Gone Phishin: A Bluegrass Tribute

Amazon.com
Record label CMH has spun out easy-listening bluegrass "tribute" albums by the score. Thus it seemed inevitable that Phish would eventually come into the label's musical crosshairs. Despite its seeming improbability, this transposition of spacey post-Dead improvisations into down-home bluegrass actually makes a lot of sense. Talented "newgrass" pickers thrive on the same sort of free-form musical explorations that have long typified Phish's music and made them such an immense draw as a live act. Though often delightful, these studio-musician-rendered covers of Phish phavorites like "Silent in the Morning," "Glide," and "Chalkdust Torture" tend to pale a bit when measured against the real thing. Thus the real appeal of Gone Phishin' will probably be pretty much limited to hard-core, open-minded Phish phanatics. --Bob Allen

Tracks:

Silent In The Morning
Glide
Rift
Cavern
Wading In The Velvet Sea
Tweezer - Earl Palmer/Brent Truitt/Rob Ickes/Richard Bailey/Tim Crouch/Byron House
Birds Of A Feather - Earl Palmer/Brent Truitt/Richard Bailey/Byron House
Chalkdust Torture - Earl Palmer/Brent Truitt/Richard Bailey/Byron House
Sparkle
Brian And Robert - Earl Palmer/Brent Truitt/Byron House
Water In The Sky - Earl Palmer/Brent Truitt/Rob Ickes/Richard Bailey/Byron House
Fast Enough For You - Earl Palmer/Brent Truitt/Rob Ickes/Byron House

Product Description

1. Silent In The Morning2. Glide3. Rift4. Cavern5. Wading In The Velvet Sea6. Tweezer7. Birds Of A Feather8. Chalkdust Torture9. Sparkle10. Brian and Robert11. Water In The Sky12. Fast Enough For You

Format: CD

Amazon.com

Record label CMH has spun out easy-listening bluegrass "tribute" albums by the score. Thus it seemed inevitable that Phish would eventually come into the label's musical crosshairs. Despite its seeming improbability, this transposition of spacey post-Dead improvisations into down-home bluegrass actually makes a lot of sense. Talented "newgrass" pickers thrive on the same sort of free-form musical explorations that have long typified Phish's music and made them such an immense draw as a live act. Though often delightful, these studio-musician-rendered covers of Phish phavorites like "Silent in the Morning," "Glide," and "Chalkdust Torture" tend to pale a bit when measured against the real thing. Thus the real appeal of Gone Phishin' will probably be pretty much limited to hard-core, open-minded Phish phanatics. --Bob Allen

Customer Reviews:

A good album.......2005-01-05

All I have to say is don't listen to that "phish fan / professional musician." His opinion is the most close-minded perspective I have ever heard. It's a good album, it's fun to listen to, it has it's fun, upbeat parts, and slow, serious parts. Basically it's a cd with songs that I could drift off to sleep to, and songs that I can rock out in my car to. Everyone that I know that is a true phish fan loves it, and I'm willing to bet Phish even likes it.

Don't support this garbage.......2004-07-15

I am a long time Phish fan, and also a professional bluegrass musician, and I find these "Bluegrass tribute" records offensive. I'd be willing to bet these projects were not initiated by bluegrass musicians, and were instead dreamt up by the record company marketing department.
Just from listening to the snippets on amazon you can tell that the transcriptions are not accurate, and pretty much suck the soul out of a lot of great compositions. It's disrespectful to Phish, and makes the world of bluegrass music look bad in the process.

Save your money for a real Phish record, or a real bluegrass record. Maybe the record companies will catch on that its better to let the musicians make musical decisions rather than their marketing departments.

It's Bluegrass!.......2004-01-03

This album has gotten a lot of flak from Phish fans, "not enough jamming", "too much fiddle", etc. You need to be aware that this is not a Phish album, it's a Bluegrass album covering Phish songs. If you don't like Bluegrass but love Phish, the album still might not be for you. But, on the contrary, if you hate Phish but love Bluegrass, you may very well enjoy it. The instumental work, while not the best I've heard, is good and very musical, especially when played against Phish. It goes without saying that you'll love the album if you like Phish and Bluegrass. So konw what you're in for, but overall, it's a good buy.

Elevator Phish.......2003-09-12

Phish is Elevator Music and Circus music anyway... What the hell do you expect from a BLUEGRASS ALBUM!

fun for the whole family.......2002-06-21

you may have heard this disc lacks jamming.

My opinion is, it's a very nice listen. I'm not really a Phan, so i probably have a more objective opinion than some. It's not the most brilliantly creative repetory CD out, but fun for sure. As far as the lack of jams, there's plenty of brief but energetic blowing. Remember what Charlie Parker said "Anything longer than 3 or 4 choruses and you're just practicing..."

If you like this, check out Tales from an Acoustic Planet 2 - the Bluegrass Sessions; Tales from an Acoustic Planet; or Live Art Bela Fleck (if you don't have them.)

PS - If you're into these "Cover" CD's, get Fareed Haque CD covering CSN+Y's classic Deja Vu.

Music Album:

Music Album