One of my favorite bands in the early 90s was Nothing Painted Blue, an indie rocker’s indie rock band. Fronted by the hyperliterate Franklin Bruno, Nothing Painted Blue had a clear advantage in the lyrics department. Bruno could be clever, erudite, and wry. Lyrics like, “you say you’ll pray for my soul, you’re more like Senator Dole,” from the song “Vengeful as Hell,” sung in Bruno’s matter-of-fact voice, still makes me chuckle.
Bruno’s new band, The Human Hearts, has a video for the single “Still in Error.” In it, Bruno makes a midlife attempt to learn to ride a bike. His lyrics are still sharp, and he still manages to jam complex words into a simple indie pop song.
I try to use the right knife
Try to choose the right wine,
And conduct myself in an inconspicuous manner
The jangle goes well as a soundtrack to suburban cycling. You’ll have to watch to the end to see if Bruno meets his goal.
The Human Hearts - Still In Error (YouTube)
