Born Ruffians

Red Yellow Blue

[3/5]

Born Ruffians’ garrulous good nature and effusive pop bounce suggest a precocious teen delightedly entertaining the remaining stragglers at his parents’ party. There’s an assured self-possession that says they’ve done this before, and indeed, Red Yellow Blue follows last year’s eponymous six-song self-titled debut. Almost 40 minutes long, Red is a more grueling test of their mettle. Bright melodies caper across the album, chased by lilting, tumbling rhythms. The clean, staccato guitar riffs recall Spoon, while the songs’ off-kilter shimmy invokes Modest Mouse and Built To Spill. Though consistently entertaining, the songs’ similar tone and style begin to run together. That doesn’t preclude the band from penning a handful of memorable tracks, including “Barnacle Goose” with its punctuating shouts over skittering percussion; the wistful, yet upbeat “I Need A Life”; and the infectious ode to “Kurt Vonnegut.” The effortless pop smarts are appealing, but the Ruffians will need to vary the delivery if they’re expecting a career. (WARP) Chris Parker