Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 16, 2026

Ham Fisted

Ham Fisted is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Local H. It was released through Island Records in January 1995. 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. In 2025, for its 30th anniversary, the band released a re-recorded version titled reFISTED.

Last revised
Jun 16, 2026
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Ham Fisted
Studio album by
Local H
ReleasedJanuary 24, 1995
RecordedSummer 1994
StudioReflection
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
GenreRock, grunge
Length47:52
LabelIsland1
ProducerSteven Haigler2
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 star3
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)4
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStar1
Kerrang!StarStarStarStar5
MusicHound RockStarStarHalf star2
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStar6

Ham Fisted is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Local H.78 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

Critical reception

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

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

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

References

  1. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. pp. 287–288.
  2. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 682.
  3. "Ham Fisted Local H". AllMusic.
  4. "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.