Phish - Round Room January 16, 2003 - Arizona Daily Wildcat (Tucson) By Kevin Smith Album Review - Round Room “Trey & Co.” have finally returned to revitalize the sagging auditorium parking lot black market economics of ganja goo-ball exchanges for Tatty Porter Stouts and beaded hemp clothing. Weeks before a monstrous return to live performance on New Year’s Eve in Madison Square Garden after a two-year hiatus, Phish released their first studio album since 2000’s Farmhouse. When a band comes off hiatus, a person has certain expectations that new time spent will make previous downtime seem worthwhile. This album does not completely satisfy. Admittedly, Phish is a live band first; there are few bands that can touch the electric energy of their live shows. But this band has delivered many quality studio albums in the past: Lawn Boy, Rift, Story Of The Ghost and Billy Breathes to name a few. Round Room is more unfocused than their previous attempts, even though at its lowest points (“Mexican Cousin” and “Friday”) it is still new Phish to a famished fan base. There is a feeling that they made this album to satisfy financers of the impending tours this year: Room was recorded in just four days last October. Question for industry observers: What other band could release an album this disheveled, tour the rest of the year behind it and still end up as the single largest grossing touring act of 2003? Copyright © 2003 Arizona Daily