siLLy puPPy INFECTIOUS GROOVES was pretty much the side project of Suicidal Tendencies lead singer Mike Muir where he could unleash his sense of humor in a funk metal context. The band started out as a quintet with Muir on vocals, fellow Suicidal Tendencies and future Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, ST guitarist Dean Pleasants, Excel guitarist Adam Siegel and Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins. This band was something of a metal supergroup if you will.

The band released its debut “The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move… It’s The Infectious Grooves” and pretty much bridged the gap between the funk rock of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the crossover thrash of Suicidal Tendencies. The album was amazingly good with a Mr Bungle styled nonchalance that mixed humor, novelty and funk rock with thrash metal. The band was always a side project so was never taken seriously by many but for my tastes i consider that debut album a true masterpiece of innovation and actually prefer it to Suicidal! Oh blasphemy!!!

After “The Plague” made its splash, INFECTIOUS GROOVES sort of took a risk by taking the novelty to the next level and two years later released what is considered the second album SARSIPPIUS’ ARK which saw the departure of Perkins on drums and replaced by John Freese of the lesser known band The Vandals. While considered an official album, this second offering feels more like an EP of flotsam of jetsam including not up to snuff material that was rejected from the debut, cover songs, live tracks from the first album and a remix of “Infectious Grooves.”

All things considered it’s not surprising that this one is a major step down from the amazingly excellent debut album. The originals aren’t as strong as the material that preceded, the whole SARSIPPIUS spoken word skits had grown a little stale and the covers aren’t that interesting. Add to that the fact that the live tracks showcase a band that doesn’t deviate from the studio recordings and Mike Muir clearly couldn’t sing as well live as in the studio. All of these factors conspired to make a rather inferior second offering which is why i like to think of this as an EP as opposed to a bonafide album simply because it sounds like a release of flotsam and jetsam.

While they were unofficial members, the debut album included three guest musicians that added extra guitar parts and keyboards. That album was much fuller in sound with an incredible breadth of creativity but this second album sounds a bit forced actually and is a bit of an anomaly between the strength of the debut and the following “Groove Family Cyco.” Personally i think the whole SARSIPPIUS Sulemenagic Jackson III shtick was OK for the debut but at this point was pretty stale since the whole lizard man sounding like a conceited African American with a George Clinton fetish was pretty silly actually.

When all is said and done there is nothing on this album that is better or equal to the debut but that doesn’t mean it’s a total dud. The musicianship is as tight as ever and a few stand out tracks like “Don’t Stop Spread The Jam” and “Three Headed Mind Pollution” are really nice funk metal tracks. Add to that list the funky junky “These Freaks Are Here To Party.” The problem with this album is that the Led Zeppelin and David Bowie covers are OK but nothing special and some of the tracks are fairly lame like “Savor Da Flavor” and “Slo-Motion Slam.” The highlight of the album is that SARSIPPIUS who sort of acted like Lucy on “I Love Lucy” always trying to get in the show, finally get to debut his single “Spreck!” A decent track and showcases in full regalia how INFECTIOUS GROOVES was worshipping the altar of classic Parliament and Funkadelic.

An OK release if you really dig this band as i do but the least interesting of the 90s releases fo sho. Add to that the mediocrity of the live performances, the stupid spoken word skits and the substandard originals and this one just isn’t as funkiliscous as the predecessor. Still though it’s a fun enough album if you suppress your inner critique and just let your booty shake as intended. The remix of the track “Infectious Grooves” which is sort of a combo of the original with the David Bowie song “Fame” is actually pretty rad. All in all this isn’t my favorite INFECTIOUS GROOVES release but still a decent “extras” compilation if you should consider it as such.

siLLy puPPy Infectious indeed! It sounds like the Red Hot Chili Peppers added a thrash metal guitarist to the mix and turned everything up a few notches. Speed, funkiness, creativity. Robert Trujillo's bass is the main star here (but all is played well) and played just the way I like it. Fast and furiously funky. INFECTIOUS GROOVES was the side project of Mike Muir of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. Obviously a place to unleash all that built up funkiness that just couldn't find a home in ST. With seven members this album has a rich full sound to it.

The album is hilarious as it has sort of a weaved-in story or joke rather about a funky lizard named Sarsippius, the world-reknowned reptilian lover who is trying to break into the recording sessions. It is utterly ridiculous but luckily non-musical skits are short and surrounded by some of the most amazing aggressive funky metal ever laid down on track. Sarsippius will go on to be their mascot.

The album starts with a big beefy bassline that rocks the house as thrash metal guitars follow to usher in “Punk It Up.” That pretty much sets the stage for what's to come. The second track “Therapy” has none other than OZZY OSBOURNE himself guesting on vocals. Most tracks are funky metal but a couple aren't. The “Infectious Blues” is a little blues ditty recorded like an old record complete with scratches. “Back To The People” is funky but with a bonafide drum circle interlude. “Monster Skank” is one of the coolest pieces of music i've ever heard and showcases all the musicians' talents to the max!

Although the next albums by INFECTIOUS GROOVES are worth hearing, this one blows them all away in that it is awesome from beginning to end. Ironically as much as I tried I could never really get into SUICIDAL TENDENCIES but I absoloutely love this! Liberate your booty and listen to this!

UMUR Groove Family Cyco is the 3rd full-length studio album by American funk metal/ thrash metal act Infectious Grooves. The album was released in March 1994 by 550 Music. Infectious Grooves is a side-project by members of Suicidal Tendencies. The band was formed in 1989 when bassist Robert Trujillo joined Suicidal Tendencies. His funky slap-bass playing style was already occasionally heard on Lights... Camera... Revolution (1990) by Suicidal Tendencies, but I guess vocalist Mike Muir and Robert Trujillo wanted to take the funky element a step further outside the confines of Suicidal Tendencies and that´s when they created Infectious Grooves. The other members of the lineup for this album is Dean Pleasants ( guitar, Adam Siegel ( guitar) and Brooks Wackerman ( drums).

The music on the album is a combination of alternative funky heavy metal and the occassional thrash metal part. Mike Muir´s vocal style is instantly recognisable and while the music is pretty different from Suicidal Tendencies, it´s hard not to think of that band because of the vocals. All songs are more or less enjoyable but few are really excellent IMO. It´s the playing on the album that I´m most impressed by. Especially some of Robert Trujillo´s basslines really sound impressive. The man is very skilled. The other musicians also deliver some really sharp and funky playing. It´s when the band mix some harder edged thrash metal parts into their funky metal that I find them most enjoyable though but unfortunately that happens too seldom.

The production is clean and powerful.

Groove Family Cyco is the kind of album I take out on occassion when I´m in the mood for this type of music and while I know some people ( Especially bassists) are really hooked on Infectious Grooves, they were always just the odd Suicidal Tendencies side-project to me. So overall Groove Family Cyco is an enjoyable album that deserves a 3 - 3.5 star rating.