Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford [PA] [Digipak] (CD - 2008)

Personnel: John Bigham (vocals, guitar); Erik Schrody (vocals, guitars, piano, programming, turntables); Jim Gilstrap (vocals, background vocals); Raven Ciancia-Vincent, Rahat, Leslie Smith, Alvin Chea, Oren Waters, Rama Duke (vocals); Billy Gibbons (guitar); Paul Cartwright, Ina Veli (violin); Ross Thorn, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (viola); Lola Woods, Adrienne Woods (cello); Tracy Wannomae (clarinet, alto saxophone); Robby Marshall, Matt DeMerritt (tenor saxophone); Double G (baritone saxophone); Jordan Katz, Chris Bautista, William Arlope Jr., Todd M. Simon (trumpet); Danielle Ondarzza (French horn); Tom-Bone, Elizabeth Lea (trombone); Keefus Ciancia (piano, keyboards, bass instrument, drums, programming); Christopher Thomas, Gus Seyffert, David Wilder (bass instrument); Miles Mosley (double bass); Trevor Lawrence (drums, percussion); Jay Bellarose, Danny Frankel, Jim Keltner, Zak Najor, Larry Ciancia (drums); DJ Lethal (programming); DJ Muggs (turntables); Edie Lehmann-Boddicker, Andrea Robinson, Terry Wood (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Shawn D Everett.

Arranger: Double G.

Although Everlast is best known as the voice behind 1990s hip-hop act House of Pain, his solo career in the 2000s has leaned more in the direction of non-rap-oriented roots music. This is certainly true of 2008's LOVE, WAR & THE GHOST OF WHITEY FORD, which finds Everlast moving fully into alt rock territory. The singer manages to flex the muscle of his earlier incarnation throughout the disc, which crackles with dark, ominous energy. Surging rockers like "Die In Yer Arms" and dense, bluesy grooves like "Everyone" are emblematic of Everlast's new direction, while a tongue-in-cheek cover of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues," complete with recognizable hip-hop beats and samples, offers some lighthearted relief. minimize