Extra Lens / Undercard

Merge

Comprised of JOHN DARNIELLE (MOUNTAIN GOATS) and FRANKLIN BRUNO (NOTHING PAINTED BLUE, THE HUMAN HEARTS) and formed in the Inland Empire during the region’s brief next-Seattle shortlist period, the project began as a potential home for any song John wrote that had a) more than three chords or b) a bridge. New songs for the group only happened when John figured he’d written something that Franklin might find clever or amusing. Reasoning that permanent-bridesmaid status means you never have to actually buy the dress, the duo have approached record-making at a pace that one would call “leisurely” if it wouldn’t make the leisure class look like busybodies. Undercard. Recorded with BRIAN PAULSON (Slint, Beck, US Maple) at the Rubber Room in Carrboro, North Carolina, and with MITCH RACKIN (Excepter, Heavy Hands) at Seaside Lounge in Brooklyn, Undercard is the first EXTRA LENS record to arrive as a full collaboration between songwriters. The recording method, however, persists: John plays guitar, sings, and then gets the hell out of Dodge City, leaving Franklin to provide arrangements as the songs required: here sparing, here ornate; sometimes gentle, sometimes not; once with vibraslap, mostly without. No Export to Canada. (STREET DATE - 10/19/2010)

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