Legendary group Fishbone contributes to "Dead Ones," a song that sounds a lot more upbeat than the title suggests. The pouding drums and the sing-songy chorus ("La la la la la la la la... / To my dead ones.") help mask the bleakness of the first parts of the song: "...And there's no survival / Snuffed out underachievers / Consumed with self-denial / Told them they wouldn't make it / And they believed it...." However, a sung breakdown in the middle tells the song's real message: "We strive / Keep a dream alive / When your dream dies / You got to bring it back to life...."
One of the album's best tracks is the heartfelt "Long Letter." This song has Lifesavas directing their verses to people who are no longer with them. While the song starts off about people who have passed on, it really takes a turn when they direct their verses to a friend who is serving in Afghanistan. The two verses at the end of the song capture many of the feelings of the families of those who serve in the military. The shock at (and acceptance of) someone going into military service is talked about here: "How could you risk your life as a full-fledged G.I.? / It hurt at first / Understand / But see I / Respect the path you chose as a man...." As are the worries and sleepless nights for those who are left behind: "It's a war goin' on / Oh and / We watching CNN just prayin' you come back again...."
Gutterfly is an excellent album that proves that socially conscious doesn't always mean cerebral and boring. Lifesavas have crafted an album that's fun and intelligent, things that are usually mutually exclusive in hip-hop today. This album should not be forgotten when it's time to make the Best of 2007 lists.
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