Customer Reviews

Bellybutton

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Here is an example of a brilliant band, with excellent songs, and superb arrangements, strangled by the ineptitude of their own record company.

With masterpieces like "Bedspring Kiss", how could this not sell?

Probably because the public is as dumb as the record company......

generated in these reviews tells me there's something important in this album. Here's what I think ...

Sometimes you hear a tune and you say, "Wow, what a great copy of the Beatles." A clear example of this is the Knickerbockers' Sixties tune "Lies." A great tune, upbeat pop all the way, with no pretensions to anything but turning a buck with a beat. God bless ya, my boys. To my knowledge, the Knickerbockers are memorialized in the room at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame devoted to one hit wonders. But the song is still a great copy of the sound that made the Beatles the dominant force in a half century of pop music. Anyone who wants to debate this point can meet me at the side of the podium after the lecture.

But this album, "Bellybutton" by Jellyfish, is a subtle, loving, and cleverly complete tribute to the Beatles. In its 10 songs, Jellyfish captures virtually every era and accomplishment of the Beatles, from thier earliest days of raw enthusiasm/talent/new harmonies, through the psychedelic growth years, to the era when the inexorable forces of the Beatles' unprecedented fame were driving them apart even while they made thier most innovative and insightful music. Even this album's artwork is a subtle evocation of the now-classic Sergeant Pepper cover. Jellyfish members have clearly studied music of virtually all genres (OK, I don't think I hear any C&W in this recording), and the mix of influences in truly entertaining.

The songs are each little magic showcases for the impressive talents of this now-gone band. Every one tells a story based on conditions and emotions -- heartbreak, shame, addiction, loss, longing. The musicianship is outstanding. Arrangements pay tribute to the kind of work that made George Martin a vital element of the Beatles' success.

I like the album a lot, even though it is more than 15 years old. I keep returning to its spot on my iPod. It never fails to snap me out of a bad mood and run me through a gamut of emotions in a short 45 minutes. It's a great example of why music is so important to so many people.

Clearly the music industry (and many listeners) were staring at or picking lint from their collective bellybuttons rather than listening to it. It's a pity as this Bay Area band made two amazing albums and then, just as quickly as they'd appeared, vanished from the scene. This import edition of their terrific debut features a handful of live performances after the album proper finishes.

Frequently pegged as a retro band, Jellyfish was anything but that. Sturmer and Manning's songwriting was fresh and inspired. Yes, they were influenced by The Beatles, Queen and 10cc but it's not just the inspiration but the persperation that makes a band great. The band's harmonies were rock solid and their melodic songs intelligent and witty. If you enjoy Xtc, Squeeze, The Beatles,Supertramp, 10cc or Queen, you'll likely like this short lived but much admired band.

If you enjoyed Bellybutton and Spilt Milk (the band's second and, arguably, best album), then you'll also likely enjoy the boxed set Fan Club which features the demos for the band's first two albums plus demos of unreleased material, live and studio performances from 1989 to 1994. All the live cuts included here are on Fan Club making this a reduntant purchase if you already have Bellybutton.

It was 1990, and I had just finished my first year of college and I was back home for the summer in Upstate New York. I was scanning the radio, and WRPI (Renssealer Poly's station) hit my jeep stereo. A song that was catchy, mildly psychedelic, and very Beatle-esque hit my ears. I couldn't beleieve it! It had a respectful nod to the Beatles, but they had their own style, and sound which I found intriguing. After the song was over, I was hoping for more, but the DJ said in her bland college radio voice that it was a group called "Jellyfish" and that song was "Calling Sarah"

I hit the next exit in Clifton Park, and went to the mall right off the exit, and bought the CD right away. The whole album from the cover, to the songs represented a style, and a neo-psychedlia that I had hoped the 1990's were going to embrace. Sadly, that did not happen.

The whole album is listenable, and produced perfectly. Like many of the above reviews, I too tried to pawn it off on friends to borrow, and give it listen. Most were more concerned with the likes of MC Hammer in those now long ago times.

It's too bad that this album has not ever been given the attention it deserved. I spun that CD all summer, and back in college that fall. It always brings back memories of road trips in that hot August of 1990, watching the leaves turn during the fall, and now when I need a good injection of good pop music into my life. Fans of The Beatles, George Martin, Electric Light Orchestra, and Queen I believe wil especially like this album.

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 other bands, the headliner being INXS. I had never heard of Jellyfish, but was immediately taken by their "psychedelisized, power-pop, Beatle-esque" approach to their music, & stage show. So the first thing I did the next day was search out their album at the local HMV store, & of course, fell in love with it. I remember that they put on quite an impressive advertising campaign to try to get as many as possible into their music before their upcoming Wembley show, the most outrageous being a helicopter flying over the stadium the day of the show, dropping countless postcards "introducing" the band to the people as thousands were filing in for the all-day affair. My only regret is that they disbanded much too soon, as they most assuredly would have put out several more excellent albums. My personal opinion is that they emerged at an inconvenient period, just as the grunge scene was beginning, & were just too musical for the times-10 years earlier & who knows, they may have become the supergroup they so richly deserved to be.

You undertook to taunt us with your music, afire with thought and lyrical oddity, then disband? Have you no heart? Damn you, Jellyfish!

this being there first album is amazing for both song writing, and production getting a huge sound at home or in your car. Bellybutton is a little more pop than Spilt Milk with it's couple of ballads, but still has it's rockers. Very Beatles, Beach Boys, Cheap Trick influenced but still original. If you have the opportunity to buy the import version with the 6 live tracks including 2 McCartney tunes and a Bad Finger tune, I recommend buying it now. It is well worth it.