@waxbanks said:

But I seem to recall a reviewer dismissing 'Light,' on this very website, as 'less a song than a jam segment' or something.

That's straight bullshit - but it gives you a sense of the expectations that have surrounded this band since the early 90's. They always set themselves up as one thing, but as they glide into middle age they're trying to become something else. Of course folks are gonna complain, even Phish fans. Change is the scariest thing in the entire universe. Even when it's the one constant in the band's history. Even then!

Yeah, that was me, and you misunderstood me. I didn't mean to "dismiss[]" "Light" at all by saying that it is more of a jam segment than a song. I believe this to be true, and I think it's awesome, frankly. I love the song (and "Light" is obviously a song!).

And of course change is a "constant in the band's history." It's a constant in your history, my history, every human being's history. But I disagree with you that the band is "trying to become something else." I don't think they are "trying" -- I think they necessarily are something else than what they were, since we all change.

Of course, what for the most part haven't changed are Phish's songs. They have the same structures, melodies, lyrics, etc that they always have had, as they must to be recognizable as "Tweezer," "Mike's Song," "Bug," etc etc etc. Some lyrics have changed here and there ("Whatever you CHOOSE take care of your shoes!" , and Phish's improvisation certainly has changed to a degree to be sure, but the songs -- for the most part (not entirely) -- haven't changed.