Social Distortion
Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes
Epitaph
With original Social
D frontman Mike
Ness also filling the
producer’s role on the
SoCal punk veterans’
first studio album in
seven years, Hard Times
and Nursery Rhymes recaptures the musical direction
lacking in some of their more recent efforts.
For the avid Social Distortion listener, most of
the tried-and-true elements are still there—gritty
guitars through overdriven tube amps, Ness’ storytelling
lyrics, and high-octane rhythms—but
they’re more refined and polished. Welcome new
elements in the band’s sound include the soulful,
Merry Clayton-esque background vocals on
“California (Hustle and Flow)”—which hearken
to the raw emotion of the Stones’ “Gimme
Shelter”—and the more pronounced use of
piano and keyboards to drive melodies like those
in “Still Alive.” In all, there’s a great mix of hotrod
rollers like “Can’t Take It with You” and
“Machine Gun Blues,” as well as slower numbers
like “Bakersfield” and “Writing on the Wall”
where Ness showcases his ability to sing about
heartbreak with rugged tenderness. Although
the full-throttle cover of Hank Williams’ “Alone
and Forsaken” is a definite high point, the album
mostly takes Social D’s biggest influences—the
Stones and Johnny Cash—and pays homage to
them with an affectionate tip of the cap rather
than full-on covers. It all sounds as fresh as it
did in 1978, and it further solidifies Ness and
company’s place as one of the leading cowpunk
bands of all time.
Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes
Epitaph
With original Social
D frontman Mike
Ness also filling the
producer’s role on the
SoCal punk veterans’
first studio album in
seven years, Hard Times
and Nursery Rhymes recaptures the musical direction
lacking in some of their more recent efforts.
For the avid Social Distortion listener, most of
the tried-and-true elements are still there—gritty
guitars through overdriven tube amps, Ness’ storytelling
lyrics, and high-octane rhythms—but
they’re more refined and polished. Welcome new
elements in the band’s sound include the soulful,
Merry Clayton-esque background vocals on
“California (Hustle and Flow)”—which hearken
to the raw emotion of the Stones’ “Gimme
Shelter”—and the more pronounced use of
piano and keyboards to drive melodies like those
in “Still Alive.” In all, there’s a great mix of hotrod
rollers like “Can’t Take It with You” and
“Machine Gun Blues,” as well as slower numbers
like “Bakersfield” and “Writing on the Wall”
where Ness showcases his ability to sing about
heartbreak with rugged tenderness. Although
the full-throttle cover of Hank Williams’ “Alone
and Forsaken” is a definite high point, the album
mostly takes Social D’s biggest influences—the
Stones and Johnny Cash—and pays homage to
them with an affectionate tip of the cap rather
than full-on covers. It all sounds as fresh as it
did in 1978, and it further solidifies Ness and
company’s place as one of the leading cowpunk
bands of all time.