Emo Diaries, Entry 2: the Work of Bob Nanna (Braid, Hey Mercedes, & The City on Film)

(Artist Robert Nanna performing live)

Braid

When posting on the Kinsella brothers and the best of 90s Emo Rock, one has to mention the other great Illinois legend, Bob Nanna.  He first played in a group called Friction before forming the legendary Emo band Braid in 1993.  Is Braid possibly the best Emo band of the 90s?  One could easily argue the case.  They released their first album Frankie Welfare Boy Age Five in 1995 on Divot Records; it’s more aggressive and hardcore than anything else in the group’s discography.  The band immediately followed up with the album The Age of Octeen in 1996 on Mud Records, but their seminal classic was their third full length, Frame & Canvas (Polyvinyl 1998).  Their 3rd album may be the best Emo record ever; it’s a perfect summation of the era.  I first heard this album in high school and will most likely listen to it for the rest of my life.  This is great rock’n’roll; check out the classic “A Dozen Roses”:

This is what Emo meant in the late 90s.  They’re not wining about a juvenile romance gone wrong nor are they indulging some proclamation of self-loathing insecurity.  It’s emotionally-felt, experimental rock’n’roll done thoughtfully & tastefully.  Here’s the opening track “The New Nathan Detroits”:

Although Braid broke up by 1999, they have briefly reunited a few times in the last decade.  They released a collection of their 7”s on a 2xCD release, Movie Music, Vols. 1-2 (Polyvinyl 2000).  

During the Braid period, Bob Nanna also teamed up with Cap’n Jazz’s Tim Kinsella (also of the many bands posted about last time...) to form the side project, The Sky Corvair.  They released one album, Unsafe at any Speed, in the mid 90s. (See the last post for more about that project.)  Their music was heavier and more hardcore much like Braid’s 1st full length release.

AofO:  http://www.mediafire.com/?mziztzwnxib

 F&C:  http://www.mediafire.com/?yzyhtnidyww

Hey Mercedes

After Braid’s dissolution, Bob Nanna and other members formed the project Hey Mercedes.  They released two full lengths and several Eps between the years 2000-2005.  Their music was much more “mainstream” and poppy while still developing the Emo rock sounds of Nanna’s earlier work.  Personally, I like the earlier releases such as the first self-titled Ep (Polyvinyl 2000) and the debut album, Everynight Fire Works (Vagrant Records 2001). Here’s the opening track, “The Frowning of a Lifetime,” off the debut album:

It’s much poppier than anything from Braid’s catalogue.  It’s not my favorite material by Bob Nanna, but it has its place, I guess... The first album is definitely worth a listen:

http://www.mediafire.com/?mo21jzig3xz

The City on Film

In the 2000s, Bob Nanna has recorded several Eps & 7”s along with one full length under the name The City on Film.  I posted a link to their split 7” with Owen in the last post, and I mentioned that I was not too enthusiastic about their tracks on that particular release.  Contrary to that statement, I highly highly recommend Bob Nanna’s full length release, In Formal Introduction (Grand Theft Autumn 2005).  Here’s the track “Forgiveness,” off his sole full length In Formal Introduction:

Like Mike Kinsella’s Owen, this seems to be a folkier, more laid-back side of Bob Nanna, and one can see the obvious development towards this end.  The City on Film’s In Formal Introduction is a great addition to any Indie Rock library; definitely check it out:

http://www.mediafire.com/?11lzmes11mh