Tag: Jellyfish

Reissues: Jellyfish “Bellybutton” and “Spilt Milk”

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Jellyfish Bellybutton

Jellyfish “Bellybutton” 2-CD Remastered Edition

When it comes to power pop, the band Jellyfish have been the most influential band for the genre in the past 20 years, and is a yardstick by which most other bands from the modern rock era can be judged. Jellyfish captured the melodious qualities of The Beatles in a modern indie rock style, all wrapped up with tight melodies and arrangements.

This new 2-CD set captures the 1990 debut, with a set of live performances and demos adding up to 25 additional tracks. Previously these demos only appeared on the long out-of-print box set. On top of the remastered sound quality, you get expanded artwork and liner notes. More details at Omnivore.
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Jellyfish Spilt Milk

Jellyfish “Split Milk” 2-CD Remastered Edition

Once established, the bands driving forces Andy Sturmer and Roger Manning, Jr. increased the intensity on “Spilt Milk” and delivered an updated “Sgt. Pepper” for the new generation. The dream concept incorporated many music styles from the classical strings on “Hush” to the guitar rock on “Joining a Fan Club” to the polka style of “Bye Bye Bye.” This is another one of those desert island discs, and its a shame the band imploded after this masterpiece.

Like the debut CD, the new remaster includes 26 additional bonus tracks that are mainly demos and live performances including the last ever recording from them, Harry Nilsson’s “Think About Your Troubles.” Also included is expanded artwork and notes, including a track by track commentary, and essays from Ken Sharp. More details at Omnivore.
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Considering the the long out of print box set “Fan Club” is worth well over $150 in new condition, these new albums are the definitive Jellyfish collection (at a bargain price.)
Also if you have friends that want to know what power pop is supposed to sound like this is the best gift you can give them.

Jellyfish: Remastered, expanded editions come out Jan. 20, 2015

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Coming January 20, 2015 – Even though Jellyfish only released two albums in their short lifespan, their legend continues to grow. And thanks to Omnivore Recordings the buzz can begin all over again for an expanded deluxe CD editions of Bellybutton and Spilt Milk. Both titles have been expanded to two discs and include the original albums in their entirety fortified with a colossal 51 bonus tracks spread among the packages. With tracks from the demos to the albums to the tours, these releases are the ultimate Jellyfish experience.

Jellyfish and Alex Chilton

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Jellyfish “Radio Jellyfish”
 This was mentioned a while back, but it’s worth another shout out. This is a stripped down acoustic set by one the greatest power pop bands of the last century. Each song is pulled from live performances in radio stations across Holland and Australia.

The harmonies are pristine and clear with only Roger Manning’s keyboard and Jason Falkner’s acoustic guitar backing them — this is proof that the band had real magic. Omnivore has done a great job pulling it together as the band flows through highlighted tracks from their 2 albums. Included are covers of Badfinger’s “No Matter What” and The Move’s “I Can Hear The Grass Grow.” Essential for all power pop fans, especially Jellyfish fanatics.

 

Alex Chilton “Electricity By Candlelight: NYC 2/13/97 “
Alex Chilton was performing a show at NYC’s Knitting Factory when without warning, the power went out and the show was “cancelled.” Amazingly Chilton came out to the remaining audience with an acoustic guitar and started playing romantic gems like “Someone To Watch Over Me.” It’s a great story, but unfortunately the moments are captured with a cheap bootleg recording. Often you hear lots of crowd noise, audience singing, glasses clinking, but Alex’s charming vocal is often buried. He does cover a lot of ground, even doing The Beach Boys “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” But this album is for die-hard fans only.

Jellyfish “Stack-a-tracks”

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Arguably the most influential power pop band of the 90’s was Jellyfish. While recording their two studio albums, (1990’s Bellybutton and 1993’s Spilt Milk), “instrumental” mixes of each record were created by Jellyfish and their producers. These “previously unheard” versions of Bellybutton and Spilt Milk were created in the studio, at the time of their original recording/mixing.

These are not “remixes” from the multi-tracks, they are authentic and transferred from the original 1/4″ masters. An individually numbered edition of 2,000, housed in a digipak for the limited first edition, with new illustrated artwork (created for the release), this 2-CD set is destined to become the newest gem in the collections of power-pop fans everywhere.

Amazon | Omnivore Recordings

Here is the band in live all its crowing glory, Andy Sturmer, Roger Manning Jr., Tim Smith and Eric Dover.