Trey Anastasio rambles on

By Nate Seltenrich

You gotta have the attention span of a retired 75 year-old to soak up Trey Anastasio's "Plasma" in one sitting. Listening attentively to over two hours of extended jams on two discs is always a formidable task, and considering Anastasio's penchant for 15-minute-plus musical voyages, this album requires an especially solid commitment.

"Plasma" represents a notable year in the life of former Phish frontman Trey Anastasio. Having officially jumpstarted his solo career in early 2002, he hit the road with a nine-piece band in support of his self-titled "debut." His latest is an amalgamation of live recordings made throughout that year, drawn from concerts and soundchecks alike.

The eight tracks on disc one and four on disc two mirror this diversity in terms of their assorted origins. In addition to a cut called "Inner Tube" from his last studio album, a few Phish tracks, and a cover of Bob Marley's "Small Axe," the album features seven new and unreleased songs which resemble everything from early Phish to Anastasio's quirky 2001 side project called Oysterhead.

That's not to say that for all their differences the dozen tracks don't sometimes tend to just blend together. It may as well be a two-hour jam for all I'm concerned. Perhaps a conscious adoption of that format would be more stunning than what Anastasio has presented here. Or perhaps this music is just best left on stage.

Don't get me wrong--it's true that most of the songs are beautiful, proficient, dynamic, and intense, and even soulful in the case of "Every Story Ends in Stone." But something about the album's rambling character doesn't do it for me. And even though Trey's incredible chops on the guitar never fail to impress, I frequently find myself yearning for some identifiable substance, something I can hum, something I can put my finger on, something! But what "Plasma" offers is more organic, more alive, and yet somehow also more ghostly and elusive.

Okay, to be honest, "Plasma" might even put your grandpa to sleep. That is, of course, unless he has been prescribed something for his chronic back pain that may enhance the Anastasio listening experience. B