Phish Puts Mind To Studio Work May 15, 2004 - Billboard By Melinda Newman After 11 studio albums, jam band Phish may finally be finding its sea legs when it comes to making records. Or so says drummer Jon Fishman. "I think it's something we're getting good at. We were great at the stage part but pretty lousy in the studio. For so many years we were always disheartened by the studio results. But I think we're getting into the realm where we can start making some pretty amazing albums." Elektra/Atlantic releases "Undermind," the band's first studio project since 2002's "Round Room," June 15. The album fulfills Phish's contract with Elektra. "We either re-sign with them and it's great, or you just let the contract go and say, 'See you later,' and see what else is out there," Fishman says. "Or you just don't have a label. I think any scenario would work for us." "Undermind" is the group's first release for the merged Elektra/Atlantic team. Fishman says he's excited by the changes at the label, saying the old Elektra "never really worked out well for us. It always felt like they wanted us to be different, and this is who we are." However, he admits, "it's a two-way street. For our part, we were very unattentive and unresponsive to their promotion ideas. None of us were very comfortable sitting in Tower Records signing autographs or playing three minutes on the air." He feels the plans for this album suit the band. He is particularly excited about concerts set for June 17-18 at KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, N.Y. One of the shows will be beamed into movie theaters. Phish has never been about radio hits, but Fishman thinks the time may have come with first single "The Connection." "I will be surprised if it doesn't catch fire," he says. "I don't think it will be a boom bang hit like something from [OutKast's] 'Speakerboxxx,' but I could really see it striking a chord." The song goes to radio May 24. Article Copyright © 2004 Billboard