Mike Ness: Cheating At Solitaire

Social Distortion has long been a staple of the L.A. punk scene, but thanks to some rootsy stylistic leanings, the band has stood out from the loud-fast-and-snotty crowd. Singer-songwriter Mike Ness has long proclaimed his love of country, rockabilly, and roots music, influences that have overtly informed the group's records for the past couple of decades. Since so much of his favorite music ultimately surfaces in the songs of Social Distortion anyway, it seems strange that Ness thought it necessary to release a solo record, but glance at the liner notes of Cheating At Solitaire and it all makes sense. Legendary X guitarist Billy Zoom makes an appearance, but so does Bruce Springsteen. Brian Setzer adds some twang, but Ness finds plenty of twang of his own in covers of Bob Dylan ("Don't Think Twice"), Hank Williams ("You Win Again"), and the country standard "Long Black Veil." Sure, Social Distortion has covered the Stones and Johnny Cash before, but that was as a band: The group, though fronted by Ness, is democratic. Cheating At Solitaire, on the other hand, is personal, and though Ness is Ness whether or not he's with his band, the album finds him stretching out more than usual. "Misery Loves Company" features horns and a bluesy bite (and The Boss), while "Crime Don't Pay" is back-alley sonic sleaze that would make Mike Hammer proud. Surprisingly, such country-tinged numbers as "The Devil In Miss Jones" and "Rest Of Our Lives" are both more immediate and more immediately country than the music of most so-called country artists, "alt-" or otherwise. Make no mistake: Ness still growls as if he'd bite your head off in a punk-rock second, but his voice has as much in common with Tom Waits' raggedy howl as with his hoarse Orange County peers.