Mike Ness, guitarist and front man, is the rock that Social Distortion has stood on for almost 30 years and counting. Their long awaited 7th studio album Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes is a testament to their continued growth and relevance. In a music world filled with junk food for the ears, Social Distortion releases an album that reminds us what it means to be Rock N Roll. Produced for the first time exclusively by Ness, the LP is heavily reliant on the chemistry that exist between him and 2nd guitarist Jonny Wickersham, who took on this role in 2000 after the death of founding guitarist Dennis Dannell.

Painstakingly, Mike and Jonny decided to return to music’s elementary concepts, to tighten their particular style of Rock N Roll and Blues, like cutting almost all compression from their album which hasn’t been done since Pink Floyd‘s release of Dark Side of the Moon. The lack of compression and use of analog style recordings in this digital age allowed Social Distortion to create a rock album that sounds like it came from the days when Rock N Roll was still dangerous.

Solos that ping and pop out your speakers like your standing front and center, in the crowd of their concerts. Their performance of their standout single “Machine Gun Blues” on Conan O’Brien was a perfect example of how a recording can capture a live sound; for their was no distinction between the album mix and the live cut. On a regular basis we are bombarded with artist that rely heavily on compression and computers to fix what they lack in talent but after seeing Social Distortion play this late night show, there is no doubt where they stand as musicians.

When asked about his new album and his thoughts of producing it by himself Ness said “ When I look back in 5 or 10 years, I won’t have any regrets- that’s a real satisfying feeling.” This may be in part due to his new found comfort in being able to vocally mature.

In the past he was coached to sound angry, aggressive like a 1970′s New York City punk sound but now that he is comfortably behind the drivers’ wheel he has ditched the teen-angst act and has found a truly distinct and talented voice that has risen from the ash of his younger days. Songs like “Bakersfield” showcase hisnatural ability to write a song that is story-driven. A drunken back beat and slow melodic guitar solos reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s BBC recordings set the stage for this story of struggling love while all along you feel the need to sing with Ness or pick a guitar up and play with Jonny. Yeah, its that powerful!

The song “California (Hustle & Flow)” is sure bet hit, that screams out in its purposeful influence driven from powerhouse rock star Keith Richards. Busy and infectious, I haven’t heard anything this reliant on old Rock N Roll styling yet bound to be noticed as a modern hit in its own right, since Guns N Roses‘ “Welcome To The Jungle” was released. Filled with soulful background singers, big stadium sounding drums and a intuitive vision shared by the members allowing the songs to be bigger than anyone member’s ego or talent.

Meanwhile as a whole the album tells a story of hard living, lost love, motorcycles, and cigar chomping gangsters. The single “Machine Gun Blues” could easily have been written with infamous outlaw John Dillinger in mind and captures a theme for this trailblazing album. So next time you find yourself riding into some strange town, and ordering up pints of brew at the local bar filled with smoke and outlaws, hold your drink up in the name of Rock N’ Roll’s new royalty, Social Distortion.