Born Ruffians, Bowery Ballroom 1/30/08
photo by Kathryn Yu
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole, is Hummingbird
by Born Ruffians from the forthcoming 2008 album Red, Yellow and Blue on Warp.
To follow last year’s Hummingbird EP, 16 minutes of bliss that included a cover of Grizzly Bear’s The Knife,
this Toronto threesome has concocted Red, Yellow and Blue, their first long player and first for Warp. Born Ruffians produce indie pop in its purest sense with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Rusty Santos (Panda Bear, Animal Collective) manned the production booth this time around, making any spontaneous or meandering tempo changes both understandable and well executed. Vocally, Luke Lalonde has often been compared to Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah — though I’d argue Lalonde achieves a more practiced abandon, landing more hooks per round. Now that their recent stint in Europe is done, Lalonde, Mitch Derosier (bass) and Steven Hamelin (drums) hit the road again without pause, this time with Cadence Weapon. They’re expected at the High Dive 3/22. Check out the band’s blog for talk of the album and life on the road after watching the official video for Hummingbird
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