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(Jan 18, 2005)
Social Distortion: Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll
Rating - ***
The Social Distortion page
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The most recent offering by Social Distortion is a very pleasant
surprise. "Reach for the Sky," the track that's been getting the
most play on the radio over the last few months, isn't really one
of the best on the CD. But recently a local DJ played "Highway 101" and
something about it clicked with me, making me realize that this is
really a very fine band with something to say. So let's look on
the bright side, and compliment KROQ (L.A. 106.7) for getting
around to playing the meat of the album - and identifying it as
such! - better late than never.
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Social Distortion has perhaps one of the most distinctive sounds
of any rock band in the last 15 years. Their lyrics also tend to
have a common theme: nostalgia, what might have been, the loser who
tries hard but never quite makes it. That's great for one song,
such as their trademark "Ball and Chain," but how does it hold
up over a ten-song CD?
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It holds up very well, and Sex, Love.. manages to avoid stepping
into a rut by a nice combination of energetic, straight-ahead
rock ("Nickels and Dimes"), thoughtful retrospectives ("Highway 101")
and upbeat anthems ("I Wasn't Born to Follow"). There isn't a bad
song in the bunch. What keeps Big Lou from giving this four
stars? It's not forward-looking enough. It's not the main stream
from which new bands will be born. It's a backwater, albeit a
majestic, energetic, beautiful backwater. The future of rock
isn't nostalgia. But sometimes it's fun to cry in your
beer - if only for a few moments. And Social D is a great
band to listen to while you're crying in your beer.
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