01-06-2010, 12:20
released June 1st, 2010
![[Image: n89298bdxtr.jpg]](http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drn800/n892/n89298bdxtr.jpg)
from the album - What To Say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tFDF1rwUO8
from all music
Toronto's Born Ruffians feature Luke LaLonde (vocals/guitar), Mitch DeRosier (bass/vocals), and Steve Hamelin (drums). Formed in 2002, the indie rock trio creates a jaunty mix of shifty guitar riffs and hyper-chic vocals for a Pixies-esque shredded kind of sweetness. An appearance at the annual Pop Montreal festival and U.S. tour dates with Hot Chip and Shy Child coincided with the release of Born Ruffians' self-titled debut EP for Warp Records in October 2006. The band's first full-length, Red Yellow & Blue, arrived in spring 2008. They returned with 2010's Say It, which the band recorded in two weeks with producer Rusty Santos.
album review
It would be easy to say that Born Ruffians' second album shows just how much theyâve grown since Red, Yellow & Blue, but itâs more accurate to say that theyâve shrunk in just the right ways. Recorded in just two weeks, Say It finds the band doing much more with less, allowing the quicksilver shifts of their tight, melodic, and rhythmic interplay to shine through. Nearly every song here reveals how cohesive, energetic, and flexible Born Ruffians have become, but âOh Manâ kicks off Say It with a perfect example: the band moves from lilting, liquid guitars and a rollicking beat to choppy rhythms and back again so easily that itâs almost imperceptible. Though the track always feels propulsive, the drums are kept to just the kick and snare where many bands would unleash a hail of cymbals (indeed, itâs not till halfway through Say It that a cymbal crash is heard), which only makes it more intriguing. Say It really kicks off after âSole Brotherââs Afro-pop and soul flirtations, spanning high-energy songs like âNova-Leighâ and âHigher and Higher,â as well as the more intimate âWhat to Say,â which uses tiny guitar licks and ghostly keyboards to spell out a bashful love story. Born Ruffiansâ music is so playful that when Luke LaLondeâs vocals follow suit, as on âRetard Canard,â it borders on too much. Moments such as the brassy âCome Backâ are interesting experiments that donât quite work, and a handful of songs dilute the bandâs energy by going on a hair too long. At times, it seems like Born Ruffians elude pure pop magic -- sometimes by choice, sometimes by chance -- but they way they bounce off of each other and lock together again is never less than impressive, and one of the greatest joys Say It offers.
Track Listing
1 Oh Man Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:03
2 Retard Canard Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:22
3 Sole Brother Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:25
4 What to Say Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:32
5 The Ballad of Moose Bruce Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 3:53
6 Higher & Higher Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 3:33
7 Come Back Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 3:46
8 Nova-Leigh Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:15
9 Blood, The Sun & Water Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 2:54
10 At Home Now Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 2:58
from the album - What To Say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tFDF1rwUO8
from all music
Toronto's Born Ruffians feature Luke LaLonde (vocals/guitar), Mitch DeRosier (bass/vocals), and Steve Hamelin (drums). Formed in 2002, the indie rock trio creates a jaunty mix of shifty guitar riffs and hyper-chic vocals for a Pixies-esque shredded kind of sweetness. An appearance at the annual Pop Montreal festival and U.S. tour dates with Hot Chip and Shy Child coincided with the release of Born Ruffians' self-titled debut EP for Warp Records in October 2006. The band's first full-length, Red Yellow & Blue, arrived in spring 2008. They returned with 2010's Say It, which the band recorded in two weeks with producer Rusty Santos.
album review
It would be easy to say that Born Ruffians' second album shows just how much theyâve grown since Red, Yellow & Blue, but itâs more accurate to say that theyâve shrunk in just the right ways. Recorded in just two weeks, Say It finds the band doing much more with less, allowing the quicksilver shifts of their tight, melodic, and rhythmic interplay to shine through. Nearly every song here reveals how cohesive, energetic, and flexible Born Ruffians have become, but âOh Manâ kicks off Say It with a perfect example: the band moves from lilting, liquid guitars and a rollicking beat to choppy rhythms and back again so easily that itâs almost imperceptible. Though the track always feels propulsive, the drums are kept to just the kick and snare where many bands would unleash a hail of cymbals (indeed, itâs not till halfway through Say It that a cymbal crash is heard), which only makes it more intriguing. Say It really kicks off after âSole Brotherââs Afro-pop and soul flirtations, spanning high-energy songs like âNova-Leighâ and âHigher and Higher,â as well as the more intimate âWhat to Say,â which uses tiny guitar licks and ghostly keyboards to spell out a bashful love story. Born Ruffiansâ music is so playful that when Luke LaLondeâs vocals follow suit, as on âRetard Canard,â it borders on too much. Moments such as the brassy âCome Backâ are interesting experiments that donât quite work, and a handful of songs dilute the bandâs energy by going on a hair too long. At times, it seems like Born Ruffians elude pure pop magic -- sometimes by choice, sometimes by chance -- but they way they bounce off of each other and lock together again is never less than impressive, and one of the greatest joys Say It offers.
Track Listing
1 Oh Man Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:03
2 Retard Canard Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:22
3 Sole Brother Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:25
4 What to Say Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:32
5 The Ballad of Moose Bruce Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 3:53
6 Higher & Higher Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 3:33
7 Come Back Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 3:46
8 Nova-Leigh Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 4:15
9 Blood, The Sun & Water Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 2:54
10 At Home Now Born Ruffians, DeRosier ... 2:58