For over six years, fans have been direly awaiting the next release from rock ‘n’ roll icons Social Distortion. Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes is the seventh studio album from the Fullerton, CA, crew and has some significant differences from the past albums- for better or worse.
Most Social D albums are a veritable mix of rockabilly and punk, and this album is no exception. Those elements are there, but also has a touch of blues and old school classic rock involved (think Rolling Stones meets Johnny Cash, with maybe a touch of Bad Religion). The album is a touch more mellow and entirely more optimistic than their last album, scorning the general defiance of standard punk in favor of something a little deeper and a lot more emotional. Maybe it is a sign of singer/songwriter Mike Ness becoming a little more comfortable with himself over the years and the band growing older and, dare I say it, possibly jaded, but it lends something a little different to their sound.
The album opens with “Road Zombie,” a track that lends itself to their standard rockabilly sound. The next track, “California (Hustle and Flow)” is probably one of my all time favorite tracks EVER. It’s addictive with catchy lyrics and could be a tribute to the Stones, but it will definitely be put into rotation on my morning rock/metal playlist. Very impressive intro to a strong album, continuing through with more fantastic tracks, such as “Diamond in the Rough” and “ Machine Gun Blues.” They bring a little bit of the old punk rebellion back with these tracks, as well as a lot more of the old sound, before fading into “Bakersfield.”
While I cannot fathom why anyone would name a song after the terrible town of Bakersfield, CA (I was born and raised less than an hour from there and refuse to go back), it is almost worthy of classification as a rock ballad. “Far Side of Nowhere” is a lot more contemporary than a lot of the other tracks, before fading into a rendition of Hank William’s “Alone and Forsaken” with the typical Social D sound, albeit a little slower. This sets the stage for another slow song, “Writing on the Wall,” before turning the tables and cranking up the volume in “Can’t Take It With You” and “Still Alive.”
However you put it, the album is good. It’s really good. Older fans may not be so thrilled with the new direction that Ness is taking the band in, especially since he did produce the new album as well. It’s different, yes, but just as good as the older tracks. If you’re a new fan- congrats, you stumbled across a legendary rockabilly band with deep roots in the scene and a legacy they are proud to continue and change with the times as needed. If you’re a long term fan, take a step back and think about the first time you heard Social D blaring at 11, kicking your butt and giving you a taste of old fashioned rock-n-roll. Listen again, with some perspective (it has been 28 years since their first studio release) and be glad that they are stepping up their game and putting out an album that is different from their “usual” sound. Who knows- you might even like it.
Social Distortion is currently touring the US.
Track Listing:
01. Road Zombie
02. California (Hustle and Flow)
03. Gimme the Sweet and Lowdown
04. Diamond in the Rough
05. Machine Gun Blues
06. Bakersfield
07. Far Side of Nowhere
08. Alone and Forsaken
09. Writing on the Wall
10. Can’t Take it with You
11. Still Alive
