Review #137: Social Distortion - Mainliner (Single) (1981)

MAINLINER (Single)

Year: 1981

Genre: Punk Rock
Sub-Genres: Hardcore
Label: Posh Boy Records
Tracks: 2
Length: 5 Minutes
Style: Rebellious
My Rating: 7/8

Social Distortion formed in 1978 in Orange County, California. The band's original line-up consisted of Mike Ness (vocals), Frank Agnew (guitar), Timothy Maag (bass guitar), and Casey Royer (drums). The band soon became associated with the rising Southern California punk/hardcore scene, and by 1981 the lineup now contained Dennis Danell, Derek O'Brein, and Brett Liles. In 1981, the group were signed to Posh Boy Records, and released their first single, with the songs "Mainliner" and "Playpen".

1. Mainliner
This song's about drug abuse. It's pretty fast. Nice riff. Nice solo, also. A good melodic sound, not very "hardcore"-sounding.

2. Playpen
This earlier version of the song is played in a different key than the later version on the "1945" 7". It sounds better. The production is more gritty. The vocals aren't harmonized, it's just Mike singing by himself. Great drumming. The lyrics describe the street life of punk kids in the California scene. The better song on this record in my opinion. Ooh, another solo! The song gets progressively slower and more sloppy at the very end.

Yup, it's short, but what'd you expect? It's a fucking punk rock 7" single. What the hell. Anyways, it's a pretty good way for a band to introduce itself, 'cause these two songs should win the heart of any fan of good music. Not much else I can think of to say, but a year after this the band released two more singles and began recording their first LP, which happens to be one of my favorite albums of all time (Mommy's Little Monster). So, check it out -- if you can't find the original issue, the contents can all be found on their 1995 compilation album called "Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past", along with a lot of other early Social Distortion stuff. Oh, and by the way, my name is now Chuck. I dunno what the last name is going to be yet. But call me 'Chuck' for now until I think of one. Seeya.

Review #77: Social Distortion - 1945 (Single) (1982)

1945 (Single)

Year: 1982

Genre: Punk Rock
Sub-Genres: Hardcore
Label: 13th Floor Records
Tracks: 3
Length: 7 Minutes (Very Short)
Style: Political/Rebellious/Love
My Rating: 7/8

Social Distortion write good songs. Even before "Mommy's Little Monster" they were writing truly great stuff. Well, anyways, this was their second release after a single called "Mainliner" from 1981. This single has three songs instead of two, though, which makes it near EP-status, I suppose. Whatever. All of the songs here are pretty solid, so if you're going to buy a 7" single, get this one. 'Cause it's better than a lot of albums.

1. 1945
Despite being the A-Side, this is my least-favorite one on the single. Still, it's by no means bad at all. The song opens with the sound of a siren going off. It's a fast song describing the after-effects of the atomic bomb on Japan in World War II. Very cool solo towards the end.

2. Under My Thumb
I actually used to think Social Distortion wrote this song too. Turns out it's just a Rolling Stones cover. Still, the band makes it their own -- it definitely sounds like something Social Distortion would have written. It's basically a song about gaining the affection of a girl who once fucked you around. Beautiful riff and melody. Wonderful solo.

3. Playpen
I like this one a lot, too. It's pretty slow compared to the other songs here. It's about kids having fun and throwing a party with loud music and beer and drugs in peace -- only to be persecuted by their neighbors, the police, and people who just think they're weird. Once again, the riff is awesome.

Later on in the year they released this, they recorded "Mommy's Little Monster" and released that album in 1983. This was truly a great era for Social Distortion (but their music has always been good). These songs truly capture the fear, alienation, aggression, and desires of young punks and a lot of kids in general -- alienated from the world, reluctant to grow up, wanting to live life the way you want but with just about everyone who stands in your way saying "no". The world is not a friendly place for the punk. But music like Social Distortion's waves the beacon of freedom high, letting one know that he/she is not alone, and that you can try a different path in life and still make it. That's the message I get, anyways. But yeah, I like this record a lot. Try it aut.
















(The Album Art to a Later Print of the Record)

Review #32: Social Distortion - Mommy's Little Monster (1983)

MOMMY'S LITTLE MONSTER

Year: 1983
Genre: Punk Rock
Sub-Genres: Hardcore
Label: 13th Floor Records
Tracks: 9
Length: 27 Minutes (Medium-Length)
Style: Rebellious
My Rating: 8/8

Social Distortion is a band much more well-known for their country-punk hybrid brand of music that they play nowadays, but at one point, they were one of the musically best hardcore bands of their time. Like "Group Sex" by the Circle Jerks, this album paints a picture of the feelings and motives of punks back in the early '80s who wanted to escape mainstream society which seemed destined to self-destruct and live their own way of life.

The album's music is a lot more melodic than its peers at the time, but it doesn't overdo it, it mixes musicalness with edge, so it doesn't sound like some pathetic political form of pop-punk that tries to pass itself off as "hardcore". It's more aggressive than the later Social Distortion releases, and it was released before Mike Ness's heroin addiction nearly did him in a couple years later... still, he recovered, and the band still performs and has released music to this day. This my favorite album by them, however. There are some really great song here...

1. The Creeps (I Just Wanna Give You)
This song fades in, and it's much faster than the other songs on this album. Not the best song on the album, but it's an alright opener, I suppose. What is yet to come is much better, however.

2. Another State of Mind
Starts with tinkling brass cymbals and a clean guitar lead. The rest of the instruments blast in, and Mike Ness delivers some great vocals which already sound like his familiar singing style. Seems to be describing a protagonist's feelings for a girl that he loves. It's a pretty good song!

3. It Wasn't a Pretty Picture
You can already feel the slight country element coming in at this point. The song describes the hardships and problems experienced by those who live in the city, such as prostitutes, bums, corrupt politicians, drug-using children, etc. Very grim lyrics, but the music has a slightly optimistic side to it.

4. Telling Them
Totally my favorite song on the album. Starts with an alright solo, but it really gets good when the rhythm guitar starts playin', as well as the bass and drums. The lyrics are about a young punk who is bored of daytime life which consists of drinking, working, and getting harassed by his parents, but loves to have fun at punk rock shows at night. The music is really fucking inspirational for any teenager who has rebellion issues and just wants to break free and have some fun. What I really like here is the little subtleties in the rhythm guitar during the verses. There's almost an aquatic quality to it if you listen to it really closely. Seems to be almost a personification of pent-up energy being released in a relatively calm manner. The end of Side 1.

5. Hour of Darkness
This is another great one. It's got a similar beat to the previous song, but it's slightly more down-beat, lyrically and musically. Deals with a destructive lifestyle and a fear of imminent death. Ends with a nice solo, seeming to imply some sort of bad incident.

6. Mommy's Little Monster
This iz another good song. It sounds happier than the previous song. It's about "Mommy's Little Monster", who could be pretty much any punk who ran away from a middle-class suburban life to go live a lifestyle which is more exciting and rewarding to them. Getting drunk, doing drugs, playing in bands, seeing bands... their parents are shocked when they see what they've become, especially when compared to the lives their siblings are living.

7. Anti-Fashion
A song attacking mainstream fashion and the way of life of the "popular crowd", which is laughable to most punks. Faster than a lot of the other songs on this record.

8. All the Answers
This song is really fun. The lyrics are about how the public at the time were seeing the punk rockers as a threat to American society and didn't know what to make of them. Ends with the line "and you thought you had all the answers...". This song is really good!

9. Moral Threat
Has a rather "epic" intro... finally, the crashing drums and more rhythmic cymbals signify the starting of the song. The song starts and Mike Ness starts singing. The line is basically the anthem of an alienated punk to the parts of society that have rejected him/her 'cause "cause you didn't like my looks, 'cause I'm not in fashion books." There's a long, slow instrumental mid-section that iz very cool and adds a lot of variety to the song. The song ends with the chorus repeated one more time. End of the album.

After this album, Mike Ness started to deal with a very nasty heroin addiction, until he finally got his act back together circa 1986 to '87. The band's music following this album would start to take on a more Johnny Cash-inspired flavor, but still with plenty of punk attitude. This, however, is my favorite, since it seems to be sung from a teenage point of view, and the songs on this one are just really fuckin' good. I consider this album to be my third-favorite record from the 1980s. Definitely give this a try!