Franklin Bruno (born December 29, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, academic and writer originally from

Upland, California Upland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States on the border with neighboring Los Angeles County. The municipality is located at an elevation of 1,242 feet (379 m). As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 79,040 ...

. He has been a member of

Nothing Painted Blue Nothing Painted Blue was an American indie rock band led by songwriter Franklin Bruno since the 1990s. Bruno and drummer Kyle Brodie have been the only constant members as the remainder of the line-up has undergone a number of changes throughout ...

since its inception in 1986. Bruno has written music criticism for online and print publications such as

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the crea ...

. In 2004, he received a doctorate in philosophy from

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

. , he is a lecturer at

SUNY Purchase The State University of New York at Purchase (commonly Purchase College or SUNY Purchase) is a Public college, public Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Purchase, New York. It is one of 13 comprehensive colleges ...

. Previously he has been a faculty member at

Pomona College Pomona College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California. It was established in 1887 by a group of Congregationalists who wanted to recreate a "college of the New England type" in Southern California. In 1925, it became ...

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

, and

Bard College Bard College is a private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. The campus overlooks the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains, and is within the Hudson River Historic ...

. In addition to his own recordings, Bruno worked on

The Mountain Goats The Mountain Goats are an American band formed in Claremont, California, by singer-songwriter John Darnielle. The band is currently based in Durham, North Carolina. For many years, the sole member of the Mountain Goats was Darnielle, despite the ...

albums ''

Tallahassee Tallahassee ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2020, the population ...

'' and ''

The Sunset Tree ''The Sunset Tree'' is the ninth studio album by the Mountain Goats, released on April 26, 2005 by 4AD. The album's songs revolve around the house John Darnielle grew up in and the people who lived there, including his mother, sister, stepfather, ...

''. He also records with The Mountain Goats frontman

John Darnielle John Darnielle (; born March 16, 1967) is an American musician and novelist best known as the primary, and originally sole, member of the American band the Mountain Goats, for which he is the writer, composer, guitarist, pianist, and vocalist. ...

The Extra Lens The Extra Lens, formerly known as The Extra Glenns, is a band made up of Franklin Bruno (of Nothing Painted Blue and The Human Hearts) and John Darnielle (of the Mountain Goats). The band acts as a side project for both artists, and stayed und ...

Jenny Toomey Jennifer "Jenny" Gillen Toomey (born 1968) is an American indie rock musician and arts activist. Career Toomey was a member of the bands Geek, Tsunami, Liquorice, Grenadine, So Low and Choke, among others, and has also recorded under her own ...

and

Calexico Calexico () is a city in southern Imperial County, California. Situated on the Mexican border, it is linked economically with the much larger city of Mexicali, the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California. It is about east of San Diego ...

released '' Tempting'', a collection of Bruno's songs, on

Misra Records Misra Records is an independent record label based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The label is distributed by Redeye Worldwide. Founded in 1999, Misra Records is home to landmark releases by Destroyer, Phosphorescent, Shearwater, R. Ring (featuri ...

in December 2002. ''Civics'', the first album by Bruno's new band, The Human Hearts, was released by Tight Ship Records in 2007.

Discography

Albums

* ''Suggestion Box'' ( Shrimper, 1991) assette-only* ''Etudes for Voice and Snackmaster'' ( Shrimper, 1993) assette-only* ''A Bedroom Community'' (

Simple Machines A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force. In general, they can be defined as the simplest mechanisms that use mechanical advantage (also called leverage) to multiply force. Usually the term refer ...

, 1995) * ''Kiss Without Makeup'' (

Absolutely Kosher Absolutely may refer to: * ''Absolutely'' (Boxer album), the second rock music album recorded by the band Boxer * ''Absolutely'' (Madness album), the 1980 second album from the British ska band Madness * ''Absolutely'' (ABC album), a comprehensi ...

, 2000) * '' A Cat May Look at a Queen'' (

, 2002) * ''

Martial Arts Weekend ''Martial Arts Weekend'' is an album by indie-rock band The Extra Glenns, a band made up John Darnielle and Franklin Bruno. The album was released in 2002. Critical reception ''Pitchfork'' wrote that "after the initial novelty of hearing more ...

'' (recorded with

, as The Extra Glenns) (

, 2002) * ''Civics'' ( Tight Ship Records, 2007) (as The Human Hearts) * ''Local Currency'' (Fayettenam Records, May 2009)Brando
Lou Barlow Covers Franklin Bruno
Sept. 2009 Stereogum.com * ''

Undercard In sports, a card lists the matches taking place in a title match combat-sport event. Cards include a main event match and the undercard listing the rest of the matches. The undercard may be divided into a midcard and a lower card, according to ...

'' Recorded with

(Merge Records, November 2010) * ''Another'' (

Shrimper Records Shrimper Records is an independent record label based in Upland, California. It was founded in 1990 by Dennis Callaci. Roster * Ah Bus * Amps for Christ * The Aum Rifle * Azuza Plane * The Babies * Lou Barlow * Bingo Trappers * Franklin B ...

, 2012) (as The Human Hearts)

EPs

* ''Hermetic Geometry'' (Baby Huey, 1992) -inch* ''The Irony Engine'' (Walt Records, 1993) -inch* ''A Sand Dollar Relief Map'' ( Shrimper, 1995) -inch* ''La Radia'' (Little Teddy, 1997) ermany -inch* ''Participant'' (

Dark Beloved Cloud Darkness, the direct opposite of lightness, is defined as a lack of illumination, an absence of visible light, or a surface that absorbs light, such as black or brown. Human vision is unable to distinguish colors in conditions of very low ...

, 1997) athe-pressed 7-inch* ''Set of Pipes'' (

, 2003) -inch CD

Compilation appearances

* "Clean Needle", from ''Winky Dog'' cassette ( Shrimper, 1990) : lso included on Shrimper's ''Abridged Perversion (A Shrimper Compilation of Shrimper Compilations)''. It was re-recorded for ''Kiss Without Makeup''.* "Love Tap", from ''Capgun'' cassette ( Shrimper, 1991) * "Hey Jude", from ''Back to the Egg, Asshole'' cassette ( Shrimper, 1991) : OT a Beatles cover. Credited to 'Nubber' on cassette cover.* "Lifetime Seance", from the ''Ghost of A Rollercoaster'' 7" ( Shrimper, 1991) :[This song was later recorded with a different arrangement and released as "Masonic Eye" on the

album ''Placeholders''.] * "Rhythm Buddy", from Pawnshop Reverb cassette ( Shrimper, 1992) * "The Irony Engine", from ''I Like Walt!'' 7" (Walt Records, 1994) * "Sleeping Through The Jane Pratt Show" (live), from ''

Working Holiday! ''Working Holiday!'' is a compilation album released on the Simple Machines label in 1994. It is a collection of tracks by American indie bands which were originally released on a series of 12 7" singles by Simple Machines as part of the Worki ...

'' bonus disc (

, 1994) : he original version of this song appeared the year before on "The Irony Engine" EP.* "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" (written by

Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser (; June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals ''Guys and Dolls'' and ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'', among others. He won a Tony ...

), from ''The Wedding Record'' 7" (Walt Records, 1995) * "Cat Scratch Fever", from ''Our Salvation Is in Hand'' (Theme Park, 1995) : OT_a_Ted_Nugent_cover..html" ;"title="Ted_Nugent.html" ;"title="OT a Ted Nugent">OT a Ted Nugent cover.">Ted_Nugent.html" ;"title="OT a Ted Nugent">OT a Ted Nugent cover.* "Pony Song" (written by Salem 66), from ''Chutes and Ladders'' cassette (Cactus Gum, 1996) * "Purity Test", from ''Green Light Go!'' (BottleCap, 1995) * "Chiliagon", from Childhood Friends cassette (Brassland, circa 1995) * "Winter's Just A Word", from the ''Songs From A Room'' 7" (Sing, Eunuchs!, 1996) * "Missed The Point", (demo version) from ''Go'' cassette (Papsicle, 1996) :[Demo version of a

song, recorded solo in 1989.] * "The Rice King", from ''The Basement Tapes vol. 2'' (KSPC, 1997) * "MGM" (written by The Triffids), from the ''Exhibit B'' cassette (Circumstantial Evidence, 1997) * "Invisible Mistletoe", from ''The Tarquin Records All Star Holiday Extravaganza'' (Tarquin, 1997) * "Linoleum" (written by Paste), from ''From The Bullpen'' (Hey Buddy, 1997) * "Bronze Me", from ''We Can Still Be Friends'' (Magic Marker, 1998) * "Your Inarticulate Boyfriend" (radio session), from ''IPS'' (WNYU, 1998) : riginally appeared on the album ''Etudes For Voice and Snackmaster''. It was also recorded by Jenny Toomey on ''Tempted''.* "Shooting Past Me", from ''I Stayed Up All Night Listening To Records'' (Anyway, 1998) * "Nickname Stuck" (Absolutely Kosher, 2002) * "A Cat May Look at a Queen" (Absolutely Kosher, 2002)

Bibliography

* ''Elvis Costello's Armed Forces'' (Continuum Books'

33⅓ (Thirty-Three and a Third) is a series of books, each about a single music album. The series title refers to the rotation speed of a vinyl LP, RPM. History Originally published by Continuum, the series was founded by editor David Barker in ...

series, 2005) * ''The Role of Intentional Action in Artifactual Representation'' (PhD dissertation, The University of California, Los Angeles, 2005)

References

External links

Franklin Bruno
official website
nervous unto thirst
Bruno's blog
konvolut m
Bruno's old blog
''A Cat May Look at a Queen'' – PopMatters review
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruno, Franklin Singer-songwriters from California American male singer-songwriters Bard College faculty People from Upland, California Living people American music critics 1968 births Journalists from California Pomona College faculty Shrimper Records artists Merge Records artists