B-Side Guys

Parenthood alters perspective. Suddenly, the mundane becomes miraculous, biological functions become cosmic events, and tiny humans appear almost alien in their unfamiliarity. Born Ruffians’ latest single “Supersonic Man” captures this perceptual shift with remarkable precision, framing birth as interstellar arrival.

Twenty years into their career, the Toronto-based indie veterans could easily coast on established formulas. Instead, they’ve crafted something that pushes against their own boundaries—a track that maintains their melodic sensibilities while introducing production elements that signal artistic reinvention. This willingness to evolve prevents staleness, creating music that feels simultaneously familiar and refreshingly unexpected.

Frontman Luke Lalonde’s explanation of the track as “a sci-fi short story about a humanoid alien arriving on Earth” that doubles as “a metaphor for childbirth” offers illuminating context, but the song functions beautifully without this interpretive framework. The opening lines—”I wanna kiss the sky/Wanna wave goodbye at the end of days”—establish immediate transcendence, positioning the narrator simultaneously as departing voyager and welcoming committee.

The production, handled by Roger Leavens with mixing by Gus Van Go (known for work with Metric and The Beaches), creates a sonic environment that perfectly complements this thematic duality. Electronic elements introduce otherworldliness while the band’s characteristic energy grounds the composition in recognizable humanity. This balance mirrors the song’s central tension between cosmic scale and intimate connection.

Particularly effective is the recurring chorus, where the title character becomes both mythic figure and newborn: “Supersonic Man/Go on, thrill ’em/Make ’em feel alive.” This exhortation captures parental hopes and anxieties—the simultaneous desire for extraordinary achievement and simple joy in existence. The refrain “We’re never gonna die/We are seeds of time being blown away” further develops this generational contemplation, acknowledging how reproduction creates both mortality and continuity.

Musically, the track demonstrates what Born Ruffians have refined over two decades—the ability to craft songs that function equally well as thoughtful headphone experiences and energetic live staples. The rhythm section maintains driving momentum while leaving space for textural exploration, creating forward motion without congestion.

As the lead single from their forthcoming album Beauty’s Pride (a title that gains additional resonance given the song’s paternal perspective), “Supersonic Man” suggests Born Ruffians have entered a creatively fertile period. While many of their mid-2000s contemporaries have disbanded or diminished, these Canadian indie stalwarts continue finding new creative territory—proving that artistic relevance, like parenthood, involves constant adaptation and wonder at life’s persistent strangeness.