Review: Randy “Cheater” 7”

Three quick tracks of rugged rocked out punk from these Swedes. The CD version of this EP has been released on a couple of different labels, and I know the G7 Welcoming Committee version had three bonus tracks as well as the three songs that make up this slab of clear vinyl, but these songs are the ones that really matter. This stuff has that totally classic early punk atmosphere going on. The sound is raw, the structures simple, the writing short yet memorable... and there's a whole lot of rockin' goin' on! Just check out the fuzzy solos and piano in "I Don't Wanna Work"! Great shit. Straight to the point and catchy as hell. The recording is really dry and sounds like it could easily have been laid down live in the studio. Whether or not it was, I don't know, but regardless it sounds fine. The guitar distortion is nice and gritty, the vocals sound like they're lightly filtered, the drums are totally natural and dry, and there's just enough low-end punch from the bass to balance everything out. The layout rocks, using nothing but red, black, and white, with a messy handwritten lyrical presentation and high contrast imagery (including a horned George W. on the cover). The lyrics are pretty straightforward, nothing earth shattering. In some ways these guys sound sort of like some of those "hip new bands" that are the "next big thing" in the "rock 'n' roll revival" being plastered all over the radio and MTV these days, but Randy kicks the shit out of all those bands. You can tell they don't have to try to do this, it's just what they do... I like it. My only complaint? It's too damn short! Six minutes!? I want more!

[Busted Heads]
Running time - 6:00 (approximately), Tracks: 3
[Notable tracks: Cheater, I Don't Wanna Work]
Busted Heads - http://www.bustedheads.com