Civics:

CIVICS is the debut release by THE HUMAN HEARTS, but it's also the latest project from indie stalwart Franklin Bruno (of Nothing Painted Blue, The Extra Glenns, and solo releases). The recordings -- and the new name -- came about when Franklin relocated to Chicago for a year, and was invited by Tight Ship Records honcho Barry Phipps to record a few songs for a solo EP. A few songs turned into ten, and friends came in to help: drummer/mallet expert Mark Greenberg (The Coctails), violinist Jean Cook (between tours with The Mekons' Jon Langford), and bassist Michael Lyons, on loan from his own (excellent) project, Violins. Singer extrordinaire Kelly Hogan (veteran of many a Neko Case record and Bloodshot Records recordings) was roped in for extra vocal firepower.

About The Human Hearts:

A FEW WORDS ABOUT FRANKLIN BRUNO -- 6 albums with Nothing Painted Blue, first-generation members of So. Cal.’s Shrimper Tapes scene; later releases on Cleveland/St. Louis' Scat Records -- 3 solo albums, most recently A Cat May Look at a Queen (Absolutely Kosher) -- sometime member of The Mountain Goats, most recently on the acclaimed 4AD albums The Sunset Tree and Get Lonely; also plays with the Goats' John Darnielle in the occasional duo The Extra Glenns -- wrote and co-produced Tempting: Jenny Toomey Sings the Songs of Franklin Bruno (Misra), the second solo album by the Tsunami/Simple Machines founder -- author of a book on Elvis Costello's Armed Forces, in Continuum's 33 1/3 series -- could be the only person in indiedom to write articles for both Spin and The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism.

MP3'S:

Professionals In Cancun.mp3
Stammheim.mp3