Antique Albums: Social Distortion

Photo by Jefferson Santos on Unsplash

“Love is a burning thing/And it makes a fiery ring/Bound by wild desire/I fell into a ring of fire.”

The immortal country singer Johnny Cash spoke these lines for the first time in 1963 in that iconic love song “Ring of Fire.” But as beautifully as the “Man in Black” sang this tune, the version I prefer came a whole 27 years later, in the form of the exponentially better cover by Social Distortion.

A punk band started in the late 1970s, they  rose to prominence in the ‘90s with their self- titled, most successful album. Not entirely punk, although certainly based in it, the band combines various different styles, from ‘50s country to ‘90s grunge, all to create another one of those unique rock spins on punk bands that my brain can’t seem to get enough of.

And what better way to explain this whirlwind of styles than by looking at my favorite song on the album, “Story of My Life!” It’s a heart-breaking ballad about a man looking back on all he missed in life, wondering where all the time he had went. The country and blues aspects really shine through in the lyrics of the song, and merge with the fast paced punk guitars to create something truly special, and a regular holder of the ever-shifting title of being my favorite song.

So do you want something snappy? Something on the newer side compared to my previous reviews? If you liked the musical mashups I talked about in “London Calling” by The Clash, then it’s about time you added “Social Distortion” to your own roster of hits.

And as much as I’d be able to go on more about this incredible album, unfortunately I must say goodbye for now, and move on to an album that’s a little more “Built for Speed.”