Bellybutton

THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2015 2 CD EDITION OF "BELLYBUTTON" BY JELLYFISH.Fans will be familiar with much of this music, so I thought just a short review would suffice. The remastered sound is very good. The 19 page booklet has quotes from band members, plus track-by-track commentary (the original 10 album tracks only) which is very cool and informative. The rest of the live/demo tracks don't really need any explanation. And there's several great period photos of the band posed and on stage. The discs snap inside a cardboard tri-fold package with nice graphics and recording information on one panel. The ten live tracks on Disc One are from around the time of the original album and are from The Roxy in 1990. These tracks were released on "The Scary Go-Round" EP, "Fan Club" (2002), "Baby's Coming Back" from 1991, "I Wanna Stay Home" (1991), and tracks 16-20 at Wembley Stadium, also from "Fan Club" (2002). For newcomers (or those who missed these previously) these are good examples of Jellyfish on stage and add another dimension to the band's studio work.Disc Two tracks 1,7 originally issued on "New Mistake" (1993) recorded at Andy Sturmer's house. Tracks 2-6, and 8-16 issued on "Fan Club" (2002) from various locales. For Jellyfish fans who don't already have these tracks there's a lot of good music here even if they aren't the finished tunes. Compare the demo tunes with the original album for some insight into the band's approach and sound as they work to the finished song. This new edition plus the similar 2 CD edition of "Spilt Milk" (the original album plus demos--nothing else) contain some great music--studio, live, and demos. If you missed many of these tracks the first time, or waited for remastered sound, or just wanted to hear what you missed, this is a great reissue. Jellyfish was the great lost band of the '90s (when grunge was happening) with their homage to the great '70s/'80s bands/music they heard on the radio--Queen, Supertramp, The Beatles, ELO, and even (as the booklet notes state) The Partridge Family-hmmm, etc. They should've been big (maybe huge) but internal band strife and (then) "popular" music did them in. But with this generous helping of live and demo tracks, along with the original album--all remastered for crisp, clean sound, this set and "Spilt Milk" will satisfy most if not all Jellyfish fans. It's been a long wait for these reissues but the wait has been worth it. Oh yeah, one last thing, turn up the volume slightly and you'll find yourself smiling and bopping along to this great music.

It's hard to find anything to dislike about this record. The energy is great. The songs are interesting but also fun (too often, it has to be one or the other and interesting turns out to be a real drag). Production is incredible - it's a beautiful listen. And the musicianship is fantastic, especially for how young these guys were. I mean, there isn't much finesse, but the songs would suffer if there were more.The only thing that caught me up was how much parts of these songs sounded like Queen, the Beatles, XTC, and Big Star. Those are good influences to have. Really good. But every so often they take it just a smidgen too far.Still the best record I've listened to in a while. I missed them in the 90s. Just catching up. Glad I did.

Jellyfish emerged fully formed on their debut album, "Bellybutton." Combing through the tangled glittery wig of 70's and 80's power-pop, the glammed out the finer elements of The Beatles (the incredible "Sgt Pepper" evocation on "Now She Knows She's Wrong"), Badfinger, ELO, Queen, Raspberries and Cheap Trick, then dosed it with enough sugar to give you insulin shock. From the Melancholy opener of "The Man I used To Be" to the lovelorn closer of "Calling Sara," "Bellybutton" kicked off 1990 with a promise that the new decade would still be a great decade for pop music.I got the chance to see Jellyfish open for The Go-Go's at the Tower Theater in 1990. My CD was signed by Jason and Roger after the show, and I was utterly convinced they were going to be huge. Both "Baby's Coming Back" and "The King Is Half Undressed" received moderate air/MTV play at the time, but like so many other bands, this kind of confectionery pop just flew over everyone's head. But you can trust me when I tell you that Jellyfish live delivered like few bands I have ever seen (complete with Badfinger's "No Matter What" as a raving encore).Which leaves us with a mere two album recorded legacy. "Bellybutton" was the four original members (the flawless " Spilt Milk " being the second, minus Jason Faulkner) and just melts with fabulousness. I mean, anyone who could coat a song about being a three time loser ("Baby's Coming Back") with such creamy harmonies and snappy hand-claps while jabbing it with a near-perfect hook can't be all that removed from genius. One of the decade's best debuts, and a lost treasure.

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. As far as music, I just can't say enough. Such amazingly talented members that used all of their pop sensibilities, use of any sound possible to heighten the mood of the song or make it powerful, but all soooo fun! The sense of melody, harmony, changes, with this terrific percussion, drums spot on, just what you ached to hear. You are always aware how carefully crafted each line is, but it fits like it was made to be there, just so you could get one more blissful moment of "Oh, Man, that was so cool!" Andy Sturmer (lead vocals, drums) and Roger Manning (vocals, keys, much more) really brought out the best of each other, great voices that blend beautifully. Just amazing, but very addictive.

This is terrific stuff, plenty clever melodies with the well documented influences of McCartneyish Beatles, the Beach Boys etc. Andy Sturmer sounds quite Lennonish vocally, especially on tracks like 'The King is Half Undressed' (probably my favourite) and there are many highlights such as 'All I want is Everything' which if memory serves is not unlike the sound of the band Cast with its thumping beat, 'Now She Knows She's Wrong' and 'She Still Loves Him'.If you've ever wondered about this band, as I did for 20 years or so, give this a go. There is a version with 6 extra tracks on it, some of which are on the 'Jellyfish Best' album. My only regret is that I did not buy this sooner.Get it if you can.

Great band. I can hear the influences others mention, but I'd like to add that I hear a twin, though not identical, in Crowded House. The band thanks the past with a couple of retro covers, done well. I only bought this for The King.... but love every track on it. On its release, I'd have hated it. Not heavy enough for a man with his roots in punk. But now... I've brought it into the fold and am glad I did. Going to try their other album now. Shame Jellyfish washed up on the beach and dried out in the sun too soon!

They were just so incredibly good. This release gives me another chance to remind myself - if I needed it - how unique and perfect their moment was. How can you not buy this if you're even the slightest fraction of a fan?!

What's not to love about this album - it is simply brilliant! Just wish that I had seen them live.

Haven't heard this for a long while but still a great album