Randy - Randy the Band

They've shared the stage with big-name acts including Bad Religion and Hot Water Music; they're supposely one of Fat Mike's favorite punk rock bands; they've successfully released six albums of infectious and thought-provoking Swedish rock that suits an evening of consumption as well as it could accompany an afternoon of union rallying or a fun-filled day of anarcho-socialism. With Randy the Band, the quartet makes their first splash on Fat Wreck Chords and prove themselves to be one of the most overlooked bands in the game today. In the past, Fat Wreck bands had a certain sound that often made them indistinguishable from the rest; a lot were subject to endless NOFX references. Adding Randy to the line-up brings the label even further from that statement, as the Swedes maintain all the hooks and vitriolic views of society from punk's heyday, cheerfully setting its crosshairs on the establishment and calling out deviant cops ("Nothing on Me"), championing their animal-rights and sociopolitical views ("I Raise My Fist") and reliving adolescence in an imagined, though friendlier environment in "Punk Rock High." As catchy as The Ramones but as rocking as The Hives, and nearly as acerbic as Propagandhi but with a sense of humor akin to Screeching Weasel, Randy should be adored by any fan of punk rock's roots. The entirety of Randy the Band is an anthem for freedom and sits alongside The Human Atom Bombs as some of the group's best work. [www.fatwreck.com]