Social Distortion

Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (Epitaph)

By Jodi Root
Published: January 20th, 2011 | 7:00am

Six years is a long time to go without releasing a record but fans of legendary Southern California rock band Social Distortion are hardly complaining. Front man Mike Ness had been promising fans a new album since 2007. He toyed with the idea of an acoustic record and eventually came back around to the band’s rockabilly alt-punk roots for Social D’s highly anticipated seventh record and Epitaph debut, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes.

Recorded at Studio 606, which is owned by the Foo Fighters, Hard Times is Ness’s first go-around as full crediting producer. Longtime fans of Social D are sure to be pleased with the new album’s blend of alt-country, soul, and plain old badass rock ‘n’ roll, which Ness has credited as a tribute to 70’s era Rolling Stones and Hank Williams.

While casual fans aren’t going to find a notorious breakout single comparable to the legendary “Story of My Life” or addicting as hell “Ball and Chain,” Hard Times doesn’t disappoint with its consistent and solid flow led by heavy bluesy guitars and Ness’s signature monotonous rasps.

Numbers such as their steady, rock driven alt-punk single “Machine Gun Blues,” the slowed down, smoky tavern ballad “Bakersfield,” and the soulful, gospel choir like vocal backed “California (Hustle and Flow)” remind us how Social Distortion became one of the leading forces in punk rock to begin with.

While Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes may fail to show listeners anything new with their style, it’s a lovely reminder of how nice familiarity and simplicity truly can be—a modern moment of musical nostalgia.

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Social Distortion official site

Social Distortion MySpace page

Epitaph Records