[.ca] A Picture of Nectar

Amazon.com essential recording:
This 1992 effort, Phish's third overall and first for Elektra, represents the peak of their early-period studio records. The full scope of the quartet's artistic vision comes through clearly across a selection of their most enduring songs. They reveal a voracious and sweeping appetite for a large assortment of styles: psychedelic roots rock; heavy, fusion-leaning progressive rock; bluegrass; straight jazz; and even salsa all creep in. The constant and frantic battle between wild imagination, oddball humor, and keen musical chops is mighty compelling, and even their most grandiose, over-the-top, jet-fueled jams are delivered with a disarming wink. --Marc Greilsamer

nectar:
A Picture of Nectar is probably Phish's most eclectic album to date, which is saying something. However, it is probably their most precise and deftly executed as well. You'll find many Phish live standards here, including Tweezer and Stash, but everything is good, and the flow is perfect. Buy this one first if you're a new fan.

musicianship rivaling any jazz or classical artist:
I once heard a parable about religion and truth which applies to music, as well. There was a spring that bubbled up from nowhere in the middle of a large, empty field. Gradually, people began to discover that the water was very healthy in addition to being very tasty. Soon, a fence was built around the spring and those who wanted access had to get a membership card. Over time, though, the waters subsided from that place and bubbled up in another place where the same thing happened all over again. And the whole processes continues to happen again and again and again. Think about the innovation and sheer diversity of music in the earlier eras of both rock and jazz. Then think about how much of that has disappeared in later times. The same is true of what some call serious or classical music. Let's focus on jazz for a moment. I'm not saying there is no good jazz being created today. I'm just saying that it's nowhere near as prolific an artform as it used to be. Much of the originality is gone, and you really have to search long and hard to find something different. If you've ever wondered where all that talent and diversity escaped to, try this album. The playing on Stash and Guelah Papyrus, every bit as intricate and replete with themes and variations as a classical sonata, will help you to renew your faith in music. The guitar and piano solos in Stash are mind-boggling in their complexity. And elsewhere on the album, you'll find other pockets of very interesting playing. One down side of Phish is that they sometimes get carried away with silliness. A little of that is fine, but Tweezer and a couple of other numbers on here are a bit tedious. But this is a much greater problem on other Phish releases, so don't let that get in the way of your deciding to try out this album. If you're a musician or you just enjoy music as an art form, you're sure to enjoy it.

Yes:
All you need to know is this is Phish's best studio album

Pretty Much a Grab Bag:
The best way I can describe this album is that it's is pretty much a grab bag of great phish songs. Some of the songs aren't so great but for the most part it's a pretty slick album. My favorites are Stash, Tweezer, and of course, Chalkdust Torture. If you like phish at all then I'd say, pick this album up!

Phish's first mainstream pop album:
This album rocks. Released in early 1992, this album catapulted Phish into the mainstream 90's poppy/suburban/yuppie audience (as i imagine it in my dreams). For instance, the song Chalkdust Torture, in which Trey's voice makes it sound like he's on steroids, is David Letterman's favorite Phish song. This is a hit-filled album. Many of the songs are clearly more structured, rehearsed, and mechanical that on Junta, but Phish is recording efficiently and puts out a good album. This is really a lot of fun to listen to; no joke at all. This will get you through math class or a plane ride for sure. Other good songs: Stash, in which Trey seems to emulate Carlos Santana. In this album the band is completely together, which doesn't always happen with a Phish album, where sometimes someone (such as Trey) will emerge as the leader. This clearly happened in Billy Breathes and Farmhouse, but not this album. This early Phish album sounds really Phresh (ok, i guess i do use the Ph every once in a while; i mean, who doesn't?), so i suggest you buy it as a tribute to Phish Phandom. peace out yo, and we listened to this after one of the alpine summer 2003 concerts!!! hells yeah. those were the days my friend.

• Llama
• Eliza
• Cavern
• Poor Heart
• Stash
• Manteca
• Guelah Papyrus
• Magilla
• Landlady
• Glide
• Tweezer
• The Mango Song
• Chalk Dust Torture
• Faht
• Catapult
• Tweezer Reprise