News that Ben Folds and novelist Nick Hornby have teamed up for an album of original songs isn’t really new (they’ve been talking about the project since last fall at least), but now the record is finally in the can as the artwork, release date, and other details were unveiled by their label, Nonesuch Records, this week.
Set for release on September 28, Lonely Avenue (album cover above) features “12 musical short stories,” recorded on 2-inch tape. The lyrics, penned by Hornby and sent to Folds via chatroulette email, “touch on subject matter ranging from a mother with a child in the hospital over New Years Eve to the work of [Rock Hall of Famer] Doc Pomus.”
For a preview of what’s to come, check out the pair’s fall demo (possibly not on the album) of “Levi Johnston’s Blues” below. **Update: the official version of this song is now available: