The short-lived band Jellyfish excelled in XTC/Dukes of Stratosphear styled nostalgia for Beatlesque, Beach Boys-y, baroque, pop psych.
“Sebrina, Paste and Plato” is from their astonishingly good 1993 album Spilt Milk.
All the components of the perfect pop song are here:
- Choppy harpsichord chords
- Pet Sounds bass line, drum rolls, and beautifully arranged vocal harmonies
- “Getting Better”-inspired chorus
- Post-chorus, Queen guitar sounds
- Nonsense lyrics & children’s voices (“Jabberwock”)
- Children’s voices
Far behind the forest of flying paper aeroplanes
Grazing on the grounds of ponytails
The substitute is counting down her ticks till recess
Hammering down to size her fingernails
Because today’s the day Sebrina builds her box lunch buffet
Kool-aid, sandwiches and chips for all the shoulders
Lunch is on the table soon dessert is on the floor, singing?
So serene, Sebrina makes me feel so serene…
