Comments about reviews 2000

Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 21:54:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Raymond Richards ray2237@yahoo.com
To: dws@archive.phish.net
Subject: The first annual "Phishpy" awards---personal reflections
 
Having been to 75% of the shows in 2000 I've seen some
wonderful wonderful jams by our beloved band----I
could review the shows but instead I have decided to
make a comment on what I think are the two best
song>song of the year---This is merely my opinion and
I am basing it on what grabbed me personally and threw
me through a loop, at the show and on the CDS that I
have listened to----I have every show of 2000 on disc
and I've done a lot of listening lately.  You may say
that I am crazy if I don't include the Moby Dick set
of 7/11, or the El Paso>Chalkdust Torture>West L.A.
Fadeway of 10/6.  Here's my choices:
 
Second best:  Piper>Guy Forget, 10/1 (did anyone
notice the casino sounds coming from the band at the
end of Piper?---Vegas still in their minds?
 
And the winner (in my book): Drowned>Rock and Roll,
6/29>>>>just take time off you day to listen to this
incredible half hour of music and then see if you
don't think you can fly!!
 
Single song jam of the year:  Ghost 5/22, Bathtub Gin
6/28 or Tweezer 6/24.
 
Sleeper show: 6/30 Hartford
 
Sleeper sequence:  Halley's>Mango>Twist, 6/30
 
and lastly the perfect show of 2000
 
I.)  Gotta Jibboo(6/22), The Curtain With (9/30),
Makisupa Policeman* (7/15), The Okeepah Ceremony>Suzy
Greenberg (9/14), Drowned>Rock and Roll(6/29).
 
II.) Bathtub Gin (6/28), Maze (10/6), Harry Hood>Dog
Faced Boy>Harry Hood (6/22), Theme From the Bottom>Dog
Log>The Mango Song>Free (9/17).
 
Encore.)  Walfredo (9/30), El Paso>Chalkdust
Torture>West L.A. Fadeaway (10/6).
 
Best house music:  Let it Be (10/7).
 
Just having some fun with it---and remember its only
my personal opinion!!  Thanks for reading!!

Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 11:30:27 -0700
From: Mark Hales mhales@startel.com
To: "'dws@www.phish.net'" dws@archive.phish.net
Subject: Comments About Reviews - Please Post
 
 
Being a loyal fan of phish & the scene for over 8 years I am quite sad that I
have to write this but I'm simply fed up.  Due to the increasing negative
vibe of phish fans who post to this review board and other lists I am
choosing to no longer read reviews by the increasing number of anal phish
critics that inundate these forums.  There was a time when we celebrated the
music, but it seems that in the last year or so we have become over
analytical - we have looked, searched & listened for fuck ups by the band and
then made a point to list them on these lists like a bunch of pompous theater
critics.  Having been a jazz musician myself for over 20 years I am an "older
phishhead, I enjoy phish for their exploratory musical travels (Fluffhead>Jam
from 7/24 last year for example) I also love their composed pieces such as
the intro to YEM or Divided Sky.  I can truly say that I unconditionally
enjoy the music of phish both live and in the studio, I feel that it is a
gift.  Don't get me wrong, I'll be boogyin' down at a few shows this summer
ENJOYING MYSELF, but we as a fan base are in serious jeopardy if we can not
relax our minds and enjoy the music for what it is - magical.  Maybe I will
check back to this and other phish lists next year to see if we as a culture
have evolved to be a little more open minded and forgiving & less trivial.
 
peace & love to you all,
m

Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 00:53:25 CDT
From: SETH STINE hood700@hotmail.com
To: dws@gadiel.com
Subject: the importance of reviews
 
Hello..There seems to be an escalating debate that has been plaguing many of
the reviews I have read - especially in the last year or so.  In the middle of
this debate are two types of people with two very different opinions. First,
you have the people that respond to any negative review by saying that anyone
who criticizes any particular Phish show has this wrong with them: (1) one
should be thankful FOR EVEN BEING IN ATTENDANCE and has no right to criticize.
(2) the music is what's important ans it is ridiculous to write a review,
especially a negative one, that only represents one opinion and may or MAY NOT
be valid, and (3) the point of going to a Phish show is to have a good time.  
However, how can happiness during a show be achieved when one is constantly
pondering over how any particular Phish song that is being played, measures up
with other versions previously heard or other experiences previously had?  
THEN you have those who argue that reviews (negative and positive) are
essential in maintaining a truthful framework to encompass praise, negative
criticism, comparisons, and references.  Also within this framework that is
created by an individual review, are all the ingredients to shatter someone
elses opinion or bias. This is where alot of the problems come in.  Also, I
would like to mention to anyone who may read this, that I would have to take
the side of the people who write and encourage others to write critical
reviews.  Hence, I have listed a variety of reasons WHY reviews by the phans
are so important. (1) for the phans who collect and trade live shows. When
someone trades tapes, he/she usually only has a limited number of blank tapes
at any given time.  Trades can be hard to set up and can take alot of time and
patience. And since the average trade only involves anywhere from 2-6 tapes
(1-3 shows), a person usually has to pick from sometimes over a dozen desired
shows. This is where reading reviews comes in handy.  Taking a look at reviews
can help a person who is trading tapes to single out a limited number of shows
based on what their tastes may be.  It's similar to reading the back of the
movie box at Blockbuster Video. (2) If everyone was EXPECTED to write write a
pleasant, "Hey, this show kicked ass" review, then the WHOLE POINT of writing
reviews would loose it's purpose. Then it would just be a tool to feed a
person's own bias or positive opinions.  It's only point would be to serve as
a reinforcer for those who think that almost every Phish performance is
"epic", "classic", "sick", or "raging". Let's not lie to ourselves just
because we were in attendance people. (3) Having a good time at a show and
leaving satisfied can be achieved even if Phish has a weak performance. Why
not?! FOR EXAMPLE, if I am at a baseball game and my favorite team wins the
game 1-0; then of course I am going to go home satisfied; I will go home
happy. Now, do I wish the game was a little more exiting? YES. Do I wish that
someone on my favorite team would have hit a Grand Slam? YES. Do I wish that
my favorite player hadn't struck out three times? DEFINITELY. But nonetheless,
I go home happy because my team won. That's how a Phish show is to me.  No
matter how uninspired or off the music may be at times, I always go home
satisfied and thankful. I have yet to have a bad time at a show. Does that
mean that my review of the show will be a "this was a show for the ages"
review. NO. Certainly not. Remember, a negative review does not equal a
negative experience.  So, people, let's try not to spend all our time yelling
back and forth at people who have different opinions about the same show. It's
just an opinion.  Just like mine. Thanks, Seth Stine


Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 10:24:01 -0400
From: beman beman@home.com
To: dws@gadiel.com
Subject: RCMH Both Nights of Phish
 
Dear Phellow Phans,
           I am not going to analyze the shows, but  I do feel that it
is necessary to talk with you. I feel that it is so very disrespectful
to sit back on your moral high horse and even say one bad thing about
the band. Everything that they have done has been for the phans. We take
it all for granted waiting for the songs that we feel should be played.
Then to even have the nerve to say any phish show was a bad show because
you all feel that they should have blown the roof off, when in all
actuality they blow the damn roof off overtime they make a single sound.
Where else do you get to feel so wonderful about music and feel
completely comfortable being the freak that you are for $30.00?
           I feel that the reason why these guys don't play all of the
time stoppers all the time is because people aren't ever thankful for
what PHISH gives to us everytime they play. They don't just give us
there incredible sound, they also give us a family without judgement.I
myself was lucky enough to be at RCMH both nights. I feel that both
nights were incredible. Ther was so much love in there!!! I would like
to thank Eric(I think that was his name, He was wearing a brown velvet
skirt,for the first time!!) and his friend J.T. We had a blast up on the
third mezzanine!!!
           To close all of this up I would like to say that Phish is one
of the very best bands I have ever seen. The way that there music has
the ability to enter you mind and body is incredible. Any of you who go
to the shows just to wait for that one or two songs that you feel they
should play, are really missing out on the wonderful experiences that
Phish offers to us every time they take the stage. Furthermore, i cannot
believe that any of you feel the place to criticize what they do. Only
when any of you are playing RCMH or 80000 at BIG CYPRESS, then and only
then do you have any right demanding anything from PHISH.
          I would love to see us all get together as the family that we
are. Spread messages of good not bad. Be thankful that we have a place
to go in a world where people are all about the rat race. WE NEED TO
MAKE OUR TIMES TOGETHER ALL ABOUT LOVE (FAMILY) AND POSSITIVITY!!!!
SPREAD LOVE EVERYWHERE YOU GO THERE IS NO TIME TO HATE AND BAD MOUTH!!!
 
                                         LOVE AND PEACE,
                                         Jennifer
                                       btfly22@yahoo.com


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