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5/5 STARS!
Trey Anastasio, Page Mcconnell, Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman have put together a solid album that will take you on so many new roads that it’s hard to say if you’ll find your way back. If you are a Frank Zappa fan, this is truly a nod to the legendary artist. The group takes expectations to another level with Lawn boy. The sometimes improvised reading during the recording of Junta has been polished and polished to build up a stupendous collection of songs.
The group began to experiment with a range of lyrics that fluctuated and began to complement each song rather than playing against the music. “I would love to lick the coil one day / like Icarus, who had to pay / with melting wax and brown feathers / he tasted it on the way down” recall the lyrics of Pink Floyd scattered everywhere The wall and they even have distant background voices of Christine Lynch that are eerily familiar. They leave no stone unturned as they toss their coins in the hat with country sounds.
“Reba” and “My Sweet One” bring home some amazing country melodies that have a distinct country / rock appeal. “Reba” is a pretty long number for a country style song, but when the band starts playing in the middle, it’s easy to forget that the song had such a contrasting start. The drums during “My Sweet One” culminate all the country stars who were a powerhouse before Rockabilly sucked it up and changed direction. When harmonies are added with the guitar vibrating quickly, it just swims more into the country genre.
The band is not leaving the funky approach that has been sprinkled everywhere Junta. On “Split Open And Melt”, they push the boundaries of progressive rock while giving it that polished funk fusion and top it off with a hint of barber vocals. Then they switch at the end, making you think it can only happen at the end of an album, but far from it for Phish to follow any pattern. Then the group goes into pure madness which leads to the second half of the outing.
“Bathtub Gin” has lyrics that tell a story as wild as it is humorous. The title could relate as much to the serious taking of a bath in alcohol as potentially to the sexual act. It’s hard to say what effect you’re looking for, but who cares? The song is so upbeat the lyrics are just fun to sing along. The long “Run Like An Antelope” is a fitting segway in the jazz / blues title track that made Frank Sinatra new fans. They do a great job of modernizing his style, allowing the music to welcome the vocals for a complete revival.
It’s another musical experience that only Phish can get out of the stadium. Rock and pop music will give this record a second look, but as all the great records go by, it’s the fans who won’t let this one go unnoticed.
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Source by Rachael M Kohrn
