Mike Ness

Editor's Review:

Mike Ness is best known for fronting the seminal punk rock band Social Distortion, whose music is planted in the roots of rock, rockabilly, blues and country. Since the mid-1980s, dozens of bands have followed in the footsteps of Social D and Ness, but Ness and his music actually follows in the footsteps of other greats, and Cheating At Solitaire is a definite departure from Social D-brand punk rock, part homage to influence and part exploration of Ness' musical and personal psyche.

From slow, old style country ballads ("You Win Again," by Hank Williams) to down and dirty, big blues dirges ("No Man's Friend") to good old rock 'n' roll songs ("Don't Think Twice," by Bob Dylan), Ness' study and reverence of the old masters is evident. On Cheating At Solitaire, Ness and his band (which includes sit-in cameos from Brian Setzer, Billy Zoom and Bruce Springsteen) prove their ability and expertly demonstrate that they are more than comfortable with this type of music.

The presence of the slide guitar is particularly grabbing. The slide's soft howl coupled with Ness' scratchy, slightly nasally croon creates a touching harmony at times, and can also convey cries of pain from both instrument and vox.

Ness' lyrics also reach out from the album and demand attention, with subject manner ranging from a life-long music career to love and lost love ("If You Leave Before Me"), being a junkie ("Dope Fiend Blues") to just getting by ("Cheating At Solitaire"). Much of what Ness sings about seems non-fictional, and the feel of this album comes from an older, wiser and reflective Ness, one who sees the err of his ways, but is powerless to do anything about it at this point, and content with that realization.

- Philip Bole


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Record Label Time Bomb Records Released April 2001

Tracks 1. Devil In Miss Jones, The 2. Don't Think Twice 3. Misery Loves Company 4. Crime Don't Pay 5. Rest Of Our Lives 6. You Win Again 7. Cheating At Solitaire 8. No Man's Friend 9. Charmed Life 10. Dope Fiend Blues 11. Ballad Of A Lonely Man 12. I'm In Love W/ My Car 13. If You Leave Before Me 14. Long Black Veil 15. Send Her Back