The Associated Press

Phish frontman Trey Anastasio puts notes to paper and gets orchestral in "Seis De Mayo", Blondie delivers a "Curse" and Yo-Yo Ma goes baroque in this week\'s new releases.

?Seis De Mayo,? Trey Anastasio
Phish frontman Trey Anastasio?s second solo album, ?Seis De Mayo,? is a musical diary, sometimes unassuming and filled with charm, other times sweeping and bold.

Whichever, it?s the music Anastasio hears when he?s all alone.

It?s not rock ?n? roll, really. Nor is it a collection of jam band anthems, the sort Phish helped foster decades ago. It?s Anastasio the composer, always favoring experiment over any structure.

Entirely instrumental with seven tracks lasting a total of 29 minutes, ?Seis De Mayo? transforms Phish?s music into pure composition. Many of the songs are just snippets or three-minute melodies, some already recorded under the Phish banner.

But by putting the compositions on the sheet music stands of an orchestra, ?Seis De Mayo? gives them an air musical legitimacy outside the rock spectrum.

?Guyute? is the album?s longest piece, and arguably its finest. About 12 minutes of orchestral movement, listeners can hear emotive melodies that might have been drowned out in the din of a trap set.

?The Inlaw Josie Wales? is another gem. The solo guitar piece originally recorded at the band?s Vermont recording studio has been redone for guitar and strings to create a foot-tapping, feel-good sound.

Unlike Anastasio?s previous solo effort, which dripped with post-production effects and a lounge sound that left fans wincing, pairing Anastasio with an orchestra proves to be a beautiful match.

It?s a tiny album, indeed. But little ? in this case ? is definitely better. ? Ryan Lenz