Editing Round Room (section)

==Production and release==
Initially, Phish planned to record the album live at their December 31, 2002 concert at [[Madison Square Garden]] in New York City, their first concert since October 2000, but they decided instead to release the songs they had recorded that fall instead.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Fricke |first1=David |title=Phish: America's Great Jam Band Returns |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/phish-americas-great-jam-band-returns-177400/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=1 October 2018 |date=6 March 2003}}</ref>

As with previous Phish albums, the songs originated in collaborative writing sessions between frontman [[Trey Anastasio]] and lyricist [[Tom Marshall (singer)|Tom Marshall]] (with two songs contributed by bass guitarist [[Mike Gordon]]). ''Round Room'' is unique, however, in that the final tracks were taken from the band's unedited rehearsal sessions at [[The Barn (recording studio)|The Barn]], Anastasio's studio in Vermont. ''Rolling Stone'' notes that this approach gives the album a "decidedly live" feeling, and "breathes with an anxious, edge-of-the-seat intensity that's missing from their previous studio efforts."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/phish/albums/album/177985/review/5942496/round_room |title=Phish: Round Room : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone |first=Tom |last=Moon |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |year=2011 |access-date=7 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119212838/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/phish/albums/album/177985/review/5942496/round_room |archive-date=January 19, 2008 }}</ref> Though largely positive, the review criticizes Anastasio's singing and the "Phishspeak" quality of the lyrics.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/phish/albums/album/177985/review/5942496/round_room |title=Phish: Round Room : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone |first=Tom |last=Moon |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |year=2011 |access-date=7 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119212838/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/phish/albums/album/177985/review/5942496/round_room |archive-date=January 19, 2008 }}</ref>

In the liner notes for the album, ''Round Room'' is dedicated to the memory of [[Widespread Panic]] guitarist [[Michael Houser]], who died in August 2002, and Scott Schertzer, a Phish fan who was killed in the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phish Live Downloads, Round Room |url=https://www.nugs.net/live-download-of-phish-mp3-flac-or-online-music-streaming/9572.html |website=www.nugs.net |access-date=15 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SCOTT M. SCHERTZER |url=http://www.legacy.com/sept11/story.aspx?personid=147284 |website=Legacy |access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref>

Phish appeared on TV twice before their official return to the stage on New Year's Eve 2002. "46 Days" was debuted live on the December 14, 2002, episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'',<ref>[http://phish.net/setlists/?d=2002-12-14 Phish.net Setlists: 2002-12-14] Phish.net. Online. Accessed: Sept. 2, 2011.</ref> and "All of These Dreams" debuted five days later on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''.<ref>[http://phish.net/setlists/?d=2002-12-19 Phish.net Setlists: 2002-12-19] Phish.net. Online. Accessed: Sept. 2, 2011.</ref>

About a week after the release of ''Round Room'', Phish recorded an impromptu jam session in a studio in New York City, excerpts of which were later scheduled for release as ''[[The Victor Disc]]''. However, this instrumental album has not yet been officially released.