Awesome to hear your experience with the band, who are certainly one of my favorites both in the studio and performing live. They had the perfect mix of hard hitting hooks and prickly lyrics with the highest standard for sonic, melodic and harmonic excellence, the likes of which we may not see again for many many years.
Although the popularity of their post Jellyfish work is limited, there is some amazing music put out by Roger, Eric, Tim and Jason (Falkner, not Faulkner) after the milk had spilt. Umajets is one such project that was mainly Tim (& Rob), but the album “Demolotion” featured Roger and Eric on a few tracks and is my favorite spin off, slightly edging out the fantastic Jason Falkner solo records and the one by Imperial Drag along with their impressive long tail of unreleased b-sides & demos. The Lickerish Quartet (Spilt Milk era Jellyfish minus Andy) also gave us some memorable tracks and a reminder that they’re not done yet.
Here’s hoping for more music from these masterful musicians as we reminisce over our beloved time with Jellyfish. However, just as Jellyfish gave us the greatest love letter assembled from parts of the greatest bands before them, the legions of Jellyfish influenced artists continue to launch a steady wave of deeply inspired tracks layered with stacks of harmonies, vintage keyboards and (hopefully more) timpani.
Oh man, I'm jealous you got to see them live. I worked at a radio station when Bellybutton came out, and thought, "nice Beatles homage." I listened to the tracks but nothing really stuck with me. Then Spilt Milk came out, and I lost my friggin mind. I almost got to the point of having on CD in my apartment and one in my car so I never had to move it back and forth, as I was listening to it multiple times every single day. I had joined the official fan club, found out I had just missed a signing they did at Tower Records in San Francisco, came back home and got the newsletter that they had called it quits. Much like when I discovered Ben Folds Five, I went on a kick to buy everything Jellyfish I could find, and have continued to do so to this day. It's amazing how much respect they have garnered over the years, the offshoot bands, and the history of just two albums (plus B-sides and plenty of other tracks and demos that are out there). Apparently, Spilt Milk is still used in studios to set up their systems because it's produced so well and lavishly.
If you haven't listened to them, do so... now. Bellybutton first, then Spilt, then hunt for their New Mistake collection (then Imperial Drag, Umajets, and anything else Jeff recommends).
Thanks so much. Yeah, I was lucky. And like you, I fell in love with them hard and fast. Ben Folds was that way too - that first record is still so so so good. Love the New Mistake collection as well. Really great stuff!
Funny that with both bands, it's the second album that's my favorite.
As for Jellyfish, if you haven't already, you should check out Stack-a-Tracks for both albums – it's the music without the singing, and reveals even more just how brilliant they were as songwriters and performers.
The only thing I will say is this; if I had to pick ten albums to be the only ones on a trip to the moon, Bellybutton would be one of them.
Awesome to hear your experience with the band, who are certainly one of my favorites both in the studio and performing live. They had the perfect mix of hard hitting hooks and prickly lyrics with the highest standard for sonic, melodic and harmonic excellence, the likes of which we may not see again for many many years.
Although the popularity of their post Jellyfish work is limited, there is some amazing music put out by Roger, Eric, Tim and Jason (Falkner, not Faulkner) after the milk had spilt. Umajets is one such project that was mainly Tim (& Rob), but the album “Demolotion” featured Roger and Eric on a few tracks and is my favorite spin off, slightly edging out the fantastic Jason Falkner solo records and the one by Imperial Drag along with their impressive long tail of unreleased b-sides & demos. The Lickerish Quartet (Spilt Milk era Jellyfish minus Andy) also gave us some memorable tracks and a reminder that they’re not done yet.
Here’s hoping for more music from these masterful musicians as we reminisce over our beloved time with Jellyfish. However, just as Jellyfish gave us the greatest love letter assembled from parts of the greatest bands before them, the legions of Jellyfish influenced artists continue to launch a steady wave of deeply inspired tracks layered with stacks of harmonies, vintage keyboards and (hopefully more) timpani.
Thanks, Sam!
Oh man, I'm jealous you got to see them live. I worked at a radio station when Bellybutton came out, and thought, "nice Beatles homage." I listened to the tracks but nothing really stuck with me. Then Spilt Milk came out, and I lost my friggin mind. I almost got to the point of having on CD in my apartment and one in my car so I never had to move it back and forth, as I was listening to it multiple times every single day. I had joined the official fan club, found out I had just missed a signing they did at Tower Records in San Francisco, came back home and got the newsletter that they had called it quits. Much like when I discovered Ben Folds Five, I went on a kick to buy everything Jellyfish I could find, and have continued to do so to this day. It's amazing how much respect they have garnered over the years, the offshoot bands, and the history of just two albums (plus B-sides and plenty of other tracks and demos that are out there). Apparently, Spilt Milk is still used in studios to set up their systems because it's produced so well and lavishly.
If you haven't listened to them, do so... now. Bellybutton first, then Spilt, then hunt for their New Mistake collection (then Imperial Drag, Umajets, and anything else Jeff recommends).
Thanks so much. Yeah, I was lucky. And like you, I fell in love with them hard and fast. Ben Folds was that way too - that first record is still so so so good. Love the New Mistake collection as well. Really great stuff!
Funny that with both bands, it's the second album that's my favorite.
As for Jellyfish, if you haven't already, you should check out Stack-a-Tracks for both albums – it's the music without the singing, and reveals even more just how brilliant they were as songwriters and performers.