Customer Reviews

Mommy's Little Monster

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first record I ever fell in love with, I found it in the "hardcore" section of the local mall chain store when I was 15. As soon as "The Creeps"(1st song) kicked in , I knew I had found the style of music I would be listening to for the duration of my teenage years.It was as if a door to a secret society called punk had been opened. Unfortunately, while I listened to a literal ton of great punk bands during my youth, very few ever came close to "Mommy's" era S.D. While music(especially punk rock) is subjective, for me S.D. nailed it with this one. The perfectly distorted guitar, the melodies trying to find thier way through the agression, and especially Ness's SoCal accented raw teenage voice piercing through it all. This guy's vocals are unmistakable, with Joe Strummer being his only competition for finest punk vox. "Mommys" also captures one of the last earnest moments in punk rock. The now dated belief that punk was a real thing, a real lifestyle and culture vibrates through these songs. This album has all the menace and also the poignancy formerly associated with punk that is missing from current "punk" bands.I've since grown away from punk, but I still have this record, probably always will.

I fell in love w/ Mike Ness and Social D in the 80s. They toured constantly, it seemed like they came to the Cameo Theatre in Miami Beach (and when that shut down, 1235) at least 2X a year. Best energy at those shows, everyone screaming our lungs out to songs that told our stories. If you don't get amped listening to this album, you should really stick to emo-core fluffy music, and quit calling yourself a punk rocker.

The new stuff is just as good, but is more of a showcase for Mike Ness' phenomenal songwriting ability. My favorite band in the whole wide world. God bless Social D, they have fed my spirit for 20 years.

Mike Ness and the rest of Social D were a bunch of ruthless punks out to have a good time and share their music with the rest of us. They (along with two other bands) were the first punk artists to have a North American tour in the early 80's. Through the experiences from this tour came one of Social D's most poignant songs, "Another State of Mind", where singer Mike Ness was being faced with either continuing the tour or quitting like some of his buddies did. Many teens related to these punk icons and believed in what they stood for. For me, this band will forever be a part of who I am. Don't forget to listen to "Telling Them" and "Creeps." (Lee)

This album knocks me out, the first time I listened to it, and every time I listen to it. This is the voice of original street punk, Orange County style, after the scene had eaten itself and the dust had cleared. Social Distortion's honesty, brutality, and pure talent enabled them to stay vital for all these years. Mike Ness is undoubtedly one of the most talented rock guitarists out there, punk or otherwise, and on this record, his riffs don't harmonize so much as they attack and destroy. Stand-outs on the album include "Telling Them," "Another State of Mind," and "Moral Threat." Every Social D. album is a masterpiece, but this one is exceptional. Mommy's Little Monster has undoubtedly influenced any modern-day "punk" band, remaining a well-documented testimonial of what it was like to be young, angry, and powerless.

i remember when i got this album at a small cd store for only 7 bucks(what a deal!) not knowing anything about social d. (much less punk rock.) i was listening to anti-flag, rancid, nofx, not that those bands dont provide great music, but then i didnt know what was totally real and what wasnt(know what i'm sayin!?) i remember it was this album,doa's bloodied but unbowed, misfits' earth ad,black flag's damaged, descendents, and circle jerks that totally kickstarted a never ending journey through a realm with never-ending possibilities(musically at least, lol). now that i have left and revisted this album several times, today, i thought to myself "this album is great!" once more. what i just said shows how these 9 inspirational, powerful, guitar driven hardcore punk tunes from OC can get ya. social d. didnt need to play super fast like other bands, they had their own style which is what makes a great band.

"all the answers" has to be my fav. social d. song and the version on this album is the greatest one of em all, all of these songs are all at their best here. now i'm no fan of the later-social d. i think theyre better known for but i have heard those 82 demos, seen that short video of them playing "under my thumb" and "1945" back in those early days, and have the mainliner comp. also... but this album beats all those things, a classic, an essential for anyone whether they think so and so "is punk rock" or if they just wana hear something they could find themselves listening to time and time again.

I grew up on this album as well as Social D's "Mainliner:wreckage from the past" and let me tell you that after 10+ years of listening they have lost absolutely none of their power! I am not a fan of much social D after the early punk years. When mike ness lost the ability to sing reasonably and they became a weird rockabilly/country from the heart type band I said goodbye. If you enjoy bands like Black Flag,Circle Jerks,T.S.O.L. and others from that time period and cali location than you will certainly dig every second of this. The only problem I really ever had with Mommy's Little Monster was that it's only 9 songs long and that the album versions of All The Answers and Moral Threat don't live up to the Earlier ones (which appear on "mainliner"). Do yourself a favor and pick both up right now!

This is the earliest , rawest album that social d ever recorded (before Mike Ness was writing/singing songs about "... and when the angels sing..." ). This is a must for any collection because this is what punk rock was about. The songs really reflect where the band was and what they were like back then . The songs on the album are written about fighting, girls , heroin , and having a F*ck you attitude towards everyone.The one and only thing I would criticise is that some of the lyrics are dated and you can tell were written when the band members were really young (for example lyrics about fighting/arguing with mom and dad about things and the lyrics to "telling them" and "mommy's little monster")but i still recommend this album

I'm not quite sure about that but this ranks right up there with Husker Du's "Zen Arcade" and The Replacements "Let it Be" as one of the 80's greatest records. Mike Ness not only sang it he lived it and the angst, pain and fear of an entire generation are documented here. "Telling Them" is classic american punk as is "Moral threat" and Social D was really more than just a punk band anyhow and that's what sets them apart from the many faceless punk bands of that time who most of us can't even remember as we quickly approach 40 and memory loss.....long live Social D for telling it like it was........thanks Mike...

This CD is by far THE BEST Social Distortion CD. I fell in love with Social Distortion when I saw the documentary Another State of Mind, and soon after bought this album. This captures the punk rock energy Social D had in their beginning. It sounds a lot different than later albums by them, and I think this is a great SD CD to start off with.

This is one of those albums in the eighties you bought on record,in the ninties you bought on tape, and in the twenty-first century you bought on CD. I love this album it has a raw timeless quality to it. Mike and co. were one of the few punk bands at the time that could actually play and were extrodinary song writers. their songs could be released today and still have the same dramatic effect they had in '83 (now even more so that punk is now acceptable). I've bought this album three times in the past twenty years and I'm sure if the come up with a better form of media to print music on I'd buy it on that as well.