@cglushko said:

Since this is such a point of contention, I didn't include the secret sets because I feel it isn't fair to divorce the music from the visual elements in them. I think it's possible to "get" a set of Phish's music without being at the show. But I don't think you can fully comprehend the Tower Jam, Storage Jam, or Drive-In set without being there.

These pieces are performance art where the visuals are just as important as the music. Technically, I could have included the Lemonwheel Ambient set. But once I decided it wasn't fair to rate the other secret sets without considering the visuals, I just eliminated all of them.

If I had included them, Magna and IT stay the same, Lemonwheel jumps Oswego and Clifford Ball, but doesn't move up a tier, and Super Ball flips with Festival 8.

I'm rather amazed so many people are hung up on this.

This is where I have to disagree. You state that your ratings are based on replay value. The secret sets contain music that has variable amounts of replay value that is completely unrelated to the visual effects associated with them. You aren't judging the replay value of any of the other music based on how CK5 was melting faces with lighting or any of the other infinite examples of eye candy that make the total Phish festival experience more than "just the music" that is being played. The secret or otherwise "special" sets (Fest 8 acoustic and Cypress midnight to sunrise are) should be included in your ratings.

You got 99 comments...and my bitch is one.