The 11 Best Songs By Jellyfish

This weeks sees the release of Roger Manning's second solo album since the epic break-up of Jellyfish some 15 years ago. Manning's last album was not what Jellyfish fans had been waiting decades for...some were just happy to hear him once again...so they appreciated what they were given...but deep down in their souls...they knew it was just not the same. Though nothing will replace a Manning reunion with singer Andy Strummer...the new album comes close to what the reunion might sound like. Capturing the spirit of E.L.O., Manning rips through the album sounding more like "In Color" era Cheap Trick than the Beach Boys fueled tracks from his previous release.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Jellyfish

1. Baby's Coming Back (Bellybutton)
2. Now She Knows She's Wrong (Bellybutton)
3. The Ghost of Number One (Spilt Milk)
4. The King Is Half-Undressed (Bellybutton)
5. Glutton of Sympathy (Spilt Milk)
6. The Man I Used To Be (Bellybutton)
7. That Is Why (Bellybutton)
8. Joining A Fanclub (Spilt Milk)
9. Calling Sarah (Bellybutton)
10. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late (Spilt Milk)
11. All I Want Is Everything (Bellybutton)

Buy Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.'s new album now!

The UNKNOWN Albums of the 90s (#6)

6. Jellyfish - Spilt Milk (1993)

The first time I heard Jellyfish, it was in high school. A loner kid swore to me they were the best band he'd ever heard. This same loner kid had recommended other best bands he'd ever heard in the form of Aztec Camera, This Petrol Emotion, and Wall of Voodoo...so, I was skeptical. But this time...he happened to be right. You know what they say about a broken clock... Anyway, the album was JF's first release Bellybutton, which has since taken on legendary status. I liked the album...but didn't truly appreciate how talented the band was until their sophomore and final release, Spilt Milk. The record industry is a fickle one. Sophomore albums are more times curses than blessings. If a band tries to sound exactly like their debut...they're panned for being limited in range. But when a band takes chances and new directions with their music, they're panned for not sounding like their debut. JF fell into the second category. Their second album, though shared many stylisitc simularities with the debut, it had more range, more emotion, less constrictions, and was less polished. The band sounded more alive and more free with the music...unfortunately...that doesn't make for pop radio nuggets. Shortly after, the band broke up and the members found themselves sprinkled all over the music industry...and still are out their making great music to this day.

The Ghost of Number One

Buy the Spilt Milk here.