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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I am not overexaggerating when I say that Jellyfish are the yardstick by which all other powerpop should be judged.
I came across this album approximately ten years ago and I am not kidding when I say that it changed my life and introduced me to a world of melodic pop heaven.
The Jellyfish lineup was unbelievable :
Andy Sturmer ,lead vocals and drums plus chief songwriter
Roger Manning Jnr , keyboard wizard and co-songwriter
Jason Falkner - lead guitarist and harmony vocals.
The fact that Falkner who is a genius in his own right took third billing in this band says a lot about the quality here (sadly this was a contributing factor to their demise).
The album opens with the low key "The Man I Used to Be" but this is a foretaste of the riches to come.
"That Is Why" showcases the harmony vocals and Falkner's faultless guitar playing."The King Is Half Undressed" is quasi-psychedelic and is an obvious nod to the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour".
"I Wanna Stay Home" is low tempo and reflective.
"She Still Loves Him" is again a low key reflective number.
"All I Want is Everything" is only so-so.
"Now She knows she's wrong" is where the pace picks up a bit.
This is one of the highlights of the album.Manning plays a harpsichord and the effect is breathtaking.
"Bedspring Kiss" starts off with a lounge jazz feel but ends up as a mournful song about drug addiction...beautifully sung by Sturmer (as usual).
"Baby's Coming Back" was a US hit and deservedly so.It has a brilliant catchy chorus and is pure bubblegum pop.
"Calling Sarah" is the closer and the quality control is a good here as elsewhere.
The greatest tragedy about this band is the fact that they are no more.A talent as magnificent as this could never last.What they left us with were some fabulous songs and memories.
If you don't have this album, I feel sorry for you..I urge you to get this.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was bored and decided to look up music on this site. I thought about my favorite albums of all time, and Jellyfish's two albums popped right into my mind.
"Jellyfish? You ever heard of them?" I said to my friend as we were setting up the stage for the show at my old school in the early 90s. They were the opening band for Tears for Fears (it was a smaller university and that's the best they could do).
"Nah. What stupid name for a band" he replied.
Later when the show started and we were in our "CREW" shirts working the crowd, I hear my friend from across the stage, in true ignorant-bastard form, taunt Jellyfish as they took the stage.
"Play some Skynard, Man!" I guess he had seen too many bad opening bands and figured these guys were no-talent hacks who were happy to be opening for a has-been band.
Undaunted by my friend's taunts and the cackles of hundreds of other college students, they go slamming into "Joining a Fanclub." Half way into the song, my mouth gaping, I looked over at my friend. Brian stared back at the same time with the same look of shock on his face. I just stood there in absolute amazement, watching this band I'd never heard of blow me away. Their sound was so tight, so full of energy, and my Lord those harmonies were so on! Wow! I kept waiting for an average-sounding song so I could find Brian and talk to him about this incredible band but the only break we got was when they were done.
We later met the band, and my friend apologized to them. They laughed about it, and I could tell that they were just happy we enjoyed it. They were very nice, down-to-earth musicians (not like Ed from Live the following year).
I picked up "Spilt Milk" shortly after the concert, and it was an instant favorite. Then I bought "Bellybutton" and was equally pleased. They weren't as good as they were live, but they were still good enough to both make my "Top 100 CDs" rack, and they haven't left it yet. Do yourself a huge favor and get these albums!
I see people have recommended other CDs to Jellyfish fans. Some good choices, but I'd add Imperial Drag (for obvious reasons since you'll find some familiar names - not the same caliber as Jellyfish but still enjoyable), The Tories, and maybe Sloan.
"Jellyfish? You ever heard of them?" I said to my friend as we were setting up the stage for the show at my old school in the early 90s. They were the opening band for Tears for Fears (it was a smaller university and that's the best they could do).
"Nah. What stupid name for a band" he replied.
Later when the show started and we were in our "CREW" shirts working the crowd, I hear my friend from across the stage, in true ignorant-bastard form, taunt Jellyfish as they took the stage.
"Play some Skynard, Man!" I guess he had seen too many bad opening bands and figured these guys were no-talent hacks who were happy to be opening for a has-been band.
Undaunted by my friend's taunts and the cackles of hundreds of other college students, they go slamming into "Joining a Fanclub." Half way into the song, my mouth gaping, I looked over at my friend. Brian stared back at the same time with the same look of shock on his face. I just stood there in absolute amazement, watching this band I'd never heard of blow me away. Their sound was so tight, so full of energy, and my Lord those harmonies were so on! Wow! I kept waiting for an average-sounding song so I could find Brian and talk to him about this incredible band but the only break we got was when they were done.
We later met the band, and my friend apologized to them. They laughed about it, and I could tell that they were just happy we enjoyed it. They were very nice, down-to-earth musicians (not like Ed from Live the following year).
I picked up "Spilt Milk" shortly after the concert, and it was an instant favorite. Then I bought "Bellybutton" and was equally pleased. They weren't as good as they were live, but they were still good enough to both make my "Top 100 CDs" rack, and they haven't left it yet. Do yourself a huge favor and get these albums!
I see people have recommended other CDs to Jellyfish fans. Some good choices, but I'd add Imperial Drag (for obvious reasons since you'll find some familiar names - not the same caliber as Jellyfish but still enjoyable), The Tories, and maybe Sloan.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was only thirteen when I saw The King Is Half Undressed on MTV, and I had to get the album after only hearing the song once. It quickly became one of my favorite albums. Looking back, I wasn't very picky about what music I listened to back then, and some of the stuff I loved in my youth doesn't sound very good to me anymore (Bon Jovi anyone?) When I decided to give this album another listen a year ago, I discovered that I liked it even more than I did as a kid, if that's possible. This is one of a very few albums that doesn't have a bad song on it. Songs like The King Is Half Undressed make you realize why this music is called "power" pop. Baby's Coming Back, the song that came the closest to making Jellyfish stars, is one of the catchiest songs I've ever heard. Really, you can listen to this album over and over again and never get tired of it. If you don't have this album yet, you have really stumbled across hidden treasure. Hopefully some day this album will get the recognition it deserves, but until then, at least YOU can experience it!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jellyfish debut album Bellybutton
Jellyfish only put out two albums between 1989-1994 and then disappeared. "Bellybutton" (their debut album) is pure power pop at its best. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Yensid Maven
5.0 out of 5 stars
You WILL wear it out!! Chk this music out any way you can!
Too get the actual album with the cool artwork and such - I always thought the babe was drawn with toothpaste, anyway- it's great for real Jellyfiles to be able to own. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Andi Nicole
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bellybutton is only OK.
"Bellybutton" is very different from the second Jellyfish CD "Spilt Milk". "Bellybutton" offers a more stripped down musical experience, without the complex arrangements and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Chris
4.0 out of 5 stars
A sign of great things to come
This record has a lot of catchy little melodies. It's a very enjoyable record, but the band clearly only explored a small fraction of their potential which was later released as... Read more
Published 11 months ago by travis b
5.0 out of 5 stars
Timeless Pop...end of story.
Just over 20 years on, and the record just gets better. Every nuance, every note just right.
Slick,...yes....but it's not GLOSSY. Read more
Slick,...yes....but it's not GLOSSY. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Lou Hallwas
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great anachronistic little materpiece
This album came out at an unfortunate time in rock's timeline, just when the grunge movement was becoming the New Big Thing. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Rufus T.
4.0 out of 5 stars
2012 vinyl re-issue review
My equipment: AT-LP120-USB TT, AT440MLa cart, Furutech GT40 ADC / phono stage.
I've owned my original CD for over 20 years now, but I never had a vinyl copy. Read more
I've owned my original CD for over 20 years now, but I never had a vinyl copy. Read more
Published 15 months ago by roebeet
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect pop-rock
This album is simple pop-rock bliss. Recommended if you like bands like Queen, the Zombies, Soul Asylum, Semisonic, and The 88.
Published on September 13, 2009 by sideshoweric
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well...this is what GREAT ART SOUNDS like!
...Vaguely distantly remembered in the mists of the strange cluttured pop landscape of the early nineties. Read more
Published on June 19, 2009 by Patrick Mccormack
5.0 out of 5 stars
I saw them live!
I was fortunate enough to be in London back in the early 90's when "Bellybutton" was first released, & got to see the original line-up at Wembley Stadium as the opening act for 5... Read more
Published on January 13, 2008 by Quevic Springs "Eddie"
Listmania!
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