Rush To The Album Aquarium June 27, 1994 - The Plain Dealer By Todd Jirousek Album Review - Hoist AND GET YOUR HOOKS ON PHISH Swimming in the depths of musical obscurity is a special breed of animal. It is a mighty phish that treads melodic waves, making all the other sea-dwellers groove in its euphoric tidal waves. About once a year, humankind is lucky enough to reel in a new album from the eccentric band known on the mainland as Phish. Its latest effort, enigmatically entitled "Hoist," enlists the help of several talented guest musicians (Bela Fleck) who help fill Phish's aquarium of goodness. Followed by the fans across the country for years, Phish finally released the independent-label record, "Junta," in 1988. Other laudable albums that followed, such as "A Picture of Nectar," "Lawnboy" and "Rift," brought feel-good tunes that would be played on college radio stations. The first track on "Hoist" is an experiment in rock/gospel music entitled "Julius." Despite the guest musicians, the famed Tower of Power Horns and the Rickey Grundy Chorale, this track is not as spectacular as the usual Phish opener. Bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman both shine on "Down with Disease," an upbeat tune with slap bass about the not-so-upbeat doldrums of being sick. "If I Could," the mandatory slow song on the album, features vocal harmony between guitarist-singer Trey Anastasia and guest vocalist Alison Kraus. The string accompaniment, another "Phish phirst," provides a moving backdrop for this ballad. The title of the next track, "Sample in a Jar," might scare away prospective listeners, but is actually the most radio-friendly tune on the album. Lyrics such as "I saw you dancing with Elihu up on Leemor's bed" add a bizarre flavor to the song. "Scent of a Mule" is enough of a reason to buy the album. Fleck's lightning-quick banjo-playing contributes to this country jamboree. A fantastical song about a mule-riding country girl who is chased by a UFO, "Scent of a Mule," sports a crazy refrain: "Scent of a mule, you better watch out where you go/Take your laser beams away." As a bizarre finale, Phish sings a portion of the Middle Eastern "Y-Rushalayim Schel Zahav"(Jerusalem City of Gold) in four-part harmony. Uncalled for, but nonetheless creative. "Hoist" reels in a sound that is definitely Phish's.