Remember when the main point of being involved in “independent music” was not to land a track on the CDs sitting by the register, to be impulse-purchased along with a caramel latte? Remember when the general idea—even if you were supposedly playing “pop” rather than “hardcore”—seemed to involve getting your material over with some modicum of vitality and vivacity? Remember when, on many of your favorite records, there was audible evidence that the rhythm section had met on at least two previous occasions? Remember when none of us knew any cellists?

Actually, neither do we: Taste The Flavor was recorded in 2001 (and mixed a year later), and everything that’s happened since has tended to obscure the past until it's a fresco in a room full of smudgepots. But it seems as though there must have been a time like the one described above—if not, this album is far more original than any of us imagined. In any case, to paraphrase Gerard Langley: “These songs are on a record; they're something that we did.”

It’s fitting, given the conflicted attitude toward self-promotion evident throughout our career, that Nothing Painted Blue would finally establish an on-line presence when the band itself is becalmed, or at least geographically dispersed. (That is: we all still like each other, and are unwilling to actually promise you that we won’t record or play again.) At the moment, all you will find here are lyrics to the current album and a rough discography (including solo work and related projects); in the future, we hope to post older lyrics, a gallery of flyers and photos, and perhaps some mp3s of unreleased and difficult-to-locate recordings. So check back sometime.

Despite the “.com,” don’t expect to be able to buy anything through this site; Franklin can’t be trusted with any volume of direct mail orders. (However, you’re more than welcome to contact him here.) We direct you instead to more reliable online retailers such as Scat and Midheaven.