A Jellyfish's Bellybutton

Interviews with Roger & Jason

2008-07-31T14:59:46Z

http://popshifter.com/2008-07-30/speaking-the-language-of-pop-an-interview-with-roger-joseph-manning-jr/

http://popshifter.com/2008-07-30/creating-utopia-an-interview-with-jason-falkner/

A lovely little medley with the first lineup

2008-07-05T23:28:11Z

Yet I can't unsub. What if I miss a reunion?

2007-09-21T05:19:02Z

There are days when I would rather die than read the Jelly-L.

OH NOES!

2007-08-19T18:27:46Z

Jellyfish video collections?

2007-05-23T21:39:18Z

hi, friends,

maybe you could help me to find some Jellyfish videos, a sort of an official video collection, concerts, tours, interviews etc - does it exist somewhere, on vhs or, even better, on dvd, so i could order it from the United States? i've managed to find+download only one video via eMule - "A new mistake", in a horribly low quality, then i found some videos on YouTube, but can't download them, and some people say, YouTube will soon be blocked. i'm afraid to lose it. can somebody help? please..

paste_and_plato @ 2007-05-20T19:13:00

2007-05-21T02:14:02Z

Thanks so much to pasquinade for showing me this!!

The Grays - Very Best Years video

Glutton Of Sympathy

2007-05-19T20:16:20Z

Hey people!

So I need some help. Basically I'm obsessed with Jellyfish to the 1,000,000th power and it's important to me to get every single thing there is to get that is Jellyfish related. However, I've not been able to get a hold of The Format's cover of Glutton Of Sympathy... soooo... I was hoping someone would be able to hook me up with it. The thing is, I would glad to pay for it, but it's not on iTunes or even the japanese iTunes! So if someone would send me it, I'd be happy to send a dollar straight to The Format's paypal address (if they have one haha)... Please someone let me know!!

-Christian

paste_and_plato @ 2007-05-18T22:41:00

2007-05-19T05:42:05Z

Drummer

2007-04-14T18:39:01Z

The Tattle Tales need a new drummer. Anyone interested in trying out? Let us know!

www.myspace.com/thetattletales
Aim : runrunweooooh

Main influences : The Wonder Years, The Beach Boys, girls, Harmony, soda, sunshine and keyboards

in the NY/NJ area

two questions concerning to JF lyrics

2007-04-09T15:36:36Z

Dear jellyfishing friends,

can i ask two stupid questions concerning to some Jellyfish songs?

1) song "Ghost at number one": there is a piece starting at 2:25 ending at 2:43 with background voice, i guess it was mr.Manning jr. singing. The question is - what does he sing? "there's a holly ... invitation to the... standing..." - can somebody help me to decipher these words? please..

2) what is Plato except for Socrates' student from ancient Greece? "watching eating paste and plato" - is plato a sort of food? is it tasty? or what is it? if my question is stupid - sorry, but i feel the lack of context ~~here, in Tokelau~~

Thank you!

Sometimes I randomly quote Jellyfish out of the blue:

2007-04-02T06:07:24Z

On second thought, I think I've made my point.

Tribute?

2007-01-24T22:47:10Z

Apparently, a fabulous Jellyfish tribute album is in the works!

clicky here for additional information.

music wiki

2006-10-10T23:38:45Z

I just found a cool site and
someone really needs to add Jellyfish and company to the http://www.wikimusicguide.com/

Any takers?

Are you made of love sent from above to me

2006-09-23T21:10:26Z

Beginning with water dripping, a simple backlash beat and easy guitar, the solo debut American release “The Land of Pure Imagination” from Roger Joseph Manning Jr builds to his unmistakable voice coming in with beautiful lyrics building to an ecstatic amazement of the of Moog Cookbook and Imperial Drag in one on track one.

Three seconds into track two (Too Late For Us Now) though you’d swear this was a lost Jellyfish album… hell you’d swear it was a lost track from a classic Beatles album with Roger’s lyrical and musical inclinations. The “record” continues on with songs that will instantly become your new favorites and you’ll be singing along even though Roger neglected to have the liner notes include lyrics.

Track three is a somber lovely piano ballad which will have you swinging back and forth and bopping your head the way you would to things “She Still Loves Him” and “Sabrina, Paste & Plato”.

Track four is a fast bustling hard beautiful song, while definitely RJMJR’s you might expect to hear it on a Manic Street Preachers or Stereophonics album.

Track five is a melodic magical trip, the kind of thing you’d expect to hear in a rock opera, but also works as just a perfect power pop-rock song, which RJMJR is a master of alongside his contemporaries former bandmate Jason Fakner, Beck Hansen, Butch Walker, AJ Popoff, Mark Ricketts.

Track six might be the weakest track, sounding like an ironic church choir song, but it shows off how versatile a musician Manning, Jr. is.

To prove how truly versatile he is, track 7 “Dragonfly” combines Spanish and indoasian sensibilities to turn an erotic sensual breakdown. Leading into funkifacation and 70’s style rock with track 8, recreating the feel of Red Hot Chili Peppers and proving how absolutely amazing of a musician he is.

Did I mention he plays every instrument on the album and did all the vocals, including backing himself up and did all the production as well. You’d never believe there wasn’t a band for this album, but it’s Manning.

With Track 9 he shows his truly soft side, another lovely piano ballad, but with much more sweetness and tenderness. To fans of Jellyfish, the moldy may seem familiar, but I don’t want to ruin it for you.

Track 10 is my favorite, very coverable, with an excellent chorus, it’s the one that might just stick in your head, if you have my tastes. It’s not exactly poppy, it’s more in the vein of Billy Joel/Elton John, but it’s just perfect.

The whole thing closes out with what could be considered a harmonic lullaby titled “Appleby”, it’s a perfect example of Roger’s beautiful voice and amazing musical talents and quickly but surely delves into the pure type of strangeness you’d expect from the man who once teamed with the writer of songs such as “Teen Titans Go!” before returning to the sweetness. Which is what Roger’s imagination is… sweetness, laced with spikes and deviousness. This solo album more than anything explains how and why Andy Sturmer were able to meet mentally to create the Jellyfish sound and what parts they gave.

If you order the NOT LAME edition early enough you’ll also get a bonus disc of three tracks from the Japanese edition of the album that were dumped for three new songs.

The first track “What You Don’t Know About a Girl” sounds like something out of the 60’s. It’s the first track of the album that definitely shows RJMJR’s Eric Carmen and Alex Chilton influences.

Track Two on the bonus could easily replace track two of the main album, but is a bit less danceable and bopping and quote more sad and somber, but it’s still beautiful.

Track Three of the bonus could’ve replaced “Appleby”, but is much slower and not as fun, but is a perfect closer track.

The main lyric mentions “Till We Meet Again” and mentally to Roger I say “Sooner than Later would be best!”

paste_and_plato @ 2006-09-11T23:40:00

2006-09-12T06:40:03Z

i certainly didn't know about THIS!

RJR's Japanese Solo Album Sees US Release

2006-09-09T20:10:00Z

NOT LAME who brought Jellyfish fans the FAN CLUB Boxset now bring even more great Jellyfish greatness!

Originally only available as a Japanese import, RJR's new solo album (a 2006 release) which sounds like the lost Jellyfish album we've all always wanted is available for Pre-Order.

It even has three new tracks (although ti gets rid of three from the Japanese release, BUT if You order NOW, you'll get a CD with the three songs from the Japanese release for free! Plus tons of other awesome amazing gifts!

Read All About It and Pre-order (I already did, of course!) HERE!

(and try to think about how hard it is to get a copy of Fan Club these days for less than $400 if at all...)

(BTW, I am not a shill, even though I wrote this like I was one and a bad one at that... hell, I'm good buds with the moderator of this community)

yup. jamming with the manning (junior!)

2006-09-06T22:48:27Z

YouTube

2006-08-08T23:40:24Z

I have noticed that there are now several Jellyfish items listed on YouTube. I just searched for jellyfish + andy.

Roger's Show!

2006-08-08T06:17:39Z

I can't believe no one has mentioned this yet!

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. will be appearing at the International Pop Overthrow Festival tomorrow night [August 8] at Spaceland in Los Angeles.

http://www.myspace.com/rogerjosephmanningjr

LA TIMES PREVIEW:
Pieces of his past, now fully imagined
By Kevin Bronson
Times Staff Writer
August 3, 2006

As happens when households move and lives are packed and unpacked, Roger Manning unearthed some personal artifacts while boxing up his life to move into a new house a few years ago. They were songs â or, rather, ideas for songs, sketches, collections of chords and melodies.
They were pieces of his past, shelved as Manning made his way through a career that included stints with 1990s acts such as Jellyfish, Moog Cookbook and Imperial Drag â pieces that had long remained in the background as he toiled as a session player for the likes of Beck, Morrissey, Air, Green Day and Sheryl Crow.
"I resurrected these songs more as practice," Manning says. "There was no 'As I turn 40, I'm going to launch a solo career.' I thought maybe I could get them to the Japanese audience that has always been supportive of my work."
But now, under the name Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (adopted to avoid confusion with a New York-based artist named Roger Manning), he does have a solo album, "The Land of Pure Imagination," released digitally in July and due in stores in September.
Truly a one-man project â Manning sang, played all the instruments and recorded it in his basement â "Pure Imagination" bursts with lush arrangements, whether channeled to driving anthems with soaring choruses, introspective chamber pop or croony numbers that belong in a "007" soundtrack.
It's a throwback to the days when melody and harmony ruled, and it forms a confection so sweet the cynical might label it anachronistic.
"I hope with all the doom and gloom and geopolitical upheaval every day, this kind of music comes back," Manning says.
How the album came to be released, however, was decidedly modern. Many tracks were first available on the audio download and file-sharing website Weed (www.weedshare.com).
Then, through a friend, the music was brought to Cordless Recordings, the fledgling digital label that's part of Warner Music Group. There, it caught the ear of Cordless founder and industry veteran Jac Holzman.
"I heard incredibly rich melodies with beautifully textured layers, and words that meant something," says Holzman, the man who signed the Doors to Elektra in 1966 and who worked with singer-songwriters such as Carly Simon, Judy Collins and Harry Chapin. "It has a life to it, a great vitality." Holzman suggested Manning drop some tracks and add others, and the artist was floored by the attention.
"It was incredibly flattering to have Jac Holzman make constructive comments about my music," he says. "I thought, for the first time I'm actually listening to a record company guy."
With a full album ready to go, however, Manning didn't exactly fit Cordless' business profile. The label's strategy is to release music in three-song "clusters," using them to build interest in artists and gauge whether a physical album makes sense.
The first Manning cluster was released in the spring, but Holzman says that "when something like this lands in your lap, there's no question you release a physical product.
"We're trying to develop fine artists at a low cost," he says. "Roger is ideal because he is a superior writer, musician and producer; he is a self-actuating entity."
Such praise is not lost on Manning, who has spent much of his recent career being a cog in other machines. Just over the last year or so, he has lent his talents to artists such as Angels & Airwaves, the Format, Patrick Park, Ima Robot and Luna Halo. That kind of work â which he couldn't turn down, "being the owner of a new mortgage," he says â made making the album slow going at times.
"A lot of the characters that crop up on the album are people who have been close to me at some time, you know, the kid I couldn't forget in high school," Manning says. "I admire songwriters who can take everyday events and touch people. For me, this is kind of a roller-coaster ride of emotions."
HE initially intended to have friends come into the studio and contribute various parts, but eventually stuck with his own recordings, "even with all the mistakes and foul-ups," he says.
Manning has assembled some friends â drummer Eric Skodis (Imperial Drag), bassist Linus of Hollywood and guitarist Aaron Kaplan â to shape the songs into a live set for his appearance in the International Pop Overthrow festival on Tuesday night at Spaceland.
With its power pop-leaning following, the ninth annual L.A. festival figures to give Manning a warm welcome.
"My involvement in the 'scene' that supports me is very superficial â people introduce me all the time to bands they assume I already know," he says. "But I'm looking forward to this. I'm so used to being a man out of time."

Finally!

2005-08-29T21:09:37Z

After much Ebayage (is that a word?) I FIIIIIINALLY got both "Spilt Milk" and "Bellybutton". Best thing is, I paid (including shipping!) less than $10/apiece for them! WOOT!! NO MORE CRAPPY MP3 DOWNLOADS!!!

Seems no one else understands the joys of early 90's retro-power pop. Silly emo kids! All you need is some Jellyfish and you'll be happy!!

BTW - In case you all are wondering, Jason Falkner has a Myspace.com account. HERE

Jason Falkner @ Sunset Junction 2005!

2005-07-21T20:12:50Z

SUNSET JUNCTION 2005 LINEUP
Buy your tickets here! Advance ticket purchase is recommended to ensure admittance.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
Bates Stage (4100 Sunset)
Rilo Kiley
John Cale (co-founder of THE VELVET UNDERGROUND)
The Walkmen
Jason Falkner
Black Mountain
Foreign Born
Something For Rockets
Run Run Run
Vagenius
Let's Go Sailing
The Ettes

Edgecliff Stage(3700 Sunset)
Richard Street (lead singer of The Temptations)
Former ladies of The Supremes
Freda Payne
Alma da Batucada
Bobby Matos
Mesmera

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28
Bates Stage (4100 Sunset)
New York Dolls
Suicide Girls
Eagles of Death Metal
The Gossip
The Weirdos
Burning Brides
Nebula
The Leaving Trains
Rolling Blackouts
Viva K
The Willowz

Edgecliff Stage (3700 Sunset)
Jody Watley
Arthur Adams
Drums of Passion
Raks Majnoun
Ritmo Flamenco
Cuahtemoc

FMI: Sunset Junction Official Site
Sunset Junction on MySpace

Jellyfish is truly the rockingest.

2005-04-10T20:41:27Z

woowoo.

I'm all about Jellyfish. Heck, I even bought a couple of Puffy Ami Yumi albums to get another taste of their work.

I have to say that I was a huge fan of the "Logan's Sanctuary" disk. It was just fun. :)

Great to meet you all. I'll be around.

steph

paste_and_plato @ 2005-04-10T10:57:00

2005-04-10T17:57:07Z

also wanted to share my glee when i was watching Teen Titans (yes, i'm a nerd. wanna make something of it? i'll throw my pencils at you!), and it said "theme song by Andy Sturmer"...

made me heart it that much more :)