Born Ruffians - Born Ruffians EP (XL)
3/5
By: Chris Pratt
The massive twin successes of The Arcade Fire and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah seem to have had industry people falling over each other to get the signatures of the next vocally unconventional indie-rock band on a contract: I don't doubt that Born Ruffians were at the epicentre of such a scrum.
Hailing from Midland, Ontario - a town previously only known as a place where Iroquois massacred eight Jesuit priests 350 years ago - it's fair to say that this three piece wouldn't be sitting pretty with a U.K. record deal if it wasn't for the acclaim and record sales CYHSY have garnered of late, but with this top-notch E.P they make a strong claim for themselves as next in line for the throne of quirk.
It's another case of 'if you like his voice, you like the band,' as Luke LaLonde's oft-indecipherable wailing dominates these six songs, though The 'Ruffians are at their best when he reigns in his vocal idiosyncrasies such as on the superbly frantic pop of 'Piecing It Together.' Musically, the trio seem well tuned-in to each other, exhibiting exuberance The Strokes wish they could still muster as they switch from the Pixies stomp of 'This Sentence Will Run/Save Your Life' to the lackadaisical sunshine of 'Hedonistic Me' with ease.
One senses that choosing to initially release an E.P trather than an album will prove to be a canny decision - as well as giving newbies the opportunity for a breathless crash-course it'll also give the band some vital breathing space in which to further develop their musical identity for what's likely to be an eagerly anticipated debut full-length (in which they'll hopefully steer a little further from their more-established peers).
Artists in this article: Born Ruffians
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