Jellyfish

Written by: Douglas Irwin

Jellyfish ~ Spilt Milk

When it came to rock and roll in the 90s I wasn't into what was happening at the time. No, I wasn't a flannel-wearing Nirvana-loving hipster, in fact, I was the furthest thing from a hipster and I never really wore flannel. My favorite band at the time was not of the angst-ridden, navel-gazing, grunge genre. It was a little old band from San Francisco by the name of Jellyfish.

Jellyfish was a ray of sugar-coated sunshine, during the dark, hazy opioid days of grunge. If you like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Badfinger, The Move, Supertramp, ELO, Queen, Wings, and XTC you will really love this band. I was immediately drawn to Jellyfish, after hearing them for the first time and that was in 1993.

Love at First Listen

I was a music geek from the outset, during my formative years, I obsessively listened to my 45's of Glen Campbell, The Cowsills, Tommy James and the Shondells, Tommy Roe, The Cuff Links, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Burt Bacharach, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and Badfinger.

So, when I heard Spilt Milk for the first time, it hit all my sweet spots. I remember it well. In the winter of 1993 I was driving in my car, listening to WXPN, and "New Mistake" came on, I literally had to pull over until I heard who the artist was. and from that day on my love affair with Jellyfish was born. 

The Band

Sturmer and Manning, are the chief songwriters and definitely wear their power-pop influences on their technicolor sleeves but never imitate, their songs are original. The album is full of memorable melodies, beautiful harmonies, adventurous arrangements, and production that gives Spilt Milk a sunny shimmer that was missing from most recordings at the time. Spilt Milk though, completely out of step during the '90s, is one finely crafted album and each song is a jewel.

“If you like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Badfinger, The Move, Supertramp, ELO, Queen, Wings, and XTC you will really love this band!”

Unfortunately for Jellyfish they received little support from their record label, had virtually no radio exposure and the recording Spilt Milk took 6 months to record at the staggering cost of  $600,000.00.

The band personnel for Spilt Milk: 

Andy Sturmer (vocals, drums, guitar, keyboards) and Roger Manning Jr. (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Tim Smith (bass) and session assistance from T-Bone Wolk (bass), Jon Brion (guitar) and Lyle Workman (guitar). The album was produced by Alby Galuten, Jack Joseph Puig, Andy Sturmer, and Roger Manning Jr. 

Break-up

Jellyfish toured extensively, made no money, and there were mounting creative differences between Sturmer & Manning. However, when it came right down to it, the recording of Spilt Milk killed the band. So they broke up.

Prior to the break-up my wife and I were fortunate to see them twice in Philadelphia (once with Tears for Fears) and was heartbroken when I heard I heard the news they disbanded.

Jellyfish has two brilliant albums Belly Button and Spilt Milk both get 5 stars out of 5. 

Highly recommended.

Roger Manning since being in Jellyfish has been a member of Imperial Drag, TV Eyes, The Moog Cookbook, and has recorded with Morrissey, Blink 182, tours with Beck. He also records his own material and most recently with The Likerish Quartet, featuring Roger Joseph Manning Jr., ex- Jellyfish members Eric Dover and Tim Smith.

Andy Sturmer has been busy composing cartoon soundtracks for the Japanese band Puffy AmiYumi, has worked with The Black Crowes, Bleu, Mandy Moore, Katey Sagal, The Candy Butchers, and my favorite The Merrymakers from Sweden.

Unfortunately for the fans that would love to see a reunion, Andy and Roger don't speak to each other anymore.