It really doesn't seem that long. but it's five and a half years since the last Vegas With Randolph album, Legs With Luggage. That album featured in the Top 20 in our Best 100 Albums Of 2018 and I've been a long term fan, well before IDJAS was launched to the world. Reviews started way back in our Anything Should Happen days.
The band specialise in a brand Of Pop Rock that is both melodic and harmonic. At times, it can feel a little AOR, but at others there is a crunch and when they do Rock, they can really let go with a multi guitar assault. The odd time they go Soft, which they thrive at too, but it is less frequent.
Having two writers in John Ratts and Eric Kern adds to variety as they sing their own songs and the vocals are very different allowing great Power Pop from one and a more harmonised Pop Rock from the other. That's more a guide as both cross over into other genres.
Songs like Lake Paradise, N.S.A. and Show Me How are Power Pop Of The Highest Order, a field that the band master at will. The delight here is that they can stretch out, never more so than the duet with Honeychain's Hillary Burton which is great rocked up UK New Wave
The band excel when they raise the volume, Howl At The Moon bristles with intense Guitar Runs and yet there is also the softer Guitar Pop of Shake The Cage which has a joined string to earlier work. The jaunty Pop and hand claps of I'll Be Waiting For You which heads into Squeeze territory.
Vegas With Randolph do love a medley or Triple Play as they call it. Here it is extended with 7 songs in 10 minutes, the sort of thing that City Boy used to do. Combined it is wonderful in its scope, however, it doesn't quite work listening to the tracks individually due to the brevity of some.
Fortunately, the Bandcamp download allows you to listen to the complete thing in one listen and you can hear the whole thing in one uninterupted go which reveals how great a piece it is with its twists and turns. The album feels a little looser than previous work and the songs more about relationships than worthy causes. This simpler aim works splendidly to offer up a storming album.
You can listen to and buy the album here.
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