Famed for the timeless Jump Around, a song now spun to death at public events and venues, Fine Malt Lyrics is the debut multi platinum album that houses the smash hit produced by DJ Muggs. This is not a record that gets talked about often and with good reason, its aged poorly. I have soft spot for this trio though, they have close ties to Cypress Hill and little DJ Leathal of Limp Bizkit, two of my youthful favorites.
House Of Pain have a distinct style, excelling in the two key components of Hip Hop music, beats and rhymes! Rapper and front man Everlast has the clear annunciation, groovy flow and punchy rhyme emphasis to give himself a unique charismatic voice on the mic, embellished by his Irish heritage that's woven deep into the tapestry of the band. He is aided greatly by the production and sampling, complimenting his stance.
With a depth of sources not usually akin to Hip Hop, the pairing of beats, samples and prominent baselines brings out this quirky and energetic vibe with a touch of funk and uplift. Its undoubtedly similar to Cypress Hill's stunning debut with DJ Muggs producing half the album however the Latin lingo and cultural inflections is swapped out with this Irish spin. There is also a hint of Bomb Squad influence here too.
Stacking up the best tracks in the opening run, its not long before Everlast is running on steam. With a focus on braggadocio revolving around his lyrical prominence and sexual appetite, the themes end up spin like a roundabout. Given his delivery is bold and simple, like many where at the time, it doesn't hold up over an hour of listening as the same punchlines get traded over and over with a different cut of words.
Despite this, its fun to jump in and enjoy a few tracks. They have always been the sort to have me queuing up a few additional favorites when a track pops up on shuffle. Giving the whole record a go today It made me realize how with the times they were. Hip Hop has evolved immensely since then and the formula of this era is shaky when the lyrical substance is lacking. This record sure has style but not depth.
Rating: 5/10