic Light, Run Like and Antelope, Demand, Sand/First Tube, Glide, Drowned, etc... those are all excellent progressive rock songs ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: October 03 2006 at 00:18
Phish for Art Rock!
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 03 2006 at 00:23
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all the way, is there a way to suggest this to admins?
though i fear there arent enough phans to make anything happen. if theyd only put better songs to stream on the bands page. Wading in the Velvet Sea, while a good song, does not show, at all, what Phish's music is like ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: Harry Hood
Date Posted: October 03 2006 at 00:37
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Phish was probably put under prog related because most prog bands are judged by their studio work. Overall, Phish's studio work has been significantly weaker than their live performances, and their strongest studio albums are also their least prog albums. (In my opinion anyway. I think Billy Breathes was their strongest studio effort)
However, listen to any of their live albums, and their proginess can't be denied. ------------- 
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 03 2006 at 00:41
i think their first 4 albums had great, progressive compositions, and they improvised on studio albums too. i enjoy all Phish albums. though yes, their live output REALLY shows their progressive side more, their jams go places. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: KeyserSoze
Date Posted: October 03 2006 at 06:12
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Hi,
I'm a big fan of Phish and I think their music is PROGRESSIVE, though it might not be PROG-ROCK as some people understand it (that is not always PROGRESSIVE, like ie. The Flower Kings, Spock's Beard etc. which sound as RETRO to me with no new elements brought into rock music). Some people think they're just another jam-band (in vein of Grateful Dead) but do they know their studio albums? They seem pretty structured to me, for example Junta (my favorite) or A Picture Of Nectar - for me clear progressive rock albums. Their successors Umphrey's McGee (a great band BTW.) are on PA as Jazz Rock/Fusion band and that's a section where I would see Phish as well. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/mhron/?chartstyle=artists" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: November 30 2006 at 00:10
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First of all, I'm a big Phish fan. Easily one of my favorite bands. I think that they are absolutely 100% prog (especially in their first 4 albums and story of a ghost) not to mention that every live show is very progressive in its delivery. The only problem is the genre. They combine so many styles so well, but sometimes have standard country songs, or standard funk songs on their prog albums so it's hard to categorize. One thing is for sure, there is no band that sounds like Phish (or at least none I've heard yet.) They are 100% original.
I would probably put them in Art Rock as much as I feel a less defined Jazz Rock/Fusion is more tempting for them. But than again, they incorporated much more than your average jazz fusion band. Oh and P.S. Phish used to be in Art Rock but were moved to Prog Related some time after. Sorry for bringing this post up I just felt the need to comment. ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: November 30 2006 at 10:08
| Rift is one of the best Art Rock albums in the history of rock n roll! |
Posted By: Trademark
Date Posted: December 05 2006 at 18:07
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Why is Phish here at all? I've seen them on Auston City Limits a couple of times and there's nothing remotely proggy about them. Well, they do have a keyboard player but so doews REO Speedwagon so they should probably be here too.
If Phish is here why not the Grateful Dead and Dave Matthews Band? Hell, why not every band there is. This is a progressive rock site, and that seems to be something we're forgetting lately. The additions are getting out of control. |
Posted By: Howe Protege
Date Posted: December 08 2006 at 11:55
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Phish is more Art Rock to me
------------- My favorite pasty faced British pal. 
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Posted By: Gaston
Date Posted: December 08 2006 at 12:45
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Phish should be art rock.
Slip, stitch and pass album cover was done by Storm Thorgerson, that should be enough. ;)
Gaston -------------  
It's the same guy. Great minds think alike. |
Posted By: B360Lightning
Date Posted: March 04 2008 at 21:08
 Phish most certainly is what one could consider "progressive". They can also go along with Art-Rock or Jazz-Rock but you're better off not labeling Phish under labels because their music was all over the place but it was always good, fresh & creative music unlike the many cheesy prog outings and the many progressive bands that later on turned pop. I really do not like the labels anyway. One can not deny the lighthearted complexity of Phish's music as a whole (Their spirit reminds me of the bands like Gong,Caravan or 10cc). For those who say Phish isn't complex or prog, you actually have to listen to all of it to get the whole picture. One can't deny the mindmelting epics like "Fluff's Travels", "It's Ice", "Esther", "Guyute", "Taste","All Things Reconsidered" & the grand "Limb By Limb". Their 3 most progressive records were 88's Junta, 93's Rift & 98's The Story Of The Ghost
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Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: March 04 2008 at 21:29
Interesting that this topic came up. I decided to spin "Junta" the other day after not listening to it for many, many years (maybe even close to a decade!). It was actually even proggier than I had remembered. That said, I'm not sure I own enough of their output to form a decent opinion - but I'm glad they're represented here at least under PR....ironic, since I don't agree with the existence of that sub in the first place. 
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Posted By: DHarris
Date Posted: April 17 2008 at 22:43
| I completely agree. Phish is a full blown prog band. Not just a prog related band. |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: April 17 2008 at 22:52
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I dunno, 'cause we couldna find any paper to wrap in ...
------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: boo boo
Date Posted: May 13 2008 at 17:05
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They're certainly prog related at least.
I know that Trey Anastasio is a big King Crimson fan and lists Fripp as one of his influences.
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: May 13 2008 at 17:37
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what's up Boo Boo... long time no see... Phish had been kicked around for eclectic.. before I got drafted to fill in for Rico.... and believe there would be interest. Will bring that back up.. see where opinions stand. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 27 2008 at 16:58
Also Zappa, as evidenced by a lot of the songwriting in Phish's music, even in Trey's guitar playing. Phish is, with no doubt in my mind, a full-out prog band. When you've heard all their studio albums, own over 35 shows, and heard dozens more, you realize how much of a prog band they are. They have more prog songs that most prog bands discography. They should be in Eclectic prog, maybe jazz-fusion, but jazz-fusion doesnt do them justice, since they go everywhere musically. But again, they're a prog band. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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