EP Release: School of Romance
They say heartbreak is a great teacher—but some of us have to repeat the class more than once just to prove we didn’t get it.
James, known to fans of the Frankly Spunk genre as a truth-spitting romantic renegade, has just released a milestone in soul-country storytelling: the 6-track EP School of Romance. This project blends gritty reflection, gospel harmonies, psychedelic twang, and a Motown backbeat to trace the echoes of love’s mistakes and near-misses.
It’s not just a record—it’s a reunion with a part of yourself.
A Graduation Worth Repeating
Inspired by a colorized high school yearbook photo from 1967 (Firestone High, Akron, Ohio), the School of Romance EP is a musical memoir 50+ years in the making. That young man with black pearl tie-tack didn’t know how many pop quizzes love had waiting for him—but he sure had the soundtrack in his bones.
“The school of romance is always in,” James says, “and I keep repeating the same grade.”
This EP rewinds through the emotional curriculum of a lifetime—track by track—with the kind of lyrical honesty and grit that only Frankly Spunk can deliver.
Tracklist & Themes
🎶 School of Romance
The title track lays the foundation: love as a classroom, heartbreak as homework. Gospel harmonies swell over a warm bassline and reverb-drenched pedal steel. Think yearbook photos, dances you skipped, and the one that got away.
🎶 What Is Love?
A philosophical jam that spins doubt into poetry. “We sure know when love is gone” James rhymes. The tempo’s slow-burn groove lets the listener sit with uncertainty, wrapped in vintage guitar shimmer.
🎶 OR ELSE
Equal parts Motown sass and outlaw warning shot. “Told her, ‘Girl, respect me, or else.’ She smirked and whispered, I’ll take the ‘Or else.’” It’s heartbreak with punch and denim swagger.
🎶 Vinyl Heart – Side B
A B-side anthem for anyone who’s had to flip the record after the needle dropped. It’s soulful, moody, and unapologetically honest about finding peace in the static on Side B.
🎶 Heartbreak Exchange
Trading love notes for eviction notices? This track grooves with smoky regret and a bassline that hits like a closed door. “He gave her heart, she gave him back heartbreak.”
🎶 Wabishabi (Cracks in the Gold)
Closing out the EP with grace, this song embraces imperfection as a virtue. Inspired by Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy and the beauty of life’s cracks, it’s a soulful bow to everything we carry forward, scars and all.
Why This EP Matters Now
As part of the Tabula Rasa RV Tour and the growing Frankly Speaking Studios project, the School of Romance EP doesn’t just live in the past—it dances with it, reshapes it, and sets it to music. It’s also a meditation on love’s evolving definitions—from locker notes to love letters written on the road.
It’s a perfect blend of storytelling, honest self-deprecating charm, and lived-in wisdom. And if you’ve ever looked back at your high school photo and winced, laughed, or wept, this EP might just be your new favorite mirror.
Where to Listen
Call to Action (CTA): 🎧 Stream it. 💬 Share it. 💔 Relive it.
And don’t forget to share your favorite track—or your own “romantic report card”—in the comments. 🎓
Which song hit you hardest—and why?
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