Born Ruffians

Ever since the core trio of Born Ruffians first got together in 2002, they’ve been pumping out frenetic indie rock. The Midland, Ontario band, led by singer/guitarist Luke Lalonde, left their home for Toronto and adopted their current moniker. After scoring deals with both Warp and XL for their 2006 self-titled debut EP, they released their 2008 full-length debut, Red, Yellow & Blue, a collection of lean, catchy tunes like “Hummingbird,” which is infused with playful rhythms and clever lyrics. They fleshed out their sound with the addition of guitarist/keyboardist Andy Lloyd for 2010’s Say It. The sound grew bigger and brighter on 2013’s Birthmarks and 2015’s RUFF, especially on tracks like the celebratory “Needle.” In 2018, the album Uncle, Duke & The Chief and songs like the Kinks-indebted “Forget Me” found the Ruffians adding new layers to their still-frenzied style, while the all-killer, no-filler trilogy—2020’s JUICE and SQUEEZE along with 2021’s PULP—delivered a massive dose of Born Ruffians’ trademark dynamism.