"Shine," which is the first album to feature Anastasio as its sole lyricist, hit stores yesterday. The album unfortunately lacks the playful experimentation that we have come to expect from Anastasio after 21 years of helming one of rock's most unique bands. "Shine" also lacks the drawn-out and drug-driven jams that had come to characterize many of Phish's live shows. Here, Anastasio is much more reserved and composed. While many of Phish's studio recordings clock in at over 15 minutes, the longest track on "Shine" is under six.
Brendan O'Brien, who has worked before with the likes of Bob Dylan and Neil Young, produced and mixed the album. He also plays bass and keyboards and sings background vocals. He and Anastasio are joined by legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff, who boasts gigs with John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan and Iggy Pop.
The album's sound is very tight-almost too tight. The songs don't allow enough room for improvisation, which is done exclusively by Anastasio. His guitar solos are too short; they begin to build and go somewhere, but are abruptly interrupted by the chorus. It seems as though Anastasio is trying to steer away from the marathon solo breaks of Phish. He tries a little too hard.
The title track of "Shine" is among its strongest. It is upbeat and uplifting with more than a little Phish flavor mixed in. Anastasio multi-tracks himself tastefully, layering in an acoustic and two electric parts. The third track of the album, "Invisible," is an acoustic-driven blend of folk and Santana-inspired guitar licks. Although Anastasio's voice has never been his strongest asset, he has learned how to use his limited range to its fullest. "Come as Melody" is a melancholic ballad that builds to an upbeat, bluesy, riff-based chorus. The title gives us a guide into Anastasio's new mentality: Melody is the name of the game. His new songs are catchy and accessible to a wider audience than that of Phish, but they avoid falling into the bland morass of pop music by retaining just enough blues and experimentation. This album is more straightforward than Anastasio's previous ones with Phish. While Phish mixed every genre from jazz to country, this album pretty much stays within the realm that Anastasio finds most comfortable: straight-up rock 'n' roll.
"Shine" was released both as a traditional CD and as a DualDisc. The DualDisc edition features the album in its entirety and comes with a DVD, which includes the full album in PCM Stereo, live footage of Anastasio's most recent concert in August, behind-the-scenes rehearsals and an exclusive interview with Anastasio himself.
While die-hard Phish fans may find the album a little too restrained, it will likely find larger acceptance among the populace. I, for one, am happy with the direction that Anastasio seems to be heading towards. "Shine" shows that he is searching for his own voice, unique and apart from that of Phish. While he hasn't quite found it yet, he is well on his way.