The new full length album from my favorite rock'n'roll Swedish band Randy comes out these days and it is a total masterpiece; maybe their best album ever....

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The new full length album from my favorite rock'n'roll Swedish band Randy comes out these days and it is a total masterpiece; maybe their best album ever.

"Welfare Problems" is a 12 track album with tunes that are so rocking you will hardly believe a band is able to play them, so let's forget about The Hives, and the likes, also because not just the music is awesome, but the lyrics are a very fine piece of art, socially aware and true.

The 60's choruses of "We're All Fucked Up More Or Less", the rock power of "Dirty Tricks", the catchy harmonies and anger of "Bad, Bad, Bad" ( which by the way is amazing ), the rock riffs of "A Man In Uniform" ( a cross between the Beach Boys and the Clash ), make "Welfare Problems" an unique album in history, as I said, not just the best from RANDY but also one of the best in the Burning Heart catalog.

The album goes on with "X-Ray Eyes", "Welfare Problems", the ripping "Cheater" and ends up with "My Heart, My Enemy", "Devlish" and "Dirty And Cheap". If there ever was the need to say that Randy is the best Swedish Rock Band, with "Welfare Problems" we are shown that RANDY IS THE ROCK'N'ROLL!!!

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Randy is back to put the "Rock" in Punkrock once and for all. I kind of regretted the path they chose after the first two eclectic albums that guided...

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Randy is back to put the "Rock" in Punkrock once and for all. I kind of regretted the path they chose after the first two eclectic albums that guided me through my first punkrocking years. "There's No Way We're Gunna Fit In" and "The Rest Is Silence" are still listed highly on my chartlist and play regularly in my stereo. They hinted at change with "Can't Keep A Good Band Down", and it took some time to get used to it. When I finally did I couldn't help but be charmed by the new direction Randy had set out for themselves. "The Human Atombombs" was nothing short of a punch in the face with its garagy touch and its rocking tunes that made me want to shake my booty all about my room every time any song of the album set in. Not that it would have made a pretty sight but you get my point.

So how do you follow up an album that was held in high esteem by Mr. punkrock himself? That's right, Fat Mike had a crush on their latest album and I cannot say I blame him for it. It seems to be a hard task to accomplish and might be it just was, because I miss the punch of the guitar-tunes, "the schwung" of the vocal harmonies and the vibrant energy that radiated from every single note on their previous album.

So is this a bad album? Far from in fact, as Randy keeps surprising with the evolution of their music. The crisp yet raw and unfinished production fits the music very well, and this new release sparkles with a hard and more edgy attitude, as the band measures itself a "We don't care" mentality and goes forth to create 12 diverse songs that incorporate every trick in their register with a bombastic groovy character that crosses many boundaries as it reminds of glamrock, the golden 60's and 70's, powerpop and whatnot. Randy is all Rock with a punkish character that is very noticeable in the lyrical aspect. Once again, get ready to be smacked about the head with a poignant socially and politically aware and slightly anarchistic message that returns in every one of their colourful songs. Maybe they haven't achieved the same melodic heights as with their former album, but this is really a timeless effort that will be able to please all ages at all times. Highlights of the album are the powerful "Dirty Tricks", the flatout rocking aspect of "A man In Uniform" that hints of the Beach Boys at times. Those lyrics are just superb. The changes of pace in "Cheap Thrills", Stefan's voice on "X-ray Eyes" that reminds me of the old Randy. It's kind of a mellow and slowgoing yet exotic song but it's got a certain ring to it that appeals to me. Then theres the shredding title-track, the bombastic cheater with its crazy bass-lines and powerful chorus and finally the deliciously fresh "Devilish" .

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