Phish 'Farmhouse'

This is a Phish album so it is very good and you should go out and buy it immediately but if you want to know more read on.

Phish, like all bands who deliver stellar live performances containing improvisation and versions of songs that differ greatly from their studio blueprints face something of a dilemma when recording an album. Most Phish Phans (and I count myself in this group) own many hours of live performances traded on a non profit basis with the blessing of the band via the internet, Cdr's or tape exchanges. As a result, by the time the band get around to recording the tunes in a studio there will often be dozens of versions already in circulation with tens of thousands of Phans. As soon as the album is released the Net starts buzzing with cries of 'why is the album version of Sand so short' or ' this version of Jiboo sucks compared with the one recorded live on….', etc , etc etc. I am not at all sure how the band feel about this but I would guess by now they must be pretty immune to it.

Farmhouse is a typical example of this, featuring as it does some songs that have been in circulation for close on three years (Piper, Dirt) along with others such as Gotta Jibboo, Bug and First Tube that were highlights of the 1999 shows. Herein lies the problem, the versions of the jam / groove tunes on this album (Jibboo, Sand and First Tube mainly) in no way compare to their live counterparts despite being excellent album tracks. I honestly don't think that they ever could, in the same way that there are a thousand live YEM's better than the album version with the same being true of tunes such as Ghost, Maze, Theme, Wolfman's, Stash, etc, etc (though strangely not that many Reba's).

All of the above notwithstanding, Farmhouse is a really good Phish album and like all Phish albums I like it. It doesn't hit you full on the first time but definitely grows with repeated listenings.

It's not their best studio album and as I personally don't consider any of them worthy (or should that be unworthy?) of being called the worst it probably fits somewhere in the middle.

The band now have their own studio housed in a barn and this has resulted in relaxed album with a stripped down natural sound that suits most of the tunes on offer. In most places the sound comprises little more than the Phish live line up with only a few tunes (Jibboo - horns, Dirt - gorgeous Beatle esq strings, Inlaw - banjo courtesy of Bela Fleck) receiving extra treatments in the studio. To my ears it sounds damn good with each voice and instrument rendered with clarity with an overall glistening warmth to the whole. This could be their American Beauty or Harvest.

Here (what do you mean at last!) is the track listing.

1. Farmhouse
2. Twist
3. Bug
4. Back on the Train
5. Heavy Things
6. Gotta Jibboo
7. Dirt
8. Piper
9. Sleep
10. The Inlaw Josie Wales
11. Sand
12. First Tube

And here is a quick sentence on each.

Farmhouse - nice but not great song, strange opener for the album.

Twist - not sure about this one, seems a little light weight as a song.

Bug - a highlight, very Billy Breathes, nice.

Back On The Train - see Twist

Heavy Things - although this doesn't make much of an impact initially it has grown on me a lot and I think it will stay in the set lists for some time. One of those that stick around like Sample or Wolfman's - a Phishy classic.

Gotta Jibboo - this is one of my favourites from last year's live stuff and this is a great version but guess what - for a jam / groove track it's way too short (here we go again).

Dirt - a song that was written to be recorded in the studio, lovely string arrangements, another highlight.

Piper - I like the live versions of this (I think this is actually live) but although it's nice to have a good quality one on album this isn't the best and it seems a little out of place. A very similar situation to Guyute on Ghost, strange how the weirder Phish tunes seem out of place on the later albums which strive to work as complete entities. Billy Breathes didn't have one, whether it is better or worse for it I don't know although I err on the side of better.

Sleep - another lovely laid back Billy Breathes kind of tune

The Inlaw Josey Wales - apart from having a brilliant title this is a great little acoustic instrumental, highlight.

Sand - groove tune, could have been another highlight if it wasn't too short.

First Tube - groovy guitar led instrumental, nice to have on the album but doesn't quite reach the heights of some live versions. I thought that this would be my favourite but at the moment the jury is still out.

Overall this is very much the Phish of 1999, the intricate, composed tunes are now many years behind (although First Tube and Piper contain echoes) and even the funk of 97 and 98 have been to a certain extent superseded by more up tempo grooves. Bands and times change (let's face it things that don't move are usually dead - apart from trees and rock type things that is) and Phish just keep on exploring new forms. For a Phish album this probably rates 8+ out of 10, for anybody else recording at the moment it would have to be a 10 of 10.

I was wondering earlier who they (Phish) make studio albums for given that the Phans I know listen more to live stuff and would prefer endless 15 minute versions of the aforesaid jam / groove tracks. I think the answer may be that they make them for themselves to experience the satisfaction of hearing their songs rendered in this way and for those who aren't yet Phans (unbelievers! blasphemers!) to give them an insight into the strange yet beautiful world that is Phish music. Whatever the answer I'll be playing this one a lot.

Still wish they'd record Gamehenge.

Oh and play Europe again (soon) as well.


Recent articles (June 16th 2000)

Spin Magazine

Sonicnet.com

Billboard

New York Post

Jam Trey Q&A

Jambands.com Trey Interview

Jambands.com Farmhouse review

David Weston June 2000