Rufio

Rufio: The Comfort Of HomeThe Comfort Of Home (2005)
Nitro Records

Reviewer Rating: 1.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: danperroneDan Perrone
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on July 15th 2005Rufio is a band that will just never win. They're just one of those bands that has been pigeon-holed right out of the gates as a lame pop-punk band, and, more descriptively, one that isn't very good. Their sugary yet technical approach to the genre has not gone over well with the music community ove.

Rufio is a band that will just never win. They're just one of those bands that has been pigeon-holed right out of the gates as a lame pop-punk band, and, more descriptively, one that isn't very good. Their sugary yet technical approach to the genre has not gone over well with the music community over the last four or so years, starting with their debut full-length, Perhaps, I Suppose. Chock full of speedy riffs and whiny lyrics about girls and "love," the album was accepted by those deeply immersed in their pop-punk stage (myself included, admittedly), even more so than another pop-punk band that had emerged at almost exactly the same time: Yellowcard. Unfortunately, longevity has not been something the band has possessed, and with their second album, the abomination 1985 (and even beforehand), the band's popularity decreased tenfold. Fast forward to the present, and The Comfort Of Home is coming out with but a whimper, and the question still remains: Does anyone really even care?

The formula is still the same: standard pop-punk riffs (toned down even more than the first two albums, in fact), quick drum fills, and awful and childish lyrics (although I sense that the band had not intended it to be that way). However, there is one glaring addition to The Comfort Of Home, which…wait for it, wait for it…drives me out of control. Electronics? Keyboards? Yes, Rufio has incorporated some cheesy keyboard lines to some of their choruses, and added some effects to some assorted guitar parts as well. The results are horrible, as if an already clichéd band needed to add any more clichés. Also, while on the topic of guitars, the lead guitar noodling randomly and sloppily thrown into certain parts of songs ("Let Fate Decide" is a prime offender) makes for an aggravating listen as well, as it just does not fit with the tone of Rufio's music at all. A final gripe is that vocalist Scott Sellers still has a sickeningly weak voice; there is no "oomph" behind his voice whatsoever, to the point where it simply sounds like he stood in front of a microphone, reciting the lyrics as poetry, bored to death. Yes, it gets that bad. This, in turn, adds to more focus on how bad the voice sounds, and in a snowball effect makes the listener notice how awful the lyrics are. While there are no real show-stopping lines that induce vomit, one listen to The Comfort Of Home will make you bust out your angsty sixth grade journal and wonder how you wrote better songs than Rufio does now.

On the bright side, "Never Learn" is a sweet, sweet song. With a dark guitar tone and rapid-fire drumming á la Strung Out circa The Element Of Sonic Defiance, it is by and large the highlight of the album, and acts as a song that you truthfully will want to listen to more than once. Sadly, only a few other songs found here induce the same feelings, but Rufio has embedded some diamonds in the rough. The album ends particularly strong with "My Escape" and its solid choruses, and strewn amidst the *gasp* four "Interlude[s]," "A Simple Line" and "Walk Don't Run" also stand out. The pace of the album, however, is destroyed with nauseating mid-paced numbers like "Drowning" and "A View To Save." The Comfort Of Home is truly deserving of the title "unbalanced."

Case in point: This is simply just not a very good CD. With a few good songs thrown about carelessly in no particular order, surrounded by a bunch of bad ones, Rufio has unsuccessfully tried to revive their careers. It will be a miracle if this band recruits any new fans with The Comfort Of Home. It will be much less of one if they lose fans. I don't think I will ever listen to this album straight through ever again.

Oh, one more thing (and this is directed at Rufio): For the love of God, please, please, PLEASE give your songs more interesting titles. I am finding myself hard-pressed to listen to songs named "Life Songs" and "Mental Games."

Standout Tracks:
"Never Learn"
"A Simple Line"
"Walk Don't Run"

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

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SteveThePirate (January 6, 2010)

I'm into far more serious punk rock and hardcore generally speaking, but Rufio are one of the pop punk bands I really enjoy. To see such a low rating for this and 1985 is ridiculous. Technically brilliant and very tight.

Coldwaffles (March 24, 2006)

The best cliche pop punk band...

I actually enjoy them.

Anonymous (February 12, 2006)

Rufio is seriously an amazing band. They're lyrically decent, and music is exceptional!

Anonymous (August 20, 2005)

This album is awesome!!!! They may be pop punk but at least they know who they are and dont try to change themselves to fit in with the screamo scene.. I have been a fan of them for since the band formed and being from Rancho Cucamonga their home town Ive known Scott and Clark forever. NEVER CHANGE RUFIO !

Anonymous (August 20, 2005)

pabstboy (August 6, 2005)

I just wish Sellars voice could match the hooks. Perhaps I suppose was better than the latter. Not the worst album in the world, but definitely not the best

Anonymous (August 4, 2005)

its better to accept Rufio and their music than to diss them, being a wannabe, and thinkin u and ur wannabe band can do any better. if u think u could do better than rufio then y arent u famous yet? jeez u freakn haters

Anonymous (August 4, 2005)

The Comfort of Home is the best album Rufio has ever made! the guitar solos still amaze me.

the lyrics are fine the way they are. some find the lyrics "childish" but maybe they're too old to even enjoy the other parts to the song. maybe the ppl who think the "childish" lyrics arent good enough for them. i'll never know.

I have chatted with the members, all except Clark at the Vans Warped Tour 05, they're the funniest ppl i have ever met. the whole world may not know them but there are ppl out there that will 4ever adore them. live long and enjoy rufio's music. for sure i will.

theundergroundscene (August 3, 2005)

ok fine, you kids made me say this

anyone who thinks this band is really really good is a moron

Anonymous (July 27, 2005)

If all of you people hate this band so much, then what is everyone doing looking up stuff about the CD? I must admit that was the most bias, shit review I've possibly ever read about any band. If you don't like the band don't write a review because its always gonna come out sounding shit, leave it to someone who hasn't heard the band so its doesn't contain the shit that you wrote. If all of you people hate this band so much, then what is everyone doing looking up stuff about the CD? obviously you are all lame ass who secretly do like the band and are just being to pussy to say that you like it cos of that crap review.

Anonymous (July 21, 2005)

another bad review from this bad site absolutepunk.net owns u

Anonymous (July 20, 2005)

"Oh, one more thing (and this is directed at Rufio): For the love of God, please, please, PLEASE give your songs more interesting titles. I am finding myself hard-pressed to listen to songs named “Life Songs” and “Mental Games.” "

What a fucking rubbish point to end a review on.

Anonymous (July 19, 2005)

there's only about 10 people that liked 1985
and i am #7

Anonymous (July 18, 2005)

best name for a punk band, ever. and they screw it up by sounding like pussies.

CantSitStill (July 18, 2005)

This album kind of reminds me of Midtown's "Living Well Is The Best Revenge" in that overall, it's pretty cookie-cutter pop punk with annoying extras thrown in (keyboards, drum machines, sound effects) but also with a few standout tracks that make you wonder why the band doesn't try to reach it's full potential.

Anonymous (July 18, 2005)

This band would be pretty good if they didn't have a singer who sounded like a retarded 9 year-old girl.

Anonymous (July 18, 2005)

Perhaps I suppose was, in my opinion, one of the best pop punk albums.

But they have just gotten progressively worse... 1985 was bearable and now this is just shit.

Anonymous (July 17, 2005)

if it's not lawrence arms or dillienger 4 then it sucks on this website. so there's no point to have reviews here.

axx (July 17, 2005)

wow.. I'm quite amazed at how bat that review was.
I personnaly think this is nive leap forward musically for the band. The album has a fresh side to it, and is full with great melodies.

I could do a whole counter review, but it would go un-noticed I'm affraid.

It really does seem like hating Rufio is a national sport around here...

Anonymous (July 17, 2005)

Perhaps, I Suppose was a really good album and 1985 was decent, but this album is just too boring

Anonymous (July 17, 2005)

quit on listening pop punk you dumb fucks

Anonymous (July 17, 2005)

the guy below me = Idiot

the_other_scott (July 16, 2005)

its nice to see shitty music get a shitty score for once

Anonymous (July 16, 2005)

new Wilhelm Scream DOES wipe this shit-ring off the toilet seat.

-cockblock

ghostmonkey (July 16, 2005)

the singer is a whiny dick.

score is for their cover of "Like A Prayer"

Anonymous (July 16, 2005)

the guy below me = sucked me off at the bus stop for pocket change

Anonymous (July 16, 2005)

the guy below me = i had sex with his mom last night

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

the guy below me = lawrence arms sucks

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

The guy below me = flamebait

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

eh, it's okay. but it's way better than anything by the lawrence arms.

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

It's not as good as 1985 but it's still a very solid effort. The second half of the cd is so much better than the first half.

It's not nearly as fast as 1985 but the fast songs have been replaced by really catchy melodic songs with unusual hooks.

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

Any band with Romance in the title can go ahead and kiss my ass.

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

1985 saw strong reviews in all the magazines I read. Yeah his voice is weak but there is way worse stuff than this:

Matchbox Romance
Atreyu
My Chemical Romance

Barkley

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

haha inagreendase knows shit about tate cuz he's on the absolutepunk m -boards

......wait..how would i know that!?

paul

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

im surprised there were any tracks that actually stood out. the statement that everyone likes to brand to pennywise/nofx/etc, i generally disregard. but its true here. every rufio song does sound the same.

-rkl

sickboi (July 15, 2005)

Hah. You know shit about Tate.

inagreendase (July 15, 2005)

Goddamn kids, you've made me resort to a quasi-defense of Jason Tate: Do you all seriously think every anonymous post is from him? The comment that elicited a "go home, Tate" is from a person who lives in central Long Island, NY. The comment signed by Tate is by someone from Arcadia, CA (Tate is from Redlands).

Carry on.

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

new wilhelm scream WILL make up fo rthis.....

'tie me up to the radiator!!!!'

paul < (visiting his frat this weekend, i know u guys love that)

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

" final gripe is that vocalist Scott Sellers still has a sickeningly weak voice; there is no “oomph” behind his voice whatsoever, to the point where it simply sounds like he stood in front of a microphone, reciting the lyrics as poetry, bored to death"

thank you! i commented right before i read this review...exactly! that has always been my biggest gripe w/ these guys, regardless of lyrics, that dudes voice is just NOT strong enough to front a band.

paul

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

i've only ever heard 'science fiction' and the new single ...and both are just so boring. i really don't get why the kids love them so much...i saw them open for someone too...lagwagon? i forget, but the kids loved em and even then i didn't get it.

the music is cool enough, but just sounds like watered down thrice or strung out

and the guys vocals are just not nearly powerful enough. his voice is decent, but a little too pussy for their style of music and just not forceful enough.

paul

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

"...pigeon-holed right out of the gates as a lame pop-punk band, and, more descriptively, one that isn’t very good."

They're not "pigeon-holed" anything. They really are a lame pop-punk band that isn't any good.

theundergroundscene (July 15, 2005)

damn, i did mess up the album title

whoops

and was that really jason tate? man he really is a homo

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

good cd, good band, good guys. not for whiny pussies.

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

bitch, i'm 6'4" 250 lbs. get it right or i'll tear your ass apart on the street.

-jason tate

lou (July 15, 2005)

"Reading this review has made me not only hate them, but hate their friends and family as well. Now that's what I call persuasive writing - nice job."

that made me laugh.

score is for the start because i haven't heard this album.

Anchors (July 15, 2005)

Oh Tate, what a character.

Tate, let's be frank, you shouldn't be crituiqing anyone's writing skills, ever. I remember reading your Spill Canvas review, who I actually enjoy, but you couldn't have possibly ejaculated over them any more.

I remember something along the lines of "the lyrics on this album are the best lyrics in a debut album, ever."

Even if ever encompassed only the year 2003, that's still the most asanine garbage I've ever read in my life. When you're done blowing a load over Jamisonparker, Tate, remember to hit the gym so you can maintain that 6'3" 240 lb physique that allows you to rip people apart.

Archangel (July 15, 2005)

"For christ's sake, the title is "the comfort of home", not "out of control". The name and track one are fucking different.

Look at the package before you write the review. It makes you look like less of an ass."

Go home, Tate.

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

The start couldn't be worse.

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

For christ's sake, the title is "the comfort of home", not "out of control". The name and track one are fucking different.

Look at the package before you write the review. It makes you look like less of an ass.

Kenjamin (July 15, 2005)

just wait until the Start release another album this year...then you'll all hate nitro. Achi Machi, score is for The Start.

cdogg (July 15, 2005)

When I saw them open for Alkaline Trio a couple of weeks ago, I thought they were average. Reading this review has made me not only hate them, but hate their friends and family as well. Now that's what I call persuasive writing - nice job.

stevejonestherealbones (July 15, 2005)

i agree with scott about nitro...except i'm not sold on wilhelm yet...although that killing it song killed

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

maverick (July 15, 2005)

First song's good, but I couldn't hum a bar of any of the other tracks. Better vocals, worse songs. Bummer.

At least pretty much every other damn thing Nitro has put/will be putting out this year (Letters Organize, Bullet Train To Vegas, Aquabats, A Wilhelm Scream) kills.

-Scott

ChokingVictim (July 15, 2005)

If it weren't for the vocals and lyrics, "Perhaps, I Suppose" would be a pretty good album.

tylerdurden8136 (July 15, 2005)

I don't think this is as bad as the review makes it out to be, but it's still their worst effort. I was just so, so indifferent on this. Sure, his voice is the best it's been, but the production is muddled, the melodies are underwhelming, and the guitar-work isn't nearly on the same level as any other release.

Marginally disappointing since 1985 was already a step down.

wow, i totally agree with that entire statement. this could have easily been the entire review. nice job.

Anonymous (July 15, 2005)

who remembers that rufio song with the clip from "hook" or whatever it was at the start? man i rocked that song when i was 14, score is for everyones crappy music taste when they were 14.

aubin (July 15, 2005)

I think this is the only negative Nitro review this year; and based on what they have coming up, there's a good chance it'll be the only one.

colin (July 15, 2005)

the cover of the album says "the comfort of home"

inagreendase (July 15, 2005)