Although surprisingly short (38:56 minutes in length), the new Born Ruffians album, RUFF, indulges listeners with the familiar sounds of Luke Lalonde’s vocals and classic Ruffian guitar riffs. In contrast to their previous album Birthmarks, Ruff contains songs that are less poppy, but rather reminiscent of old school rock. The opening of the second track of the album, “Stupid Dreams,” bears a slight resemblance to the hit single, “Take On Me” by the 1980s band A-ha. Born Ruffians seem to be reviving their old indie rock roots, bringing back incoherent lyrical vocals heard in songs like “Barnacle Goose” and “Badonkadonkey” from their earlier 2008 album Red, Yellow & Blue.
RUFF seems to portray the band’s feelings for their current status as rock stars. With songs like “(Eat Shit) We Did It” and “We Made It,” the artists appear to express their jubilance and sense of pride for surviving and getting to this point of their lives with their music careers. Lalonde sings in his new song, “One Day, I’m Gonna Make It,” and these lyrics certainly ring true as their hard work and dedication earned the 2004 band a recent 2014 Juno nomination. As revealed in the lyrics and music video of their opening track, “Don’t Live Up”, the musicians express that their lives as artists are not as glamorous as most would think. Constantly touring and writing music, their lives consist of repetition combined with sleepless nights. As Lalonde sings, “you’re living the dream… but it don’t live up!”
Born Ruffians began their 2015 RUFF tour in September, starting with Indie 88’s two-year anniversary party in Toronto and continuing across North America and Europe. Just as they began their tour in Toronto, they will end their tour in Toronto with three separate shows from December 10-12 at the Silver Dollar, Lee’s Palace, and Opera House. Filled with incredible energy and passion, Born Ruffians consistently puts on explosive shows that are known for being memorable. They often interact with the audience and perform with intense spirit. Jumping to the rhythmic beats of their songs, the members of Born Ruffians always look like they are having a good time, which lifts the spirits of everyone around. Make sure to catch them at one of the Toronto dates and dance your pants off. Don’t be afraid of getting a little RUFF.
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