Phish in fine form with 'Farmhouse' June 2, 2000 - Generation Y Magazine By Ben Werner Album Review - Farmhouse Will teens like it? A Phish's latest studio release proves highly accessible to the discerning listener. The Vermont foursome gravitate toward a softer, more mellow sound on "Farmhouse." Songs like "Dirt" or "The Inlaw Josie Wales" take on a dreamy, bedtime story feel. My friend who is a staunchly anti-Phish guy commented - without animosity I might add - that it is so peaceful, he could go to sleep to it. Greatest strength: Phish proves its versatility in the studio with this disc. As opposed to live, the songs are recorded for the sake of the song, not the jam. Also, some guest horns speak up in the upbeat "Gotta Jibboo," dobro master Jerry Douglas and banjo wizard Bela Fleck sit in for the acoustic Led Zep-like "The Inlaw Josie Wales," and strings appear on the Beatle-esque "Dirt." Greatest weakness: If you are looking for the monster grooves that Phish lays down in concert, you might come across some disappointment. I must admit, it is a tad bizarre to hear songs like "Piper" and wait for that huge jam which follows in concert, but then the next track starts to play. The song that breaks this trend is the driving "First Tube." Why should teens save/spend their money on this CD? Guitarist Trey Anastasio is an inventive and exquisite songwriter, as well as a fine guitarist. On this record, his solos seem more lyrical, rather than frenetic, balls-to-the-walls shredding. This disc exhibits a positively mature Phish; most songs are introspective ballads, much of the quartet's signature nonsensical goofiness, along with the jamming prevalent on live discs such as "Hampton Comes Alive" or "Slip Stitch and Pass," is almost absent. "Farmhouse" is more along the lines of 1996's "Billy Breathes," which contains some sweet lullaby-like songs. What makes Phish so great is its penchant for change. It morphs from crazy porno-funk to songs like the tracks on "Farmhouse" between two albums, but it never loses that touch of the style they previously experimented in; rather, the influence shows up in the group's later work.