Candy Coated Rock N Roll

L.A. band The Randies, which is comprised of three girls with a boy drummer, pop into the mainstream rock scene with their debut album At The Friendship Motor Inn. Whereas most people would classify them as punk, the diversity of their sound allows them to nestle into the all-purpose rock category.The songs, sung mainly by Sienna Dagovia with back up, definitely have a pop edge to them. One of the first tracks, “Hyperion” is the bubble-gum-popping teen-queen radio ballad. “Cookie” has tight vocal harmonies with bass driven melodies and more of that 90’s rock vibe from bands like Veruca Salt, The Breeders, and The Cardigans. It is a literally sickeningly sweet song with a refrain that sings “Cookie, sweetie pie, apple of my eye, cherry, sugar pop, caramel, lemon drop.” “Good for You” is a ska-style skull-thumping feminist anthem. “Put Out” is really the only truly punk style song, all about slutty girls. However, the vocals are a poor attempt at punk-ish screaming, conjuring mental images of Japanese school girls with crayon-colored hair. This shows that The Randies should stick to what they’re good at: singing, not screeching. “Make It Right” is the most well-rounded song on the album. The music is well-written, the vocal lines allow a showcase of their talent and range, and the lyrics have just a touch more depth.

All in all, Friendship Motor Inn is an entertaining album. It is at times a bit too kitschy, sometimes bereft of substance, every now and again too poppy, but…The Randies deliver an album that can appeal to almost all walks of life.