@kevinAreHollo said:

Terrific review, Jeremy. Thanks for taking the time to articulate the frustrations.

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I think what even more critical minds like Jeremy's are overlooking (or perhaps ignoring) is the fact that this band has never before declined (a steady loss of power, prowess or ability). If there were periods of stagnancy, you could bet on a convulsive and cathartic seismic shift in tone/attitude/influence that would result in a new direction, an invigorated music.

What we're seeing now is a decline, pure and simple, and it's not fun to watch.

Phish has long been compelling, to me at least, because they never stood still. Most of the time it was pushing the rock steadily uphill. Sometimes it was rolling steeply downhill. But it never stood in place. With exceptions for dozens of "we still got it" peaks, they are now and have been since their '09 return... more or less stagnant. The whole notion of "we spent our career learning how to be a great band, and now we want to spend some time BEING a great band" is IMO totally misguided; it is antithetical to the approach that made Phish great. Phish greatness requires hard work that, perhaps, they just aren't willing to invest in, especially given the freshness and vitality of other opportunity costs (a.k.a. Mike's outstanding touring outfit). Maybe you are right: if it isn't progressing, it is declining, because stand-still is... unsatisfying, in a nostalgia-like way.

I'd be thrilled to eat those words, and very much look forward to doing so. As noted earlier, they aren't off by a lot, but the rock is currently stationary. Gotta love The Phish, but love requires honesty.