For over 30 years, Phish has risen from a college jam band in Vermont to one of the largest touring bands to date. Long heralded as the band that would replace the Grateful Dead, Phish has evolved as much more than a replacement band. They have dealt with their own ups and downs, highs and lows, and came out a much stronger, tighter band, which is evident on their latest release, Fuego.
Their 12th studio album, and first in 5 years, is a return to the fun loving ways of the band, with a bulk of the album written by all 4 members. Phish brought on classic rock producer Bob Ezrin, who has worked with the likes of Pink Floyd and Lou Reed, to help bring a polished rock album to the masses, with touches of songs you can tell will became great lengthy jams when performed live.
The opening and title track “Fuego” is a 9 minute plus burst of classic Phish. Highlighted by solos from both Page McConnell on keys and Trey Anastasio on guitar, you can already picture this song fitting as a staple at any live show. The improvisation that the band is known for can easily be detected all over this song, with plenty of room for Mike Gordon on bass or Jon Fishman on drums to easily put their own stamp on when performed live.
Another highlight of Fuego is the funk groove stomp of “Wombat”. The beat and backbone of this song is inescapable and draws any listener in. It begs to be expanded upon and any fan of the band will get a kick out of the Wilson reference, a long standing favorite in the Phish repertoire.
Phish Fuego Album Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Produced by classic rock producer Bob Ezrin
- Includes catchy funk groove ‘Wombat’
- Evokes classic Phish improvisation in songs
Cons:
- May contain lengthy jams live
- Not everyone enjoys lengthy improvisation
As a fan of close to 20 years, I can easily say that this album contains many songs that will fit nicely into the live experience of Phish, but is also a great stand-alone studio album. Production from Ezrin was a great addition and helped to make this album what it is. While listening to Fuego you can tell that the band as a whole is truly enjoying what they do, enjoying each other, and having a great time, which is what made me a fan in the first place and I look forward to the summer stretch of shows.
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