All five members shared songwriting duties on Everybody Split, & the album's nine tracks jangle and clang with that urgent, nervous energy felt in some of the best DIY/underground rock from the past three decades, R.E.M., GBV, Feelies et al, but also absolutely of the NOW, swooning with a smoothed, amber patina of melancholy and longing (see opener "Lung of the City", or "Nomenclature Airspace"). There's a palpable crackle emanating from the tunes on Everybody Split, throwing sparks thru a myriad of interesting melodic/lyrical twists & turns, like the earworm riffage on "The Thumps", that hotwire solo on "Aspiring To Be A Bloke" or the stutter stops / breakdown in the raging "Stinger". Stick around for "Born Stoned", the album's undeniable highlight, packing its near-12 minutes with nods not only to the aforementioned R.E.M. & Feelies dark jangle, but also the smoke & velvet solos of Heyday-era Church or Blue Oyster Cult. Yes, it's really that good. Everybody Split was recorded by MacFarlane himself & mastered by Oz-legend Mikey Young for maximum oomph.
TRACK LISTING
1. Lung Of The City
2. Aspiring To Be A Bloke
3. The Thumps
4. Absent Swimmer
5. Nomenclature Airspace
6. Orbiting Luigi
7. Stinger
8. Born Stoned
9. Meredith