Franklin Bruno

Nothing Painted Blue's Franklin Bruno embraces sparseness, patience, and a peculiar sense of irony in his solo efforts. Minimal piano, interspersed Fender clank, and honest, unfinished singing saunter simply, elegantly, and tastefully enough. Bruno starkly contrasts the playfully childlike, almost upbeat melodies with lyrics that address dark subjects in wryly humorous fashion -- in one case, assuming the first person pursuing infidelity rather than putting on the tattered cuckold's coat, inevitably reeling from the melodrama. The resulting discomfort surrounding the very idea of the playful "cheat" offers the most beautiful and tense dynamic, and is at least humorous, if not ultimately disturbing.