Copyright 1993 The Chronicle Publishing Co.    
The San Francisco Chronicle
APRIL 13, 1993, TUESDAY, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: DAILY DATEBOOK; Pg. D1
LENGTH: 1378 words
HEADLINE: NEW SAN FRANCISCO SOUNDS 
Chris Isaak CD tops list of hot releases
BYLINE: Michael Snyder, Chronicle Staff Writer
BODY:

JELLYFISH -- ''Spilt Milk'' -- Virgin ($15.98 CD, $10.98 cassette)
     Pop music is no disposable fluff to Andy Sturmer and Roger
Manning, the guiding lights behind Jellyfish -- the
baroque-and-roll band that embraces harmony over all. Their first
album, 1990's ''Bellybutton,'' was chock full of fussy, grand
melodies, soari
ng vocal harmonies and creative production techniques. This
follow-up is more of the same: ornate, heavenly choruses, layers of
ringing 12-string guitars, surprising tempo shifts and lots of coy
lyrics.
     Percussionist Sturmer and keyboardist Manning, who multitrack
their lush vocals, are assisted on ''Spilt Milk'' by bass-player
Tim Smith and session guitarist Lyle Workman. The 'Fish are
unabashed about their fave raves and influences. The album opens wi
th a harmony-engorged lullaby, ''Hush,'' that recalls two
touchstones for the band: Queen and the Beach Boys. On ''The Ghost
at Number One,'' Sturmer and Manning conjure up a delicate bridge
that could have been lifted from the Beach Boys' ''Pet Sounds'' 
album.
     ''Joining a Fan Club'' has a crunching, lumbering rock chorus
that sounds inspired by the Move -- the heady British band that
spawned Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra.
     Bittersweet memories of the late jazz-folk legend Nick Drake
are reawakened by the quiet beauty of ''Russian Hill.'' ''All Is
Forgiven'' is a howling metallic number with a false ending a la
''I Want You'' by the Beatles. It's a walk down Abbey Road on a
 tab of Ecstasy.

GRAPHIC: PHOTOS (4),Jellyfish, Their second album, 'Spilt Milk,' is
a baroque-rock blend of soaring melodies and elaborate harmonies
with a sharp edge.