"Formed in Detroit in 1977 as Mr. Unique and the Leisure Suits... They spent the following years amusing, annoying, and antagonizing audiences... something to offend everyone." -From the liner notes.

Now, how many bands can you think of that can make the kind of statement and actually live up to it, and MORE? Me, I can name just a dozen or so, especially a band that you'd salivate wanting to see live.

Leisure Class lead singer Dmitri McGinnis [sic] talk/sings his way through these twenty semi-demented- hell they're all demented (but in a cool way), who am I kidding, that after two songs you're drawn in to Leisure Class world, wanting to see what they will come up with next. All the songs are at first chuckle-worthy, like "I Love You More", "Young Gifted and White", or "The Worst Song", seemingly about other people's problems, but once you really get into the lyrics you're going see yourself, and sometimes it's not a pretty thing, my friend. Racism, hate, and self-loathing are all abundant throughout Parents Night at the Leper Colony, as they're performed with wit, sarcasm, and dead-on reality.

This is the first time I'm hearing The Leisure Class, and I'm blown away by all the emotions that this album can churn up, both good and bad. Looks like I've got a lot of catching up to do! A mind my friend, is a terrible thing to taste! Part Zappa, part Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, part Dead Kennedys, but wholly original, The Leisure Class are the real-deal!

"Pop Vulture" by Phil Rainone
Jersey Beat
April 17, 2011
http://www.jerseybeat.com/philrainone.html