Social Distortion
Sex, Love, and Rock-n-Roll
Time Bomb Recordings
By Noel Hernandez

When Mike Ness claimed, “I need stuff to be discontented with, that’s how I write songs,” he said a mouthful.

It’s been nearly 26 years since Orange County’s Mike Ness decided to form Social Distortion , a band that forged on through shifting band personnel, the unfortunate death of friend and original band mate Dennis Dannel in 2001, as well as Ness ’ personal strife with Johnny Law and “H”. No longer an addict, he states that there’s still plenty of “stuff to be discontented with” in the OC - which is a good thing when it comes to writing a new album.

The eight year chasm between their last studio album and Sex, Love and Rock-n-Roll produced a more mature collection of stories, life observations, and big brother advice with Ness waxing poetic in usual form. The first song, “Reach for the Sky,” in which he admits “When I was young I was invincible, I found myself not thinking twice” clearly shows that Ness hasn’t relinquished the need to draw lyrical portraits of rebel-punk youth’s angst and misfortune naturally like that of his own.

At best, he is his own muse, and he delivers his virtuous no-shit sermons like a shot of whiskey in the morning.

The sentimental and melancholic “Winners and Losers” reveals the balladist’s sentience of good and bad, right and wrong, and the understanding of your place in it all, as Ness queries to whomever, if not himself, “Are you happy now with all the choices you’ve made? We’re Angels and Devils, which one will I be today?”

As a romantic, the lamentation on “Faithless” indicates that even a rough cut like Ness could feel the anguish of a broken heart as he recalls, “I remember a time when the words love and pain were both one and the same.” Contemplative and reflective, Ness reveals intimate lessons learned and the desire to live not a humbled life, but rather a life worth living, as explained in the appropriately titled “Live Before You Die”.

High-octane guitar riffs and smash-n- trash drumming abundantly grace Sex, Love and Rock-n-Roll . Ness’ trademark raspy grunge-whine and the mélange of blues, country, rock and punk remain standard in Social Distortion’s formula. Co-produced by Ness himself, and aptly complemented by Jonny Wickersham on guitar, John Maurer on bass, and Charlie Quintana on drums, Social D offer an introspective body of work centering on what seems to be Ness’ coming of age and the questions adulthood demands.

As a songwriter, Ness is the common man’s wordsmith, possibly beholden to Johnny Cash (a favorite icon, albeit not quite of the same cult status). Musically speaking, Social Distortion could be considered by fans as a So-Cal punk institution, never selling out even after getting major label support. Wiser now and a little less rough around the edges, Social D have emerged out of the ashes of the Phoenix with a worthy offering solidifying their unified strength and die-hard will.

www.socialdistortion.com