[.ca] Farmhouse

From Amazon.co.uk:
Filled with pretty melodies, delicate strumming and concise, focused, melodic tunes, Phish's eighth studio record marks a bit of a departure from the norm, but not as much of a departure as many might think. For one thing, 1996's Billy Breathes moved in a similar direction--to the delight of casual fans and the dismay of many Phish fanatics. For another, even at their most frenetic and far-reaching, the band has always shown a keen pop sensibility, even if it was merely a chance to catch their breath. Make no mistake: most of the songs on Farmhouse are wonderfully, irresistibly catchy--and often quite lovely. This was clearly singer and guitarist Trey Anastasio's baby from the start, and he fills the album with some of his most appealing compositions. And as usual, there's a diverse range of styles, from straight pop to country soul to easy funk to gentle balladry. That said, fans used to hearing these songs live will most likely be disappointed by Farmhouse. Too often, you find yourself waiting for the explosive jam that never happens, and when it does, as on "Piper", it seems oddly out of place. Ironically, the final song, the cunning instrumental "First Tube", has what's been missing all along--bite. In the long run, this is not the album that Phish will be remembered for, as it plays away from what makes them unique. --Marc Greilsamer

Way Underrated:
Many Phish heads despise this album and scorn when Phish plays these songs live. Personally, I think that this is a great album filled with catchy, upbeat songs. The live versions are better, but this is still great. "Farmhouse" is a wonderful song, as is "Bug", "Back on the Train", "Twist", "Gotta Jibboo", and "Heavy Things". "Piper" is one of the more recently written songs that has become a "jam tune", meaning that when it is heard live, the jamming is beautiful and makes the song last forever. Don't belive what you might have read or heard about this album, cause it is really good. I would recommend looking for the live versions to get a better idea of the songs, but this will do.

Way Underrated Amongst Fans of the Band.:
This album get's knocked alot from the big fans of phish. But, it's truely a great album from start to finish. I think it's phish's best album because of the tight song writing and slightly less goofy songs. My favorites are Twist, Heavy Things,Farmhouse, Sand, and First Tube.

The Best Phish Album:
To create this album Tom Marshal and Trey Anastasio lived in an old farmhouse in Northern Vermont, day and night for a whole week. This is my favorite non-live Phish cd. In fact the first Phish song I heard was dirt and ever since I've been hooked.

Grow up Trey!:
Listening to this last night got me to thinking. I know there's a billion Phisher's out there who adore this band. They are playing two nights very near here and I'm sure they will be packed. I think these guys really do need to pack it up and become cab drivers. They have run there course. I really get sick of the little cutsey guitar crud coming from Trey Anastasia (or whatever his name is). He has nothing to say musically at all. I hope that guitar students don't try to learn this crap. Listen to the real deals. Miles, Coltrane, Burrel, McLaughlin, Clapner, even Garcia. But leave Trey out. He's just a parody of a musician.

A Phish CD of good feeling, yet seeming slightly vain.:
Phish CDs are pretty full of joy. In the Jewish sense, yes. They provide full religious joy. They are fun to listen to. This Phish CD comes off as a little vain on the surface. You can listen to it, enjoy it, listen a little more, not enjoy it so much, then listen a little more, and start seeing in it some things you never saw before. Then, listen to it again, and start thinking, "this is sounding a little bit vain." These are at your most critical days. This album has a much higher fluctuation in levels of liking/not liking this CD than normal. But every Phish CD has that trait of fluctuation. This CD is fun The tunes are catchy yet deep, vain yet memorable. It's the dichotomy that all Phish CDs possess. Except for maybe Junta...that CD is just fun out and out. True is the word of the law. Phish Cds are great. They just rule. Just pop one in the player and let the chords ring. Let Trey's guitar lace the inner unconcious receptors of your soul you never even knew existed. That's how strong it is with Phish!!! This album is good, it's definitely one you should possess. It has kind of gotten a bad rap from "true, authentic Phish f(ph)ans" for appealing to the more mainstream, catchy audience. That seems in line with the cold, without feeling "Maximizing Profits" ideal of American Capitalist Society. This Phish CD Review has gawn awry!!! I apologize fully for this utter failure. Now I will give some emotion to this review: The title track is catchy and a song that you could really like for a while. Twist is a fun track. Piper is a fun song, and you can't listen to it everyday, but it's good for several listens. Sleep has cool lyrics, Dirt has a certain emotion about it. Heavy Things is not the average Phish song, but there's no complaining here. The whole nature of Phish's music is that you can't love it forever. You can go into stages of not loving them and still be a Phish fan...

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