Billy Breathes

Amazon.com
You're either a believer or you're not when it comes to this hugely popular live band. Well, the lines get blurred here, just as they did a quarter century ago on the Grateful Dead's American Beauty. As he did with the Dave Matthews Band, producer Steve Lillywhite puts a crisp stamp on 13 likable, easy-going songs and instrumentals. --Jeff Bateman

Billy Breathes,Phish,Elektra / Wea,Alternative Pop/Rock,American Trad Rock,Fusion,Jam Bands,Neo-Psychedelia,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Billy Breathes

Average customer rating:

Peak Hour
:) Not quite
Seafood Deluxe
I can't get into this
Oh, definitely

Billy Breathes
Phish
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Farmhouse
A Picture of Nectar
Rift
Junta
Hoist

ASIN: B000002HNP
Release Date: 1996-10-15

Tracks:

Free
Character Zero
Waste
Taste
Cars Trucks Buses
Talk
Theme From The Bottom
Train Song
Bliss
Billy Breathes
Swept Away
Steep
Prince Caspian

Amazon.com

You're either a believer or you're not when it comes to this hugely popular live band. Well, the lines get blurred here, just as they did a quarter century ago on the Grateful Dead's American Beauty. As he did with the Dave Matthews Band, producer Steve Lillywhite puts a crisp stamp on 13 likable, easy-going songs and instrumentals. --Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews:

Peak Hour.......2007-02-11

I've listened to most of Phish's albums, and this really was their big moment. Finally their songs are arranged for the music listener, not just for some kid strung out on acid, dancing in one spot for 16 hours (not that there's anything WRONG with that). From the first notes of 'Free', you can tell this is going to be a traditional ROCK album, album openers like 'Rift' sounded like some wigged-out bluegrass band. Their formidable musical chops are held in tight rein here, and the songs themselves emerge. And what songs! Shimmering harmonies, plaintive melodies, and even a Beatleish ditty in the title track. The sound is very stripped down, with the vocals and drums up front, and a minimum of hyperactive rhythm arrangements.

I feel a lot of what held Phish back from big album success was their lyrics, like Frank Zappa, very difficult to take seriously. Lyrics have to walk a fine line, but Phish just never bothered. Yes, they're not filling the airwaves with rants about anarchy or "I wuv woo", but on the other side, there's seldom any lyrical depth to anything, just silly songs about dolls and weasels, bouncing around the room. On this album the lyrics are toned down and simplified, and some pleasant Americana emerges. "Theme from the Bottom" seems to be from Trey to his fans, but most of the lyrics are oblique enough to refer to whatever you want.

You can hear traces of the experimental Phish era in the multiple simultaneous time signatures in 'Taste', alternating vocals in 'Theme', jamming in 'Cars Trucks Buses'. There's also the introduction of serious rock solos (the end of Billy Breathes), dynamics (Free), simple singalong harmonies (Waste), and a real injection of personality into all of these tracks. The title track is indeed a unique moment for Phish - a McCartneyish chord progression and melody, atmospheric synth/brass solo, layers of harmonies in the chorus, and a solo at the end that has some REAL emotion (at last!). Character Zero has an odd bass riff and a catchy, yet inane chorus.

I remember when this album came out, I had been hearing Phish music for a few years but suddenly it seemed everything came into focus. I also remember getting the album that followed this (Ghost), expecting for more of the same. While it incorporates a lot of the lessons learned here, the songs are not near as strong. If you're a Phish Phanatic, this won't necessarily be your favorite album, but odds are most everyone else will find this the easiest Phish album to enjoy.

:) Not quite.......2006-03-14

I freakin love Phish, and have all their albums. This was my first purchase, and overall a nice disc. I feel though that while a good album in general, it was a weaker effort for Phish, also - the album did not flow very well from start to finish. Train song, charachter zero, and waste are the highlight tracks from this album. If I were recommending Phish material to people- this would be about middle- to end of my list.

Seafood Deluxe.......2006-03-03

I was introduced to Phish with this album way back in '96 when I was 17 by an older ex-boyfriend. "Waste" was our song. Yes that's cringe-worthy, but it's a beautiful song, no?
This album is seriously one of the most wonderfully crafted, beautifully played and produced albums I have ever had the extreme pleasure of listening to. There is something for everyone in this album and it is a little more accessible than some of their other work. I remember buying "Lawn Boy" after "Billy Breathes" and I was very confused. I loved it just as much, but it was so different! It's nice to hear Trey's lovely voice whispering to you and Lillywhite, as always, incorporates his unique layered production to an already talented sound. Great stuff.

I can't get into this.......2006-01-05

This music sounds like it would be great live or on a stereo or something. But I usually listen to music whenver just by myself on my comp or ipod. Just know this that they ARE a jam band and as a reviewer said THE jam band. It just screams hippie too and reminds me of the hippie jam fest episode of South Park. If you listen to rap 24 seven and pop music this will probably most definately not be for you. I find Oysterhead which has member from primus and phish in it to be more accessible to both thier main bands. Primus and Phish arent stuff you hear on the radio or everyday and takes a special appreciation so dont even go here if pop music is all you know. I really got sick of 50 cent and his empire of medicoreness and after reading mike jones lyrics i was absolutely appalled at the complete lack of talent. The whole flavor of the week songs thing turned me away too. I quickly retreated back to old favorites like NOFX, sublime, and radiohead. Now the closet ill venture to pop music is Weezer. So if you too are sick of rap phish is like the complete opposite.

Oh, definitely.......2006-01-03

This is one of my favorite albums.

"Free" - Definitely a great first track on the album. "I'm floating in the blimp a lot"... how good is that? Hilarious. And there's a terrifically funky bit. The intro is really cool too. Definitely a good air guitar song.

"Character Zero" - Has a really simple intro of an alternating guitar lick, and vocals, and then builds into a very LOUD three chord progression with "I-I ought to see the man Mulcahey" being yelled above the instruments.

"Waste" - One of Phish's legendary quasi-love songs. Sappy? Yes, but in a delightfully phishy sort of way. I compare it to "Round Room" sometimes.

"Taste" - Phish is one of those bands that has truly broken the rhythmic barrier. They're no strangers to developing intricate rhythms to go with their complex melodies. The vocals on this song are so-so, until it gets to the oo-oo part (the bridge, I suppose is the technical term for that portion of the song).

"Cars, Trucks, Buses" - Gotta dig that organ sound. A great instrumental song.

"Talk" Lyrically, there's not a lot going on here, but it's very beautiful, in a simple sort of way.

"Theme from the Bottom" - This has got to be on my list of favorite songs. There's a climactic buildup that resolves to an a capella sort of thing.

"Train Song" - The guitar part in this song reminds me of Leo Kottke in a way, even though it's not really his style. The bowed double bass part really adds a unique thing to this song.

"Bliss" - Reminiscent of "Bron-yr-Aur" by Led Zeppelin, this is a very intricate solo acoustic guitar piece.

"Billy Breathes" - I don't mean to be shallow, but this song has the worlds greatest guitar solo in it, methinks. Or at least the beginning of the solo. It's genius. All the delicate vocal arrangement of layered parts, up to the lead-in to the solo are just amazing. There's some sort of weird horn that just plays a few notes, but really adds to the song. At 3:24 there's a single guitar note that really grabs your attention, and then there's a dramatic piano-dominated arrangement prelude to the guitar solo.

"Swept Away" - Supposedly this was written sort of about the negatives of being famous. I want to know how they got the sound at the end of this song, and at the beginning of

"Steep" - This leads in from Swept Away, with the strange, and eerie sound. It has a wonderful descending vocal melody, and guitar violin-bowing. This song also ends with an amazing sound, that I can't describe. I want to know how they got the sound at the end of this song and the beginning of

"Prince Caspian" - Definitely a great song. sort of peaceful.

All in all, a great album. One of my favorites.

Average customer rating:

Excellent music regardless of your Phish fan status.
A Different Take on a Great Band
Awesome Arrangements!
A completly new outlook on Phish .
The sound of Phish

The String Quartet Tribute to Phish

Manufacturer: Vitamin Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Tributes | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Sharin' in the Groove: Celebrating the Music of Phish
Still Phishin: Bluegrass Tribute to Phish 2
Gone Phishin: A Bluegrass Tribute
Shine
Seis de Mayo

ASIN: B000294RPI
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Tracks:

Cavern
Julius
Divided Sky
You Enjoy Myself
Farmhouse
Down With Disease
Rift
Squirming Coil
Billy Breathes
Run Like an Antelope

Product Description

1. Cavern
2. Julius
3. Divided Sky
4. You Enjoy Myself
5. Farmhouse
6. Down With Disease
7. Rift
8. Squirming Coil, The
9. Billy Breathes
10. Run Like An Antelope

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Excellent music regardless of your Phish fan status........2006-11-18

While I do like Phish, I don't own any of their CD's and I wouldn't exactly call myself a fan. However, I had the opportunity to hear this album and I was blown away. The arrangements and performances have a vitality to them that is refreshing, at times fun, at times intense, and all around just plain good music. I highly recommend giving this music a listen. You won't regret it.

A Different Take on a Great Band.......2006-08-07

I've encountered many different incarnations of Phish's music and haven't loved all of them to be honest. This album proved to be innovative and enjoyable. The interpretations are original and, for a true fan of the music, refreshing. An excellent tribute to the music.

Awesome Arrangements!.......2005-02-15

This is an awesome compilation of classic Phish songs played in a classical format. My fiance gave this to me for my birthday and we listen to it all the time. I have been a Phishhead for years and was very impressed...a must have for something a little different!

A completly new outlook on Phish ........2005-02-07

I was really surprised by this collection of Phish songs. The arrangements stay true to the original songs while also giving them a more "classical" twist.

I was a true Phishhead back in the day and have to say this opened the music up in a whole new way. I recommend it as a curious addition to any phans collection.

(I've also played it for people who never really liked Phish as a band and they enjoyed this CD even after I revealed the title.)

The sound of Phish.......2005-02-01

This is a great CD- a must have for any hardcore Phish Phan. the mellow sound of phish is really captured within the sounds of flawless string work. a beautiful recreation of the greatest jam band of all time- don't miss out- add this one to your phish collection. appreciate the great work done by prestigious orchestrators to create an album great to listen to anytime!

Rap Music:

Rap Music

rap music

Recommended Music:

99.3 FM: Collection of Anthems V.3 [Import]

Dinescu: Reversing Fields

Jug [Import]

Music: Keyboard Wizards of the Gershwin Era, Vol. 1

Iris Ep [Import]

Get U Open

I Walk by Faith

I Don't Want to Grow Up

First Sessions

Don't Say Goodbye [CD-single] [Import]