Splitsville
The Complete Pet Soul

Air Mail Recordings, Tokyo

www.splitsville.com

Released February 10, 2001 as Japanese import

History of Pop, Section 101

Here I have the long-awaited, much-anticipated follow up to the 1998 release of a three-song EP "Pet Soul" (lucky, lucky me). Those songs are featured here, along with a cover of the Bacharach-David standard "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", which is also a re-release. The rest of the material is new, and co-produced by Andy Bopp (you know, that guy).

First off, this is not the rockin' out, rowdy Splitsville of Ultrasound and/or Repeater. If, like myself, you enjoy a good dose of the pop equivalent of your favorite Saturday morning bowl of Froot Loops or Lucky Charms (read: lots of energy, and lots of crunch, with a big heap of sugar poured over it), well, the crunch factor is gone. However, if you're a fans of The Greenberry Woods, the former band of dual frontmen/twins Matt and Brandt Huseman, you are bound to be completely freaking ecstatic over this record.

As the title implies, fans of those "B-Bands" aren't likely to be let down, either. "Forever" is an early-'60s influenced tune, an homage to both surf/girls/cars era Beach Boys and yeah, yeah, yeah- chorused Beatles' songs. "Pretty People" is rather jangly, both Beatlesesque and Byrdsish; "Caroline Knows" is, like "The Love Songs of B. Douglas Wilson", obvious in its reference point. And so it continues through the track listing, stand-outs being well...all of them. The first vocal line of "Tuesday Through Saturday" sounds so much like the Left Banke's "Walk Away, Renee" that it's downright eerie, but it quickly fades to something else. "The Popular" sounds like a Phil Spector song, mixed with something else. And the album is full of hooks, and ear-grabbing choruses. It's like chocolate for a chocoholic, and it's been difficult to stop with the repeat button.

Yes, the record will have detractors. Some people will line up and scream "Blatant rip off!!!" And to those, I say Jellyfish's Spilt Milk was the best damned album of the past decade, and that particular album sounds like a "B's of Pop" trainwreck, albeit and stunningly gorgeous one. It is difficult to undo what came before. And if one has to redo it, may as well haul out the big guns and go straight for the gut. In other words, aim for perfection, and perfection for this genre would be Brian Wilson and Lennon & McCartney.

It will undoubtedly be noted by the majority, though, that The Complete Pet Soul really isn't a rip at the influences, but a tribute. It still sounds like Splitsville: the voices belong to Paul and Brandt and Matt. And that is why the real killer cut here slays and that song is "Aliceanna". This song is utterly breathtaking. (God, I am such a sap, to be such a self-proclaimed post punker). No, I can't describe it, just go and find it and have a listen.

Splitsville are a good, tight band. They play well; they're usually all killah, no fillah, both live and recorded; and what will ultimately stand out here is that these boys can sing. Wow, can they ever sing, and hit those harmonies on the head every single time.

It's a really good, very clever record by some guys who can really play and sing well. My summation is that it's money well spent for any fan of the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Byrds and and just generally for fans from the large backlog of influence we have to draw from during the early to mid '60s. It sounds good, it's fun, and no self-respecting power pop fan would want to pass it by.

Splitsville are back and they sound great.

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Shona's Reviews: February, 2001, Part I, Part II

Shona's Review: December, 2000

Shona's Review: November, 2000

Shona's Review: October, 2000

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