Fans of eternally underrated power-pop outfit Jellyfish have had nothing but friends over at Omnivore Recordings. The label first released the band's two studio albums, Bellybutton and Spilt Milk, on vinyl. Then there was the unreleased Live At Bogart's and the Stack-a-Tracks compilation, which featured mostly-instrumental mixes of the two albums uncovered from the vaults.
Now, Omnivore prepares Radio Jellyfish, a ten-track compilation of radio broadcasts recorded two decades ago. All but one of the tracks are presented here for the first time (one first surfaced on a long out-of-print Jellyfish box set from 2002), and paint another clear picture of just what an impressive band Jellyfish were, live in studio.
In 1993, Jellyfish released their sophomore album, Spilt Milk, with a slightly modified lineup that included returning members Andy Stuermer (vocals/drums) and Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. (vocals/keyboards) and new members Tim Smith (bass) and Eric Dover (guitar) in place of the departed Jason Falkner (and, in concert, bassist Chris Manning and second guitarist Niko Wenner). Spilt Milk was a more elaborate affair than even its densely-packed predecessor, with tracks like "The Ghost At Number One," "New Mistake" and "Joining a Fan Club" featuring even more complex arrangements and overdubs.
While Jellyfish were no stranger to replicating these big sounds in concert, the two broadcasts included on Radio Jellyfish - one recorded in The Netherlands, one in Australia - showcase a band happily playing to the "unplugged" style of the rock world (the live acoustic MTV series was arguably at the peak of its popularity). But even stripped-down Jellyfish has the same qualities you love about the band proper, from hooky melodies to chill-inducing vocals. With selections ranging from both of their albums, and two covers to boot (The Move's "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" and Badfinger's "No Matter What"), this disc is shaping up to be another pleasant sting from Omnivore in the ever-increasing Jellyfish discography.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTxBhD06Lds]
Radio Jellyfish streets on December 10. Hit the jump to preorder your copy (on CD or vinyl) and check out the track list!
Radio Jellyfish (Omnivore, 2013)
Amazon U.S.: CD / LP
Amazon U.K.: CD / LP
- New Mistake
- She Still Loves Him
- I Can Hear the Grass Grow *
- Baby’s Coming Back
- The Man I Used to Be
- Joining a Fan Club
- The King is Half Undressed
- The Ghost At Number One
- That is Why
- No Matter What
* released on Fan Club: From the Rare to the Unreleased...and Back Again (Not Lame NLA-007, 2002). All other tracks previously unreleased
The Weekend Stream: February 11, 2023
Reviews: Two From Omnivore - Ian Matthews, "Stealin' Home" and TV Eyes, "TV Eyes"
Review: Jellyfish, "Bellybutton" and "Spilt Milk" Deluxe Editions
Release Round-Up: Week of January 20
The snippet of "The King Is Half-Undressed" from 0:25 to 0:38 on the YouTube trailer sounds (to my ears, at least) exactly like the version on "The Adventure Club Sessions," a collection of acoustic performances from Dallas radio station KDGE ("The Edge"). I bought that CD for the only commercially released band performance of XTC's "Blue Beret," and I became a Jellyfish fan the moment I heard their song. Their acoustic performances have a very different feel from their electric ones, but both are terrific.
All hail Omnivore for expanding the Jellyfish catalog! (And a grateful nod to the late, great NotLame Records for the box set.) The band burned out far, far too soon, and there seems to be little hope of a reunion, but there is some consolation in the fantastic archival releases that have turned up. Here's hoping for a full concert from the "Spilt Milk" tour, as well as a comprehensive DVD collection of their concert footage and TV appearances.
Awesome news. Only 10 tracks sounds a bit scant, but if the quality's as good as you'd expect from Omnivore, then it'll be worth $20!
I'm wondering if the recordings of "Baby's Coming Back" and "The King Is Half Undressed" are the same versions that appeared on the Australian "New Mistake" single, which credits them as being "Live version from TV session in Holland". The same recording of "Baby's Coming Back" appeared on the U.S. "New Mistake" single as well as the "Fan Club" box set.
I'm also wondering if the recording of "The Ghost At Number One" is the same one that appeared on the Dutch compilation CD, "2 Meter Sessies", recorded on March 10, 1993.
If so, that would make only 6 of the tracks previously unreleased, but that won't stop me from getting it the day it comes out!
Thank you, Omnivore!
Judging by the promo copy I heard, "The Ghost at Number One" and "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" are both from the Triple J session recorded on September 21, 1993, in Australia.