About the album
First, let's say that Social Distortion didn't get any new cds out since 1996 with their album White Light White Heat White Trash. Now, they come back with a brand new album Sex, Love and Rock'n'Roll .This album is quite different from the others, the songs are more slow and all songs lyrics are about emotions.So you will not find song like 1945 or It's Lawon this album. The song being more slower have more rock inluance then before. You will also notice that their sound is still really apparent to what we already know Social Distortion for. The album only have 10 tracks, but Social Distortion never release albums with more than 12 tracks. The song are quite long. Mike Ness vocals are still as great as before. With plenty of emotions in is voice, you can barely see that he is still one of the best punk vocals today. I also really like the back vocals on this album, another great work. John Maurer also do a great job for the bass, he was replace right after the record of this album by Matt Freeman who is already well known for is work with Rancid. The drum is only fast on the first song (Reach For The Sky) and slower for the other songs. Guitar work is also excellent. Now let's take a look a this album.
Band members
-Mike Ness ---> Vocals and Guitars
-Johnny Wickersham ---> Guitars
-John Maurer ---> Bass
-Charlie Quintana ---> Drums
The review
The album open with
[Reach For The Sky] , an awesome song with great guitar riff and vocals. The lyrics on this song are really meaningful. It talk about living each and every day like it was your last, without thinking to futur. To me it is one of the best song ever by Social Distortion. This song prove by itself that Social Distortion are still great and one of the greatest band still playing today. I also think it's the best song on the album. Then, we come to the second song,
[Highway 101]. This song is a bit slower than the first one. It give you a better impression of what will other song sound like. I really like the chorus in that song. This song talk about being in love. Really simple song but really effective. This song is another great one of the album. The third song,
[Don't Take Me For Granted]. This song show us the talent of Mike Ness to write great song. I like the comparison he make at thte biggining of the song between him and objet. The song as a fast drum beat, but the guitar is slower, so not an hard song. It's a good song but it could have been better. After,
[Footprints On my Ceiling] is a really slow song. It's more like a ballad. Really good song and emotional.
Then,
[Nickles and Dimes] , is a song I didn't really like at first. It is above the average Social Distortion song, but not as good as the first four songs. The song talk about being nothing and wasting your life. The sound itself is really well work. You will notice the great job done for the chorus. The 6th song on this album is
[I Wasn't Born To Follow]. It's a good song, good lyrics and sound. It is not one of my favorite but still quality. I think the lyrics are still meaningful. They talk about not following the trend establish by society. Well the title of the song says it all.
[Winners and Loosers] is another ballad song. I really like the use of acoustic guitar at the beginning of the song. At first, I didn't give any attention to this song. After a few listen I grew on it and really like it. Great lyrics about making choice and confronting life. To me, another great song. The 8th song is
[Faithless] . This is a really slow song. I really like the beginning of it, Mike Ness vocal in this song are really good. This is a emotional song, it's about regretting thing you have done to someone you love and you want to change. Look toward the futur in hope to forget the past. One of the great song of this album. Then,
[Live Before You Die], to me this is one of the weakest song of the album but I still like it. The last song,
[Angels Wings], is by far one of the best on this album. Everything is great in this song, the sound, the vocal and the great lyrics. My second favorite song on this album. Incredible way to end this album.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this album is excellent. I can't barely point out a bad song on it. I think it is a good aspect Social Distortion have work on this album. Trying to make all the song good to listen. I remember some older album that were fill with average songs on it....this is not the case for Sex, Love and Rock'n'Roll. It's maybe not their best album but close to it. We can notice that Social Distortion are still as good as they were back in their best days. A great return for this awesome band.
The Good
-Not a bad song
-Awesome vocal
-Great lyrics
-Really tight
-The song are long
The Bad
-Only 10 songs (but all good + the song are long)
-No political song
-A bit slower than before
Track Review
1. Reach For The Sky
10/10
2. Highway 101
9/10
3. Don't Take Me For Granted
8.5/10
4. Footprints On My Ceiling
8.5/10
5. Nickels And Dime
8.5/10
6. I Wasn't Born To Follow
8/10
7. Winners And Losers
9/10
8. Faithless
8.5/10
9. Live Before You Die
7.5/10
10. Angels Wings
10/10
Recommended Tracks
-Reach For The Sky
-Highway 101
-Don't Take Me For Granted
-Winners and Losers
-Angels Wings
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