Here here. This is a great, measured post.

When I wrote an entry on Phish for the Grove Dictionary of American Music, I had to mention the Dead connection, if only for the fact that being compared to the Dead is part of Phish's past, present, and future. The thing is, there are many similarities between the Dead and Phish, but there are even more between the non-musical aspects of the Dead and the non-musical aspects of Phish. In fact, I've often said that music is the least shared element between these two bands. Still, it is an unavoidable comparison. Read my thoughts here: http://smoothatonalsound.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/canonizing-phish/