Comprised of John Darnielle (the Mountain Goats) and Franklin Bruno (Nothing Painted Blue, the Human Hearts) The Extra Lens began as a potential home for any song John wrote that had a) more than three chords or b) a bridge. New songs for the group only happened when John figured he'd written something that Franklin might find clever or amusing, although at least one such song, remembered as "Anti-Witchcraft Song," is lost. Recorded with Brian Paulson and with Mitch Rackin, Undercard is the first Extra Lens record to arrive as a full collaboration between songwriters.