Product Description

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 andfinal album. SPILT MILK is still a power-pop album, but theBadfinger/Big Star elements are downplayed in favour of big, glammy Queen-like choruses and multilayered Electric LightOrchestra-styled production. The anthemic single "The GhostAt 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 byJon 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 Technicolour keyboards and the spirited harmonies of Manning and drummer Andy Sturmer. SPILT MILKis one of the better power-pop albums of the '90s.

Track Listing

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10031 in Music
• Released on: 1993-05-10
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

GOODBYE JASON FALKNER, HELLO QUEEN & ELO
The second, and final release, from the much loved Jellyfish isn't as good as their debut Bellybutton, but it's still a worthy four star powerpop powerhouse. Guitarist and songwriter Jason Falkner left to pursue a solo career leaving Roger Manning to battle on as defacto leader and frontman. Thankfully Spilt Milk is a very good record. The Beatley influences are still in evidence but now the shadow of ELO and Queen loomed large over all the tracks.
'Ghost At Number 1' and 'New Mistake' were both minor UK hits and are sparkling pop/rock gems - soaring harmonies and giant chorus's to the fore. 'He's My Best Friend' sounds uncannily like a lost Squeeze classic and the lovely 'Russia Hill' and 'All Is Forgiven' are simply gorgeous. Humour is much in evidence in Manning's lyrics and his erudite way with a tongue in cheek couplet puts him up there with the best of the 90's.
Spilk Milk is a beautifully crafted record and the attention to detail is faultless. It is sometimes way to smart for it's own good but, a couple of fillers aside, the songs are so strong and catchy that you can't fail to be seduced by the beauty of it all.
If you like ELO, Badfinger, Razorlight, The Feeling, Fountains Of Wayne and Pugwash then Spilk Milk is a vital addition to your collection.

A Concept Album?
It's really easy to treat this as pop-pap, listen to the tunes and think that bubblegum is all there is, but I think that there's a whole bunch more to this than meets the ear.

A bit like Ben Folds, who hides his messages behind rinky-dink melodies, Andy Sturmer (songwriter and multi-instrumentalist) seems to be hiding his message here behind the Queen-style vocal fades and the big glam dressing.

Taking place over a night that seems to have no end (a recurring nightmare perhaps), this seems to be a dream of life - or a comment upon the state of America. From televangelists through a useless education system towards failed marriages and political incompetence, everything is up for criticism.

But, in true Spilt Milk style, there's no use crying. The childhood obsession with pop-stars (Joining a Fan Club) and failure (Sebrina, Paste and Plato) is balanced out by the dreaminess of playing in the sun (Russian Hill) and the joys of it being 'Palm Sunday over and over' (He's My Best Friend). I laughed for an hour the first time I heard that last song, by the way.

Are the references that serious? Is 'the actor of sorts who sold himself too short and travels door to door performing "Death of a Salesman"' really Ronald Reagan? Is this a tirade against American society, politics and the music industry?

Or am I just analysing this too much? I don't know. The one thing I do know is that it is a crying shame that Jellyfish only produced two albums and a handful of extra tracks that were gathered together on the 'Best' CD.

Oh well. No point crying over Spilt Milk.

The bible of power pop !
The semi-legendary and criminally underrated Jellyfish produced a magnificent follow up to 'Bellybutton'. Unfortunately it was released at a time when 'grunge' was high on the agenda and it therefore failed to dent the charts despite much critical acclaim. The album features a wonderful collection of Beatles / Beach Boys / Queen influenced songs which are timeless classics (i.e Joining a fanclub, Ghost at Number One and Glutton of Sympathy). Sadly the group disbanded shortly afterwards and although the band members have gone on to form respectable bands such as Imperial Drag and Umajets they have not reached the high standards of the two Jellyfish albums. An album that every home should own !!!!!!