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Phish To Deliver Box Of Joy, Additional New Album Included
Reunited jam merchants Phish will release "Joy," its eleventh studio album
and first in five year, on September 8, the band announced on its website
today. "Joy," recorded earlier this year at Chung King Studios in New York
City, sees the group joining forces with producer Steve Lillywhite for ten
new songs, many of which were debuted live during the triumphant return to
the stage this spring and summer.
As previously reported, fans who had the opportunity to catch Phish during
their first proper comeback tour got a taste of nine new tunes, when they
showcased swinging blues riffs on "Kill Devil Hills," groovy interplays
between guitarist Trey Anastasio and pianist Page McConnell during "Ocelot"
and the long, winding jam-friendly "Light." Only "I've Been Around" has yet
to make its live debut. In March, the band played "Backwards Down the Number
Line" at their first Hampton, Va. reunion gigs.
In addition to a CD release, Phish is selling a limited edition "Joy Box," a
deluxe package available exclusively on the band's own e-commerce website,
Phish Dry Goods. In addition to the "Joy" CD, the box will include a
complete second album on CD entitled "Party Time;" a hardcover book; ten
different posters, each representing one of the main album's songs; and a
DVD full of live performances culled from the summer tour, including tracks
from the group's appearances at the Bonnaroo Festival in June and Fenway
Park in Boston. While the box will not ship to fans until October - nearly a
month after the official CD release date - purchaser will get a free MP3
download of the album as well on September 8.
Phish is also pressing copies of "Joy" on vinyl records.
"I think when we were in the studio I had the best time that I could,"
Anastasio told Billboard.com about "Joy" earlier this year."Things have gone
beyond my wildest expectations and dreams and I feel like been given so many
blessings in my life, between my friendship with the guys in the band, our
wonderful audience, being able to play this music, and then my family. I
just want to stay in that state of gratitude and try to hope that the music
that we play is of value to the audience."
As previously reported, Phish is in the midst of planning Festval 8, an epic
three day, eight set concert event which will take place at the Coachella
Festival site in Indio, Calif. over Halloween weekend.
Here is the track list for "Joy":
"Twenty Years Later"
Billboard.com * August 11, 2009
by David J. Prince
"Backwards Down the Number Line"
"Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan"
"Light"
"Joy"
"Sugar Shack"
"Ocelot"
"Kill Devil Falls"
"I've Been Around"
"Time Turns Elastic"