Jellyfish Spilt Milk

Reissue. Two CD set. Digitally remastered and expanded edition. Spilt Milk is the 1993 record that seamlessly blended Manning's penchant for the lush vocal harmonies and detailed pop composition of bands like Queen and XTC with Andy Sturmer's quick-witted, sardonic lyrical sensibility. With the exception of gentle opener "Hush", there's not a track on here that doesn't hide some inventive turn of phrase or piercingly clever insight, whether it's describing the happy-go-lucky protagonist of "Sebrina, Paste and Plato" as a "love-a-tarian", or filling nearly every line of "He's My Best Friend" with sly innuendo. And despite employing a wider vocabulary than many of his contemporaries, Sturmer's writing still rolls off the tongue marvelously, never sounding forced or pretentious.

When Jellyfish released their second album, Spilt Milk, in February 1993, critics didn’t know what comparison to make of the band. The band had released their first album, Bellybutton, to rave reviews and even had a Top 40 hit with the catchy “Baby’s Coming Back,” which wasn’t even one of the better tracks. The melodies flowed, and the harmonies shook you down to your core.

Jellyfish’s two critically acclaimed and influential releases—Bellybutton and Spilt Milk—have found new life, being rediscovered and appreciated by generations new and old.