After Phish's Mike Gordon got himself into trouble recently for taking questionable pictures of a nine-year-old girl, both parties ultimately agreed that the entire incident was "a big misunderstanding."

Any fan of the bassist knows him to be a complex artist. But for the drooling, unforgiving tabloid media, the defense presents Inside In, the soundtrack to Gordon's 2000 independent film Outside Out. The verdict? A surreal universe of space-country funk (spunktry?) and often startlingly beautiful songs that exemplify the man's complicated but sincere concept of art.

From the awkwardly soulful "Take Me Out" to the closing country version of the same song, Gordon provides the listener with 15 tracks of unique musical exploration. The disc's main themes are melodic, instrumental mood pieces ("Bone Delay" "Steel Bones") and storytelling character studies such as "Soulfood Man," Gordon's most instantly accessible -- and even danceable -- number

Inside In can be frustrating for listeners who haven't seen the corresponding film, although it's likely the movie wouldn't provide much help anyway. When Gordon rambles on about "wheelenta pilactin correctin" in a very creative and spooky country anthem titled "The Teacher," it kind of feels like one of those jokes you laugh at but don't really get.

But we don't have to "get" the full meaning to enjoy the idea that Gordon is just one goofy dude. These are the strange songs of a man that could definitely be easily misunderstood, but once we stop trying to understand it all, it makes sense.

-- Reviewed by Paul Weinstein