Social Distortion

GR8 BAND

yawn,punk by numbers.

They put on a pretty good live show.

Not a great band, in my opinion, but they had some great songs. "Story of my Life" is one of those irresistably infectious rock songs that you just can't help singing along to. As Magellan mentions, "Ball and Chain" is worthy, and there are others, although their overall work is a bit too inconsistent for my taste, I guess. Perhaps my favorite song of theirs is a blistering re-make they did of the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb". I'm not necessarily a big fan of re-makes, but this one qualifies as a true classic.

The only legitimate punk band still around today. Their whole body of work is good.

Mike Ness and the boys get these stars for just being real...and their music's not half bad either.

Sex, Love and Rock and Roll had a few decent tunes, but for the most part fell flat for me, and this is coming from a formerly rabid Social D fan. Still, Mike Ness has earned the right to say whatever he wants, even if his words are growing a bit tired. Newcomers, pick up the self-titled album or Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell. I know all my fellow old schoolers will decry that and tell you to go straight for the earlier Mommy's Little Monster or Prison Bound because they are more raw...but don't. Ness's song writing really matured in the early 1990s. There's always time for the early stuff later, once you're hooked.

Some of the greatest music I have heard in a while.

Ball & Chain and Story of My Life are two of the all time great dive bar, juke box songs. Great drinking music....if you're in to that sort of thing.