For me, the idea that 8/17/97 II is Phish's best ever set is highly unpersuasive. The Gin is magnificent of course, and if you say it's your favorite Phish jam ever I wouldn't come to blows with you or anything. But the set is heavily padded, with half the band having to put their instruments down and do paintings. Don't get me wrong: the Trey/Mike and Fish/Page duets are perfectly fine, but in the context of analyzing the best of 1997 they play like filler. The DwD and Hood are not exceptional versions, despite the historical importance and nostalgia of the first serious glowstick war and Trey's speeches. As great as it is, the second set can't really hang with heavy hitters like 7/22 and 11/19 and 12/6. I don't think the show even made my top 20.