After The Greenberry Woods had released their 1994 debut album, RAPPLE DAPPLE, the band’s twin brothers Matt and Brandt Huseman took some time off and recorded rough demos in a basement with their friend Paul Krysiak. Initially, the songs weren’t meant to interfere with The Greenberry Woods but once producer Andy Paley heard these demo tracks, he encouraged the GWs to make their next album sound closer to these raw recordings. That direction didn’t sit well with the members of the band and eventually caused friction between the Huseman brothers and the G’Woods’ other creative force, Ira Katz. With tensions at an all-time high, The Greenberry Woods split up after the release of their sophomore album, BIG MONEY ITEM.

Matt, Brandt, and Paul decided to continue their musical collaboration and christened themselves Splitsville. Those original 1994 demos were released on Big Deal Records in 1996 as their official debut album, SPLITSVILLE USA. While the album was filled with edgy and fun pop songs, it didn’t necessarily qualify as a ‘classic’ album like The Greenberry Woods’ debut.

However, Splitsville’s 1997 album ULTRASOUND was a sonic blast to the senses. Filled to the brim with instantly catchy songs and a full-throttle attack on your eardrums, ULTRASOUND was an album that not only personified Power Pop, it encouraged all of their contemporaries to step up their game. Like a candy-filled freight train speeding down a track, this album brought Punk, Pop, and Bubblegum together in an exciting new way. The hooks came hard and heavy and never let go. Matt and Brandt had already proven themselves as master Pop songwriters with the G’Woods and with this release, Paul revealed that he was very much their equal.

1998’s REPEATER brought more depth to the songwriting and arrangements without giving up any of their melodic power. While the outside world was dealing with the Grunge fallout, Splitsville was blissfully combining Buzzcocks-like power with Squeeze-size hooks. The album’s title – REPEATER – may insinuate that this album is merely a retread of what came before, it was actually a step forward in the band’s growth as songwriters and musicians. As a Power Pop band, they were untouchable.

In 1998, Big Deal released a promo-only four-track EP by Splitsville entitle PET SOUL. As the title suggests, the EP stripped away the frenzied fury of the previous albums and presented a handful of songs inspired by mid-’60s recordings by The Beatles and The Beach Boys. With intricate and sensitive arrangements, the melodic gems on this EP touched a nerve with fans, who then demanded a full-length release using this same musical formula. By 2001, the band responded by officially releasing an expanded album-length edition entitled THE COMPLETE PET SOUL, which added seven additional tracks. To call this album a Power Pop masterpiece is certainly an understatement. With melodies ripped from the heart of heaven, PET SOUL remains an album as timeless as the classics that inspired it.

Expanding to a quartet with the addition of guitarist Tony Waddy, Splitsville released their INCORPORATED album in 2003. Still stacked to the brim with hooks and harmonies, the album combined the sugar rush of ULTRASOUND and REPEATER with a more sophisticated and thoughtful approach to songwriting and arrangements. By this time, the band had realized that they could still be powerful by giving the songs time to expand and breathe – they no longer felt the need to rush each song and finish under three minutes. Another triumph for Splitsville.

Sadly, the band went on hiatus and has not released a studio album since INCORPORATED. We continue to watch the skies and hope for their return. Splitsville deserves this induction into the Power Pop Hall of Fame for many reasons. First off, they truly understand the essence of Power Pop music – melodies, harmonies and plenty of guitars. Secondly, they understand that Pop music doesn’t need to adhere to a standard formula – a jaunty piano or gently strummed acoustic can be a powerful tool. Finally, you can feel their utter love of music-making in every recording. Splitsville is the real deal, my friends. Listening back to their albums, it is heart-breaking to realize that this band did not become global superstars. They certainly deserved it. For collectors, two Splitsville compilations have been released: the Japanese-only BULK RATE and LET’S GO!: THE BEST OF SPLITSVILLE.

(Source: Stephen “SPAZ” Schnee, Music Journalist/DJ/Podcast Host
May, 2019)