This is where it all began. Many of the so called "punk rock" bands of today would do well to go back and listen to this album. This is Social Distortions contribution to the first wave of Southern California punk. It sounds as good today as it did in the 1980's.

However, those who are only familiar with their radio hits such as "Ball & Chain", "Ring of Fire", and "When The Angels Sing" might be somewhat put off by this album. There can be no doubt that this is a raw, in your face, punk rock classic.

While they may have released more fully realized and better albums later in their career, this album is essential to anyone who loves this band. The highlights on the album include...

-Another State of Mind
-Telling Them
-Hour of Darkness
-Mommy's Little Monster

Social Distortion is considered a classic band. For some, though, there is little to crow about. Those people are mistaken. Social Distortion has always been a band worth listening to, even on its weaker releases. This one isn't weak, but it isn't the best, either.

I've got this on clear vinyl from a guy in Italy, so I consider it a prized possession, but I don't listen to it as much as I do the other albums. Why? I don't know, but it doesn't grab me the way I feel a Social Distortion album should. I want to feel like moving, like punching someone, like lamenting, like crying in a beer, or just driving off a cliff real fast. I don't get that with this one, but it still beats anything from Blink-182.

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!

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.

Mommy's little monster is in my opinion, Social Distortion's greatest sound. I'm in high school and really enjoy punk music, So this CD's raw enerfy and blaring guitars is a good sound. Don't let this discourage you not to buy other CD's by them though, Because later Social Distortion isalso great, just a different, more mature sound.