Today, Born Ruffians singer/guitarist Luke Lalonde released his solo debut, Rhythymnals, on Paper Bag Records. While I won't ask you to say that album title five times fast, I will strongly suggest that you take a listen, as it's streaming on CBC Music until Nov. 6.
ListenRhythymnals
Luke Lalonde
tracklist
According to Lalonde's blog, the Toronto musician has been working on the album in his off time from Born Ruffians since January 2010. With the exception of a few piano and violin elements, Lalonde completed the songs on Rhythymnals entirely on his own.
"The ten-track album's theme was originally centred around the notion of sound existing whether we do or not and our unique ability to interpret it and manipulate it," Lalonde's label stated in a recent release. "But in the end the album ended up sprawling outward to narratives about gender confused couples, a man who hates his boyish looks so he cuts his face up, long distance relationships and rejection."
The result is a highly enjoyable, refreshingly inventive alt-pop album that's sonically adventurous from track one, "Grand (Rhythymnals)." The storytelling has a dark edge — as evidenced on "Wave," "My Friend Archibald (R.I.P)" and "Inamorataos" — yet its delivery is never melodramatic. I would not be surprised to see Rhythymnals get a nod on next year's Polaris Music Prize short list.
While there's no word yet on tour dates for Rhythymnals, you can expect to see Lalonde on tour early next year with Born Ruffians. The band's forthcoming album is currently in post-production, and is expected to be released in 2013.
You can stream Rhythymnals on CBC Music until Nov. 6.
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