Everlast

On his third solo album, the former House of Pain frontman returns with his unique brand of balladry, fusing acoustic guitars with moody keyboards, mildly hip-hop beats, and gruff, Tom Waits-esque vocals. White Trash Beautiful features tight musicianship and solid songwriting, especially on "Soul Music" and "Blinded By The Sun."

House of Pain guy's blues shtick wears thin when whitey ford first sang the blues in 1998, it
was such a winning novelty that it was surprising no one had thought of it before. In the
ensuing years, though, the former House of Pain frontman's shopworn folk raps have
become their own formula. Everlast's singing voice is haggard, but not terribly expressive.
Coupled with mundane songwriting ("Your breath is so sweet/Your kisses could... More >