Customer Reviews

Cheating at Solitaire [Vinyl]

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

...then you have a pretty good idea of how multitalented Mike Ness is. Cheating at Solitaire completely blew me away the first time I heard it, and every SD fan should have a listen. The album contains incredible covers of some classic songs: for instance, there's the sing-along-because-you-can't-help-yourself cover of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice"--you can almost feel Ness shrug his shoulders when he sings, "You just kinda wasted my precious time"; there is also a chilling cover of "Long Black Veil"--the recurring drumroll alone made me shiver at the man singing from the grave. Ness' original songs are of course amazing. It didn't take long for "Cheating at Solitaire" to play over and over in my mind because, as with most Ness-penned SD songs, you really believe the lyrics. In a move of utter brilliance, Ness teams up with Springsteen for "Misery Loves Company"--their voices go together well, and I can't think of two singers more suited for a song about learning from experience and looking beneath the cover of "happiness." All in all, what makes this album so compelling, for me, is not so much Ness' exciting combination of rockabilly, punk, country, and even a saxophone, but the power of his voice: I don't know anything about Ness personally, but I believe every word when he sings "when I'm in [my car] I feel like a man" and "we're not punished for our sins, but by them." This album is the absolute best album I have bought in a really, really long time. Period.

mike ness has so completely absorbed johnny cash and hank williams that he is actually extending their music instead of copying it.

the covers are first rate. "cheating at solitaire", "if you leave before me", "rest of our lives", and "dope fiend blues" are achingly impressive original songs.

"ballad of a lonely man" is just plain astounding.

My son (age 15) heard that Mr. Ness was an extremely decent singer/songwriter and this cowpunkbilly release was worth having a listen. He bought it on vacation this summer at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (! ) in Cleveland. It hasn't come out of his player since than. And I, as a second hand listener, have come under the spell. Highly recommended.

I stumbled onto "Under the Influences" and thought that was a great album. Not only does "Cheating" top that album, it blows it away. Don't Think Twice is phenominal, especially when compared to Peter, Paul, and Mary's- how can that be the same song Dylan wrote? Rest of our Lives, Ballad of a Lonely Man- I'll just have to stop there because to name all the great songs would be just typing out the track listing.

Having been a longtime Social D fan, it's surprising that I'm just now getting around to checking out Mike's solo stuff. I bought "Cheating at Solitaire" without hearing a track. I knew it had to be great though. From the opening lick of the "Ghost Riders in the Sky"-esque "the Devil In Miss Jones", I knew I had found a keeper. Ya know, I've said this before about other Social D albums, but the biggest thing to set them aside from most of the poseurs who are passing off as punk-rock these days (aside from Mike's singing) is sheer life-experience. He's actually lived through everything that he's singing about and that all comes through in his voice. This guy has done so much living in his forty-years that he will most likely NEVER run out of material as long as he stays around.

While "Cheating at Solitaire" may be slightly different from other Social D albums, it must be kept in mind that this is NOT the new Social D album. Yeah, there are some similarities, and of course, Mike's singing, but this is a whole different batch of tunes that have a delibertately more country/rockabilly feel, while still keeping that punk-sensibility, including the use of steel-guitars and even a sax hither and yonder. I, for one, absolutely love this record and I believe that anyone with an open mind will love it as well. Even if you do not like country-western (and I'm talking REAL country, not pop-country) this could open up some new doors for you and may encourage you to dig a little deeper and discover the likes of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and Merle Haggard. Those guys actually lived the outlaw life that they were singing about as well. Mike is basically the next generation of what country music SHOULD have evolved into. I'm off to pick up "Under the Influence".

This is a great CD. Mike Ness is truly outstanding as a solo artist. Don't get me wrong, I love Social Distortion, but this is a nice, slight change. "Don't Think Twice" is a real hit. The bluesy, rockabilly sound of this CD makes it a winner.

i, like a few others, will never get sick of this cd. i can listen to it over an over again. if you like rock-a-billy this is a cd for you!!!

I had heard a lot of various opinions about this album long before I finally decided to go out and buy it. Although most of the people I asked gave it a positive review, there were a few (very few) who had little good to say about it. If you're expecting Social D., another style of Punk Rock, or even Rockabilly, this isn't gonna do it for ya. What this is, instead, is some extremely well played, well written soulful Rock 'N' Country tunes. This is one of my favorite albums and I suggest it to anyone who's a fan of the Social D. album "Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell" or fans of Johnny Cash. This is a great album, but I have no doubt that a lot of buyers who look at Mike Ness will expect raw Punk energy. If thats what you're wanting, you might be dissapointed. Or, you might decide you like it, having never known before what an extremely versitile and talented song writer Mike Ness really was, until now. This is a talented Masterpiece and I love it.

Mike Ness, the longtime lead singer of social distortion has really made something great in his first solo album, cheating at solitare. He puts thought into the idea he wants to get across, and unlike most punk singers he actually uses big words and realizes that songs don't have to rhyme!!! This is an album that can be enjoyed by country, rock, and punk funs alike. His duet with Bruce is amazing and you find yourself wondering who's singing at certain points... Mike Ness is an amazing musician and this album just seals the belief that he will be loved and respected for many years to come....

As much as I love my Social Distortion collection, if I had to pick one Mike Ness album as a "desert island" choice, it would be Mike's solo debut Cheating at Solitaire hands-down. To me, this is simply a near-perfect rock & roll album.

You could always hear some of Mike Ness's influences on the Social D albums, but here they have a much more prominent role. Alongside covers of Dylan, Cash, and Hank Williams, Ness utilizes his considerable songwriting talents to merge elements of early rock, rockabilly, and country styles with the "born to lose" punk rock sensibility that we've come to know so well from the Social D albums. Ness has spent enough time in the trenches that he can pull of these kinds of songs with integrity and conviction, and the execution is just flawless. The album has plenty of heart and soul; it's catchy as hell, and Bruce Springsteen - the Boss himself - even makes an appearance! The whole album is brilliant, but songs like The Devil in Miss Jones, Crime Don't Pay, Ballad of a Lonely Man, and especially Charmed Life are among the absolute best Mike Ness has ever written. Listening to Cheating at Solitaire, particularly after hearing the classic 50's rock featured on Rhino's Loud, Fast & Out Of Control box set, reminds you why rock & roll was created in the first place.

For fans of Social Distortion, this is a must-have album, but there's bound to be something on this album that will appeal to a wide range of rock and country fans. Cheating at Solitaire may not be the kind of punk album some would expect from the frontman of one of the longest-running punk bands, but it's about as good a rock & roll album as you'll ever hope to hear.

PS - I was fortunate enough to catch Mike's 1999 tour for this album, and it was damn near a religious experience.