Man this is a bizarre comment section, even as these things go. As far as 'Fuego' (the album) goes, just take a step back and think of the last time you put on Hoist. I'll take Winterqueen over Fikus any day.

The album is meant to be listened to as a whole, and is a sign of what the best albums can pull off, an overall cohesiveness beyond the sum of parts. Songs that are meant to be beautiful little ephemeral interludes are not going to blow your mind taken individually because they are out of context. It's like berating Billy Breathes for 'Steep' happening. Subtle shifts in mood and pacing are crucial to an overall organic feel, something that historically Phish has struggled with when it comes to albums.

Now placing the material from the album in a live setting brings an entirely different question of context, the context of the set and show. Ostensibly, that is what this post is about anyway, so how about seeing if that version of Fuego worked at that point in the set? Wingsuit as the last song in the set was a bit of headscratcher until that thoroughly jaw-dropping solo from Trey. Certainly seemed to work to me. I always like the song and this is a perfect example of the life the song takes in a live setting beyond what's on the album.

The album is a snapshot of a single encapsulated feel of music for roughly an hour, more nearly a painting than a film. You can come back to it again and again and it will not change, only the changes you bring in listening to the material, how your perceptions are filtered. No one is required to like it, but it seems strange to me that it elicits such strong reactions from you that you need to provide a fictitious narrative about Trey and why they could make such awful music. Are you reviewing the album or the songs played in the show? Because that is pure apples and oranges. Actually reviewing songs that weren't played--did you need a forum to vent that that badly?

If it's "hard to be optimistic about the future of the band," then I'm sincerely asking--why are you still listening? A better question is, what does that hour length album have to do with your opinion of Great Woods, 7-1-14?

Sorry to get so meta. Gotta admit I was a bit meh on this show until Hood happened (minus Stash/Wingsuit). Boatloads better than Bangor though. It seems like it would fit right in to summer '13 which worries me a bit considering what fall was like. Not an eastcoaster so I truly hope that summers won't just be warm-ups for fall. End rant.