Tracks:
01 - Intro - Welcome to Razorblade City
02 - Double Up
03 - Gutterfly feat. Camp Lo
04 - No Surprise
05 - Shine Language
06 - Take Me Away
07 - A Serpent’s Love feat. ISH
08 - Dead Ones feat. Fishbone
09 - The Warning
10 - Superburn
11 - Night Out feat. George Simpson & Meganut
12 - The Squeeze feat Smif 'N' Wessun
13 - Long Letter feat. Don Blackman
14 - Freedom Walk feat Dead Prez & Vernon Reid
15 - Celebrate - Finale
Before you get confused wondering why you haven't heard of the movie "Gutterfly" you should know there isn't one, it's just a concept adopted by Portland based Hip-Hop trio based on the movie that never was. Vursatyl, DJ Shines and Jumbo the Garbageman decided to offer something a little different from their 2003 debut "Spirit in Stone" opting to produce a 1970s blaxploitation movie themed album complete with alter egos - Vursatyl as Bumpy Johnson, Jumbo as Sleepy Floyd, and DJ Shines as Jimmy Slimwater - set in "Razorblade City.".
Throughout the album the Lifesavas maintain the blaxploitation theme from start to finish. The album is supposedly structured to tell a story through the alter egos, while still delivering the socially conscious and political Hip-Hop their first album made them famous for. While the latter is true, there is not enough focus on a plot to make this theme album little more than a gimmicky concept, but don’t let that detract from the lyrical content. It’s not all political either, there's also a fair mix of upbeat positive songs and grittier tracks tackling subjects like racial discrimination and profiling. The great thing about Lifesavas is not the message they tell, but the way they tell it. When you listen to the album, its clear that each track has a message, but it isn't in your face, its conveyed like a dot-to-dot picture, you get enough of it to get the message, but you are left to draw your own conclusions and find your own interpretation.
Production on "Gutterfly," which is handled mostly by Jumbo, is on the same level as the lyricism and perfectly suited for the album. There is plenty bass and horns scattered throughout this funkfest to help project and emphasize the motivational and empowering message of lyrics, while providing a backdrop drop for the story. The use of strings and guitars on choice tracks also helps get things moving.
"Gutterfly" may be somewhat of a concept album set in a make believe area with fictional characters, but the social and political issues addressed in the lyrics couldn't be more real. Add in the quality production and the dramatic nature of the album and you get a pretty decent album. While the movie concept is a little thin on plot and you might think the Lifesavas are a little pretentious in their social awareness, these are minor faults in an otherwise impressive (and consistently funky) album. A worthy follow-up to their "Spirit In Stone" debut.
Hot Tracks:
"Gutterfly," "Shine Language," "Take Me Away," "Long Letter"
Verdict: 8/10
Artist: Lifesavas