THE UNKNOWN: Jellyfish - Bellybutton

It's not everyone who will admit to owning a Wings CD. It's not everyone that will admit to liking the band Wings. So when you come across a band who not only considers Wings to be a major influence but flaunts it like a new Prada purse, you're not sure whether to be scared or intrigued. Welcome to the strange world of Jellyfish. They came. They went. But their legacy has lived on. They were pegged as a Beatles knock-off when they arrived during the last throws of the glam metal scene of the 80s. A psychadelic, strange dressing, goofy sounding band...they were scoffed and mocked. They were victims of bad timing. Had they arrived two years later, their Supertramp-Queen-Elton John-Wings sonic impact might have actually been appreciated. And who knows, we might be praising Mother Love Bone's new release instead of Pearl Jam's. Oddly, MLB wasn't a far cry from Jellyfish. They both worshipped the band Argent. (but that's another story for another day) Until then, here's my second pick for one of the 90s 11 most underrated albums. (the first was Triplefastaction's Broadcaster).

Jellyfish - Bellybutton

1. The Man I Used To Be – White boy R&B. 13 years later the Polyphonic Spree will steal this sound.
2. That Is Why – Think Rhino’s Nuggets box set. Take any of those bands, give them a real producer and teach them some melody. Then you’ll be about halfway to making something like this song.
3. The King Is Half Undressed – A trip-roaring rocker that melds the pranciness of Joe Jackson and guts of early Pearl Jam.
4. I Wanna Stay Home – Ben Folds is jealous that he could never make a song this good. Actually, Ben Folds is jealous he couldn’t make any of these songs. (Do you get that I don’t like Ben Folds?)
5. She Still Loves Him – If Elton John’s piano and BB King’s soul wrote a song together, it might sound like this.
6. All I Want Is Everything – Jet, I can almost remember the funny faces, jet!
7. Now She Knows She’s Wrong - Could have been an outtake from Supertramp’s Breakfast in America.
   
8. Bedspring Kiss – If I didn’t know better I would think I was listening to a cover of Sade’s Smooth Operator.
9. Baby’s Coming Back – The happiest feel good song you’ve ever heard. Good times!
10. Calling Sarah – A heart-spilled wrencher that soars through emotional arcs, guitar thrusts, yellow bricks, Goodbye Sarah, Calling Stranger and every Silly love song you’ve heard this week.

ezarchive is too busy sucking ass and I can't get any Mp3s uploaded. Sorry.

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