House Of Pain: (Truth Crushed To The Earth Shall) Rise Again

Rise Again, the third album from House of Pain, is the group's attempt at a more soulful, introspective kind of hip hop album. And it's a doomed effort for two reasons: First, nobody wants to hear soulful introspection from an Irish rap band whose breakthrough hit, "Jump Around," featured samples from the Irish national anthem. Second, and most damning, Everlast, Dannyboy and DJ Lethal just aren't that good at slowing things down. Featured tracks like "Heart Full Of Sorrow" and "Fed Up" try for wistful spiritual reflection, but wind up with a dragging, sleepy sound and the lyrical kick of a conversation in the next room. Worst of all, House of Pain seems to have abandoned its whole Irish-roots image altogether, which is truly a shame. It might have been a shtick, but it was listenable and fun. Rise Again is neither of those things.