When a guitar band is signed by the authoritative electronic label Warp, there is usually something special about it, as proven earlier releases by Maxïmo Park, Broadcast and Battles. Born Ruffians, from Toronto, is no standard guitar rock band, as can be heard on their debut album Red Yellow & Blue. Born Ruffians has the most common ground with Maxïmo Park of the aforementioned bands. There
… is clearly a predilection for the sound of the hectic beat and power pop of the seventies, as released by the Stiff label, among others. Born Ruffians, however, has a greater freak content, and makes less use of the classic song structures from pop. Occasionally something sounds like a traditional song (Little Garcon) but then the music usually takes a different turn quickly. It is a bit tiring at times, but it stimulates. But otherwise you will never end up on the Warp label, of course. (MS)more
