AMG Review of Picture of Nectar

Jim Smith
All Music Guide

Phish's second major-label release, A Picture of Nectar is in many ways their best and most accomplished album. Expanding on the musical explorations that dominated Lawn Boy, Nectar incorporates a remarkable mixture of styles, from country, jazz, and calypso to straight-up rock & roll. Lyrically, the band's trademark goofiness is intact, but the playing is more muscular and Trey Anastasio's arrangements have increased intensity and focus. In fact, it's a surprisingly tight record for a band that built its reputation on endless concert jams, although "Guelah Papyrus" and "Tweezer" should satisfy those who enjoy that facet of the band's personality. The album also boasts the classic "Chalk Dust Torture" and most of Phish's finest moments, which are hard to resist for even the most apprehensive listeners.