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Randy | The Human Atom Bombs

Radiates talent, but lacks somewhat in impact.
CD, Burning Heart/Epitaph

Tekst: Martÿn ter Haar

First The Hives 'Declare Guerre Nucleaire' and now Randy label themselves 'The Human Atom Bombs'. It seems like Swedish punks are still stuck in the cold war and with song titles like 'Karl Marx And History' and 'Proletarian Hop' it's also clear whose side they're on. But don't expect bleak Warschau Pact sounds here. Album opener 'Chicken Shack', a furious deconstruction of the '56 rock 'n' roll classic 'Chicken Shack Boogie' delivers on the album's title promise. Surprisingly next track 'Addicts Of Communication' is radio friendly punk-pop a la Millencolin, complete with gang vocals. This sets the tone for the entire album, because Randy change styles on the 17 track 'The Human Atom Bombs' about as much as inspirators The Clash on 'Sandinista!'. The album just oozes song writing talent, but Randy also has a tendency to keep things too lightweight. This makes that 'Chicken Shack' and the punked up crime jazz of 'I Believe In The Company' are the most interesting tracks. The rest of the album is punk pop, but very good punk pop, not the banal pre-fab stuff that comes to invade your charts from California. The band clearly loves good old fashioned rock 'n' roll (original 'Human Atom Bomb' Little Richard gets a tribute) so most songs have a sharp r'n'r edge beneath their smooth pop surface. That pop surface also changes every song: 'I Don't Need Love' is a swinging pastiche of 'I'm A Believer' and 'Keeping Us Out Of Money' is The Clash with a slide guitar. So Randy sure may have 'The Rockin' Pneumonia And The Punk-Rock Flu', but their music won't start the revolution they are dreaming of.