Addicted to Black Landlord: An Album Review
"Addicted to Distraction" is a Hip-Hop, Jazz Orchestra of Sound.
May 20, 2009
With its vociferous, and oftentimes humorous lyrics, Philadelphia based nine-man-band Black Landlord's new release "Addicted to Distraction" trounces the American tendency to keep diverted and complacent. Most, if not all, of the twelve boisterous tracks expose the ways in which "peon human beings start escaping from reality" (Mea Culpa).
Black Landlord: The Band
The solid, smart and fast lead vocals belong to the band's founder, Maxx Stoyanoff-Williams, (formerly of The Goats and Incognegro) with Alan "Tango" Abel singing backup. Bass player Bruce Russel Rekon and drummer Bob Bannon anchor each song's impressive beat, laying the foundation for the jazz and jive of saxophonists Michael Tramontana (tenor and bari) and Kenneth Brune (alto).
Add Adam Campos's wild yet valid rock-and-roll electric guitar to the crew, along with Marc Sonstein's pulse-moving percussion, and the Black Landlord ensemble is complete. Well, almost.
This band's philosophy could easily be "more is more," as Henning Thomas and his trumpet appear on a few tracks. Mark Boyce also shows up for some keyboard cameos, and William Braveman works his way "in the mix" as the band's premiere DJ.
Addicted to Distraction
Track seven, the album's title song, is an uproarious rock-and-roll rant on the addictive and desensitizing effects of television. This is an opus that showcases Black Landlord's keen ability to line up their influences and then let them parade around for the duration.
"Addicted" begins with a sly rock guitar riff then quickly becomes a hip-hop excursion, as MC Maxx fires, "Ooh I love you TV / tell me how to think..." The saxophones then begin to establish a presence with their two-note "sha-doop" equivalents which continue to build into a full jazz explosion.
Meanwhile, poppy Motown doo-wop is representing, as background singer Erika Schiff occasionally "shooby-dooby-doo-wops" and then breaks into satirical harmony: "Ooh but I love it so much / A little bit is never enough / it tells me where to buy all my stuff / can even tell me how to fall in love."
Track ten, the bassy, percussion heavy "Gimme," is a quickly-said soliloquy which expresses, both lyrically and musically, the ravenous and insatiable cycle of addiction. The song begins with a single bongo beat, then builds as it layers instrument upon instrument. Maxx's refrain "gimme love / gimme sex / gimme stuff," is executed in a numbing, repetitive tone that is both simple and stirring.
Landlord Policy
While "Addicted to Distraction" is a lyrically political album, it is also tonally festive and convivial. This is music that is not weighed down by its message, performed by guys who know not to take themselves too seriously. The Landlords don't hesitate to wittily voice their objections to a dense, cheek-turning America, but they'd rather that their fans be dancing as they do so.
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