Social Distortion "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes"

It seems like this band had faded away, but vowed to eventually return some day. When they came back everything turned to shiz; the economy, the job market, and even the music biz. The last one is not entirely true, but that interpretation is up to you. Forgive me for sounding so lame, as I present to you Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes.  It is hard to ignore echoes of Springsteen in the sound, a place between heaven and hell, and think of events like the prohibition, great depression, and the Grapes of Wrath (well, I do anyway).  The opener is a driving instrumental which might just awaken the “Road Zombie” before he (or she) crashes into a lamppost after all of those consecutive hours of..what do you think? Driving. They have always been one to pull the roots of rock into their sound, and even in “California” you can hear the influence (hustle and flow) of that sound; it gets annoying pulling out weeds, but “what’s life without a little pain?” The album may be a little gritty, but what follows is not a “Diamond in the Rough.” It is more of a continuation of what has been done with a little love. The next song may take you back to 1934 as you are thrown into a mind state of a gangster with “Machine Gun Blues,” and a possible disregard for men, women, children and wh*res. From the gangsters, to a truck driver who hardly gets to see his girl ends up stranded in “Bakersfield;” writing a song that is one of my favorites for its sentiment, as well as its sound. The following song is not only their most distinctive off of the record, but it also opened like a QOTSA song, and is a perfect anthem for those “Alone and Forsaken.” I see the “Writing On The Wall” and it doesn’t erode; while the relationship it is about did: “They say if you love someone you gotta let them go/And if they return to you that’s surely how you’ll know.” The gospel punk is somethin’ that sounds new, you can keep it in your heart, but you “Can’t Take It With You.” A song I don’t think I will forget, and for listening to it I won’t regret. Even after listening to the song I’m “Still Alive.” I’m just kidding, and it sounds like a throwback to an earlier time.  “Take Care of Yourself” because it is said that even in the dark your shadow leaves you, but if you’re outside there will always be Polaris to guide you. I guess after all that running away the legs must have gotten tired because Mike Ness proclaims “I Won’t Run No More”  like the thousand times before. My Favorites: Road Zombie, California (Hustle and Flow) Machine Gun Blues, Bakersfield, Alone and Forsaken, Can’t Take it With You, and I Won’t Run No More.