JELLYFISH : BELLYBUTTON / SPILT MILK

 

    Bellybutton
  1. The Man I Used to Be
  2. That Is Why
  3. The King Is Half-Undressed
  4. I Wanna Stay Home
  5. She Still Loves Him
  6. All I Want Is Everything
  7. Now She Knows She's Wrong
  8. Bedspring Kiss
  9. Baby's Coming Back
  10. Calling Sarah
    Spilt Milk
  11. Hush
  12. Joining a Fan Club
  13. Sebrina, Paste and Plato
  14. New Mistake
  15. Glutton of Sympathy
  16. The Ghost at Number One
  17. Bye Bye Bye
  18. All Is Forgiven
  19. Russian Hill
  20. He's My Best Friend
  21. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late
  22. Brighter Day

Label : Charisma Records

Release Year : 1990 / 1993

Length : 86:03

Review (AllMusic) for "Bellybutton" : Including lead singer/drummer Andy Sturmer, guitarist Jason Falkner, and keyboardist Roger Manning, the San Francisco band Jellyfish released their 1990 debut Bellybutton to critical raves. Despite the kudos and some play at video outlets, the album failed to make much of a commercial impact. It was truly unfortunate because Bellybutton, despite obvious influences, was a breath of fresh pop air. "The Man I Used to Be" kicks off the album as a catchy song about domestic failure wrapped in nautical metaphors. The single "The King Is Half-Undressed" is a slice of effervescent power pop whose melody runs counter to the lyrical theme of loneliness. In fact, behind the bounce and breeze of Bellybutton's engaging songs is a recurring theme of melancholy and longing like "She Still Loves Him," with its stirring vocal harmonies and a blistering guitar solo, and the punchy "All I Want Is Everything." Better yet is the second chance the singer delights in on the joyous "Baby's Coming Back," which is accentuated with handclaps. Delightful.

Review (AllMusic) for "Spilt Milk" : For their second album, Jellyfish replaced the departed Jason Falkner with Tim Smith on bass. Jon Brion also came aboard with Lyle Workman to add to lead singer Andy Sturmer's guitar work. With Sturmer and keyboard player Roger Manning in place, however, Jellyfish managed to outdo their impressive debut with 1993's Spilt Milk. Spilt Milk expands on the sound of Bellybutton and is much more a studio creation than its predecessor. Dreamy vocal harmonies, circus-like swirling organ passages, and crunchy guitars are layered in a manner that evokes the best of the Beatles and the Beach Boys. "Hush," the lead track, particularly recalls the Beach Boys with its luscious vocal harmonies, as does the pure pop of "The Ghost at Number One." And, as expected from this cast, the infectious, melt-in-your-ear melodies are accompanied with clever lyrics like those on the raucous "Joining a Fan Club " and the masturbation ode "He's My Best Friend." Spilt Milk is a flawless pop gem from start right through the unbridled optimism of the closing "Brighter Day."