Ring in spring with some upbeat indie pop
Birthmarks is the fourth album released by Toronto indie rock band Born Ruffians. It is a fun and upbeat album, perfect for the springtime. With that being said, let me urge you to take this advice: don’t listen to the album once and passively judge it as I initially did. After the first listen, none of the songs really stood out and I was slightly disappointed. After tuning in a few more times, I was soon singing along and arguing with myself over which song I loved the most. This turn of events only happened after a conscious attempt at listening to the album, so make sure you go into it with the right mentality.
Tracks like “Ocean’s Deep,” “6-500,” “Cold Pop,” and “So Slow” are all a cut above the rest. On the other hand, the amateurish and melancholy “Never Age” closes off the playlist with a finale that could serve as depressing elevator muzak (just skip this track altogether). Lalonde’s falsetto is something to question in this song, but his voice is spot-on for the rest of the album. In many ways, “Cold Pop” is the best example of Lalonde’s vocal talents.
Influences from other bands such as Fleet Foxes, Cage the Elephant, Hollerado, Vampire Weekend, and Tokyo Police Club are so noticeable, it’s not even funny – which goes to show how musical styles can be weaved together to create something beautiful. Lyrics are original while never out of place, though the song writing is somewhat boyish compared to previous albums. Red, Yellow and Blue (2008) and Say It (2010) contained clever and tactful references to Jean Paul Sartre and Kurt Vonnegut, showing influential elements that I was pleasantly surprised to find. Instead, Birthmarks is full of messages about youthful love and introspection – don’t expect much more than that. I guess Lalonde finally found romance.
Though I rank it lower than all of their other works, I love this album, plain and simple. I guess you could call it their “worst” album, which goes to show how great a band Born Ruffians is if people still enjoy your weakest record. So don’t worry, give it a few listens and you’ll be dancing to “Ocean’s Deep” before you know it!
