Born Ruffians – Ruff

Repeat Listens are Necessary and Rewarding

Ruff, the new LP from Born Ruffians, is a bit of a slow burn. Upon one’s initial listen, the music may elicit a palpable twinge and the unmistakable urge to dismiss this record as just another barely-tolerably twee, aspirational, Brooklyn indie-pop record. The lyrics edge suspiciously towards the realm of “manic pixie dream girls” and sensitive boys done wrong by a callous and unsympathetic world. The guitar work has that crisp, clean sound favored by the second-to-third-wave ska bands that gave up their manic glee and went all moody as the 1990s gave way to the 2000s, and the rest of the instrumentation follows suit.

There follows, however, a moment that begs the listener to pause and reconsider all preconceived notions about this record. It is the wonderfully executed “Fuck Feelings,” a painfully honest reflection on one’s emotional state post break-up which manages to carry an undercurrent of exasperation without being mopey or cliché. The likelihood of any song with a title like “Fuck Feelings” managing to not be a completely bloated train wreck of angsty teenage spew is slim to none, but Born Ruffians pulls it off. Rather than applying broad brush strokes or grandios statements, it begins with lyrics focused tight on a scrap of emotionally laden minutiae: “Hey man / You’ll never hold that hand / Like never ever again / You’re almost someone else now.” The song goes on to discuss post-relationship fallout in a refreshingly self-aware, self-analytical manner.

It’s hard to tell whether the record’s second half is actually stronger than the first, or that it’s simply a matter that the album seems more compelling after “Fuck Feelings.” That said, “(Eat Shit) We Did It,” and “Shade to Shade” are among Ruff‘s stickiest tracks; the former by virtue of a catchy lyrical hook, the latter credited to its spine tingling anthemic swells. Regardless, after the close of the last song, it is all too easy to loop back around for another listen. After that first “ah-ha” moment is had, the rest of the record reveals itself in a new light and demands repeat listening despite any initial misgivings.