Classic Phish continues to rock

By Nate Seltenrich

"A Picture of Nectar" opens on a smile-inspiring, bass-slapping, foot-tapping, funky note that does Phish justice if anything does.

Soon Trey Anastasio's wailing guitar barges in without even knocking and things begin to get out of hand, just the way they like it. This is "Llama," and it'll have you hitting the repeat button.

Track two will temporarily allow your senses to relax, only to be tantalized again by the country-tinged, honky-tonk "Poor Heart."

The next standout and one of the album's best is the complexly jazzy "Stash." Don't lose sight of yours, because there's plenty more Phish to come.

Later, "Guelah Papyrus" and "Tweezer" are very smooth and upbeat jams that showcase another element of Phish's prowess.

This is an incredibly diverse album, and Phish does it all so well. At the same time, it's very focused and direct, a much-appreciated quality in an album over an hour long. And as opposed to Phish's latest release, A Picture of Nectar is unceasingly vibrant and full of life, another essential element in any successful jam.

Although it was released twelve years ago in 1991, A Picture of Nectar features many of Phish's finest moments and serves as a reminder of why they've been able to accomplish all that they have. To this day, Phish remains an indispensable part of their genre and of this musical era in general, and A Picture of Nectar is one of their most vital works. A