"If these are the rules/ If these are the laws/ I will play falsely/ Cause they're filled with flaws/ I won't play your game/ Cause I think that it is lame," shouts Johan Gustafesson of Randy on their newest album.
Randy is a unique and political Swedish garage-punk band that should have their own comic strip of alternative superheroes modeled after their political rebellions.
With the massive revival of garage bands, Randy have been buried under the more well-known rockers like The Strokes and The Hives, which has made it is easy to miss such a talented act. However, Randy's gripping attitude has been noticed.
Months after the release of their fifth LP, "Welfare Problems," the quartet continues to experience a growing respect for their explosive beats as well as their witty intelligence, culminating in a European tour with Bad Religion and a stateside tour with the Bouncing Souls.
"Dirty Tricks" opens their politically heavy record hard and fast. As a declaration of war, this song lasts a short two minutes but still with plenty of time to get their point across to "the man."
The vintage and innocent lead into the second track is a mix between the Beatles and the Beach Boys. However, 45 seconds into the song the sudden twist in lyrics and heavy percussion erase any influence of such purity:
"I guess you wanna see the look on my face when you smash it/ I guess you wanna see the damage you do when you bash it," sings Gustafesson, apparently upset.
As the latter part of the record continues down the same path amidst the angry lyrics and hard-hitting drums the album still has the ability to secrete positive juices.
Randy performs with The Bouncing Souls on April 5 at the Sphere Entertainment Complex.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
