As snotty punk albums go, 1984’s When in Rome Do as the Vandals seems unexceptional on the surface. There are the tasteless joke songs (“Viking Suite”). There’s the requisite cheesy cover (“Hocus Pocus” by Focus), renamed “It’s Not Unusual,” complete with tuneless howls and shrieks. One key difference is that the band is quirky enough to experiment with different sounds (rather than just three-chord punk) and flexible enough to be successful at it. From the mock Western “Mohawk Town” to the Caribbean lilt of “Rico,” the Vandals display a surprising musical versatility here. “Slap of Luv,” told from the point of view of a domestic abuser, is a surprisingly astute character piece. The Vandals definitely display some real originality and talent on When in Rome, making it a notch above most indie punk debuts.

SIDE A
1. Lady Killer
2. Bad Birthday Bash
3. Master Race (In Outer Space)
4. Big Brother vs. Johnny Sako
5. Mohawk Town

SIDE B
1. Viking Suit
2. Hocus Pocus
3. I’m A Fly
4. The Frog Stomp
5. Airstream
6. Rico