Born Ruffians - live clip (2008)

There are bands who are great on CD and suck live, the ones who suck on CD and are great live, and ones that are great on CD and even better live. I'm starting to think Born Ruffians must fall in the latter category. After scouring YouTube for live performances the other day, I stumbled upon this great quality clip of a two-song performance of "Kurt Vonnegut" that plays straight into "Hummingbird." There's been ample talk of Born Ruffians love on QuickCrit before and I wax annoyed for never catching them live after seeing this video because it only confirms why they're still near the top of my "must-see" show list. There were hardly any chances for me to catch them on tour for Red Yellow & Blue... I had to give away tickets to a Brooklyn show in October, then they came back opening for Tokyo Police Club in February and that shit was sold out! Ugh. Has anyone else managed to catch them live? If not, enjoy some good tunage:

The Harlem Shakes @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

I'm sitting in a coffee shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on my laptop waiting for their 11pm set tonight for their album release party for Technicolor Health (my favorite release of 2009 thus far). I decided why not write the review now since I already know it will contain any if not all of the following words and phrases: awesome, rad, ridiculous, amazing, incredible, best show of the year, there's nothing like NYC indie rock, and future father of my children.

I will report back post-show to let you know if they were as good as I already know they will be. Yay!

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The recap: As I was packing up to head over to the MHOW, Kyp Malone from TV on the Radio strolled into the joint and I was the only one who seemed to care, oddly. I went up to him and we chatted over tea about Coachella, life in general, and what the heck he was doing at an ordinary coffee shop and why he's not at some glamorous industry party somewhere. He's chill as hell and considering they've collaborated with David Bowie, I imagine it's the closest I'll ever get to Bowie.

The Harlem Shakes set was every bit exciting and aurally pleasing as I'd predicted. A high-energy, fun, upbeat, toe-tappin' good time. If I may, a total musical anti-depressant since it's impossible to hear this music and feel sad (ubiquitous scruffy Williamsburg indie rock-type boys seem to also have this effect). They had a touring brass section, a syrupy sweet lead singer who was so grateful that fans came out, and a super-animated bassist who at one point was plugging away at his bass, hitting a bongo and shaking a maraca, all in one song. Even though this dorky lot of boys seem to have the same stylist as Vampire Weekend (minus the boat shoes), the evening felt like a sort of homecoming and they infused extra love in their set for their local East Coast/Brooklyn fans.

Per their sound, I quote myself to a once curious friend: "They sound like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah banged Vampire Weekend, but then realized that Born Ruffians is 'the one.'" I'm going to have to go ahead and add "had a brief thing on the side with The Strokes" right before the Born Ruffians part (even though HS > The Strokes in the talent department) and it's entirely accurate. They played every track off Technicolor Health and a few off their EP. My favorite performances of the night were "Strictly Game" (I love that drum beat sound at the :28 mark) and the breakdown during "Radio Orlando" with those tiny shards of guitar. Great on album, but even better live.

I highly recommend this show to all, particularly awmercy!

Born Ruffians - Red Yellow & Blue (2008)

Not to get all philosophical on your ass, but what came first... America's Vampire Weekend or Canada's Born Ruffians? Releasing eerily similar records within months of each other is stranger than post-Scientology Tom Cruise. It's kinda like when some mathematical genius from Tacoma wins medals inventing equations that some kid in a Cambodian village figured out 5 years ago, except no one knew... what are the odds?

Anyway... they've received QuickCrit praise before, but Red Yellow & Blue deserves its own nod. Overall, Born Ruffians sound like Vampire Weekend's cooler big brother with all the sonic quirkiness, minus the Afro-beats and Ivy League pretense. Vocally, it's an expert blend of My Morning Jacket meets Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, which will either intrigue or dissuade you (hopefully the former, not the latter). I've listened the hell out of this album and it's already cemented its place in my top ten list for 2008 releases.

My two favorite tracks, the absolutely adorable "Foxes Mate For Life" and romantic "Red Elephant" (nod to Sunny Day Real Estate?), are worth checking out, like, now. When he sings "Why am I here, when you're over there? Let's meet at the fountains at Dundas Square..." I actually want to drive to Toronto just to meet up. Oh, and they win the award for "Cutest Songs Titles in 2008." On stand-out "Hummingbird," you get hand-claps, a Futureheads-style sing-along chorus, and the recognizable guitar of Les Savy Fav. The bass punctuates in unexpected ways and the "oohs" and "ahhs" make you want to, well, hum along. The ever-jangly "I Need A Life" will inspire a social life, while "Little Garcon" will make you break out smores for a campfire sing-a-long with its playful drum taps, harmonica, and youthful vocals. "Badonkadonkey" boasts the same disjointed guitar-work of Vampire Weekend's "M79" with a bass-line straight out of Dexys Midnight Runners' "Come On Eileen," while "In A Mirror" shares the same off-kilter vocals of Pavement's "Shady Lane"... the notes are off the mark, yet still hit it somehow.

...and "Kurt Vonnegut," with its competing vocals, "Oh won't you come outside, love!" round-like chorus, and upbeat music evoke such unabashed happiness... instead of throwing pebbles, this is the song I'd want a lovelorn boy to play outside my window in the middle of the night... (yeah, "In Your Eyes" won't work on me)

The Final Verdict:
If you like any of the comparisons I name-dropped, this album is worth at least one listen. And if you love Vampire Weekend, I'm fairly certain you'll love these guys as much, if not more... I actually think they might be better... ::ducks::

Hot Catato's Summer Short List

1. Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III - now thats how you let the beat build, bitch.




2. This football iPod speaker dock I bought at Walgreens for $10 dollars.




3. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - It is yet to be determined whether he will prove to be a more talented musician or alcoholic, but his self titled album is one of my favorites of the year.


4. Hot Chip at the Fillmore - Definitely go see them live if you have the chance. Try not to punch anyone in the face, tho.

5. Born Ruffians: Foxes Mate for Life - Jingle jangle, thats kind of what they sound like.