Quote:
Originally Posted by Wrath Mania
I feel like this latest album is the first time they've let Phil do much of anything in studio (assuming that's him doing the work on Waves?). It basically took 10 years for him to do anything beyond playing what's expected live. When you think about it, that's kind of nuts. At risk of falling back on the usual complaint, Shanks inserting himself into the band with THINFS definitely stunted any chance of Phil expressing himself more.
Maybe it wouldn't work--his vibe clearly isn't Richie. But Richie is gone. Try something new, why not? At least this last album did more than just the fuzzy bash of instruments that characterize the Shanks era.
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Yeah agreed. Jon made some points recently that THINFS was made pre-Phil officially joining, 2020 was an improvement and Forever was Phil's change to give more of his flavour. He played on 11 of the 12 songs compared to 2020 where I think there was three or four he didn't play on? I'd have to look back but Story of Love, Lower the Flag and Shine were for sure three of them.
To me, he's there to play more aggressive / Richie style live. That's his purpose. Studio, the style of music they make has changed so far from they used to sound like which I think is more Phil's wheelhouse. But end of the day session guitar player is one of his main gig, he plays to sound like what's being asked I guess. Not having an identity is just part of that.