Social Distortion Mommy's Little Monster

Recorded in Fullerton, Calif., in a single session on Christmas Eve, 1982, Mommy’s Little Monster remains a definitive encapsulation of Orange County punk rock. The album’s self-assuredness comes partly from the fact that singer/songwriter Mike Ness and bassist Dennis Danell had already played together for three years—an eternity in the combustible world of early L.A. punk. While most of the era's Orange County bands were in a race to see who could play faster and more obnoxiously, Social Distortion was chasing a more classical sound even in its early days. It’s remarkable to note how many of the traits from this first album would carry over to the band’s subsequent development: the sweeping bar chords, the steadiness of the rhythms, the maturity of Ness’ voice, and the timelessness of his storytelling, much of which celebrated the reckless behavior of small-town youth. Among the songs here that became Social Distortion staples are “The Creeps,” “Telling Them,” “Mommy’s Little Monster," and “Another State of Mind,” the last of which was inspired by the band’s tour with Youth Brigade in the summer of 1982.