The Evolution of Phish
Most people know Phish for their marathon, mind-melting live performances, but on their 16th album Evolve, they are reminding listeners that there was a time, long ago, when the band made good-to-great, possibly even essential, albums.
On this edition of Discologist, Eduardo and Kevin are digging into the latest release from the jamband titans, trying to figure out what a band the size of Phish really means, why songs may be more important than jams, and much more.
Featured Album
Evolve - Phish
Many forget there was a time, long ago, when Phish used to craft legitimately good, sometimes great, studio albums. But somewhere in the early 2000s, their quirky, composed anthems, beloved by fans (or should we say "phans"), transitioned to bluesy jams crafted more with live improvisation in mind than telling some kind of story. Die-hards will argue it's always been about the live experience, but that feels like a cop-out when faced with studio successes like Rift, Story of the Ghost, and the understated beauty of Billy Breaths. Not every song needs to be a wild ride like "Guyute," but neither should they be the calorie-free pop that often occupies their later albums and sets. This brings us to Evolve, their aptly titled 16th studio album. Hinting at a potential songwriting renaissance for the band, there's still some lighter fare for fans who enjoy/first came to the band for that style. But tracks like "Lonely Trip," "Monsters," and even the title track (a successful "Water In The Sky" homage) suggest Phish might still have some gas left in the songwriting tank. Overall, the loose, spontaneous feel of Evolve – thanks in part to mixer Vance Powell – not only gives longtime fans a reason to check back in on the album version of the band, but to consider spending some time with the band’s studio work, potentially uncovering hidden gems they may have missed. - Kevin
