Copyright 1993 Billboard Publications, Inc.    
Billboard
February 20, 1993
SECTION: ARTISTS & MUSIC; Pg. 16
LENGTH: 528 words
HEADLINE: No Tears Over 'Spilt Milk': Jellyfish Redefines Sound
BYLINE: BY CRAIG ROSEN
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES
BODY:

     With "Spilt Milk," its second Charisma album released Feb. 9,
Jellyfish may have pared its ranks to a trio, but the band has
broadened its sound.
     The 12-track effort features such varied instrUments as
strings, brass, banjos, theremins, harpsichords, and balalaikas. 
Styles range form the Queen-style vocals of "Hush" and the
Beatle-esque "Sebrina Paste and Plato" to the Cheap Trick-like
bombast of
 "All Is Forgiven" and the polka-infected "Bye Bye Bye."
     Despite the musical diversity, singer/drummer/guitarist Andy
Sturmer says Jellyfish is still a rock'n'roll band at heart.  "We
didn't want to make a Moody Blues record or something," he says. 
"We didn't want to make something that was like Jellyfish wit
h the [London Symphony orchestra].  We wanted to make a rock'n'roll
record that had these touches in it.  We definitely wanted the
Jellyfish sound to be the core -- the guitar, bass, keyboards, and
vocal stacks. We didn't want to be overtaken by the orche
stral elements."
     As for the numerous musical references to other acts, Sturmer
admits that he hears the influences in his music.  "But I don't
think they are over-the-top, like we have somehow created 'A Night
At The Opera Part 2' or something, or 'Pet Sounds.'"
     According to Virgin Records president Phil Quartararo, the
label will attempt to re-establish Jellyfish's base, "which is, we
believe, alternative.  That is where we think our core consumer
is."
     The label will also work the band hard on the video front. 
Jellyfish landed three videoclips from the band's 1990 debut,
"Bellybutton," in MTV's "Buzz Bin." The first single from "Spilt
Milk" is "The Ghost At Number One," which will be supported by a vi
deo directed by Kevin Kerslake, who has helmed clips by Faith No
More and Nirvana.
     Following the release of "Bellybutton," Jellyfish toured for
nearly a year straight, opening for World Party and the Black
Crowes, and hitting Europe twice.
     "We hadn't really performed as a band onstage before we
recorded the first album," Sturmer says.  "We were signed from some
demos that we did.  One of our first shows was at the WEA
convention."
     The heavy touring schedule took its toll.  After the band
finally got off the road, guitarist Jason Falkner left the band
work on his own project, and Roger Manning's brother, Chris, left
the band to pursue his hobby as a chef.  New bassist Tim Smith pla
ys on "Spilt Milk."
     "We were very tired," Sturmer says.  "By the time we started
doing demos for the next record, everybody was totally stressed
out."
     Eric Dover, who hails from Alabama, was recently recruited to
play guitar on the band's upcoming tour.  "He's not really a
full-fledged member right now," says Sturmer.  "He's part of the
touring band."
     Adds Manning, "Everybody has to kind of go through a Jellyfish
graduation process."
     Although Jellyfish will tour to support "Spilt Milk," Sturmer
admits that he finds the studio more stimulating: "I like creating
things that are going to be alive forever, as opposed to one night
when you are kind of there and gone." However, he stresses
, "I don't want anyone to get the idea that we've turned into
Steely Dan."