Raise My Hands Up High

Born Ruffians “Hedonistic Me” – The Born Ruffians’ debut EP definitely sounds better to me now than when I first heard it, but it’s easy to understand why it didn’t grab my attention in the same way that their live set did on Monday night. For one thing, the most exciting songs from their show are not on the record, and tracks they have released only hint at the quality of the melodic yet rhythmically complex material that they performed at the Mercury Lounge. “Hedonistic Me” was played in the set, and comes the closest to the appeal of the newer tunes, though it doesn’t quite show off the brilliance of their drummer, who is so talented and charismatic that the guitarist and bassist seem to be supporting him, and not the other way around. The band indulge in a few vocal tics common in indie rock these days — Modest Mouse rhythmic barks, Animal Collective party shouts, a general nebbishy timbre — but at their best, the tunes are creamy, the guitar tone is gorgeous, the beats are clever yet intuitive, and the level of musicianship is far beyond what is commonly expected from young indie rock dudes these days. (Click here to buy it from Bleep.)