@timkell said:

@philanthropist said:

@thephisherman said:

@n00b100 said:

5. I have a feeling I'll end up liking Magnaball more than IT as time passes, mainly because Magnaball's great jams never feel like they're just up there jamming for the sake of jamming (which, for all I love 03-04, is a constant 03-04 issue for me), whereas IT's big jams (especially on Day 2) often have a bit more fat in them than I'd like. That 39 minute 46 Days, for instance, is (to me) more length than girth; the already-legendary 8/22/15 Prince Caspian is 23 minutes shorter but feels so much weightier and more packed with quality music.

I cannot echo this comment enough. I've seen shows since '96 and I really love the jams that are being produced now more than in any other era. It really seems like almost every jam has a purpose. If they catch the jam not going anywhere or they can't lock up, then they don't just noodle around searching for the groove. They move on to the next song and see if it's journey is meant to be.

I would have to agree with his thoroughly, like others here have said. I felt like 2.0 jamming was forced and often felt awkward, some of it is more complete on re-listen than it seemed in the moment, though, but not all and it was definitely an endemic.
I could have absolutely never imagined that in 3.0, 2015, I would be saying "I'll take that short little Caspian over that huge 46 days, well, any day!

Agreed 100%. No one can possibly accuse 2015 Phish of noodling.

I think even the sound check from Magnaball is a great example of this, a jam from beginning to end, but (to my ears) little-to-none of the seemingly-pointless noodling. And that was essentially PRACTICE. They operate as a cohesive-improvisational unit, seemingly effortlessly, much more of the time than they EVER have. Maybe?