Everlast - Love, War & The Ghost Of Whitey Ford (2008)

Ten years after he re-launched his solo career with the "roots rap" album Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, former House of Pain leader Everlast has succumbed entirely to the contemporary alt-rock blues.

His 2008 release Love, War, and the Ghost of Whitey Ford is more in line with the work of G. Love & Special Sauce, Keb Mo, or Poppa Chubby than it is with any hip-hop act, save the cover version of "Folsom Prison Blues" which comes with a "Insane in the Membrane" backbeat thanks to producer and Cypress Hill member DJ Muggs. The track seems out of place on an album so dark, swampy, and disgusted with both society and self but it's the kind of sweet relief that's called for after being pummeled by the death threat junta "Kill the Emperor" or driven to crimes of passion by the manic "Anyone" (as in "I'll kill anyone for you").

By the time "Naked" rolls around with its Emperor's New Clothes metaphor and equally overdone "The rich get richer/The poor get poorer" hook, it seems the songwriter has more venom than ideas, but this 17 track downer works well enough with some effort and trimming. When Everlast's rich, rough baritone meets the plodding, gargantuan gospel of "Everyone" it's earthshaking while the highlight "Die in Yer' Arms" brings the Black Snake Moan atmosphere to downtown club culture as it lustfully drools all over the dancefloor.

The war torn "Letters Home from the Garden of Stone" towers above it all with its helicopter noises plus chilling tale of life on the frontlines and both "Stone in My Hand" and "Weakness" are redemption anthems that will satisfy sinners looking to be saints. They are the target audience and along with the Everlast faithful, the ones that will find this heavy, rap-free album rich and rewarding instead of desolate and ponderous.

Track List:

01 - Kill The Emperor
02 - Folsom Prison Blues
03 - Stone In My Hand
04 - Anyone
05 - Die In Yer Arms
06 - Friend
07 - Everyone
08 - Naked
09 - Stay
10 - Letters Home From The Garden Of Stone
11 - Tuesday Morning
12 - Throw A Stone
13 - Weakness
14 - Dirty
15 - The Ocean
16 - Let It Go
17 - Saving Grace

Download includes front cover