For WHITE TRASH BEAUTIFUL, Everlast's third album since his reinvention as an acoustic-guitar-slinging storyteller, the former House of Pain member also known as Erik Schrody further embraces his rootsy, down-home leanings. The opening track, "Blinded By the Sun," expertly sets the tone for the album (and proves to be one of its strongest tracks), with a strummed guitar line enhanced by samples from classic rap tunes by Run-DMC and Eric B. & Rakim. Here, as on other cuts, Everlast uses his gravelly voice to evoke the humble dreams and everyday lives of the working class, earning him status as sort of a de facto Bruce Springsteen for the hip-hop set. Although the mood of WHITE TRASH BEAUTIFUL is largely melancholy, Everlast's knack for pop melodies and vintage soul hooks makes the album a strangely uplifting affair.