Spilt Milk

I still remember when I bought the CD in a Virgin Megastore, in the bargain bin, practically for free. I don't know if I maybe was intrigued by the cover? Either case, I didn't expect what the band had in store for me. Before I knew what power pop was, I was fascinated by all those suggestive melodies, those sweet arrangements; it's true that they sometimes bordered on the cloying... but the album became one of my most listened to CDs for years, and a personal secret, since no one around me had the slightest knowledge of the band. I'm glad to see it here so many years later, and a pleasure to rediscover these beautiful songs

Loved this album. Very poppy sound, without deviating too much from the traditional rock-vibes. Some folk and big-band parts are to be found also. I'll keep this one in my favorites!

It's like Supertramp for the 90's! I dig it.

7/10. Can any musical career truly be complete without a song about masturbation?

It sounds like they tried really hard - I’m proud of them

This is actually a masterpiece. It's made me respect some artists who came out afterwards less, because this may actually be the best version of the thing. And I'd never heard it before. I'm gutted that this is the end of this band... I'd have devoured more of this.

I actually really liked this album; loved the orchestral nature of it. I was all set to give it a 3, then the album ended with Brighter Day, which I loved. Bumped up to 4 stars. Never heard of Jellyfish before and I thought I knew most alternative from the 90s.

Nice record. Ambitious and different from what was out at the time.

Surprisingly good! I thought based on the cover it was gonna be 90s trash, but it was refreshingly interesting.

An American 90s Queen album; Hardly an original take on Spilt Milk, but blinding. The music surpasses pastiche, leaving the loudness of its context behind while preserving something or other essential. Jellyfish is among the Stateside groups who turn the studio into something unopposed to rock and roll.

I’ve been waiting for an excuse to listen to this album ever since New Mistake showed up in my discover playlist sometime in 2022. The depth in production throughout this entire album rivals plenty of the classics, and the power pop feel made it an overall fun listen. However, it wasn’t as mind blowing as I had hoped. 7/10

Surprenant dans le style Rock, prog ? pas certain.. mais j'ai aimé l'orchestration et les arrangeements. Vraiment bien fait, je pensais pas qu'il y avait ce type de musique encore d'un band un peu inconnu dans les années 90. 3.90

I remember this (and the preceding album) being big for a while in my college radio scene in its original era (just to date myself). Hearing it now I'm not sure I'd ever actually listened to it. Not sure what I was expecting- typical alt rock of the 90s I guess- and this definitely isn't that. The kind of cabaret glam vibe isn't generally my thing but this is objectively good, if maybe a little derivative of its influences.

This is great, glad I got to hear this! It's too bad the band only lasted for two albums. 4 stars.

This was very 1990s but also not quite. Like if the Lemonheads mixed with the Beatles and Queen - lots of English influence but still very clearly an early 90s American rock band. Enjoyable for one listen at least. 3/5.

Power-pop-we-have-Queen-at-home.

I have to respect the maximalist approach. The structures and arrangements are a rollercoaster ride.

This was kind of nice. I'm not sure I have anything else to say about it.

I didn't really know what to make of this. At first I heared a alternative version of Queen but later it shifted to more classic rock sound. But somehow I was intruiged by it and listened all the way through without thinking to turn it off. So kudos for Jellyfish

1 just for the cover But the music is not that bad 3

This was pretty good. It gave me vibes of Queen. It was eccentric at points but still good.

Decent album, really struggled through it though.

It's interesting how diverse musical tastes are. And that's a good thing! If everyone would just like everything equally, it would be a very very boring world. So if you're into Jellyfish: awesome! For me it was a huge struggle to make it through to the last track. I think it sounds like a half-decent attempt at trying to be like Queen. And I don't like Queen. So a half-decent Queen doesn't do it at all for me. Sorry.

Queen vibes, not my thing.

Great start to these!

Nice finding! Good choice, dude!

I was excited and a tad worried when this came up. A close friend submitted this… I’ve never listened to it before …nor anything else from Jellyfish. What if I hate it? The opening was wonderfully theatrical. I opened the user reviews while I listened on… I understand the comparisons to Queen, especially on Joining A Fan Club, which definitely did have the vocal theatrics, harmonies and rock that one might expect from Queen. But it is very misleading to summarize this album as that. Unmistakeable influences from the Beach Boys and Beatles influence also come through in the arrangements and wild collection of sounds and instruments (some seen in the background of the cover art). There are so many musical references peppered throughout that I heard, and no doubt much much more that I missed. I certainly don’t have the musical depth to unearth it all. I feel compelled to mention the cover art that instantly had me inventing backstories for the scene… absolutely loved it. What an interesting and delightful addition to the list. So much here for the intrepid listener. Terrific!

This album sits very high on my top shelf of albums. It makes me very happy.

I didn't need to listen. Love it!!

Here's another album and group I'd never heard of, much less heard. The cover and year of release made me a little nervous about what I would be in for. Turns out it was silly to have any doubts about this recommendation. It evokes the best of power pop from a half-century ago, while at the same time feeling much more modern than 1993. Each song is a distinctive, grand theatrical creation and the whole thing is just goddamn fun. Thank you for sharing this! xx

It sounds a bit like Queen at times... I think that's might be a good thing.... Standouts: The Ghost at Number One, Glutton of Sympathy, Joining a Fan Club, Sebrina, Paste and Plato, New Mistake, Rating: 4/5

This is just my taste. Thanks for selecting this. I like Beatles, Beach Boys, Steely Dan, 10CC, Supertramp, Tears For Fears, Crowded House. Jellyfish unashamedly sound like all these great bands. It's great to hear the obvious Beach Boys harmonies and Beatles melodies and instrumentation. Nothing at all wrong with copying gilt-edged former heroes! Wonderful pop and easy on the ear (except for the obviously different and noisy All Is Forgiven - perhaps to remind us that grunge was the order of the day in 1993). Even the puerile He’s My Best Friend is just about acceptable if you don’t think too much!

This was a fun album. The glam influence is front and center but what’s fascinating is how this album sounds like stuff that came out a decade later and to an extent is still being made. At first I thought this album was made in the early 2000s but was blown away by the fact that it was made in 1993. I enjoy chamber pop and power pop quite a bit so this was a great listen for me.

Queen + Beach Boys + Beatles x 1990s = Jellyfish. To be fair, it's a very listenable equation with lovely pop melodies and harmonies. Rating: 3.5 Playlist track: Sabrina, Paste and Plato Date listened: 21/07/24

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: The ghost at number one, Bye bye bye

Cool 90s pop!

Interesting LP, sounded almost like a 90s refresh on Queen. The instrumentals are executed well, and even though the arrangements feel a bit homogenous by the end I considered myself entertained for the most part.

very reminiscent of Supertramp 3.4

Fun and all over the place

Rock, power pop. Ni fu ni fa.

Hmm, I have mixed feelings about this one, but it's quite good overall. Jellyfish has a genuine pop sensibility that I like a lot, and there's a level of creativity here that I miss hearing in music. But the band's attempts to be more ambitious or artful don't always work. It gets a little show tuney at times and there's sometimes too much going on at any given moment to the point of distraction. But the vocals are frequently lovely and there are some nice hooks to be found. Thanks for recommending it. Fave Songs: New Mistake; Too Much, Too Little, Too Late; Glutton of Sympathy; The Ghost at Number One

A very unique album that is kind of in its own realm of genre with being gery late 70s/80s like in the operatic theme but with the 90s introversion. This album started off a bit weird but gains some steam and is a pretty decent listen. Overall a different album from so many on this list. 6.4/10

I appreciate the effort.

Mmmmh ok

Ágætt á köflum, pínu litlaust á köflum.