The boys from Vermont have returned after a two-year long, self-imposed hiatus, with both a fresh sound and a crisp, new album.
"Round Room," Phish's latest release (2002), clearly and captivatingly reduces three nights of recording in guitarist Trey Anastasio's barn into 75 minutes of musical bliss. The new album combines each member's individual influences with aspects of the old Phish sound, assembling a single, cohesive, and refreshing sound.
Commencing with "Pebbles and Marbles," Phish travels through tight, composed sections masterfully while still allowing for exploratory jamming. Page McConnell (piano, keyboards) assumes a leading role, starting here and continuing throughout the record. The jazzy, complex "Pebbles" soars through beautiful harmonies and vocal arrangements and meanders into a loose rock 'n' roll jam that slowly finds its way to "Anything But Me."
The song portrays a new, lighter sound Phish is working on incorporating into their old sound. Trey sings gorgeous lyrics, with soulful harmonies layered throughout. The title track, "Round Room," showcases the influence of bassist Mike Gordon. It features goofy, nonsensical lyrics, with light-hearted guitar riffs and melodic piano work.
"Mexican Cousin," along with "Friday," are both rather lacking. As a drunken, tequila-influenced ballad, "Mexican Cousin" fails to impress - an opinion shared by fans who encountered it during an encore in Hampton on Phish's reunion tour a couple of weeks ago.
"Seven Below" has already gained recognition for both its live incarnation and studio cut. It shows off the new sound and ideology well, and equally displays the joyous sounds produced by the four members.
With its silly lyrics and smooth flow, "Mock Song" showcases the tight rhythm section that is the key component to the Phish formula. Pure, rock 'n' roll energy exemplifies "46 Days," while "Thunderhead" and "Waves" are both beautiful and elegant, possessing pristine, fresh qualities that portray the band's newfound focus on serious song writing. "Walls of the Cave" concludes the album, featuring 12-plus minutes of trademark Phish jamming.
"Round Room" is a more than satisfactory taste of the direction to where Phish is heading. If you haven't checked it out yet, I strongly suggest doing so. As Trey says, "If you keep your eyes open, you may find yourself there."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
