The Toronto band’s first full album is wildly energetic, scattered with start/stop rhythms, and features pure vocal enthusiasm. The threesome’s cranked-up throwback sound is largely in part to quick, romping rhythms, silvery riffs, and plenty of singer Luke Lalonde’s party-shouting. Their debut album, Red Yellow & Blue, is a warmly bundled collection of jamboree, college party, and early 60’s get-downs.
The title and opening track has a subdued, but slick echo applied to a mellow military beat, and it doesn’t indicate the album’s direction that follows. Immediately upon the first chord/jump/Ho! of "Barnacle Goose", however, Red Yellow & Blue gets more definition. That track lets loose into a machine gun stomp, and the next track "Hummingbird" has a similar pace while bass guitar drives a flailing nu-sock hop. "Little Garçon" is an acoustic head-bobber with campfire vocal harmonies and clapping aplenty. "Bondonka Donkey" adds a crisp bounce to the mix, and by that point, Red Yellow & Blue is a healthy dose of fun.
Born Ruffians seem to know how to have a good time, as the energy on Red Yellow & Blue would indicate. Each track has a different, but altogether light-hearted appeal, and the looseness on the album is sorely missing from a lot of records lately.
