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Rating: It seems... It appears... They say...
It seems that, on the occasion of Lucio Dalla's funeral, a high prelate hastened to issue a stern warning: «Oh, don't even think about playing his songs during the ceremony». Heaven forbid that someone in attendance might crack a smile to lighten the grief.
Whether true or not, from that moment on, the thought of dying unsettles me a little more. Because I don't want to see sad and whiny faces at my funeral; and so, to exorcise my fears, I have prepared a soundtrack for the event (a best of what I usually listen to). To delight the guests with wild pogo rhythms. But if a priest comes and says: «Pinhead or not Pinhead, Social Distortion cannot be played in the cemetery», I swear I'll turn into a modern-day Lazarus, and until I hear some feedback followed by four distorted chords, I refuse to go back into the coffin and be covered by a meter of earth.
So, I warn you now: don't try to ruin this moment for me, because I have organized it well!
And the track that will conclude the whole story is right here: «When The Angels Sing». Not my all-time favorite Social Distortion song, but the video convinced me that it is perfect for the occasion, and if I could also find two beautiful girls dressed in black like those that appear in some sequences, then it would be apotheosis. And yes, I will finally be able to run happily to meet Joey, Johnny, and Dee Dee and have them sign the copy of «Rocket To Russia» that (obviously) will come with me.
But do you realize? This record has the song to the notes of which I will bring down the curtain, and this alone is enough to make it a small masterpiece, you will agree.
But besides «When The Angels Sing», there are also «Don't Drag Me Down» and «I Was Wrong», which make «White Light, White Heat, White Trash» an essential album for any Social Distortion fan, on par with «Mommy's Little Monster»; indeed, to those who want to get close to the band, I would recommend this rather than the debut to get acquainted with Michael Ness.
All things considered, «White Light, White Heat, White Trash» is the fifth album released by Social Distortion in 1996, following the groundbreaking debut of 1983, «Prison Bound» of 1988, the self-titled 1990 album, and «Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell» of 1992. Thirteen years have passed since the beginning of the journey, and Michael, in this album, throws in all the troubles that happened during that time, which I leave to your imagination, amazed (he more than the fans) to be still alive or, perhaps, only aware of having died and resurrected to take advantage of a second chance.
Three core tracks, the ones already linked.
«Don't Drag Me Down» is the new «Moral Threat», the song of resistance against the world that wants to bring you down just because it doesn't understand you and can't assimilate you (something like «My Generation» or thereabouts); and if in 1983 you would have spit in the world's eye and cheerfully kicked its ass, by 1996 you must invent new forms of resistance, the important thing is not to get dragged down into the depths.
But has Ness become bourgeois? A glance at the lyrics of «I Was Wrong» might raise the doubt: I admit it, today I understand that I was wrong, I fought against the whole world sure of winning, but the world punished me for my mistakes. Yet, here I am, because what I've learned wasn't to toe the line, but only not to destroy myself with my own hands; here I am, I have climbed back from the abyss and the world will have to struggle to push me back into it. This is the simple Nessian philosophy in Pinheadian sauce, that is, the song that best symbolizes Michael's resurrection from the hell he had thrust himself into.
The circle is closed with «When The Angels Sing»: Ness is a nearly reconciled man, capable of standing tall in front of the world, bearing pain, suffering, and memories, sustained by the conviction that life, love, and death matter nothing on the day when the angels will sing, and as long as they continue to do so, and the only solace is in watching children play and grow day by day. This, perhaps, is the only form of resistance; some might call it maturity.
For many, this is indeed the album of Michael Ness's maturity. It is for me as well, if maturity means that the Ness of 1996 can look back and recognize the Ness of 1983, without renouncing him; whereas the one from 1983, no, wouldn't have been able to do the same. Here, then, is the meaning of «Under My Thumb»: recorded shortly before «Mommy's Little Monster» (and originally appeared in the collection «Mainliner»), the song fits perfectly into the tracklist of «White Light, White Heat, White Trash», precisely (or perhaps, only) because deep down Michael Ness knows how to recognize Michael Ness. Here, then, is the meaning of «Gotta Know The Rules» and «Pleasure Seeker» which, yes, are dated 1996, but are imbued with the epic and raw street poetry of «Mommy's Little Monster».
Here, then, is the meaning of an album important beyond words.
A while ago, I had the chance to share some feelings about «Divine Rites» by The New Christs: «White Light, White Heat, White Trash» originates from the same root, just like «Don't Drag Me Down» and «I Swear». Another album of (my) life.
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And then, this is the album that marks the exit of Dennis Danell, a lifelong companion, the one who always stayed in the shadows, the one who built the wall of sound on which Social Distortion climbed one day in the late seventies to scrutinize the world as it would appear thirty years later.
And if I still enjoy messing around with an electric guitar today, it is because of people like him, Deniz, or Johnny (Ramone or Thunders, take your pick).
Dennis dies on February 29, 2000, at 38 years old from a damn cerebral aneurysm, and Michael takes four years to give him the only possible worthy tribute and thanks; but the result is «Sex, Love & Rock'n'Roll» and then you understand that those four years were not in vain.
Never thought I'd get emotional listening to a Social Distortion album.
So when my time comes, «White Light, White Heat, White Trash» will also be there to keep me company, and I will go and look for Dennis too...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Don't Drag Me Down (03:51)
Children are taught to hate, parents just couldn't wait
Some are rich and some are poor, others will just suffer more
Have you ever been ashamed and felt society try to keep you down?
I begin to watch things change and see them turn around
Turn around, they'll try to keep you down
Turn around, turn around
Don't drag me down
Ignorance like a gun in hand, reach out to the promised land
Your history books are full of lies, media-blitz gonna dry your eyes
Have you ever been afraid, and felt society try to keep you down?
I begin to watch things change and see them turn around
Turn around, they'll try to keep you down
Turn around, turn around
Don't drag me down
*guitar solo*
Ignorance like a gun in hand, reach out to the promised land
Your history books, are full of lies, media-blitz gonna dry your eyes
You're eighteen, wanna be a man
Your granddaddy's in the Ku Klux Klan
Taking two steps foward, and four steps back
Gonna go to the White House and paint it black...
Turn around, they'll try to keep you down
Turn around
Turn around, they'll try to keep you down
Turn around, turn around
Don't drag me down
04 I Was Wrong (03:59)
when I was young I was so full of fear
I hid behind anger and held back the tears
it was me against the world
I was sure I would win
but the world fought back
punished me for my sins
well I felt so alone
so insecure
but I blamed you instead
made sure I was heard
they tried to warn me of my evil ways
but I couldn't hear what they had to say
I was wrong..
self distructions got me again
I was wrong...
I realize now that I was wrong
and I think about my loves
well I've had a few
i'm sorry that I hurt them
did I hurt you too?
well I took what I wanted
put my heart on the shelf
but how can you love when you don't love yourself?
it was me against the world
I was sure that i'd win
but the world faught back
punished me for my sins
they tried to warn me of my evil way
but i couldn't hear what they had to say
I was wrong...
self distructions got me again
I was wrong...
I realize now that i was wrong
I was wrong...
I was wrong...
well I grew up fast
and I grew up hard
something was wrong from the very start
I was fighting everybody
I was fighting everything
but the only one that I hurt was me
I got societys blood running down my face
somebody help me get out of this place
how could someones bad luck last so long
until i realized that i was wrong
09 Crown of Thorns (04:16)
Pretty much been alone now for almost 5 years
I could always find a way to hide those bitter tears
And still I'm a waiting a wishing somehow
I wish I knew then what I know now...
(Chorus:)
It's no bed of roses, it aint no crown of thorns
Better than lonely, I've been there before
Gotta bad reputation for playing with love
Gonna play again now and beat the odds above
And still I'm a waiting and wishing somehow
I wish I knew then, what I know now...
(Chorus)
(Bridge:)
Are you tired of being alone?
Or have you fallen out of love?
Do you care enough about yourself
I have wore your crown of thorns
10 Pleasure Seeker (03:33)
Here I come, I'm on a run
Who wants to fight temptation that's no fun
C'mon and play the games, don't you feel no shame
That's what Eve said to Adam before she came
chorus:
You can smile now cry later on
you know that it might be wrong
But it feels so good, like you know it would
There's damnation and disgrace, and guilt rears its ugly face
Yet you beg for more, just a little more
Stand in line, don't you lose your mind
Try like me to seek your pleasure three at a time
There's souls for sale, your gonna burn in Hell
And if tomorrow never comes, its just as well
chorus:
Feel the pain! I feel it too
Have your hedonistic ways got the best of you
Play the games, don't feel no shame
That's what Eve said to Adam before she came
chorus:
12 Under My Thumb (02:50)
Under my thumb' the girl
Who once had me down
Under my thumb's the girl
Who once fucked me around
It's down to me
The way she does when she stole the truth out of me
Change has come, she's under my thumb
Under my thumb's
The squirmin' dog who's just had her day
Under my thumb's
A girl who has just changed her ways
It's down to me
The difference in the clothes she wears, down to me
Change has come, she's under my thumb
Under my thumb
It's a siamese
Cat of a girl
Under my thumb
Well, she's the sweetest
Pet in the world
It's down to me
The way she does as wash your soul out of me
Change has come, she's under my thumb
Under my thumb
Her eyes are just kept
To herself
Under my thumb
Well, I
I can still look at someone else
It's down to me
The way she comes when I tell here to laugh at me
Change has come, she's under my thumb
Yeah
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By 'gnurant
I immediately fell in love with that imposing sonic wall generated by the Ness/Dannell riffs.
When I put an album like 'White Light, White Heat, White Trash' on the stereo, it feels like reading a famous novel by Oscar Wilde.
