Baltimore based power pop band Splitsville came to the fore in the Nineties, recording a handful of well-received albums, before calling it quits after the release of the full-length Incorporated in 2003. A "best of" in 2008 put them on the map. Could they find their spark again and get together to create a fresh stack of songs? It appears so. Their new album Mobtown, with ten songs inspired by their hometown, has all the big gestures and gentle interludes, a hybrid of mainstream pop and adventurous indie rock, that made them critics darlings.
The stand-out track is Gray, wherein they go all out with luscious string arrangements, but there is also plenty for fans of rumbling rockers (A Glorious Lie, I Hate Going To Hutzler's) to enjoy. Bringing the album to close with the happy-sad Penn Station, the band's second act is back on track for another round on the rock club circuit.
Splitsville:
Matt Huseman: vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, additonal keyboards
Tony Waddy: vocals, electric lead & rhythm guitars, additonal bass & keyboards, sequencing
Paul Krysiak: vocals, bass, keyboards, additonal guitars & percussion, string arrangements
Brandt Huseman: vocals, drums & percussion, mandolin, acoustic guitar, additonal bass
Mobtown is released via Big Stir Records (CD, digital).
Tracks:- Cold Open
- A Glorious Lie
- Federal Hill
- Southern Hospitality
- Gray
- I Hate Going To Hutzler's
- Fallsways
- Beth Steel
- Perry Hall
- Penn Station
- 09/06 Baltimore, MD @ Creative Alliance
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