Redbeard

Does America really need (or want) its own version of the Barenaked Ladies? That's the question that comes to mind while listening to Redbeard, the first full-length album from Brooklyn, NY's the Randy Bandits. These guys certainly bear more than a passing resemblance to Toronto's favorite sons — note the lightly hooky but melodic tunes, the gently sarcastic wit and whimsical tone, the careful harmonies, the "regular guy" tone of the lyrics, and the playful arrangements with a hint of folk informing their rock gestures. It's worth noting that they do these things nearly as well as the Ladies themselves, and Redbeard sounds more accomplished and mature than Gordon or Maybe You Should Drive (in part thanks to the polished but human-sounding production from indie pop legend Richard X. Heyman). However, the Randy Bandits appear to be still developing a personality of their own, and along with the similarities to BNL, "Sally Ann" features a pretty obvious lift from Bob Dylan's "Absolutely Sweet Marie," while "What Should I Do" bears more than a passing resemblance to Neil Young's "Powderfinger." Redbeard is the work of a young band with talent and enthusiasm, but they still have some musical growing up to do, and hopefully they'll have a more original vision to offer on album number two.