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about this album
A few months into the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-2020, John Flansburgh suggested to John Linnell that the two create solo releases during lockdown, for the first time since the '90s. Flansburgh originally suggested that Linnell write and record a second volume of State Songs, but was pleased when Linnell came back with the idea to record an EP in Latin. Roman Songs was first announced in August 2020 as part of the TMBG Instant Fan Club, alongside a forthcoming Mono Puff EP. Linnell: "I can hear some of you screaming, “why songs in Latin?” and I admit I’m scrambling for a cogent explanation. There isn’t one. All I can tell you is that I’m deeply jealous of people who are fluent in a second language and can apply that skill to their creative work in a way that doesn’t seem like cultural appropriation of the most offensive and embarrassing kind. I’m trying to stay in my lane so I don’t cause traffic accidents on the multicultural highway. In spite of this I perked up when I discovered the very short, easy Latin course being offered on the Duolingo website. After completing the course, I figured I could write a few songs in my newly adopted language. I was soon disabused of this notion. I can barely string two words together in Latin, and to borrow from Mark Twain, I would rather decline two drinks than one Latin noun. Luckily my colleague and childhood friend Schoolmaster Smith came to my rescue, having spent his entire adult life studying and teaching Latin. He generously trans
