Customer Reviews

Junta

5 star:		(81)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Back when (a sturdy start to a review) Phish had a smaller original song library, this would be considered a totally representative album, so this was indeed a valuable addition to an admirer's music collection. Although Phish has evolved considerably since this plastic was pressed, some of these songs launched a thousand fans, so to speak, and Phish's contemporary style is still greatly reminiscent of one of these songs or another. You can basically divide this album up in three categories of songs: The first is good rock and roll songs that could have been played by anyone (Fee, Golgi, and FluffX). The second is classic Phish songs which we all know and love (You Enjoy Myself, Foam, Dinner, Divided Sky, David Bowie and Contact). The remainder might best be described as for extensively initiated only. In summary, there might not be much of a cohesive "album" feel to this album, but if you like Phish, or you think you might, this may be the single best introduction. It may also be the worst, but if you are that type, then you might be looking at the wrong band in any case. An interesting side note is that this is one of the few places where you can hear David Bowie, `cause they don't play it so much no more.

Now, be aware: there are two types of Phish phans. The first type is the type that could listen to "Hoist" all day long and still keep themselves from murdering people. The second type, in whose ranks I proudly file myself, is the type that prefers "Junta" and "Lawn Boy." If you are new to Phish, I hope to God that you first looked at this review, because you might have otherwise purchased "Hoist" first--not a bad effort in the straightforward, dull rock 'n' roll department, but that is not what Phish are all about. This, "Junta," is what Phish are all about. Jazz, rock, soul, reggae, circus music, music that sounds like it's straight out of "Charlie Brown"--In Junta, they show us the band that was, before they knew that you couldn't make money if all of your songs were seven minutes long. Certainly, they still can put it together anytime they want--evidence "Guyute" from their newest release--but they never played so honestly so consistently as they did in "Junta." Three-minute songs by other bands seem to pass more slowly than masterpieces like "You Enjoy Myself" and "The Divided Sky," songs each with nearly no lyrics. This is the only popular music recording I have listened to that has at the same time restored and destroyed my faith in popular music. That has to be a good thing. All music should be this powerful.

OK, lengthy jams aren't typical of a studio album, but... This album is an instant classic! I have all of their studio works up to 'Ghost', have seen them live over 50 times, been a phan since early 1990... This album is their best and they'll probably never top it. I remember a time back in '92, camping, kicking back on a lounge chair, high as a kite, listening to this cd... It was a religous experience close to that of attending some of their best live performances. How can you compare the intricate complexities of YEM, Divided Sky, David Bowie and Fluffhead! Contact still makes me laugh! I'm also a Dead and Zappa fan, but haven't heard anything as incredible as Phish's 'Junta'! The only thing that could make this album better would have been to segue 'Big Black Furry Creatures From Mars' from 'Contact'!

I will get my one qualm out of the way before going into the review. I don't understand why the bonus tracks were added. I've heard bootlegs from Phish previously and the bonus tracks on this album don't even compare. The rest of the album is magic. I was on a long road trip recently and I put this newly acquired album on (my first Phish album) and I just was taken back by the quality. I am a huge fan of Dave Matthews Band and the Dead, the album incorporates all of the good aspects of these two bands, and more. Phish has an amazing blend of jazz and progressive rock that I've never heard before. I have more albums on order, and I can only hope that they are this good. The bottom line is that if you like quality jamming, and songs that are easy to listen to, then this is a must-have.

Allright, in the spirit of full disclosure, I will admit I am not exactly a Phish fan. I listened to them quite a bit until Rift came out, but was disappointed from that point forward (sorry, I know Rift tops many lists for favorite studio effort). I just didn't like their more refined sound and my interests moved elsewhere. As a result, I listened to their first three albums rarely, quit seeing them live, and, finally, Phish was totally gone from my cd collection. Until now. Recently, I remembered how much I loved Junta and decided to replace my lost disc. It had been years since I'd listened to this album and I was worried it would be simple nostalgia that informed my positive memory of this album. No, it's just great music (how did I let this album squeak its way out of my cd collection?) This album is truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship, humor, creative arrangements, morphing genres, and, of course, improvisation. This album is all energy. It is often very frenetic and busting at the seams with raw musical intelligence. Less polished than future Phish efforts (especially recent ones) this album seems infused with a spirit and enthusiasm never heard again in their studio releases. This is when these guys were simply having a great time and were hungry to show off their immense talent and creativity.

If there are others out there who are biased against Phish and the rise of the jam band aesthetic, put your prejudices aside and give this album a listen. Any music fan with a history of loving rock, jazz, funk, reggae, bluegrass, and soul will probably like this album if they are willing to give an objective listen. So put your aversion to blonde dreadlocks, patchouli, and forced positiveity aside and listen to this album for its own merits. It won't disappoint.

Whenever somebody asks me what Phish sounds like, I always say, "Buy Junta and find out for yourself. Now get out of here!" OK-- maybe I'm not the friendliest person around, but my intentions are good, and so is this album (see how it all comes around). Simply put, Junta is the crown jewel of Phish's studio recordings.

Note: Phish does not sound like the Dead or Dave Matthews or anyone else. They sound like Phish.

Junta was recorded fairly quickly and very early in the band's career when creating a cohesive album was about the furthest thing from their minds. It was sold only at Phish shows at first and then released by Electra after the band was finally signed. The result is something of a mixed bag. The songs on this album are among the most cherished Phish classics. You Enjoy Myself is arguably "the Phish tune". That's probably the one you'd put in a time capsule to let the distant future know what Phish was like, but you'd use the version on A Live One. David Bowie, Divided Sky, and Fluffhead are some of the most intricate rock compositions this side of Zappa and can bring the house down on summer tour. However, even on a double album these tracks have been stripped down to fit in a relatively sterile studio production. There's little indication here of the epic grandeur these jams create during a the furiously frenetic Phish shows of the mid 90s. Those tracks that are live versions (Sanity, Icculus) are fairly trivial songs by comparison, and there's much better live Phish available for free on the Internet. Owning this album is a must for any serious phan since it's their first. Those who'd like to hear a more polished and balanced studio effort would be better served by their later releases such as Billy Breathes or Farmhouse.

This is easily my favorite Phish album. It's kind of their White Album. There are 14 tracks ranging anywhere from 3:24 to 25:31, and most of them are pretty unbelievable. When this was released, it must have opened some ears, eyes and minds to this talented band.
The amazing thing is the interplay between the instruments. It does not sound like a debut album - it sounds like 4 musicians raised on cartoons and progressive rock that have played together for SOME TIME.
My favorite disc is the first - some of the most wonderful, childlike songs they ever came up with, and yet, pieces like The Divided Sky are awe-inspiringly beautiful. They manage to hypnotize you throughout. I have never heard a band that sounds exactly like them. Nothing is impossible.
Even the 25-minute instrumental Union Federal kept me interested. I have a hard time with tracks that long that HAVE WORDS......None of their other albums are this wondrous, even though quite a few have GREAT songs on them. This is truly the sound of 4 creative people doing what they love, and also doing something that no one else was doing.
The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is because not all the songs are essential; they could have deleted a couple and it would have been stronger, I think. Regardless, pretty freaking amazing.......

Many people still think this debut is their best album, and after a few listens it's easy to see why. It's 14 tracks on 2 discs, much of it fan favorites. "Fee" is a great start to the album, and is probably one of my top 10 songs of theirs. "You Enjoy Myself" is also here, and is often considered to be THE "Phish" song. Other favorites are "Golgi Apparatus", "Divided Sky", and "David Bowie". All great jams. "Contact" is a nice little ditty, a bit repetitive, but memorable, and the last few tracks are live, I think recorded at the infamous "Nectar's" in Burlington. Overall I'd call it one of the essential releases in their catalog, like "Rift", "Billy Breathes", and now "Undermind", in my opinion of course.

This is by far, in my opinion, Phish's best album. It truly captures everything that fans of Phish love about them. If there's one album to own of Phish, this is it!