Social Distortion Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes Social Distortion are a household name by now. It’s not so much a matter of dissecting their material as it is simply comparing it to their back catalog. Some tracks on “Hard Times” are as good as any as the group has ever done. “California” sounds like it was written by John Mellencamp, but with the unmistakable Mike Ness growl is patented Social D with a twist. “Machine Gun Blues” is also an instant classic. What has bothered some, and this reviewer specifically about the last few Social Distortion records, is that they don’t sound like Social Distortion records. Maybe it’s because life is good for Ness and Co. that the entire effort sounds more like nursery rhymes than hard times. There are some different tones here than on previous Social D records, and in some cases it makes for interesting listening and sees the band stretch its wings, so to speak. But with Social D you almost ache for the heartache. You want the relatable songs that given the right time could bring tears to your eyes or make you punch a hole in the wall. While the band has obviously had more than its fare share of heartache, it’s made for great records in the past, most recently “White Light, White Heat, White Trash,” and “Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell.” Unfortunately, “Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes” is continuing a trend of Social D sounds that aren’t as good as previous efforts. Still, at this point the band doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. So add a few new solid cuts to an already amazing live set and it’s back to the grind of the road. 6/10 – B.J. Lisko