Affiliations can certainly pay off. When I saw “Spirit In Stone” I recognized the Lifesavas name but knew very little of them. I likely would have just passed them by like they were members of The Pharcyde. Then I saw that they were a part of the Quannum collective of Blackalicious, DJ Shadow, and Latryx. All proprietors of high quality hip-hop. After at least 25 listens to the album, I thank myself every time for not passing it over.
The trio of Vursatyl, Jumbo the Garbageman and DJ Rev. Shines represent Portland, better known for their criminal b-ball squad than their hip-hop scene. Don’t tell that to the Lifesavas though, because “Spirit In Stone” can run with anything released in New York this year. From the outset it is Jumbo’s obese beats that will catch your attention. The opening track “Soldierfied” may be a Chief Xcel beat (and an incredibly funky one at that), but it is right in line with Jumbo’s signature sound. “It’s Over” will keep heads nodding and by the time “What If It’s True?” hits, the infectious style of the Lifesavas is clear.
“Life: Movement 1” gradually builds in both the beat and rhymes, capped off by a smoking verse from Gift of Gab. The final destination – dopeness. Some subtle reggae flavors are sprinkled in “Fever,” and the track is about as sick as its name. Apex is reached with “Hellohihey” which sees Vursatyl hold conversations with his past and future, all the while poking fun at hip-hop trends and checking his ego. Tell me if this doesn’t hit it on the head: “My crew is called the cannibals/we’re 30 deep and each member is a mutant combination of 6 animals.”
“Selector” with the always impressive J-Live is just another great song that will put a smile on your face. The fun never stops, even when the subject matter is political (“Resist”). Maybe it is the funky fresh grooves that keep it moving in such a light hearted manner. Before you ask, yes, there is a posse cut with Blackalicious, Latryx and DJ Shadow. And yes, it is as dope as you’d expect.
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“Spirit In Stone” does have some room for improvement, although not much. Certainly not a bad song, but “Exercise” would fit better as a Cut Chemist interlude on a J5 album than on this one. The final song, “Me,” also seems a bit out of place an odd vibe to finish the album with. Nevertheless, this is an excellent album and one of the best group debuts in years. Likely because this sounds nothing like a debut, Lifesavas sound very polished and mature. They manage to deliver an album complete with dope beats accessible to all listeners, lyrics that pack substance and are clever without being too clever. As refined as the trio sounds, it still is their debut and things are only gonna get better. For now, “Spirit In Stone” is good enough and an album you should not miss.
7.5/10
