Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll is the sixth studio album by American punk rock band Social Distortion. It is their first album in eight years, since the release of White Light, White Heat, White Trash in 1996. It was originally scheduled for release in the fall of 2000, but was not completed, not being released until September 28, 2004. This album is Social Distortion's first to feature guitarist Jonny Wickersham, following the death of Dennis Danell in February 2000. The opening track, "Reach for the Sky", was released as a single in late 2004, becoming one of the band's biggest hits.
Social Distortion was unable to make a follow-up to White Light, White Heat, White Trash due to various activities, most obviously those of frontman Mike Ness's solo career, releasing two solo albums in 1999, one with original material, Cheating at Solitaire, and one cover album, Under the Influences. Touring for these projects, and matters pertaining to Danell's death, set the album back a number of years, before finally being completed in 2004.
History
Ness began writing new material for a sixth Social Distortion album during the White Light, White Heat, White Trash tour in 1997. One of the new songs, "I Won't Run No More", was first performed at a concert in Germany that year. Ness launched a solo career in 1998, and decided to record some of the songs for his first album, Cheating at Solitaire.
In November 1999, Ness added more details to the possibility of a new album and mentioned he'd "like to get one out" in fall 2000. In May 2001, a questioner asked Ness how it was coming along. He replied, "Slow." His wife elaborated that he was in "home mode", working on restoring a house in Santa Ana, CA. The band was rumored to resume recording in June or July. During a January 11, 2004, concert in Orlando, Florida, Ness revealed that the album was "three-quarters of the way completed" and mixing began in June. On the same day, it was announced that bass guitarist John Maurer, who recorded the album, had left the band "in order to stay home and devote time to his wife and two children". On tour, Rancid's Matt Freeman joined as his replacement, then was himself replaced a few months later by Ness' touring bass guitarist for his solo project, Brent Harding.
Reception
Critical reviews of Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll were mostly positive. AllMusic's Mark Deming gave the album a rating of four stars out of five and states: "Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll shows that Social Distortion have held onto what made them great while growing and changing in the best ways, and the result is one of the best albums this band has made to date."
Track listing
All songs written by Mike Ness unless otherwise noted.
Personnel
- Mike Ness – lead vocals, lead guitar
- Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar
- John Maurer – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Charlie Quintana – drums
Additional musicians
- Dan McGough – B3 organ
Charts
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!Chart (2004)
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External links
- punknews.org review
- Sobriquet Magazine review of the album
- Razorcake review