Everlast - Eat at Whitey's

Nobody ever would have guessed that the leader of House of Pain would come back after a bout of obscurity and a serious heart attack to reinvent himself as a hip-hop troubadour, rasping out bluesy folk-rock to a steady-rolling beat. The fact that Everlast had the vision to change his tune was surprising enough, but the fact that it worked and found a wide audience was stunning. When it came time to deliver Eat at Whitey's, the follow-up to Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, in 2000, Everlast was smart enough to expand on a good thing, turning out a sequel that built on the folk-rap-rock that rejuvenated his career, while adding slight new twists. The problem is, the new twists, particularly in the guise of cameos from rockers like Carlos Santana and Warren Haynes, don't work particularly well. Also, whenever he veers toward straight rap, such as on the B-Real duet "Deadly Assassins," the music falls a little flat -- just like it did on the predecessor. Still, these not-quite successful moments don't detract from an album that delivers on the promise of Whitey Ford. Whenever Everlast lays back and spins stories and tall tales on his own, his blend of folk, rock, blues, rap, and pop culture clicks. It can be a little silly -- his rhymes are occasionally goofy, his growl a little too raspy -- but at its best, it's evocative, catchy, and ingratiating. If he can't sustain the quality of the first three songs throughout the record, at least it connects several more times, enough to make Eat at Whitey's satisfying for listeners that want a little more of "What It's Like." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Abdel Wahab Sitar Andrea Liberman Stylist Andy VanDette Editing Ben Boccardo Bass Bob Khalil Vocals Brendan Lynch Vocals, Vocals C-Lo Vocals Carlos Santana Guitar Cee-Lo Vocals Chris Thomas Bass, Vocals, Bass, Vocals Christian Lantry Photography Dante Ross Instrumentation, Executive Producer, Producer David Campbell String Arrangements Dorian Holley Vocals Everlast Executive Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Programming, Guitar (Steel), Producer Farid Schater II Bass Fredwreck Nassar Producer Howie Weinberg Mastering Jack Daley Bass Jamey Staub Mixing Jason Tuminello Assistant Engineer Jay Nicholas Assistant Engineer Jim Gilstrap Vocals John Bigham Band John Gamble Instrumentation, Producer, Engineer Keith Ciancia Band, Keyboards, Bass Kevin Dorsey Vocals Merry Clayton Vocals Miles Om Tackett Cello N'Dea Davenport Vocals Noah Callahan-Bever Production Coordination Noah Evans Assistant Engineer Phillip Ingram Vocals Rahzel Human Bassline, Human Beatbox, Effects Stimulated Dummies Producer, Programming, Mixing The Alchemist Producer Victor Rice Bass Warren Haynes Slide Guitar