Over the past 30 years, Phish has done an incredible job of staying current and changing the game. Their musical repertoire spans from funk to bluegrass, and from reggae to instrumental compositions. Only one thing is constant in their musical catalog: uniqueness.
Big Boat
Being a lifelong Phan, I have grown up with records such as Junta and Rift. My first love being Farmhouse, I always welcome new albums with open arms. Now back when Fuego was released, it was a disappointment among fellow fans. The striking part is the only people who seemed to dislike it were the fans themselves. So just as I predicted, the same happened here.
This album takes a much different approach to Phish as a musical unit. Produced by legendary producer, Bob Ezrin, this record has the vibe of Phish with a much cleaner sound that some might find odd. Lets take a dive into each individual track...
1. Friends
At first glance, this song does not sound anything like Phish. I soon realized it was Fishman singing and the song began to grow on me. Despite it's strangeness, it is generally not a bad song, just not one that I would recommend to someone who has never heard their music. 4.5/10.
2. Breath And Burning
Having been a fan of this song since its live debut, I had high expectations for the studio version. Yes, the lyrics may be a little cheesy but the song itself is actually quite fun. I look forward to seeing it at live shows to come. 7/10
3. Home
This song is definitely one of my favorite on this album. From the hook to the vocal jam, this song has nearly everything I look for in a Phish song. Another one I look forward to seeing at live shows. 8.5/10
4. Blaze On
I think it's safe to assume most phans have heard this song before the studio version. Its a family favorite for many. 7/10
5. Tide Turns
The key changes and horns in this song are the coolest parts of it. Plus the cool call and response from Trey and the horn section. Overall it's a cool song. 6.5/10
6. Things People Do
Leave it to Phish to make a kooky song like this. The two components: Page and Page are quite fun to listen to. With the folky mood its a fun one for sure. 6.5/10
7. Waking Up Dead
It starts off as an 80's television show then progresses into some cool funky stuff. I appreciate the differentiation from the other songs. The falsettos are a little bit odd and I am wondering how they will go about this song in a live setting. 7/10
8. Running Out Of Time
At first glance, it is reminiscent of something that would fit in Billy Breathes. It has a nice melody and Page on the Rhodes sounds simply beautiful. The keys are definitely the main point of the song, I can't wait to hear it live. 7.5/10
9. No Men In No Man's Land
This song, like Blaze On, was also debuted long before the release date of Big Boat. It is a fun song that reminds me heavily of their previous work. As I write this, I am not listening to the song however it's catchyness and melody are so cool that I can hear it playing in my head. 7.5/10
10. Miss You
This slow ballad-type song adds that little magic touch that every Phish album has. A break from the kookiness and musical complexity, I enjoy the placement of it in the tracklist. When it was debuted at Wrigley, I instantly knew it was going to be a fun one. 7/10
11. I Always Wanted It This Way
Electronic Phish is an idea I've always pondered, however after this song, I ponder it no more. In fact I wish I hadn't pondered it in the first place. The first time I heard this song, I thought my phone had shuffled to a random song I had hidden deep in my Itunes library. But the whole idea of Phish is experimenting with new things, and you can't knock em' for trying. 4/10
12. More
It feels like a TAB song but has some really Phishy components such as the thumping piano and the awesome back-beat that changes in the middle. It's definitely one of the more vocal songs on the album. 7/10
13. Petrichor
Now that's what im talkin' about! This song has been one of my most played for weeks! This is the heavily composed, crazy symphonic movement we've all been waiting for since the incarnation of Phish 3.0 started. I cant think of any other way than to give this song a 10/10. It really makes the album worth it. The icing on the cake if you will.
In conclusion, the full album rating, having averaged the scores to my specifications the album receives a 9.05/10.
You can get Big Boat here!
Thanks for reading, we hope that you enjoy our posts. Have suggestions? Tweet us @concert_guru or e-mail us here, Sincerely, The Concert Guru Team!
