by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Hoist is the most concise Phish album to date, but that's not necessarily a compliment. Phish's strength is not songcraft or hooks, it's the band's love of free-form song structures and extended jams. When the group's sound is reduced to its core, as it is on Hoist, it isn't quite as compelling. Nevertheless, the album is an improvement on the dismal Rift and features several fine cuts.