Bellybutton (Remastered) Jellyfish

• 1The Man I Used To Be04:34
• 2That Is Why04:16
• 3The King Is Half-Undressed03:47
• 4I Wanna Stay Home04:00
• 5She Still Loves Him04:31
• 6All I Want Is Everything03:44
• 7Now She Knows She's Wrong02:36
• 8Bedspring Kiss05:03
• 9Baby's Coming Back02:57
• 10Calling Sarah04:03
• Total Runtime39:31

Info for Bellybutton (Remastered)

Jellyfish’s two critically acclaimed and influential releases—Bellybutton and Spilt Milk—have found new life, being rediscovered and appreciated by generations new and old.

Including lead singer/drummer Andy Sturmer, guitarist Jason Falkner, and keyboardist Roger Manning, the San Francisco band Jellyfish released their 1990 debut Bellybutton to critical raves. Despite the kudos and some play at video outlets, the album failed to make much of a commercial impact.

"By the early '90s, it was hardly unusual for a band of hip young upstarts to worship at the power pop altar of bands like Big Star, Badfinger, and the Raspberries, but Jellyfish were unusual in that they also folded in a healthy portion of Cheap Trick fandom, and rather than merely admiring Cheap Trick's impressive way with a tune, they also coveted their ability to pump this sound up to arena size, and were determined to go them one better. On Jellyfish's debut album, Bellybutton, group leaders Andy Sturmer and Roger Manning had all the key ingredients of classic power pop down cold -- the sweet but biting melodies, the addictive hooks, the gorgeous stacks of harmonies, and the '60s-styled musical accents -- and then revved them up with rock star-proportioned drums and guitars on tunes like "All I Want Is Everything" (itself a canny parody of hard rock excess) and "The King Is Half Undressed," while letting their savvy production polish do the talking on "I Wanna Stay Home" and the almost-hit "Baby's Coming Back." Even the more subdued tunes on Bellybutton have a charming swagger and the playful confidence that reveals a rock star in training, and if Jellyfish often sounded like they were projecting to the last row in the upper deck on Bellybutton, they also sounded like they had the talent and the savvy to actually fill an arena with this stuff in a better world, and having Jason Falkner joining them on guitar didn't hurt one bit. Nirvana would release Nevermind 14 months later, drastically changing the playing field for left-of-the-dial music, but Bellybutton made it clear Jellyfish had more than enough talent and charisma to break out of the "alternative" ghetto with the right breaks, and if they didn't quite get them, at least they left behind a great pop record that also rocks hard, no small achievement." (Mark Deming, AMG)

Andy Sturmer, lead and backing vocals, drums, guitar, keyboards
Roger Joseph Manning Jr., keyboards, piano, harpsichord, vocals
Jason Falkner, guitar, bass, backing vocals
Steven Shane McDonald, bass on "All I Want Is Everything", "Now She Knows She's Wrong" & "Baby's Coming Back"
John Patitucci, bass on "The Man I Used To Be", "I Wanna Stay Home" & "Bedspring Kiss"
Tommy Morgan, harmonica
Chuck Findley, trumpet

Digitally remastered

Jellyfish
seemingly had all the right ingredients for success -- catchy, melodic pop songs squarely in the Beatles/Squeeze mold, plus strong kitsch appeal in its retro sound and wildly colorful, clashing wardrobe. Founding members Andy Sturmer (drums, vocals) and Roger Manning (keyboards) previously played in the pop/rock quartet Beatnik Beatch; after that group called it quits, the Jellyfish lineup was rounded out with guitarist Jason Falkner and bassist Chris Manning, brother of Roger. Bellybutton, the group's well-received 1990 debut, produced a minor chart single in "Baby's Coming Back," but nothing made a major impact. The follow-up, Spilt Milk, followed the same style, adding more intricate arrangements and harmonies. Despite it being another stellar collection of tasty power pop, the album failed to live up to lofty expectations, and the band split up after an ensuing supporting tour wrapped up.

In the wake of their breakup, the former bandmembers turned up on different projects -- including former bassist Tim Smith's outfit the Umajets, a pair of bands that include Roger Manning, Imperial Drag, and the Moog Cookbook, while Jason Falkner has issued a pair of critically acclaimed solo releases, very much in the style of his former band (Sturmer has appeared to have turned his back on performing and has produced such acts as the Merrymakers and Puffy). Although their career was short, a slew of Jellyfish-influenced bands began to crop up in their wake -- including the aforementioned Merrymakers, Ben Folds Five, the Hutchinsons, and the Excentrics, among others. A 14-track collection of Jellyfish's best-known material (as well as a smattering of rare live tracks) (Greatest) was issued in 1999. (Steve Huey & Greg Prato, AMG)

This album contains no booklet.