@the_nitty_gritty said:

Waxbanks and nichobert seem determined to project onto my comments a point that I am not making. I am not saying Phish should become a different band. In my last post, I made clear that they are done with the era of loops and layers of sound texture that is most closely analogous with jamtronica and that I have no hope of a return. It is too bad imo b/c there are SO MANY MORE places they can go with jams along these lines than the current mid-90s style of rock jamming, and they bring a love and beauty and mastery to this style of play that few jamtronic bands can. And if anything it felt like that exploration was cut short prematurely back when it happened.

Aha. Here we differ. I thought y2k showed the band had hit a dead end and 2003-04 didn't fix it. I think they're getting a lot out of their current styles and approach. I think loops-all-tha-time is dull and a crutch for Phish. And I like the density and intensity of their music now. This is a question of taste only, I think.