Born To Kill is the title of the stellar new release from Social Distortion. This is the first new music from the band since 2011’s Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes. The first track on the record, the title track, is a killer that perfectly captures what Social Distortion is all about. It’s a wall of guitar with the signature raspy growl that is pure Mike Ness. Just 1:35 minutes into the record, a guitar solo blasts off to the 2:05 mark and you’re totally hooked. Next up is “No Way Out” which is a track that was originally written years ago but did not make the cut for 1996’s White Light, White Heat, White Trash album. It is another banger. Track number three, “The Way Things Were” slows down just a bit and reminds me of the stuff from Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes.
Tracks four and five are called “Tonight” and “Partners in Crime,” respectively. Both are great songs in the vain of “Ball and Chain” if you’re familiar with that great Social Distortion tune. Track six is the first departure from what I love about the band. It’s called “Crazy Dreamer” and it features the great Lucinda Williams. For me though, it is not great. I kind of hate it to be honest, but that’s just me. It’s a bluesy tune with twang and it’s not punk enough, or rock n roll enough to suit me. Track seven is a cover of Chris Isaak, “Wicked Game.” My first take on this was that it is well done, but I wondered if we really need a cover of that beautiful song? Upon repeated listening, the answer is yes, yes we do. It’s a great take on a really good song. The last four songs are all excellent and right in line with the first five. In order, they are “Walk Away (Don’t Look Back),” “Never Goin’ Back Again,” “Don’t Keep Me Hanging On” and “Over You.” “Don’t Keep Me Hanging On” is another tune originally written for that 1996 White Light record.
So, to answer the question, was it worth the wait; the answer is yes indeed. Mike Ness overcame cancer, has a family and the there are plenty of other reasons for the delay. But this is a great record. It’s better than Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes and is amongst my favorite of all the Social Distortion records. Definitely in the top four anyway.
Get to your local record store and grab this one. Major bonus points for what I think is a spectacular record cover. The cover is so good that I would spring for vinyl on this one without a doubt.
Social Distortion – “Born to Kill”
JCE, or John to his friends, is 63 years old, retired and lives happily in rural VA about an hour and half outside of D.C. His wife of 35 years says he’ll never grow up, and she’s exactly right. He attributes that to his lifelong love affair with all things rock n roll. Starting with 45 rpm Monkees records at a very early age to his present massive collection of vinyl, cd’s and a digital library of God knows how many songs, he’s a rock n roll lifer.