@icculusFTW said:

I really disagree with the idea -- being expressed by a lot of responses to this review -- that it is somehow the role of Phish.net reviewers to not "taint" your personal feelings about the show, or to always say that every show and tour was "great," and we all had such "a great time."

We all love Phish here. High fives all around.

But this is a place for open and thoughtful discussion of the band's shows that recognize the fact that different shows are, in fact, different, and that, relative to the standards set by the band itself, some are, at least to many discerning listeners, 'better' in certain respects than others -- and that that is OK, and it is not Phish.net's job to protect you from that fact.

We are all entitled to our opinions -- and if you disagree with a review, you can say why and have a civil conversation without blaming the site for making you feel less special about your experience. Your feelings about the experience are yours alone -- Phish.net has no power over them.

@mistarich said:

This is a review stating opinion as fact. I saw 14 shows this summer and left Dick's loving the band as much as ever. That positive energy I left with was tainted by reading this review (which happens a lot with phish.net reviews). I would encourage you to employ a new formula for your reviews. For example, have more than one person (even 5) contribute or debate the review before printing it. The biased opinion of one fan is the reason my friends and I stay off phish.net during tour. While I agree that some shows left something to be desired this year, who are we to decide where the band's head space is at and what they are trying to achieve. We can't forget that in the early day's phish was more of a progressive rock band than a jam. Now they are an incredibly diverse band and it is unfair to judge them simply based off one criteria. The energy was there this weekend and the band was channeling it perfectly. I for one thought each night of the Dick's run built upon each other. After I left Saturday I had no idea how they could go up from there. But then they laid down a crosseyed-fest for the ages.

I agree with your retort of my post. In my defense i was not trying to state the phish.net reviews should all be "fluffers" saying the band can do no wrong so no one feelings get hurt. That would do no one any good and would be downright boring. Going to 58 shows in 3.0 I have seen my fair share of lackluster shows and can admit that. My main point is that phish.net is a website "by the fans for the fans", and is well respected in the community and therefore should have more all-encompassing reviews as opposed the opinion of one fan. For example, while the Wrigley shows were less than stellar, phish.net chose to have the review done by someone who wasn't even at the shows and he made a point about the lack of energy. In that review I would liked to hear that he had a conversation with friends who were there. A "communal" effort to the reviews could be greatly beneficial is all that I am saying. We do all love Phish here and we are critical of the band sometimes because we care so much. In this instance I was critical of phish.net because I care about it and highly respect the opinions that come out of it.