Amazon.co.uk Review
Re-invention may not be music's most reliable concept, but for former
House of Pain wide-boy Erik "Everlast" Schrody, it has proved a veritable lifesaver. A near-fatal heart attack in 1998 saw the erstwhile hip-hopper rethink his moral and musical values, a volte-face that resulted in gently introspective (and multi-platinum) debut
Whitey Ford Sings The Blues. Now, sophomore set
Eat At Whitey's furthers Everlast's travels as a soul-searching journeyman, with guest collaborators such as N'Dea Davenport, Carlos Santana and Cypress Hill's B-Real seasoning the blues-based broth. Although the album's air of quiet contemplation proves persuasive, the best moments come, ironically, when Everlast tentatively revisits his hip-hop past. "Black Jesus" and "Graves To Dig", for example, weld slow-burning beats to politically perceptive lyrics with excellent results, suggesting the former rapper may already be considering a return to his roots. --
Sarah Dempster
CD Description
For the follow-up to his breakthrough solo album WHITEY FORD SINGS THE BLUES, the former House Of Pain member continuessolidifying the bridge between the worlds of rock and rap. This time out, Everlast revisits his hip-hop roots with a vengeance by loading up this 13-track opus up with plenty of jeep-worthy beats and matter-of-fact, lyrical flow. Setting the pace early on is the minute-and-a-half opening track "Whitey", which finds the gruff-sounding Irishman reasserting his lyrical prowess over a zig-zagging cello.
Menacing strings make an appearance on dark inner city tales like "DeadlyAssassins" (featuring Cypress Hill's B-Real) and "Graves toDig", a slow-rolling eulogy to all those cut down by gunfire in their prime. Everlast is at his best spewing out narratives, as on the ultra-funky "Children's Story", a duet with The Roots' Rahzel which tells of the tragic meeting between a strapped teen and an undercover cop. Not everything in this sumptuous banquet of beats is so grim, however; the tattooed rapper shows his soft side by featuring former Brand New Heavies vocalist N'Dea Davenport on the introspective funk of "One and the Same" and the romantic lament "Love For Real".