"American Hearts," Bondy's first solo album, hit stores in April on the Fat Possum label. Streaming versions of several of the album's cuts are currently streaming at Bondy's MySpace page.

Bondy's vocals were frequently compared to Kurt Cobain's when he fronted Verbena, which the singer/guitarist formed in the early '90s with two high school friends, drummer Les Nuby and bassist Daniel Johnston. The band recorded three full-length albums and two EPs (including studio efforts produced by Dave Fridmann and Dave Grohl) before disbanding in 2003 following the release of its final album, "La Musica Negra."

"When I first started playing by myself, I'd played tons and tons of shows with a band," Bondy told St. Louis's Riverfront Times in February. "I didn't even understand how freaked out I was. If you're getting up on stage with a band, it's like you're part of a team. But once you get up there by yourself, it's totally different. 'Cause you're responsible for it all. I like it better. It's more thrilling, at least.

"I don't get too freaked out anymore, but I used to," he added. "When you're by yourself, it's so much easier."