Wikipedia

Ham Fisted

Ham Fisted is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Local H.[7][8] It was released through Island Records in January 1995.[9] Two songs, "Cynic" and "Mayonnaise and Malaise", were released as airplay singles in 1994, though the album failed to chart. A music video for "Cynic" was directed by Jodi Wille and released in February 1995.[10] In 2025, for its 30th anniversary, the band released a re-recorded version titled reFISTED.[11]

Ham Fisted
Studio album by
Local H
ReleasedJanuary 24, 1995
RecordedSummer 1994
StudioReflection
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
GenreRock, grunge
Length47:52
LabelIsland[1]
ProducerSteven Haigler[2]
Local H chronology
Drum
(1991)		 Ham Fisted
(1995)		 As Good as Dead
(1996)
Singles from Ham Fisted
  1. "Cynic"
    Released: 1994
  2. "Mayonnaise and Malaise"
    Released: 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarHalf star[3]
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStar[1]
Kerrang!StarStarStarStar[5]
MusicHound RockStarStarHalf star[2]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStar[6]

Critical reception

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Trouser Press wrote that Ham Fisted "offers an entertaining haymaker of cranked- up, stripped-down '95 noise."[12] Robert Christgau gave the album a three-star "honourable mention", comparing it to two releases by Nirvana by calling the album "brighter than Bleach, less fly than Incesticide".[4] Newsday called it "a spell-binding display of neurotic rock and roll at its finest."[13] The Morning Call listed the album among the best of 1995, labeling it "a metallic punk-grunge KO."[14]

Track listing

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All songs written by Scott Lucas and Joe Daniels.

No.TitleLength
1."Feed"2:38
2."Cynic[a][b]"5:01
3."Mayonnaise and Malaise[a][c]"4:46
4."User[c][d]"2:50
5."Manipulator[e]"4:09
6."Bag of Hammers"2:39
7."Scott-Rock"3:27
8."Sports Bar"5:37
9."Chicago Fanphair '93"4:01
10."Strict-9[b]"6:12
11."Skid Marks"5:04
12."Grrrlfriend"1:28
a appears on ICON: The Island Years compilation (2011)
b demo recording appears on Twenty-Five Years of Skin in the Game compilation (2015)
c re-recorded song from Local H's self-titled demo (1992)
d live recording appears on Live in Europe (2018)
e live recording appears on Alive '05 (2005)

Personnel

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Local H

Production

  • Steven Haigler – producer, engineering, mixing at The Carriage House (Stamford, Connecticut)
  • Dave Cozzie – assistant mix engineer
  • Tracy Schroeder – additional engineering
  • Janet DeMatteis – art coordination
  • Jana Leòn – photography
  • David Calderley – design
  • Joe Bosso – A&R
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering Studios, Inc. (Portland, Maine)

References

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  1. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. pp. 287–288.
  2. 1 2 MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 682.
  3. ↑ "Ham Fisted Local H". AllMusic.
  4. 1 2 "Local H: Ham Fisted". Robert Christgau. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  5. ↑ Arnopp, Jason (March 18, 1995). "Albumz". Kerrang!. No. 536. EMAP. p. 48.
  6. ↑ Kot, Greg (2004). "Local H". In Brackett, Nathan (ed.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. pp. 492–493. ISBN 9780743201698.
  7. ↑ "Local H Biography & History". AllMusic.
  8. ↑ "Cover Story: Local H". Illinois Entertainer.
  9. ↑ Shehori, Steven (November 27, 2018). "Local H's Cautionary Major-Label Tale Is Actually a Success Story". Vulture.
  10. ↑ "Local H - Cynic". YouTube. June 2, 2020.
  11. ↑ "reFISTED Local H". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Local H". Trouser Press. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  13. ↑ Young, Jon (February 19, 1995). "Recordings". Fanfare. Newsday. p. 23.
  14. ↑ Righi, Len (December 30, 1995). "The Year in Review – Discs". The Morning Call. p. A33.
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