Phish - Undermind June 21, 2004 - Chicago Sun-Times By Jeff Vrabel Album Review - Undermind Completed before the worshipped jam band announced it will be filleting itself once and for all in August, "Undermind" has become a de facto farewell, and a magnificently underwhelming one at that (not that anyone gets into Phish for the studio experience). Thanks in part to production by Tchad Blake (Pearl Jam, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits), "Undermind" feels as shiny and polished as its predecessor "Round Room" was sprawling and wandering, right down to the strangely "Freebird"-esque single, "The Connection," which comes with relatively alien concepts like verses and a hook. But like too much of the album, it fails to make much of an impression, and "Undermind" feels full of half-baked ideas and concepts that never find their footing; the title track, in particular, is about 30 seconds of an idea that goes on and on and on. Perhaps in the live setting, tracks like the undulating "A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing" will find appreciable room to breathe and expand, but there's not much time left to find out. If "Undermind" is any indication about the band's path ahead, credit to Phish for knowing when to call for the check. Review © 2004 Beppe Colli