Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk

Every now and then, a band comes along that blows me away. So was the case in 1990 when the band Jellyfish released their debut album, Bellybutton. It was a perfect power-pop release full of 70’s nostalgia, mixing Queen with The Raspberries and Big Star. Then, on this day in 1993, they released their second and final album, Spilt Milk. And we all cried that Jellyfish was soon no more.

Written by co-founders Roger Manning and Andy Sturmer, the band worked again with producers Albhy Galuten (famous for working with The Bee Gees in the 70s) and Jack Joseph Puig. The album features delicious harmonizing, lavish production, full of hooks, best compared to Queen, Beach Boys and solo Paul McCartney. Let’s not forget the circus music, kids singing and so much more.

Starting with the haunting, atmospheric “Hush”, the band lulls you into believing you’re on a sweet path to…Look out, here comes the amazing ear candy that is “Joining A Fan Club” full of racing guitars, feedback and wild tempo changes. As if you weren’t drawn in enough and confused at the same time, you’ve got “Sebrina, Paste and Plato”, a playful rock operetta that mixes the trials and tribulations of kindergarten and being an adult.

Rounding out side one (if you were listening on vinyl or cassette) are “Glutton of Sympathy” and “The Ghost at Number One”, the single off of Spilt Milk and the song that should have put Jellyfish on the path to stardom. It’s as Queen as you can get without the actual band Queen performing. Full of great vocals, killer guitar licks and changing melodies. It’s a near perfect pop song.

Side two (if you will) suffers a bit in that the songs aren’t nearly as catchy and put together as the first six. That’s not to say they’re bad at all. “Bye, Bye, Bye” feels polka-like (put that in your pop song and smoke it). “All Is Forgiven” is noisy and messy while the gorgeous “Russian Hill” musically takes you to that neighborhood in San Francisco on a bright, beautiful day.

“Brighter Day”, a carnival-like song, bookends the album nicely with “Hush” as the same note that started “Hush” ends “Brighter Day”. Unfortunately, there weren’t any brighter days for Jellyfish. The band broke up shortly after Spilt Milk. So if you get a chance today, tomorrow or this weekend, throw some headphones on and take a listen to Spilt Milk and see what all the hype was about. Great musicians, writing catchy-ass songs.