Fuego is the 15th studio album by 30 year old jam band Phish. It was produced by legendary producer Bob Ezrin who has worked with Kiss, Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed and Peter Gabriel.

This album is proof that Ezrin is a legendary producer and is a perfect match with Phish. A lot of the songs on the album I already covered last year when they debuted this album on Halloween, but when it was still a work in progress.
The opening track, which is also the title track Fuego, can be summed up as a nine minute journey. It starts off with a slower tempo, but it’s all crescendoing to this huge moment when the drums pick up and the guitar shreds. After the pace comes down to the familiarity that we had at the beginning, it’s like coming home after a long road trip. It’s leaves a great taste in your mouth.

The next song titled “The Line” is, admittedly, not as good as the epic songwriting that comes before it. While this song is said to be about when University Of Memphis’ own Darius Washington Jr. missed two of three game winning free throws in the 2005 Conference-USA tournament against Louisville. It’s actually quite humorous, especially when the lyrics are this:

“Friends were electric on the western side,

While triangles were shifting on the floor.

Squeezing out the breath that I don’t have,

The quiet now they only want two more.”

It’s good to know a 31-year-old band still has humor.

The next track, “Devotion To A Dream,” is a very “poppy” tune to say the least. The lyrics imply that this man and woman have broken up, and the man couldn’t be happier. Lyrics show that the man doesn’t have to worry about wondering why he’s even in the relationship, and that he gets to mend the wounds she left on him. It’s catchy, taboot.

Now we have “Halfway To The Moon,” which is sung by the great keyboardist of Phish, Page McConnell. I’ll admit that the lyrics really don’t make sense. At least not for me. It’s still a good song. There’s a killer piano solo, and the song crescendos and crescendos until it has a very satisfying release.

Now we have “Winterqueen,” which changes the pace of the album. It’s at a slower tempo and it has horns. Like I said, it’s a change of pace, but a welcome one.

Now we have a gem called “Sing Monica.” This song’s lyrics are clever, full of puns and double-meanings.

“But then you stole the sun, delighted me

Now the day is gone, you knighted me”

It also helps that the song is great musically. Featuring a vocal solo and great guitar playing.

Next is “555,” which gives us our first taste of funk. This song also features horns and it adds so much to the music. This song is about someone escaping a kidnaping, but being lost in where to escape.

“Waiting All Night” was the first single from this album, and it was a good choice. The lyrics are not the happiest. They sing about missing someone and “waiting all night” for them to come back, but they know that they never will come back.

“Wombat” is our second funk offering on this album, and it’s so great. Following some funny lyrics, there’s a literally explosion in the music and the funk overcomes you. It’s great and it doesn’t make sense but you love it and you don’t know why.

The final track is “Wingsuit,” and it’s a great end to the album. It sings about feeling free and forgetting your troubles. It has a great climax with a burning solo and the bassist using a power drill.

Overall, great album. So much better than their previous album, “Joy.” The songwriting is way better and catchier.