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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome Back Social Distortion, November 24, 2001
The album Prison Bound marked the return of old punk rock band Social Distortion after years of absence. The album is VERY different from Mommy's Little Monster. From the short outburts of anger and energy on the previous album, Prison Bound mixes country rythms and rock into the punk, and creates over 4 minute long anthems. Who would have thought that listening to Mommy's Little Monster? The album and the change to the music is very interesting, although not all liked it and "sellout" were whispered by some. I don't feel that Social Distortion with Prison Bound sold out in any way. Yes the album IS more radio friendly than Mommy's Little Monster, but it is in no way selling out the ideals that Social Distortion always held high. The album is still full of critic of society and is still siding with the working class. The album also is the start of Social Distortions new style with the country inspired rythms.
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16 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
too bad it's all not as good as the title track, February 4, 2001
Social D made an impact with Mommy's Little Monster in 1983, a record that stuck out like a sore thumb in its era of SoCal hardcore and worldwide apathy to punk rock. It took them 4 years to get it together and release this, their 2nd full-length, Prison Bound. And it sets the table for better things to come, but really isn't all that compelling on its own. By this time Mike Ness had been in and out of drugs and jail, and the "roots-rock rebel" attitude had begun to set in permanently. Prison Bound, to me, is the best song they've ever done. It captures everything Social D are about. But the rest of the album has an irritating "80's" feel about it that, while not overpowering, doesn't help when the songwriting is this weak.Their next 2 efforts would be much fuller realized, and would cement Social D's place among the greatest American punk acts ever. Ness eventually got a little full of himself circa the radio success of White Light, White Heat, White Trash, and the subsequent solo albums that many scoffed at as merely vanity projects. But, while Ness' "I was there when it actually mattered" pose does get a little tired, he has fronted a good enough band that he might just merit a little arrogance every now and again. Not the youthful, brash, peppy album that Mommy's Little Monster was, but not quite at the plateau they would eventually achieve with Somewhere Between Heaven & Hell. Start elsewhere first, then work your way to this.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Uneven Effort..., March 29, 2007
This album is still better than most bands that claim to be "punk" today; however, it is lacking by Social Distortion's standards. It really seems like this album is a bit lost. It's as if Mike Ness couldn't quite decide what direction he wanted to take his band. It definitely has the beginnings of the Rockabilly sound that would shape the rest of their future albums. Still, you get the feeling like it is not very realized on this album. This album is half "Mommy's Little Monster" and half "Somewhere Between Heaven & Hell" without ever really coming close to either of those albums greatness. It also has a very downbeat feel to it which is probably due to the fact that it's the first album that Social Distortion made in about 4 years due to Mike Ness's battles with drug and alcohol addiction.
This would not be a good starting point for anyone who is new to the band; however, it does have several gems. "Prison Bound" is arguably the single best song the Mike Ness has ever written. Here are the songs that are worth a listen on this album...
-It's The Law
-Indulgence
-Prison Bound
-Lost Child
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~ Social Distortion
~ Social Distortion
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~ Mike Ness
by Social Distortion 
