Jellyfish

Emerging from San Francisco in the early 1990s, power pop outfit Jellyfish issued just two studio albums across their brief peak years, yet the meticulously assembled pop and rock compositions along with their forthright embrace of vintage sounds brought welcome attention to an increasingly saturated underground pop scene. Much like their nearest peers the Posies, the Wondermints, and Redd Kross, Jellyfish drew upon the same sources that had inspired Badfinger, XTC, Cheap Trick, the Move, Big Star, and the Zombies, shaping sometimes intricate yet irresistibly melodic tracks that cast an alternative pop and rock glow over the radio successes of the prior three decades.

The group coalesced around the abilities of singer, songwriter, and drummer Andy Sturmer together with keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Roger Manning, both formerly of Beatnik Beatch, plus singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jason Falkner, previously of Three O’Clock; Roger’s brother Chris Manning later joined on bass for live performances. Jellyfish materialized in 1990 via the album Bellybutton, which produced the band’s biggest success, “Baby’s Coming Back,” along with further strong singles such as “The King Is Half-Undressed,” “That Is Why,” “I Wanna Stay Home,” and “Now She Knows She’s Wrong,” all of which cultivated a loyal though distinctly cult audience. Following the Bellybutton tour both Falkner and Chris Manning departed, the latter citing an aversion to touring life and the former dissatisfied with a supporting guitar role. Sturmer and Manning then spent the ensuing two years in the studio alongside a changing roster of players that included bassist Tim Smith and multi-instrumentalist and producer Jon Brion, resulting in the more ambitious sophomore release Spilt Milk.

Issued in 1993, Milk proved considerably more elaborate than its predecessor, evoking the studio sophistication of the Beach Boys on “Hush” and “Ghost at Number One,” the guitar-driven force of Kiss and Queen on “Joining a Fan Club” and “All Is Forgiven,” and the psychedelic pop of the Beatles on “Bye, Bye, Bye” and “Brighter Day.” After a year of touring supported by Smith and guitarist and singer Eric Dover, the band dissolved at the close of 1994. Despite their short span, Jellyfish members went on to shape numerous like-minded acts including the Merrymakers, the Hutchinsons, the Excentrics, and Ben Folds Five while earning the same enduring cult regard once accorded their own influences. Andy Sturmer established himself as a sought-after producer and composer, collaborating with the Black Crowes, Ozzy Osbourne, and Japanese pop superstars Puffy AmiYumi; Roger Manning teamed with Eric Dover in the retro-glam rock unit Imperial Drag, created Moog Cookbook alongside Los Angeles musician and producer Brian Kehew, toured and recorded with Beck, and issued two solo albums; Jason Falkner formed the similarly inclined power pop group the Grays with Jon Brion, worked with pop crooner Eric Matthews, and released multiple strong solo albums. In 2002 Not Lame issued the limited-edition box set Fan Club, a four-disc collection of unreleased Jellyfish material encompassing demos, rehearsals, compilation tracks, and live recordings plus memorabilia assembled with input from all band members and soundman Shalom Aberle, serving as a fitting tribute created by longtime fans of other bands for their own devoted followers.