Trey Anastasio

Amazon.com
Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio's solo debut--not counting One Man's Trash, his limited-release odds-and-sods assortment--is the affable, something-for-everybody, more-or-less-mainstream album that the avant-arena rock quartet was always too collectively freaky to record together. Anastasio's new group--an eight-member powerhouse with a rock-solid rhythm section, slamming horns, and a string player or two--is a versatile vehicle for eclectic compositions ranging from a trio of dangerously mellow 3-minute acoustic ballads (including the Bob Marley-inspired "Ether Sunday") to the explosive 11-minute head charge "Last Tube." Anastasio updates the horny Tower of Power legacy in the Latin funk of "Alive Again" (with guest percussionist Cyro Baptista), the wailing R&B of "Money, Love, and Change," and a rocket-fueled commercial for decadence, "Push on 'Til the Day." His stated goal was to mesh composition and improvisation. Here he invokes composer Charles Ives's regionally inspired chamber music in "At the Gazebo" before cranking up the Oysterheady psych-rock of "Mr. Completely." All in all, mission accomplished. --Richard Gehr

Product Description
Debut album by guitarist, vocalist and frontman for Phish. He's backed with a long list of stellar musicians. Featuring the single 'Alive Again'. 2002.

Trey Anastasio,Trey Anastasio,Elektra / Wea,Jam Bands,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Southern Rock

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Trey Anastasio

Average customer rating: Promises to Bear Repeating

The Horseshoe Curve Trey Anastasio Manufacturer: Red Int / Red Ink ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | 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: Live In Boston Icky Thump Just Roll Tape: April 26th, 1968 Zeitgeist Live at the Gorge 05/06 ASIN: B000RHRGLW Release Date: 2007-07-24

Tracks:

1. Sidewalks of San Francisco
2. Olivia
3. Burlap Sack & Pumps
4. The 5th Round
5. The Horseshoe Curve
6. Noodle Rave
7. Tube Top Tony
8. Porters Pyramids

Customer Reviews:

Promises to Bear Repeating.......2007-07-24

Even though I'm currently only three tracks deep, the grooves, tones, rhythms, mix, musicianship, space, feel, and all that good music stuff we kind of want out of music is HERE. How fun! I am not a critic at heart and don't want to get cruel and write "about time," or "this is what 70 Volt Parade should have been" and so on and so forth... mainly because I don't presume to know what Trey as an artist ought to do and what his process should have, could have, would have been. But I am happy to write that this music promises to bear repeating. Again and again. The horns are prominent and they deserve the attention they're getting. Lots of good bubbling energy happening here. The artwork on the cover and the fonts are fun and are a portent of what's within. In all the CD is right on the money. Well done and a big sigh of relief.

Average customer rating: Cohesive trio of three strong musicians Primish? Amazing effort Claypool Dominates . . . As Usual When all else has been done and said...

The Grand Pecking Order Oysterhead Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Big Eyeball in the Sky Purple Onion Riddles Are Abound Tonight Highball with the Devil Live Frogs: Set 2 ASIN: B00005OL93 Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

1. Little Faces
2. Oz is Ever Floating
3. Mr. Oysterhead
4. Shadow Of A Man
5. Radon Balloon
6. Army's On Ecstasy
7. Rubberneck Lions
8. Polka Dot Rose
9. Birthday Boys
10. Wield The Spade
11. Pseudo Suicide
12. The Grand Pecking Order
13. Owner Of The World

Amazon.com

It's not difficult to see why Trey Anastasio (of Phish) and Les Claypool (of Primus) have a musical attraction to each other: they both revel in a balance of technical proficiency and head-spinning absurdity. Of course, Frank Zappa was a pioneer in this realm and you can hear his influence throughout. With former Police drummer Stewart Copeland on board as the third accomplice, Oysterhead pretty much wear out the lines between creativity and self-indulgence, between the clever and the goofy--a fact that is not at all surprising given the histories of Anastasio and Claypool, neither of whom are known for their self-editing abilities. Still, Oysterhead earns considerable points for the level of musicianship, originality, and sheer abandon of the project. And Copeland seems liberated by the setting, showing ingenuity and dexterity in driving these ultra-quirky tunes. In the end, this mix of clunky funk and decadent weirdness is maddening almost as much as it is rewarding, but The Grand Pecking Order has a sinister futuristic quality that is simply too peculiar to ignore. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Cohesive trio of three strong musicians.......2007-01-21

I wound up getting this disc and Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains in the same shipment, so it becomes hard to talk about one without referring to the other.

Oysterhead is the joining of three very suprising forces: Les Claypool of Primus, Trey Anastasio of Phish and Stewart Copeland of The Police. Claypool has long established his wonderful oddity-stature in music by combining the aura of sea shanties with the virtuosity of Frank Zappa with the humor and off-kilterness of The Residents, topped off with a dollop of punk-funk. Anastasio, as a part of Phish, has long cemented a reputation of jam with humor, making them a version of The Grateful Dead that is a lot more fun to listen to. And Copeland may not have been the most visible of The Police (Sting, no doubt, took care of that), but his experiments in sound with his post-Police soundtrack work has made him a quiet force in percussion.

And surprisingly, this trio really melds well into a sound that clearly has characteristics of all three, but does not come across as a bunch of characters trying to take centerstage, but melt together into some great songs. Certainly, there are components that one could point out and attribute to particular band members. The lyrics of "Mr. Oysterhead," for example, smack loudly of the Claypool touch, and the form of songs like "Oz Is Ever Floating" seems melodically loose enough to be attributed to Anastasio, but overall it seems that the three really come together well. Songs like "Little Faces" and "Wield the Spade" are sharp and full songs, playful and virtuostic from every angle. While collaborations like Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains can feel a little disjointed at times, maybe because the personalities involved overwhelm the playing, Oysterhead seems always focused on the music first, and they let the personalities come through in a secondary fashion.

Primish?.......2006-08-23

This is one of those albums that once you hear who is involved, assuming you like these people, you say "I have to check that out". It's Les Claypool from Primus, Trey Anastasio from Phish, and Stewart Copeland from The Police. Three big names depending on your taste. My first advice on this is don't expect just a mesh of these groups. But then I realize that's really what it sounds like in a way. Within every song there are moments that remind you of "Frizzle Fry", and the next moment your thinking about "Rift". No, "King Of Pain" does not come to mind here. Trey does dominate on a few tracks, but mostly this sounds like a Les Claypool album with guests. It's a great collaboration and a huge mess all at once. Bottom line is, if you think you might like it, you will.

Amazing effort.......2006-05-26

Trey Anistasio, Les Claypool and Stuart Copeland deliver something really original and fresh on this album. I consider it a true masterpiece by three of the finest musicians around. The lyrics are clever and Les's voice adds a lot of character to the overall sound in typical Primus fashion, along with nimble fingered smoking bass riffs not fit for mortal ears. Trey adds a lot of previously unheard digital delay tricks to the mix with a lot of nice funk/jam style playing overlayed on top. Stuart offers up some of the most technically proficient and intricate drumming you will ever hear, and I do mean ever. So good and nuanced it'll give Neil Pert nightmares. It's a feast for the ears and highly listenable over and over again if you have an ear for music. The band is a jam concept and the album reflects it, more jazz structure than top 40. Police fans probably won't dig it as it isn't reggae. Phish fans will probably dig it, and Primus fans will love it if they've been aching for Les to play music that's less dissonant and more listenable. If you are a musician like me, this CD will floor you. You will hear something new or different every time you spin it.

Claypool Dominates . . . As Usual.......2006-01-26

If you like Primus or any of the myriad side projects of uber-bassist Les Claypool, you will probably go for this one. Claypool's frenetic bass style turns anything it touches into virtual Primus music, although this album is an interesting twist on the formula. I think it works surprisingly well, thanks in large part to the humble open-mindedness of star musicians Trey Anastasio and Stewart Copeland and their willingness to collaborate/submerge themselves into the Claypool realm.

Clearly, some songs are better than others. I really like "Armys on Ecstasy," "Pseudo Suicide," and I think the biggest downer track here, "Shadow of a Man," may actually be the best one - it does admittedly have a real Primus feel to it. Still, you might get tired of listening to the album front to back unless yer really in the mood for it . . .

The only Claypool music I can think of that subsumes into someone ELSE'S world, would be his collaborations with Tom Waits (which I love).

When all else has been done and said..........2005-09-16

...buy this album! Although the weakest of Les' side projects, Oysterhead is still goofy and fun enough, with the right bit of rock to boot, to make this a compelling release. Little Faces and Mr. Oysterhead show Oysterhead dabbling in the art of ambient rock, while songs like Oz Is Ever Floating and Army's On Ecstasy just plain rock. There are many repetitve tracks, such as Birthday Boys, Polka Dot Rose, Shadow Of A Man, and Wield The Spade, but even these are just so quirky that they're fun to listen to with the rest of the record. Trey and Les don't mix quite as well as, say, Les and Buckethead, but their personalities are aligned, making the music more interesting than anything else you're likely to hear in this day in age, where music is all about cookie cutter punk bands and cry-me-a-river-its-hard-being-me tunes. Enjoy this record, and buy C2B3 while you're at it. You won't be disappointed.

Best Cuts: Little Faces, Mr. Oysterhead, Oz Is Ever Floating, Army's On Ecstasy

Average customer rating: Those were the days, huh? Not thiet best studio album Listen up Smegma Dogmatagram Fishmarket Stew Phish Rules!!!!!

A Picture of Nectar Phish Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Neo-Psychedelia | Rock | Alternative Styles | 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: Rift Lawn Boy Billy Breathes Junta Hoist ASIN: B000002HA9 Release Date: 1992-02-18

Tracks:

1. Llama
2. Eliza
3. Cavern
4. Poor Heart
5. Stash
6. Manteca
7. Guelah Papyrus
8. Magilla
9. The Landlady
10. Glide
11. Tweezer
12. The Mango Song
13. Chalk Dust Torture
14. Faht
15. Catapult
16. Tweezer Reprise

Amazon.com essential recording

This 1992 effort, Phish's third overall and first for Elektra, represents the peak of their early-period studio records. The full scope of the quartet's artistic vision comes through clearly across a selection of their most enduring songs. They reveal a voracious and sweeping appetite for a large assortment of styles: psychedelic roots rock; heavy, fusion-leaning progressive rock; bluegrass; straight jazz; and even salsa all creep in. The constant and frantic battle between wild imagination, oddball humor, and keen musical chops is mighty compelling, and even their most grandiose, over-the-top, jet-fueled jams are delivered with a disarming wink. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Those were the days, huh? .......2007-04-18

One of Phish's most critically acclaimed albums may not have been their greatest, but proceeded to incorporate more elements into one wildly fun whole, definitely some sort of early year triumph in regards to that incredible high-wire act between pop and progressive tendencies they struggled with forever. Here, the 16 tracks blaze along into a convincing whole with ease. Whatever any melodic excess their instrumental, scale-bustin' ways starts to grate on traditionalists, a huge display of seamless synergistic prowess in multiple genres offsets the intellectual jamming , which I usually love more then anything else to begin with due to the musically enlightened pedigree this supreme unit doth brought to the rock set. A far cry from their stellar, massively extended live adaptations any fan has come to let overshadow their original studio incarnations, enjoy this sweet album of nectar on it's own merit to find one of the more intelligently hip rock experiences of the early 90's which for the most part holds up quite fine indeed.

Not thiet best studio album.......2006-05-06

A BUNCH OF SILLY INCONSEQUENTIAL STUFF.
ALL THE BEST SONGS ARE DONE MUCH BETTER ON THE LIVE ALBUMS.

This is Phish's second official, major release studio album (it is thier third, if you count Junta, which was originally only sold at concerts on a cassette tape). It is 60 minutes long, and the sound quality is very good but not excellent.

There are 16 tracks on this disc. But, only 5 of them have any meat to them. The rest is just silly filler in between the real songs.

Phish plays these 5 songs in concert all of the time. They are on many of the Phish live albums. Sometimes, Phish stretches out the songs, and other times they don't. But, all of the live versions I have heard are better than these studio versions.

The album starts out really strong with Llama. Other good tracks are Tweezer and Chalk Dust Torture. Cavern is a good song, but this one is especially so much better done live.

The other tracks are a mixutre of styles. There is a Calypso track, a Latin-rock track and some soft jazz. There is nothing wrong with experimenting with different styles. Many groups have done it successfully all on one album, like Derek Trucks on Make A Joyful Noise, or Frank Zappa on Chunga's Revenge. But, Phish's attempts at all of these styles is rather weak and not very interesting. It reminds me of Pat Boone trying to do rock and roll.

I prefer Phish's later studio albums. I think they just got better as their sound matured. But, I also like the earlier work on Junta and Lawn Boy.

I think that this CD suffers somewhat from the "American Beauty" effect. As with every jam band, Phish's first 2 studio albums, Junta and Lawn Boy were more along the lines of their live shows. Eventually, every Jam band wants to make an American Beauty, the Grateful Dead's first traditional studio album that emphasizes the songs and not the music. I think with most bands it is forced, while for the Dead it was a natural progression. String Cheese Incident just went throught this with the horrible One Step Closer.

Listen up.......2006-03-14

I have been a huge Phish fan for years now, and in my time listening to them I have always heard about people loving this ablum. This album includes big hits like tweezer, chalk dust torture, etc- and the fact is that it was an average album for phish. In mine and a lot of other peoples opinions- live phish is the way to go; but if your talking studio.. this album was average. I think the highlight songs were: tweezer, llama, chalkdust, guelah papyrus, and stash. I recommend most phish albums in front of this one.

Smegma Dogmatagram Fishmarket Stew.......2005-12-02

This is Phish at their best. This is the album that made me a fan. And when I saw them live for the first time, they came out and opened with an instrumental, The Landlady, off Picture O' Nectar, and it was great. They came out and just played, no cutesy-ness, no geeky, absurd, pseudo-momentous lyrics. I always wondered why they couldn't do that more often. When they appeared on the David Letterman show or Saturday Night Live, why not just come out and do a tight instrumental? I think I know why. Because they have to be cool and pick songs that show off that they don't care what the larger public thinks, "we're just playing what we like for ourselves, man." But they should show a little more respect for their fans, some of who, like myself, have attempted to turn other people on to the scene only to be embarrassed by their lame recitals when on the national stage.

Anyway, that first paragraph sounds awfully resentful, I'm off to a bitter start but I'm really trying to say that this is a great album. Of all their studio albums, Picture of Nectar has the highest ratio of cool songs to filler. Songs such as Llama, Cavern, Stash, Landlady, Guelah Papyrus, Chalk Dust Torture, and maybe Tweezer all rank as some of the best studio Phish. As a band, they don't quite live up to the hype and expectations of the hard-core fans. But as musicians, when they had time to write and create together, when they were focused on jamming and musicality over the bombastic flamboyance of their live shows, they were often great. One can make a case for Lawn Boy, which comes in a close second for me, but overall I would say this is the one album to own if you want to appreciate Phish for their songwriting and musicianship.

Phish Rules!!!!!.......2005-11-29

Phish is known primarily as a live band, but this CD shows that they know how to make awesome studio albums to. The album opens with an awesome song: llamas. The song opens with some awesome drumming and then Trey comes in on guitar and Page on the keyboards. Cavern is another great tune. The song Guelah Papyrus has awesome jazzy keyboard jams. Chalk Dust Torture showcases awesome hard rock, with Trey Anastasio's guitar and Mike Gordon's bass taking center stage. Overall the album has influences of everything imaginable. Jazz, funk, latin, and rock are the most prevalent, but the song Poor Heart is really a country song. The lyrics on Picture of Nectar are whimsical, the instrumentals are brilliant, the jams are exciting, the compositions superb. What more could you want? I would reccomend this CD to anyone who likes good music!

Average customer rating: Excellent crossover of styles and talent A straight shot of feel good music Sweet and Dandy! My kind of music! TOOTS GETS MY GRAMMY!

True Love Toots and the Maytals Manufacturer: V2 Ada ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Reggae | International | Styles | Music Jamaican Ska | Reggae | International | Styles | Music General | Reggae | Compilations | International | Styles | Music Ska General | Ska | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Very Best of Toots & the Maytals Funky Kingston/In the Dark Is it Rolling Bob?: A Reggae Tribute to Bob Dylan Ultimate Collection Time Tough: The Anthology ASIN: B0001GNDN4 Release Date: 2004-04-12

Tracks:

1. Still is Still Moving to Me - with Willie Nelson
2. True Love is Hard to Find - with Bonnie Raitt
3. Pressure Drop - with Eric Clapton
4. Time Tuff - with Ryan Adams
5. Bam Bam - with Shaggy and Rahzel
6. 5446 - with Jeff Beck
7. Monkey Man - with No Doubt
8. Sweet and Dandy - with Trey Anastasio
9. Funky Kingston - with Bootsy Collins and The Roots
10. Reggae Got Soul - with Ken Boothe and Marcia Griffiths
11. Never Grow Old - with Terry Hall, U-Roy and the Skatalites
12. Take a Trip - with Bunny Wailer
13. Love Gonna Walk Out on Me - with Ben Harper
14. Careless Ethiopians - with Keith Richards
15. Blame on Me - with Rachael Yamagata

Album Description

What do Ryan Adams, Trey Anastasio, Jeff Beck, Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths, Eric Clapton, Bootsy Collins, The Roots, Ben Harper, Terry Hall, The Skatalites, Willie Nelson, No Doubt, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Shaggy, Rahzel, U-Roy, Bunny Wailer and Rachael Yamagata have in common?

The all-star guests on "true love" range from legends Like Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Bonnie Raitt to younger stars including No Doubt, The Roots, and Trey Anastasio. The caliber of these collaborators reveals the impact that Toots has had on several generations of rockers and rappers, while appearances from reggae icons Bunny Wailer and Marcia Griffiths show the respect granted to the man who might be the music's greatest living vocalist. At the heart of it all is that voice - drenched in soul, rooted in gospel, and still breathtakingly powerful after almost four decades in the spotlight.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent crossover of styles and talent.......2006-03-01

Entertaining and enjoyable listening. Nice remakes of classic Reggae songs using some crossover artists.

A straight shot of feel good music.......2006-01-13

I didn't know Toots at all, but read a magazine review and gave it a chance. Boy have I been missing some great music. I listen on my commute home and arrive feeling happy and "cool" by association. If you love blues, Buffett, or Bonnie, this sound will hit you where you live. Not just for Reggae fans. Stop reading this and buy it.

Sweet and Dandy! .......2005-10-01

Unlike one reviewer who sounded like he never did love Toots, this is one of my favorite albums by Toots and the Maytals and I have been listening to them for *many* years. Toots has never sounded better and he made all of the other artists who played along with him on the CD put in some of their finest performances, as well. There is hardly a track on here I don't love, but Still is Still Moving to Me, Pressure Drop, and Sweet and Dandy are some of my favorites... and Blame on Me with Rachel Yamagata (who I honestly had never heard of before) just burns me up. I love it. This is a work of art, unlike some of other compilations which I personally thought were either okay, like BB King's, or sounded like they were just inviting younger musicians to play on their albums to reach new audiences and sell more music, like Santana's. Carlos said he was trying to prove how older people could still get it down, then only invited young women to participate and shake it up. Not Toots, man, he knows what's cool and everyone was invited - young or old, you will love it!!!!

My kind of music!.......2005-05-30

I have to admit that prior to purchasing this album I really had no knowledge of Toots' long history of making music. I always loved the sound of reggae - my dad listened to Hawaiian reggae while I was growing up - and I was ready for something fresh and new.

What I enjoy most about "True Love" is that Toots' vocals are never drowned out by his guest artists. He has a strong, almost bluesy sort of voice, and he really sounds like he enjoyed making these songs. It really amazes me that he was able to work with so many artists from such varied genres. "Pressure Drop" and "Monkey Man" easily satisfy my need for upbeat, fun, summer/spring sorts of songs while "Careless Ethiopians" and "Blame on Me" paint a landscape drenched in a darker, haunting tone. If I were to name a song that I do not care for too much, however, it would be his collaboration with Shaggy, I think mostly because Shaggy's vocals aren't too great on here.

TOOTS GETS MY GRAMMY!.......2005-02-07

Toots is finally getting the recognition he deserves. One of the best reggae performers I've ever seen and this album is definitely one of the best. Love the cuts with Bonnie Rait and Willie Nelson and Marcia Griffiths. Toot Toot Toosie.....HELLO!

Average customer rating: Best Phish release of any kind GOTTA GET IT! Anastasio's flow My new FAVORITE Phish show! Please we have no regrets

Live at Madison Square Garden New Year's Eve 1995 Phish Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music Jam Bands | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Phish - Live in Brooklyn Live in Brooklyn A Live One Billy Breathes Phish - It ASIN: B000BU0CA2 Release Date: 2005-12-20

Tracks:

1. Punch You In The Eye
2. The Sloth
3. Reba
4. The Squirming Coil
5. Maze
6. Colonel Forbin's Ascent
7. Fly Famous Mockingbird
8. Shine
9. Fly Famous Mockingbird
10. Sparkle
11. Chalk Dust Torture

Tracks:

1. Audience Chess Move
2. Drowned
3. The Lizards
4. Axilla (Part II)
5. Runaway Jim
6. Strange Design
7. Hello My Baby
8. Mike's Song

Tracks:

1. Gamehendge Time Phactory
2. Auld Lang Syne
3. Weekapaug Groove
4. Sea And Sand
5. You Enjoy Myself
6. Sanity
7. Frankenstein
8. Johnny B. Goode

Description

Rolling Stone magazine famously called Phish "America's Greatest Jam Band," and while Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, and Page McConnell called it quits as a group last year, their legend lives on. Formed at University of Vermont in 1983, Phish quickly became heirs to the jam band tradition, taking the roots of musical improvisation to a new level and beyond. Of all their now-legendary shows, their 1995 New Year's Eve concert at Madison Square Garden-a masterful blend of composition, theater and improvision-is revered as one of their finest, even by the band themselves. Marking this stellar concert's 10th anniversary, Rhino's deluxe 3-CD release presents the Phenomenal Phish at the peak of their powers. Track Listings: Punch You In the Eye, Sloth, Reba, Squirming Coil, Maze, Colonel Forbin's Ascent, Fly Famous Mockingbird, Shine, Fly Famous Mockingbird, Sparkle, Chalk Dust Torture, Audience Chess Move, Drowned, Lizards, Axilla (Part II), Runaway Jim, Strange Design, Hello My Baby, Mike's Song, Gamehendge Time Factory, Auld Lang Syne, Weekapaug Groove, Sea and Sand, You Enjoy Myself, Sanity,Frankenstein, Johnny B. Goode.

Customer Reviews:

Best Phish release of any kind.......2007-04-14

This is the best release Phish have put out. The show is a masterpiece, maybe the best in the band's twenty-year run. The show seems to make almost everyone's top shows list and with good reason. There's something here for everyone from a time when Phish were really exploring their songs and extending their jamming.

The show opens with an extremely energetic PYITE. The band are on fire and working together seamlessly. This is the energy of Live Phish 6 (Centrum) and the jamming coordination of LP 4 (Drum Logos). There's a brief move through The Sloth that takes the band into an extended Reba in which Page is playing perfectly and brilliantly. He is absolutely inspired; toward the end of the jam the others get out of his way and let him just explore the song. This is one of the best Rebas in existence. There's a great Squirming Coil, a nice Maze, and a fun long sequence of Colonel Forbin > Fly Famous Mockingbird, which is broken up to include a monologue by Trey and a cover of the pop song Shine that surpasses the original. Sparkle's great as always, and they end the first set with a blistering Chalkdust in which Trey is completely in control of the song and just flies.

Set two begins with Drowned and The Lizards, and this is one of the best Lizards out there. The whole show is filled with Gamehenge mythology, and Lizards is done with an obvious affection from the band. It's a lot of fun to hear the audience go wild for the helping phriendly book. There's a quick Axilla with a lot of power and then the definitive Runaway Jim. This is better than the great Runaway on Brooklyn, with huge energy and great coordination, the band just completely rock out. Strange Design lets the audience cool off and is really beautifully done. Hello My Baby is always a sign of huge things to come, and the Mike's Song that closes out set two is indescribable. It starts off loud and rocking, but transions into something more ominous, and right around 12 minutes in the band just hit the zone. This is one of those moments when the jam just feels completely perfect, the kind of groove that a studio performance can never achieve because it's so obviously feeding off the energy in the audience. The band just layer the music and Mike supplies an exceptional rhythm and Fish is perfect. There's an even more ominous closing, and the second set ends.

The third set opens with the ambient performance of the band as the Gamehenge Time Lab scientists and break into Auld Lang Syne at midnight. This is a great performance that segues into the Weekapaug Groove, which is fast and tight. There's a relaxing Sea and the Sand and a great YEM. They close out with Sanity and Frankenstein and give a wild Johnny B. Goode encore.

The mix is wonderfully done. Balanced all around with beautiful highs in Page's keys that play off Mike's rich bass which just fills the room. Trey's guitar sounds bright and vibrant and Fish's drums are just the right distance, with his cymbals sounding more real than on poorly done digital mixes. Cymbals are the toughest sound to mix on the CD format, but they've done a great job here with the mics and board mix. The stage is deep and the audience is coming through enough to make you feel like you're at a live show without being at all invasive.

This is the best release in the Phish catalog. Add Live Phish 4, 11, and 18 and you have in four volumes a great sketch of everything that made Phish the most inspired and talented live act of the past twenty years. A superb release.

GOTTA GET IT! .......2007-01-12

THIS IS ONE FUN CONCERT. ALL LIVE MUSIC, EXTENDED JAMS, PHISH WAS ROCKIN THAT NIGHT!I WAS THERE AND KNOW FIRST HAND HOW WELL THEY PERFORMED. IT'S NOT THE MOST INTIMATE CONCERT, BUT LOTS OF FUN. WORTH THE BUCK$$.

Anastasio's flow.......2006-05-17

Known for their zany humor, awesome musicianship, and turn-on-a-dime improvisational abilities, the now-defunct Phish sound like no other band. On this three-disc set (which contains more than three-and-a-half hours of material) guitarist Trey Anastasio and his three bandmates stir jazz, funk, salsa, reggae, polka, moody improvs, oddball sound effects, spoken word, and screaming 6-string into a unique sonic stew that teeters between punchy prog rock and anarchistic musical theater. Armed with his trusty Languedoc custom archtop, Anastasio roams a large tonal landscape. Whether his fast, fluid lines snarl and squawk, sing with smooth distortion, or are soaked in rotovibe, wah, or echo, they're unfailingly original and fresh. Though Anastasio has scary technique, it's his flow that's most remarkable, and this rare quality is evident throughout the high-energy show. A great introduction to this premier jam band.

My new FAVORITE Phish show!.......2006-04-04

I CANNOT believe that I haven't heard this show, I can't believe I called myself a Phish fan (for 10 years) before having heard this. I simply cannot believe the marvelous genius recording (this sounds so clear) and how ON the boys are this night. If I were in a band such as Phish and broke up (like them) I would only have to listen to a show like this to know that at one point we really had it. I'm listening to it as I write this and I swear they do not miss a note.

My favorite non-Phish treat would have to be the Quadrophenia gem "Sea and Sand," man they are ripping up YEM as I type this. Whoever you are, if you read this, and you like Phish and you have not heard this album, please obtain it, hear it, stream it, you gotta hear this jam.

Please we have no regrets.......2006-03-18

I normally skip Runaway Jim, but don't skip this one. Same for Weekapaug, also a nice Drowned. There's very little to no filler on all three discs. They should have released this a long time ago, and maybe just leave Hampton Comes Alive in the vaults. The packaging is great too, a not too over-the-top, well-designed digi-pack.

Average customer rating: had low expectations, but pleasantly suprised Hold the jam. Soulfull but not sad, optimistic but not shallow Not Phish, but still pretty good Shine by Trey

Shine Trey Anastasio Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | 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: Bar 17 Trey Anastasio Live at Madison Square Garden New Year's Eve 1995 Sixty Six Steps Plasma ASIN: B000BKDNWQ Release Date: 2005-11-01

Tracks:

1. Shine
2. Tuesday
3. Invisible
4. Come as Melody
5. Air Said to Me
6. Wherever You Find It
7. Sweet Dreams Melinda
8. Love Is Freedom
9. Sleep Again
10. Spin
11. Black
12. Love That Breaks All Lines
13. Shine [DVD]
14. Tuesday [DVD]
15. Invisible [DVD]
16. Come as Melody [DVD]
17. Air Said to Me [DVD]
18. Wherever You Find It [DVD]
19. Sweet Dreams Melinda [DVD]
20. Love Is Freedom [DVD]
21. Aleep Again [DVD]
22. Spin [DVD]
23. Black [DVD]
24. Loave That Breaks All Lines [DVD]
25. Bonus Material [DVD][*]

Customer Reviews:

had low expectations, but pleasantly suprised.......2006-09-17

i didn't expect much from this selection, especially after the slopfest that was coventry. this album is a departure from the self-titled release, but still good. if phish returns, expect to see some of these songs in the repotoire, especially sleep again, spin, and shine. most of the songs are pretty good, but some of the songs (LTBAL, for example) reflect the uninspired songwriting that was represented in the phinal phish studio release "undermind". with that aside, the album is pretty good. trey's lyrics aren't as good as his partner's tom marshal, but the album is able to stand on it's own two feet. i think phish fans are living too much in the past expecting trey to sound like he did in the 93-95 and 97-98 and 2003 periods of phish. i really hope to see phish get back together (i didn't get to see a show in 2004, saw 8 in 2003). this album will satisfy most of the hardcores. i think most of the true phish fans realize that trey is maturing, and shouldn't lose hope that he'll have a true creative renaissance. I am looking forward to Bar 17 for this very reason. He still puts on a killer show, by the way.

Hold the jam........2006-08-21

I'm gonna guess most people seeking this album out are Phish fans. If that's you, the best way I can describe "Shine", is that it's much like the pop side of Phish. Some won't like that, I do alot. Not to say I don't enjoy myself when I hear a 17 minute song, but I really dig this side of Trey also. Focused, catchy, and radio-friendly music. The entire disc is good, but I do notice a drop in quality as it plays on. It begins with the two singles "Shine" and "Tuesday", and though the next few tracks are nearly as good, the last few are not. Still it's a great listen, and while I hesitate to say it's as good as any Phish album, it's all we have now. The DVD side has 4-5 live songs at Red Rocks, and some decent interview footage as well. Just get it.

Soulfull but not sad, optimistic but not shallow.......2006-04-13

Like many people, I've always had a pretty deep emotional experience with music. Soulful, heartfelt, and sincere expressions from artists as opposed to the shallow, marketing-generated crap that is so prevelant. But at the same time, I get tired of listening to music that drags me down and depresses me. Enter Trey Anastasio's Shine! This entire album is down to earth and feels very "true" for lack of a better term. But it's still uplifting and cheerful! That's seems really rare these days. I've been listening to it over and over cause it just makes me feel good.

I've been a Phish fan since about 1995. I saw Trey at the ACL Festival in Austin last year and was blown away. In my opinion it was all the good parts of Phish without the disjunct, excess elements (just my personal taste). As a side note, I think he's got to be one of the best guitarists in history. And even though I usually prefer live recordings to studio albums, Shine is a wonderful exception!

Not Phish, but still pretty good.......2006-04-12

In 2004, the band Phish went on a farewell tour and would part on good terms. Much of the reason why Phish would split up is because they felt they had taken themselves as an entity as far as they can go. Following the split of Phish, each of the band members would go their separate ways. For lead singer and guitarist, Trey Anastasio he would resume his solo career. Anastasio had started his solo career in 1998 with the release of "One Man's Trash". For a while, Anastasio would continue to work his solo career in parallel with working with Phish. He would release three more albums - including in an orchestral album, "Seis De Mayo". In 2005, Anastasio would release his fifth solo album, "Shine". This would be the first album that would be released following the split of Phish. "Shine" is an album that is very different than Phish, but at the same time gives Anastasio to take things in a different direction.

This edition of "Shine" is a "Dual Disc". The "Dual Disc" has a CD on one side and a DVD on the other side. The CD contains the 12 tracks that make up "Shine". The DVD contains an enhanced stereo version of the tracks on "Shine" as well as four video tracks of a live performance from Red Rocks, Colorado. As for the enhanced stereo tracks, you are going to need a very good set of speakers to really hear the enhanced stereo sound. The DVD also contains some behind the scenes tracks and interviews. An important thing to know is that the CD version is a non-standard format than most CDs - and as a result it won't play in some older CD players.

To understand how Anastasio takes things in a different direction from Phish, it is important to understand some of the roots of Phish. For the most part, Phish followed a very simple formula. Their songs contain simple lyrics - most of the lyrics toward the beginning of the song. Many of their songs are then extended with some beautiful and intricate instrumental pieces - "or jam" pieces. As a live band, Phish has been known for constructing "extended jams" of many of their tunes. These jams could easily be in excess of 10 minutes, and some have been known to go to 30 minutes ( If you want to know why Phish isn't played on conventional radio - this is the reason. It's a shame because conventional radio's loss becomes the fans gain). Although the studio albums didn''t quite have as long jam sessions, you can often listen to the sound of a Phish studio cut and see how it can turn into an extended jam. Phish's jams often provided an avenue to improvise. When it comes to improvising music, there aren't many bands that can surpass Phish. Another important point about Phish is that they often will blend many different genres of music such as Rock, Jazz, Latin, and more.

"Shine" isn't going to contain the multitude of genres that were contained on Phish albums. For the most part, Anastasio is going to utilize a very heavy guitar-laden sound. The songs on this album are not going to sound like jam songs - but on the DVD, you will see and hear Anastasio and his band set up some extended jams. While the guitar-laden influence sounds good, the only knock is that the guitar-laden influence does sound at times like the cookie-cutter music of the 2000s.

Simply put, "Shine" is not a Phish album. From a lyrical standpoint, "Shine" is going to have a deeper set of lyrics than most Phish albums. On the DVD, Anastasio discusses how the emotions that were running through his mind played a role into writing the songs for this album. Anastasio includes a song "Whenever You Find It" that basically describes the period when he was making the transition from wrapping up Phish to focusing on his own career. This is evident in the lyrics: "Another letter to remind me; Walking circles on the phone; While this distant fog surrounds me; I let it settle on the ground." This very personal touch in his lyrics is something that I found to nicely compliment the work Anastasio did with Phish. Another song that comes from a personal angle is "Spin". This song also reflects Anastasio's transition period as demonstrated in the lyrics, "In time when you change the game; and hold yourself up to the light; It's past and you're all alone".

There is a lot of other good music on this collection. One of the best tracks is "Come as Melody". This song has a haunting sound and a nice balance of both guitar and keyboard work. While I wouldn't put this in a category of a Phish song, it has a mantra-like chorus sound that does evoke memories of Phish. Another good track is "Invisible". This sound opens with an almost folk-like sound. It features some terrific guitar work, but ultimately it is going be Anastasio's vocals that are going to standout here. Not only does Anastasio demonstrate terrific range, but he does a great job at switching his vocal tempo throughout the track.

Overall, there are no weak tracks on the album, but there are several additional standout tracks. This includes the "Shine", Air Said to Me", "Sleep Again", and "Black".

The liner notes contain all of the lyrics to each of the songs. In addition the production credits and musician credits are included. For those who don't believe that Phish's breakup was really on good terms, it is worth reading the acknowledgements that are included. In these acknowledgements, Anastasio gives major thanks to each of the members of the band Overall, this album is a very good piece of work. Even though the guitar sound is reminiscent of most of the music of the 2000s, Anastasio still brings enough musicianship to take things up a level. Highly recommended.

Shine by Trey.......2006-03-01

For any fan of Trey's this is a must, especially after his tour last year. Many of the songs he's been playing solo since Phish are found on this album. An easy listen that will grow on you.

Average customer rating: Very scattered- This album rocks!! Four and a half stars Trey's Best Solo Effort So Far A different Trey, but still very good music

Bar 17 Trey Anastasio Manufacturer: Rubber Jungle Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | 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: Out Louder Shine Live in Brooklyn Page McConnell Trey Anastasio ASIN: B000HKDEJW Release Date: 2006-10-03

Tracks:

1. Host across the Potomac
2. if you're walking
3. dragonfly
4. bar 17
5. mud city
6. let me lie
7. what's done
8. goodbye head
9. a case of ice and snow
10. empty house
11. gloomy sky
12. shadow
13. cincinnati

Customer Reviews:

Very scattered- .......2007-07-18

Some over the top bad songs. What is the bike song all about? Syd Barrett was cool, and wrote a weird song about a bike. Trey's song about a bike sucks. There are some great moments on this disc, and as always w/ Trey the musicians on the album are top-notch. The downside is, its almost painful waiting to get to them.

I enjoyed most of his first album, and parts of Shine. This is easily his 3rd best solo album... Comparing it to Outside In by Mike Gordon, the album really has no flow. Be nice to see Phish get back together, but I'm afraid it would sound an awful lot like this, and that would be very depressing.

This album rocks!!.......2007-04-28

Why is this loser still making music, man? This album sounds like an asexual James Taylor/Collective Soul hybrid whining about how bad life is being fed with a silver spoon. Vermont is cool.

Four and a half stars.......2006-11-20

Like Phish? Get it. It's not Phish exactly, but the creativity is still there. I didn't know what to expect since this is my first Trey solo release, but I'm very happy with it and will enjoy it for many listenings to come, God willing. The standout cuts are: Host across the Potomac, If You're Walking, Bar 17, Goodbye Head. Dragonfly and Mud City both rock very hard and perhaps many would like those more than me, but I lean toward more progressive and improvisational stuff nowadays.

If you're a Phan, get it.

Trey's Best Solo Effort So Far.......2006-11-12

Bar 17 is probably my favorite of Trey Anastasio's solo albums. This is his 3rd official solo studio album since 2000, and his second since Phish officially broke up. Last year's Shine was a big slice of sunny, straight-ahead rock. It was recorded with a single backing band and produced and co-written by studio ace Brendan O'Brien. Bar 17, on the other hand, was recorded over three years and features more than 40 different musicians. It was largely recorded at Trey's rural Vermont studio, The Barn, and mostly self-produced. As an album, it isn't a very cohesive collection of songs. But the songs themselves are nearly all high-quality efforts. It's also the first album of Trey's where some of the songs bear a striking resemblance to Phish. Songs like "Host Across the Potomac," "Goodbye Head," and "Bar 17" stretch past the 6-minute mark and bear the same mixture of highly composed sections and loose jamming solos that were a Phish hallmark. The appearances of Phish drummer and bassist Jon Fishman and Mike Gordon on some of the songs undoubtedly add to that feeling.

Which isn't to say that the album is just a poor attempt to recapture that Phish magic- Anastasio tries a lot of different things here. Considering that Phish spanned nearly every genre imaginable in its 2 decades, it's hard to say that that band wouldn't have attempted any of these songs. But "Let Me Lie" is a simple low-key pop song, "Empty House" is an acoustic guitar song, that recalls folk and bluegrass, and "Cincinnati" features a long, very jazzy horn-based introduction before it kicks into a bright rock song. "Dragonfly" and "Mud City" are more traditional rockers, and "If You're Walking" and "A Case of Ice and Snow" are laid-back tunes that amble along slowly. For me, the combination of styles on this album is really what makes it work. Anastasio has tried a lot of very different musical things over the past few years. Bar 17, though, is the most confident thing he's put out since Phish's penultimate album Round Room. Trey just seems more comfortable sliding through various styles and trying out different things, and this album is a great illustration of that mindset.

A different Trey, but still very good music .......2006-10-10

I've been around the block many times with all of Trey's material, from the old days with Phish to the new days without. With a lot of Phish shows, Phish albums, Trey albums, and general music listening under my belt (I'm now 30) I have to say that this is a very solid piece of work by Trey. After approximately 10 listens, I can give Bar 17 a stamp of quality. Overall, this is a rather sad and slow album. The production isn't quite as chirpy as Shine. However, the music is really very good. Listen to the strings on tunes such as "Gloomy Sky" and "Bar 17". How can you not tip your hat to Trey? The man may not play guitar like a 25 year old, but he can still compose a tune that is very much Trey, and very much enjoyable.

Average customer rating: four or five stars? Having horns as a rythm section... Plasma very good exelent cd

Plasma Trey Anastasio Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music Jam Bands | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Trey Anastasio Seis de Mayo Bar 17 Shine L ASIN: B00008PBZT Release Date: 2003-04-29

Tracks:

1. Curlew's Call
2. Plasma
3. Magilla
4. When
5. Mozambique
6. Every Story Ends in Stone
7. Small Axe
8. First Tube

Tracks:

1. Night Speaks to a Women
2. Simple Twist Up Dave
3. Inner Tube
4. Sand

Amazon.com

Trey Anastasio had a lot of pent up creativity locked up behind that pointy little beard. The Phish guitarist eschews his band's stripped down approach and gilds the jam-band lily with big-band aspirations, moving into the ferociously funky territory occupied by King Sunny Ade, and the mighty James Brown. Anastasio not only shows off some truly interstellar guitar playing, but also uses the instrument to subvert mathematical possibilities by whimsically changing time signatures as he fearlessly bobs and weaves between the blasts of soulful sounds from his inventive and frenetic five-person horn section. This two-CD live album was recorded over nine shows during the Anastasio's 2002 tour, exposing fans to Anastasio's more baroque groove-mongering sides as he takes them through a spirited two-hour-plus journey comprised of seven previously unreleased compositions, a cover of Bob Marley's "Small Axe," and three Phish tune, including the politically charged "Sand." --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Description

Double CD live album featuring over two hours of music, including seven previously unreleased tracks. 12 tracks. Elektra. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

four or five stars?.......2006-11-15

I had never heard of Phish [they are not very well known in Europe] but sometime ago I stumbled across a review of this CD. The descriptions made me curious and I decided to buy the CD virtually unheard. At first I quite liked what I heard, but the music started to grow on me and now "liking" is too weak an expression for me. I think the whole musical performance is fantastic, a kind of Santana meets Gil Evans. BUT and it is a big BUT, I find the singing quite weak. That makes me hesitate to give five stars. So it is going to be four stars, because for me five stars means that I have no hesitations whatsoever. In my mind it would have been an immaculate album if he had brought in a real good singer. He could have followed the example of Bill Wyman, another notoriously weak singer, who is having other guys doing most of the vocals in his band. Still very worthwhile to listen to.

Having horns as a rythm section..........2005-03-19

In this case it works pretty well.The music flows and remains interesting from the beginning 'till the end.Recommended.

Plasma.......2005-03-11

If you have ever experienced a Phish show and a Trey Anastasio Band show the difference in the 2 is obvious. Treys band definatly lacks the in show intensity Phish once had, and the unfortunate breakup this year was a real heart breaker for many young phans like myself, however the jazzier touch to Treys work sounds nice behind his pickin and I recommend this album to anyone who is still recovering from Phish's breakup.

very good .......2005-01-07

Trey Anastasio's live album: Plasma is fantastic. To say phish's lyrics are bad is really an ignorant thing to say unless you've heard more than just a few songs. Although some of their more complex peices from their early career were accompanied by nonsensinsical lyrics written merely as inside jokes while the band members were in their teens, there are also a lot of beautiful thought provoking words in a lot of their songs.
On the track Sand, for example...

If you can heal the symptoms
but not affect the cause
it's quite a bit like trying to heal
the gunshot would with gauze
if you instead attempt to rest
the pistol from the hand
then I would not be able to
equate my life with sand

Flowing through the hourglass
pushing through the funnel
turn once more and racing
all your siblings for the tunnel
slide like the silicone
embrace you as you fall
then bounce around
and let your brothers
crush you to the wall

I would choose my own religion
worship my own spirit
but if he ever preached to me
I wouldn't want to hear it
I'd drop him a forgotten god
languishing in shame
and then if I hit stormy seas
I'd have myself to blame

If you can heal the symptoms,
but not affect the cause
you can't heal the symptoms

Look deeper into the lyrics, and you can see something that anyone can relate to.

Anyways... check out the album. It's Stellar.

exelent cd.......2004-09-15

I would 100% disagree with the last review about the lyrics part. Tom Marshall is a complete genius, comparable to Robert Hunter just in much differnt ways. This 2 disk cd set is an exelent compilation of live songs. Now that Phish had broken up, if you wish to continue with Anastasio's work than this cd is a must. The highlight of the cd in my opinion is the " Night Speaks to a Women" very clean jamming. Buy this CD you will thank yourself next time you are on your way to go see Trey

Average customer rating: Trey is just simply an amazing guitarist Worth Buying Trey is a musical genius! Overlooked and Underappreciated His best work yet.

Trey Anastasio Trey Anastasio Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Plasma Shine Seis de Mayo Shine The Story of the Ghost ASIN: B000063V7M Release Date: 2002-04-30

Tracks:

1. Alive Again
2. Cayman Review
3. Push On 'Til The Day
4. Night Speaks To A Woman
5. Flock Of Words
6. Money, Love And Change
7. Drifting
8. At The Gazebo
9. Mr. Completely
10. Ray Dawn Balloon
11. Last Tube
12. Ether Sunday

Amazon.com

Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio's solo debut--not counting One Man's Trash, his limited-release odds-and-sods assortment--is the affable, something-for-everybody, more-or-less-mainstream album that the avant-arena rock quartet was always too collectively freaky to record together. Anastasio's new group--an eight-member powerhouse with a rock-solid rhythm section, slamming horns, and a string player or two--is a versatile vehicle for eclectic compositions ranging from a trio of dangerously mellow 3-minute acoustic ballads (including the Bob Marley-inspired "Ether Sunday") to the explosive 11-minute head charge "Last Tube." Anastasio updates the horny Tower of Power legacy in the Latin funk of "Alive Again" (with guest percussionist Cyro Baptista), the wailing R&B of "Money, Love, and Change," and a rocket-fueled commercial for decadence, "Push on 'Til the Day." His stated goal was to mesh composition and improvisation. Here he invokes composer Charles Ives's regionally inspired chamber music in "At the Gazebo" before cranking up the Oysterheady psych-rock of "Mr. Completely." All in all, mission accomplished. --Richard Gehr

Album Description

Debut album by guitarist, vocalist and frontman for Phish. He's backed with a long list of stellar musicians. Featuring the single 'Alive Again'. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Trey is just simply an amazing guitarist.......2006-02-01

I thought on "Shine" he strayed a little too far away from his classic "Trey" sound, however, this album is a perfect blend between his Phish roots and his own personality; plus his pure views on music and music theory really shine through very well, no pun intended. If you consider yourself a Trey fan and a Trey lover, this is a necessary addition to your collection; these tracks are exemplary.

Worth Buying.......2006-01-02

I just got this CD, and I have to say I'm very impressed. It's not even close to Phish, but it's good. This is the best solo stuff from any of the Phish members. Night Speaks, Alive Again, and Cayman Review are the most solid and catchy-est songs. Trey does go slightly more "poppy" than Phish and his other albums with this one, but it's deffinetly worth buying if you're a serious phan or just getting into Trey and Phish.

Trey is a musical genius!.......2005-11-02

OK. After my first couple of listens to the album I thought it was awful. It seemed shallow, cheasy, and I was confident that Trey had finally sold his soul for an attempt at "mainstream" success. I figured there might be a good song or two...

I was wrong.

Like most sophisticated music sometimes it just takes a more deliberate listening in order to get it. Well I got it, and boy is it good. Trey has once again proven himself to be the musical genius that he is. Somehow, like all of Trey's previous efforts, he has managed to write yet another brilliant and entertaining yet still different sounding album.

These songs are some of the freshest sounding and uplifting tunes Trey has ever written. They are high energy, feel good, put the sun roof down and blast the volume kinda songs. It also seems as though Trey's voice has aged like wine, never have I heard it sound better. Oh yeah, and he finally ditched the horns.

Shine is exactly what this album does. It is a breath of fresh air in the smog of stale modern rock. Get it, you won't be dissapointed. It is great, and the more you listen the better it gets.

Overlooked and Underappreciated.......2005-02-10

Trey's first solo effort, sans One Man's Trash, is really anything but. Supported by a nine member backing band, with some special guests strewn about, the sum of all the parts make for a quite outstanding whole. These road tested songs translate to the studio seamlessly. Alive again, although not my favorite track establishes momentum from the onset that never stops until the last note of Ether Sunday. The bouyancy of Cayman Review offers a deviation from standard phish guitar licks, while Push On Til' The Day offers horn filled grooviness that would entice anyone to dance. Night Speaks sees Trey creep back out of his standard playing by using a more crunchy guitar tone that illustrates just how eclectic this album is. The supporting vocals and horns are all placed perfectly like a fine tuned orchestra, which is what we all know Trey is moving towards as his music grows. Some of the slower songs(i.e. Flock of Words and Drifting) don't detract from the album. Placed perfecly, they offer some meaningful life lessons presented pleasantly to the ear. The album ends as strongly as it starts, with a funk/reggae vibe that could only be pulled off by a man who is a guitar viruoso and experimenting conductor. The risks unequivocally pay off as well as the choice of each backing band member. After one listen, it stayed in my CD player for quite some time.

His best work yet........2005-02-07

This has to be one of Trey's 'phinest' cd's. I have had this cd for a few years now and I never grow tired of it. Some of the jems on this cd are "Alive Again, Cayman Review, Flock of Words, and Ether Sunday." Trey's back up singer Jenifer gives the cd a soul sound and his horn section allows for a new groove that is way different than Phish. Buy this cd.

Average customer rating: Not Quite Great original music Incredible Music Surprisingly very good going back

Seis de Mayo Trey Anastasio Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Trey Anastasio Plasma Bar 17 Shine One Man's Trash ASIN: B0001HAIKE Release Date: 2004-04-06

Tracks:

1. Andre The Giant
2. Prologue
3. The Inlaw Josie Wales
4. All Things Reconsidered
5. Coming To
6. Discern (Intro)
7. Guyute (Orchestral)

Amazon.com

It wasn't long after the recording of this, Trey Anastasio's third--and most warmly idiosyncratic--solo album, that the Phish frontman/guitarist announced that his improvisation-fueled, cult-fave band would record no more. Longtime Phish-heads (or admirers of Anastasio's previous free-form jazz excursions with Les Claypool and Stewart Copeland and more conventional solo work) may find this ambitious, if occasionally precious, immersion into instrumental concert music proper both familiar (it includes mature arrangements of several previous Phish tracks, including the expanded, 66-piece-strong orchestral centerpiece "Guyute") and insightfully intriguing. Though he is better known for his adventurous, improvisational bent, the recordings here argue that Anastasio's is a more precise musical soul than the occasionally madcap antics of his band might suggest. It would be too easy--and ultimately unfair--to describe these eclectic outings as cinematic. Indeed, they draw on influences that suggest more than a passing acquaintance not only with American classical icons such as Ives (the nervous, colliding melodies and pan-tonalism of "Coming To," the skewed string quartet of "All Things Reconsidered") and Copland ("Guyute"), but also more recent national treasures such as Van Dyke Parks ("Andre the Giant"'s playful Caribbean rhythms, the neo-baroque stateliness of "Prologue") and Randy Newman (the pastoral grace of "The Inlaw Josie Wales") as well. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

Trey Anastasio has built a career of extraordinary stylistic scope as the singer and guitarist of Phish and as a solo artist of wide horizons. Now Trey shows yet another side with Seis de Mayo, an album of instrumental pieces. Anastasio has been writing in this vein throughout and even before his career with Phish. That will likely come as no surprise to hardcore fans who know that a number of band favorites were composed pieces that the other members learned from Anastasio via stacks of notated staff paper. Trey imagined that he might someday compile an album of these pieces as performed by the sorts of ensembles - string quartets, brass quintets, small and full orchestras he'd originally had in mind when he composed them. Seis de Mayo is that long-anticipated labor of love.

Customer Reviews:

Not Quite.......2005-08-02

Being a huge Trey fan, I'm sorry to report that this CD is highly disappointing. I would describe this music as "pleasant", at best. After two listens, I'm fully bored.

"Seis" deserves some credit since it's neat to hear orchestral versions of Trey/Phish songs (All Things Reconsidered; Guyute). Inlaw Josie Wales is nice, but can be found on Phish's far-superior "Farmhouse".

Additionally, the 29-minute length (!) makes this CD a rip-off at full price.

If you're just dying to hear Trey in this orchestral format, I'd recommend borrowing "Seis" from the library.

Great original music.......2004-05-15

I just bought this CD today and I love it! Anastasio is an amazingly versatile musician - you'd never expect soothing, airy orchestral music coming from a rock guitarist, but that's exactly what this CD is.

About half the tunes on this album are new, while the other half are Phish tunes reworked for orchestra. While most orchestral arrangements of rock tunes sound extremely cheesy (or just flat-out stupid), Anastasio has managed to pull this transformation off quite well, probably because he composed and arranged both versions himself. Some tunes (namely "Guyute") even seem to lend themselves to the orchestral format.

For those who are familiar with Anastasio's first solo album, think of "Ray Dawn Balloon" or "At The Gazebo." That's what all the tracks on this album are like.

The only reason why I rated this four stars instead of five is because the album is very short (only about 30 minutes of music). There's only 7 tracks and with the exception of "Guyute", they're all under 4 minutes long. I love all the material on here, but I wish that there was more to listen to.

Other than that, this is a really nice album. If you know Phish, you'll appreciate the orchestral versions of their tunes on here, but you certainly don't need to be familiar with any of those tunes to enjoy this. I wish there were more musicians out there today who did stuff like this :)

Incredible Music.......2004-04-19

I can't really stand reading the reviews of people who purchased this cd simply because it was a Trey Anastasio release and complaining about it. If you honestly can't take the time to take a look at information about the cd before it is released, it's your own fault.

That out of the way, the music on this cd is just incredible. Though Guyute was done for the "Sharin' In The Groove" cd, it's still great to hear another version of My Friend/Guyute orchestrated. The musicianship, and through listening to this song, as well as the other Phish songs (including Prologue, which is great to listen to as Trey originally composed it).

Those who know Trey Anastasio know of his musical genious. If you don't, please, do yourself a favor and pick up The Phish Book. The reason I give this cd four stars is simply because of the price of the cd for the amount of music you get. Other than that, this cd is excellent. Though, if I had the choice, I would love to have heard Divided Sky orchestrated above anything else.

Surprisingly very good.......2004-04-14

I was pretty happy with this CD. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because I didn't feel that I got enough music for my money (it's a pretty short disc) but the stuff that's on this CD is great. Transcribing something from rock to orchestral is not easy. It usually ends up sounding corny, and doesn't work for many bands. (Pink Floyd, Yes, and Metallica are the few exceptions.) It almost sounds like Trey had orchestra in mind for these compositions back when he wrote them. Guyute is the best example of this.
Trey Anastasio is very versatile. Of course, if you know about this disc, you probably already know that. But this is just another example of his talent and willingness to try new things. He's definitely the driving creative force behind Phish and his solo efforts have proven it.

going back.......2004-04-11

i admit that i am a big phish and trey anastasio fan -- have been for 14 years. what prompts me to write this is; on yahoo.com, someone reviewed seis de mayo with the comment that hippy jam bands suck so don't bother with this album. yes, anastasio is the leader of the biggest "jam band" so so speak and i won't carry on about the sometimes unfair "jamband" label.

a lot of trey's music is influenced by jazz hence the free form it takes -- everyone has a part in inprovision yet comositions based the structure of classical music like rivel is the basis for a lot of the early phish work. a song that sounds like "noodling" is actually played the same way everytime regarding measures and variation, with only minor variations -- a lot of which are tonal.

seis de mayo simply takes a handful of anastasio's best compositions and presents them in the way they were originally written -- without the "rock n roll" but with string quartets and symphony orchestras.

this is a beautiful album and yet anastasio is often dissed for wanting to explore many musical paths -- this should be commended. i would have given it five stars but i do agree it is a bit short but i only paid $12 so........

strip yourself of the stereotype, sit back, and enjoy.

Rap Music:

1. Two More Years [CD-single] [Import]
2. Up All Night
3. Utopia Parkway
4. Whatever
5. Whatever: The '90s Pop and Culture Box [Box set] [Original recording remastered]
6. Whispering Pines: Live at the Getaway [Live]
7. Wilderness
8. Wonders of the World
9. Written In Rock: The Rick Springfield Anthology [Original recording remastered]
10. 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Runaways [Original recording remastered]

Rap Music

rap music

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Charles-Marie Widor: Organ Symphonies Nos. 2 & 8

Bird [Soundtrack]

Music: Celibidache Conducts

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Against the Law

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Best of Country Music Channel 2005 [Import]

Baladas y Pop [Karaoke] [Import]

All the Colors of Darkness

Best 1200 Rock 'n Roll [Limited Edition] [Import]

Becoming Remixed

Badinerie

Live in Stereo at Marion (June 8, 1957)