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. ~ Jim Smith, All Music Guide
Track List
(try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,7,9,10,11,12,13 and 16)
Just like krackerkroger stated below, this one did it for me. I got my first Phish bootleg (cassette!) in Feb of 92 (it was fort collins, 11/90), bought this CD in March, and saw my first show in May of 92. The rest is history. Best phish album for 1) song mix 2) production 3) style. Over the years, I have recommended this album for newcomers many a time.