...Later That Evening.
Okay, as I mentioned in my earlier post, I picked up the new Social Distortion album on my way to work. I first heard a new album was in the works through a friend in a band that had opened for Mike Ness, sometime back in '98 or 2000. Denis Darnell's death understandably set the band back a bit. The band has been like a bible to my friends and I over the past ten years or so. Back when I was the webmaster/roadie/go to guy for our punkabilly band, CGSSS, when we were trying in vain to replace our drummer, the main requirement on the emails I sent out to prospective bandmates was the ability to play anything on White Light, White Heat, White Trash, not because we covered anything off the album (We only covered Another State of Mind, a trad version Blue Moon of Kentucky, and Sailin' On by the Bad Brains, actually), but because it helped ensure that the people we would eb dealing with would know where we were coming from.
Back in '01, I missed them when they played Boston because I was going through the end of a shitty relationship, and my future ex had been non-commital with her plans until tickets sold out. Her loyalties were elsewhere, both with the band and with me. Whatever. Anyway, when my friends finished giving me shit for letting a girl fuck up our plans, they told me about these great new songs dedicated to Dennis Darnel.
So yeah, needless to say, I had high expectations for this album.
Expectations are a fucking bitch sometimes, kids. You get your heart set on something so perfect, so pure (or filthy, as the case may be) that nothing can possibly live up to ideal you've set. Rancid, The Nekromantix, Turbonegro and a few others have fallen slightly short of my expectations in the last two years, though none of those albums were without any merit.
Social Distortion, however, have at least hit the mark with Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, if not surpassed. Its everything I expected, if not a little more. The songs are hard edged, yet remorseful, reflective, kind of country blues, but definitely rock n roll at the same time. There arent too many changes to the formula used for White Trash, other than some well placed electric organ on a few tracks. In other words, its very Social Distortion without seeming like the kind of contrived and formulaic stuff you may get in a punk band puting out new material for the first time in ten years in their third decade as a band. I'm quite pleased.
Okay, as I mentioned in my earlier post, I picked up the new Social Distortion album on my way to work. I first heard a new album was in the works through a friend in a band that had opened for Mike Ness, sometime back in '98 or 2000. Denis Darnell's death understandably set the band back a bit. The band has been like a bible to my friends and I over the past ten years or so. Back when I was the webmaster/roadie/go to guy for our punkabilly band, CGSSS, when we were trying in vain to replace our drummer, the main requirement on the emails I sent out to prospective bandmates was the ability to play anything on White Light, White Heat, White Trash, not because we covered anything off the album (We only covered Another State of Mind, a trad version Blue Moon of Kentucky, and Sailin' On by the Bad Brains, actually), but because it helped ensure that the people we would eb dealing with would know where we were coming from.
Back in '01, I missed them when they played Boston because I was going through the end of a shitty relationship, and my future ex had been non-commital with her plans until tickets sold out. Her loyalties were elsewhere, both with the band and with me. Whatever. Anyway, when my friends finished giving me shit for letting a girl fuck up our plans, they told me about these great new songs dedicated to Dennis Darnel.
So yeah, needless to say, I had high expectations for this album.
Expectations are a fucking bitch sometimes, kids. You get your heart set on something so perfect, so pure (or filthy, as the case may be) that nothing can possibly live up to ideal you've set. Rancid, The Nekromantix, Turbonegro and a few others have fallen slightly short of my expectations in the last two years, though none of those albums were without any merit.
Social Distortion, however, have at least hit the mark with Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, if not surpassed. Its everything I expected, if not a little more. The songs are hard edged, yet remorseful, reflective, kind of country blues, but definitely rock n roll at the same time. There arent too many changes to the formula used for White Trash, other than some well placed electric organ on a few tracks. In other words, its very Social Distortion without seeming like the kind of contrived and formulaic stuff you may get in a punk band puting out new material for the first time in ten years in their third decade as a band. I'm quite pleased.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
I was just mentioning in someone else's journal that I can't go see Social D anymore. Not since Dennis died. I was a wreck when he went ya know? Social D has meant so much to me growing up. Social D and the Clash were my first punk bands. They hit the mark dead center.
Mike's always been my biggest rock and role model. Horrible play on words... But he has.
I have a chance to go see the tour this go round but I don't even know if I will. I am such an emotional bastard when it comes to Social D.... I'm conflicted.
I'd like to go just to spend time with the boys, have a good night, etc.. Who knows.