On Mike Ness’ birthday, let’s remember THIS Social Distortion!

The article was pretty funny. I got a good chuckle from the point about their stereotypical fan. I like Social D a ton. They've always been one of my favorites. Especially their "fakey Americana" stuff they've put out for most of their career. Its good, enjoyable, and accessible (my parents like Social D) punk influenced rock n roll.

I sort of take issue with calling their early stuff hardcore. It wasn't really hardcore other than being "hardcore by proximity" with the band being part of that scene because of where and when they started playing. The style was definitely punk rock, punk as fuck, but not hardcore punk to me...But then again, the OC scene had other bands that sorta blur that definition a bit. Their fast songs werent fast enough and they were more melodic than most. I make the same argument about The Misfits. Hardcore strictly by proximity. Sort of just an "evil-Ramones" and their one undeniably hardcore record was, from what I understand, a last ditch, fuck it all effort that Glenn slept through. These are all minor gripes, if anything at all.

That all said, "Mommy's Little Monster" and "Mainliner" are must listens if you have zero interest in their later style and any interest in punk rock. To some extent, "Prison Bound" as well.

Listen to Easter if you haven't. Pretty similar to the rejuvenated Social D, but designed to be poppier and radio friendly. They sorta failed miserably at any semplance of success and live on as barely being a footnote in the So Cal music history books. Ness played guitar (maybe bass?) for them before reforming Social D. Sorta an undiscovered gem in my opinion, if you like that style. Mostly recommending for Social Distortion fans. Its sorta a bridge band from the early style to later style.

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