I cannot think of a better 90’s band
that did not sound like the 90’s.
Maybe The Posies or They Might Be
Giants both come close, but these
cats, this Jellyfish band, I saw live
once in their first iteration at a small
club downtown shortly after that first
album, Bellybutton, and it was nearly
a religious experience. Andy Sturmer,
lead singing drummer, Roger Manning,
keyboardist extraordinaire, Jason
Falkner, brilliant guitar player and
magnificent songwriter, and Chris
Manning, whose credits on the first
album’s liner notes include band
witchdoctor and mime. I’m not sure,
but I think he played bass on tour.
All of them sang, and their sound was
something like a cross between Beatles
and Wings and Queen and Sweet, a sugar
infused pop rock with super cool and
accomplished instrumentation and a style
aesthetic like some kind of Doctor Seussian
carnival, replete with a wild psychedelic
color palette and wacky Wonka top hats.
That debut album is packed to the gills
with great songs and fabulous playing–
not a stinker in the lot, all of them hummable
after one or two listens.
Three years pass between the first
and second album, and the band goes
through a bit of a transformation.
Jason Falkner and the mime witchdoctor,
Chris Manning, both leave the band.
This guy named Tim Smith joins Roger
and Andy and they make a record called
Spilt Milk, a veritable masterclass in
over-the-top pop rock production,
studio wizardry, and the best songwriting
this side of 1967. Before I even spin this
record, I have “Joining A Fanclub” spinning
its ear worm deliciousness over and over
again in my mind. Listening to this record
is like hanging out with a dear friend,
so familiar, so excellent, so absolutely
perfect, a dear friend without flaws.
This record is even more like the love
child between Queen and The Beatles than
the first record, and more complex, denser,
more orchestral, more spirited, more
eclectic, stranger. Two exquisite rock
records over three years, and then, suddenly,
they’re done.
Nearly all of them have distinguished
careers afterwards with spin-off bands
(The Grays, Imperial Drag) solo albums
from Falkner and Manning, long-term side-guy
with famous people gigs (Falkner with St.
Vincent, Manning with Beck), and television
and movie work for Sturmer, who has, more
than any of these other guys, remained
under the radar, almost to a reclusive degree.
It’s all to the good. These two Jellyfish
records are treasures and we are lucky
to have them. And, if one is desperate
for live Jellyfish, we have in our own
backyard a pretty convincing group of
crack musicians doing a smash-up job
at a tribute band in The Lovetarians.
michael jarmer 