Search - 24-7 Spyz :: Gumbo Millenium

Eclectic World/Funk-Rock Goofiness

vyper | Minneapolis | 03/16/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I remember buying this album on a whim when it first came out,and I am still happy that I bought it.



The best thing I can say about this is although it does reference all the obvious influences(Hendrix,Funkadelic,etc.)what the Spyz ended up with was something all their own.



Some people make the criticism that when black musicians do rock,it sounds more R&B or Funk-laced than straight ahead rock they expect.Let me assure you that these guys can play straight ahead metal,the guitars are heavy and crunchy,the leads are squealing,and the bass and drums are thumping and dead on.



Of course this album is a mix of a bunch of stuff,metal,funk/r&b,rap,world music and it all gets blended into a wacky(yes,these guys have a sense of humor)stew.



P.Fluid isn't everyone's idea of a great singer,but his elastic vocalizing gives the music a warped edge.Jimi Hazel(can you guess who his 2 fave guitarists are?)has a great heavy tone,and is just as colorful and diverse as Vernon Reid.The bassist and drummer are solid,convinclingly propelling the band from hardcore to African-pop flavored songs.



These guys were excellent musicians,period.



As black rock-based musicans,inevitably 24-7 Spyz would be compared to Living Colour.The Spyz are every bit as good as far as musicianship goes,but I would say,they definitely had a different flavor,much weirder and funkier than Living Colour.



Some notes on the music:



The first two tracks are wild rockers with P.Fluids'koo-koo blathering and convoluted wordplay,Jimi's searing wah-drenched solos,and a chugging rhythm secton.



"Spyz on Piano"is just each guy goofing around and pounding on the piano,not music,but silly fun.



The only "rap-rock"song on here is Don't Push Me,vocals by drummer Anthony,and it's my least favorite track.



Track 7,Racism,could be construed as rap/rock,but it's not,it's clearly a heavy ripper in the vein of Bad Brains.



I guess this album may not be grand in scope enough to be considered essential,but as I said,these guys were very versatile and talented.And they deliver on every song,it wasn't as if they felt the need to mine some genre just to prove they were eclectic."

14 Great Tracks

Vincent A. Petraglia | New York City, USA | 02/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1. 2:09 John Connelly's Theory

2. 2:46 New Super Hero Worship

3. 2:46 Deathstyle

4. 5:12 Dude U Knew

5. 1:24 Culo Posse

6. 5:27 Don't Push Me

7. 2:39 Spyz On Piano

8. 5:37 Valdez 27 Million?

9. 4:56 Don't Break My Heart

10. 3:42 We'll Have Power

11. 2:12 Racism

12. 4:25 Heaven and Hell

13. 4:30 We Got a Date

14. 2:27 Some Defenders' Memories

"