Mike Ness has one of those voices that I’d like hear even in a terribly mundane setting, like him talking to himself in front of an ATM machine, or maybe on the phone with tech support trying to troubleshoot a computer hardware issue. Few communicate the posture of being perpetually badass like Ness.

In the group’s first full-length since 2004′s Sex, Love and Rock ‘n Roll, not all that much has changed. Fans of faster music will (again) find themselves going “C’mon Mike, bring the speed!”, while devotees of Ness’ bluesy, “outlaw country” angle will be chewing the fat on slow-burn jams like the six and half minute “Bakersfield” or the five minute “Writing On The Wall”. We’ve been here before, and in the press Ness has been quick to point out his preference for mixing tempos and juxtaposing heavy and light. We better get used to it.

Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes gets off to a rousing start with the crankin’ instrumental opener “Road Zombie” and the riff-tastic “California (Hustle And Flow)”. The backing female vocals in “California” are an instant standout and a first time appearance for the band (they blessedly show up again on the similarly blustered “Cant Take It With You”). They kind of remind me of when GUNS N’ ROSES trot out backing female vocals on “Paradise City” or “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” in concert. It’s not an easy task to outshine Mike Ness, but the female vocals easily go toe-to-toe. Album single “Machine Gun Blues” is another uptempo track that just sort of captures the complete essence of the band at this stage in their careers. The song fights its mid-tempo universe by using its swagger to push it ahead.

“Bakersfield” is the one thorn for me among the 11 song track listing. Its drop-dead slowness feels like being stuck in an hour long traffic backup, bookended by tireless stretches of high-speed open road.  I can appreciate the depth it gives to the full-length and I’m sure the song will grow on me, but Ness could probably down a Big Gulp in that song between verses.

SOCIAL DISTORTION are a known quantity – there’s not much mystery to them, even when it’s almost seven years between full-lengths. They record, tour, tour some more, and never forget that their audience always wants to hear “the hits” when they take the stage. Hard Times does its job in placing a few more hits into the record.

Epitaph