"I'm one of the rare few who didn't really like "Repeater" that much; there were a number of good songs, but the aping of styles was just too much. While Splitsville's second disc, "Ultrasound," had a unified feel that said, "This is a band," "Repeater" sort of said, "HEY, LOOK AT US! We're really talented arrangers and clever musicians." Which is fine, but it doesn't always add up to a good record.So here's "The Complete Pet Soul" three years later on an expensive import label, but gosh, is it worth it! THIS has a unified sound, and if the gorgeous crunch of classics like "Husker Du" and "Yearbook" is absent, well, it's still a great disc. "Pet Soul" more than makes up for the absence of raaawk by dishing out pop classicism with the playful spirit that was so sorely missing from "Repeater."Obstensibly a tribute to the Beatles and Beach Boys, "Pet Soul" meshes the styles together, mixing in some Byrds and Bacharach along the way; yet instead of being some gloppy pop stew, it works because of the singualrity of the performances. "Forever" and "You Ought To Know" offer up some polite power pop, while "Caroline Knows" and "The Popular" have a semi-drippy, psych feel to them. "The Love Songs of B. Douglas Wilson" is the obvious tribute that you'd expect from the title, and "Sunshiny Daydream" is a great take on McCartney's piano-based late Sixties tunes, most directly recalling the middle to "A Day In The Life." And thankfully, the band's classic cover of Bacharach's "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" gets its third wind, after being released on a forgotten tribute album two years ago and its recent appearance on the soundtrack to the Kirsten Dunst flick, "Get Over It." One of the cleverest sides they've ever released, the cover runs the gamut, from aping the original, to parodying the tired "let's punk up a sweet song" genre, to an inspired tip of the hat to ELO, to the Beach Boys, and then back to the original--with the chorus of "Video Killed The Radio Star" tacked on for good measure. All in under 4 minutes. It's astounding, not to mention just plain required listening, darn it.After the misteps of the last few years, it's a relief to see Splitsville back on track. With this cool disc under their belt, and a revved up rock album supposedly soon to be recorded (according to their website), I can only hope that these guys finally get the day in the sun that they so richly deserve."
A HIT IN A BETTER WORLD
More M | Pittsburgh, PA USA | 11/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WHAT A GREAT DISC! SOUNDS OF THE BEACH BOYS AND THE BEATLES...AND THE DISC shoulda been a huge hit, in a better world...but let's face it, musically, it ain't a better world when suburban white kids are listening to rap music instead of pure, sun-drenched pop..."
Half as good as the real things, but....
Loyalist | USA | 03/15/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"- The Complete Pet Soul is pretty good.
- However, there is no way this gets 4 or 5 stars when comparing Brandt Huseman, Matt Huseman, and Paul Krysiak of Splitsville...to...Brian Wilson/Beach Boys et al or Lennon/McCartney/Beatles et al. IMO, they are closer to 2.5 stars in comparison. I'm sure we can agree that is a no brainer (give or take half a star).
- Still, musically, they are each a very talent 3-some. Their homage to their influences is indeed faithful and honest. One of the better purchase I have made in half a year. I listen to a lot of music, most bad, some good, but just trust me....a lot. So, you'd be hard pressed to see me around review boards yelling "hey these guys are great, go buy it now!"
- "NO!...we need money first." - John Lennon
- No free adverts from me! But these guys earned it. Great production, talent musicians, clever nostalgic packaging.
- Best songs: Aliceanna, Caroline Knows, Tuesday Through Saturday, The Popular, You ought To Know, The Love Songs of B. Douglas Wilson.
- Artist Comparisons: Mostly Beach Boys, IMO. Suberb Brian Wilson vocals on a few tracks. Some decent Beatle-esque sounds/vocals as well. Also, some power pop aspects with likeness to Teenage Fan Club.
- So do I think you should "Get it!" or "Forget it!": "GET IT!"
Big Star, #1 Record/Radio City, 1992, RYKOdisc, CD
Teenage Fan Club, Grand Prix, 1995, DGC, CD
Pete Ham, 7 Park Avenue/Golders Green, 1997/1999, RYKOdisc, CD
BadFinger (any)
Beck, Sea Change, 2002, DGC, CD
The Byrds (any)
"
Fantastic Power-Pop Album!
More M | 03/21/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Splitsville's "The Complete Pet Soul" is a fantastic Power-Pop album that is full of gorgeous melodies, shimmering guitar lines, and well sung harmonies. The band seems to have particularly had Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys on their mind when they wrote this album as one of the songs is called "The Love Songs of B. Douglass Wilson", and a couple others seem to take their cue off of his work with the Beach Boys. "Forever" is a super-energetic rocker that kind of seems like a cousin to the Rembrandt's "I'll Be There For You(the theme from Friends)"; and Splitsville does a fantastic cover of Burt Bacharach's "I'll Never Fall In Love Again". "Pretty People" has almost Eagle's-like harmonies. This is a gem of a record that has somehow slipped through the cracks."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1