... During their brief existence, they released two studio albums; the debut is called 'Bellybutton' and 'Spilt Milk' is the follow-up album. The band broke up in 1994 due to 'creative differences' between the two founder members, Roger Joseph Manning Jr. and Andy Sturmer.
Album Details
Release ... Read review
Advantages: Tracks: Russian Hill; Joining A Fan Club; Ghost At Number One; Bye, Bye, Bye Disadvantages: Track: Brighter Day
I was recommended this album by my brother-in-law as he knew that, at the time, I was listening to music by bands like the Beach Boys, Queen and Supertramp amongst others. It was a good recommendation. I loved the music and it's only recently that I bought a copy for myself.
==Jellyfish: The Band== Jellyfish were an American band hailing from San Francisco at the start of the 1990s, playing indie rock / power pop music. During ... ...is called 'Bellybutton' and 'Spilt Milk' is the follow-up album. The band broke up in 1994 due to 'creative differences' between the two founder members, Roger Joseph Manning Jr. and Andy Sturmer.
==Album Details== '''Release Date:''' 1993 '''Band members:''' Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Andy Sturmer and Tim Smith. '''Additional guitarists:''' Jon Brion and Lyle Workman. '''Album Duration:''' 46 minutes (approx.) more
I was recommended this album by my brother-in-law as he knew that, at the time, I was listening to music by bands like the Beach Boys, Queen and Supertramp amongst others. It was a good recommendation. I loved the music and it's only recently that I bought a copy for myself.
Jellyfish: The Band
Jellyfish were an American band hailing from San Francisco at the start of the 1990s, playing indie rock / power pop music. During their brief existence, they released two studio albums; the debut is called 'Bellybutton' and 'Spilt Milk' is the follow-up album. The band broke up in 1994 due to 'creative differences' between the two founder members, Roger Joseph Manning Jr. and Andy Sturmer.
Album Details
Release Date: 1993 Band members: Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Andy Sturmer and Tim Smith. Additional guitarists: Jon Brion and Lyle Workman. Album Duration: 46 minutes (approx.) Cost (as at 31/07/2008): £7.98 (+postage & packaging) from amazon.co.uk
Track-by-track
Hush (2:10) - rated 4/5 A smooth lullaby sound, great a-capella, and a good lead-in to...
Joining A Fan Club (4:02) - rated 5/5 A great mix of piano, guitar and strong vocal harmonies. A very upbeat sound with a certain leaning to Queen. One of the stand-out tracks of the album.
Sebrina Paste And Plato (2:22) - rated 3/5 A happy, pop-style tune, with a fun-fair style sound. Nod to Beach Boys. [4/5]
New Mistake (4:02) - rated 4/5 A decent song where the strings, keyboard and harmony remind me of Supertramp sound.
The Glutton Of Sympathy (3:48) - rated 3/5 A ballad song with a nice acoustic start and decent background harmony.
The Ghost At Number One (3:36) - rated 5/5 A catchy chorus and (again) some great harmony. Reminiscent of Beach Boys sound from mid-way through the track.
Bye, Bye, Bye (4:02) - rated 5/5 Nice little bit of accordion-playing, a memorable chorus, with an 'oompah' tuba melody. Part-way through I think there is a bit of polka also thrown into the mix. Great track.
All is Forgiven (4:09) - rated 3/5 Sounds more rock than the rest of the album. Reminiscent of ELO and Queen.
Russian Hill (4:44) - rated 5/5 Smooth acoustic sound, wonderfully dreamy yet haunting chorus. For me, this is the best track on the album.
He's My Best Friend (3:43) - rated 3/5 Quirky pop, elements of ELO, nice little piano ditty which reminded me of Ben Folds Five midway through.
Too Much, Too Little, Too Late (3:14) - rated 3/5 One of the weaker tracks. Quite disappointing.
Brighter Day (6:11) - rated 2/5 A promising start with accordians in the background but the 'oompah' tuba, fairground sound just seems a little slow, almost dragging along. It's a weak ending to a decent album. It is almost saved by the last minute: a warm orchestral ending with a nod to the first track, but the song just doesn't fit that well.
Opinion: 'Spilt Milk' album
I think this album deserves more attention for a band that had barely started when they split up. This is one of my favourite CDs of the early 1990s. Originally released in 1993, some three years after their debut album 'Bellybutton'. It has a great mix of styles and strong vocal harmonies. It is upbeat, has some catchy tunes and a dreamy sound in the main; only slightly let down by the last couple of songs. It really deserves a listen; you may be surprised what you've been missing.
If you liked this album, you might be interested in...
'Bellybutton' by Jellyfish [their debut album]. 'Ben Folds Five' by Ben Folds Five [part-influenced by Jellyfish] 'The Land of Pure Imagination' by Roger Joseph Manning Jr. 'Alpacas Orgling' by L.E.O. [one-off supergroup with Andy Sturmer]
Product Information for "Spilt Milk - Jellyfish" »
Product details
Title
Spilt Milk
Performer
Jellyfish
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Power Pop
Release Date
05/1993
Recomended Retail Price
8.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1993
Label / Distributor
Charisma / EMI Operations/CEVA Logistics
Engineer
Jack Joseph Puig
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
77778645924
Catalogue Number
CDCUS 20
Additional notes
Album Notes
Jellyfish: Andy Sturmer (vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums); Roger Manning (vocals, keyboards); Tim Smith (vocals, bass). Additional personnel: Lyle Workman, Jon Brion (guitar); T-Bone (bass). Producers: Jack Joseph Puig, Albhy Galuten, Andy Sturmer, Roger Manning. The psychedelic graphics of Jellyfish's 1989 debut BELLYBUTTON have little to do with the straightforward power-pop of its contents, but both were dumped for the band's second and final album. SPILT MILK is still a power-pop album, but the Badfinger/Big Star elements are downplayed in favor of big, glammy Queen-like choruses and multilayered Electric Light Orchestra-styled production. The anthemic single "The Ghost At Number One" is the epitome of this new '70s-influenced style, with the album's other single, "New Mistake," nearly as winning. With original guitarist Jason Falkner replaced by Jon Brion (later a noted producer; interestingly, Falkner and Brion formed the Grays after Jellyfish's breakup), the guitars have a more textured, processed sound that fits in well with Roger Manning's Technicolor keyboards and the spirited harmonies of Manning and drummer Andy Sturmer. SPILT MILK is one of the better power-pop albums of the '90s.
Album Reviews
Q (6/93, p.99) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Jellyfish have disappeared so far into '70s pop culture that they've come out the other side...an unholy blend of strings, harmonies and sudden musical flourishes frighteningly reminiscent of Queen, ELO and even XTC...Jellyfish may be funny but they're well beyond a joke..." Melody Maker (5/22/93, p.29) - "...Andy Sturmer's voice is just so damned good..." NME (5/15/93, p.34) - (8) "...[SPILT MILK] is a record of intricate surrealism that transcends its ephemera to thrill on its own..." Entertainment Weekly (2/19/93, p.62) - "...like an air guitarist's dream come true...[a] fine new Jellyfish album..." - Rating: A Nerve (6/93, p.54) - Fair - "...aural cotton candy, sugar-coated pop..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Joining A Fan Club
2.
Sebrina Paste And Plato
3.
New Mistake
4.
Glutton Of Sympathy
5.
Ghost At Number One
6.
Bye Bye Bye
7.
All Is Forgiven
8.
Russian Hill
9.
He's My Best Friend
10.
Too Much Too Little Too Late
11.
Brighter Day
12.
Brighter Day
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
26/08/2005
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