Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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Social Distortion

  • Social Distortion [Epic, 1990] *
  • Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell [Epic, 1992] B+
  • White Light White Heat White Trash [550 Music/Epic, 1996] Neither

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Social Distortion [Epic, 1990]
the anger of the long-distance runner ("Story of My Life," "Ring of Fire") *

Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell [Epic, 1992]
Like their sceneboys Bad Religion, these hardcore holdouts get over on a saving touch of trad: where Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz break into anthem, Mike Ness gives new meaning to hard honky tonk. And where Graffin and Gurewitz ponder the fate of humanity, Ness universalizes his personal problems like millions of unhappy male chauvinists before him. Me, I'd rather the other guys had made a career album. But as all four of us know, life is unfair. B+

White Light White Heat White Trash [550 Music/Epic, 1996] Neither

Further Notes:

New Wave [1980s]