Social Distortion Greatest Hits (2 Lp's) - (M) (ONLINE ONLY!!)

Showing an admirable restraint considering their era's glut of unnecessary best-of collections, Social Distortion waited nearly three decades to release their first, and in true punk-rock form, they keep it at a brief 11 tracks and include only the best. GREATEST HITS is a lean affair as career retrospectives go, so hardcore fans may be a little let down by the lack of deep cuts or rarities included. For new or casual fans, there is no better place to start for this radio-friendly punk institution. With only two cuts from their first record--"Mommy's Little Monster" and "Another State of Mind"--the band seems to be downplaying their roots in punk ferocity and concentrating more on their middle period when they ably absorbed combined rockabilly and country sensibilities. "Story of My Life" and "Ball & Chain" are both included from their self-titled 1990 LP, as is "Ring of Fire," a So-Cal punk reading of the Johnny Cash classic that pits the band as his heir. It is Ness's charisma a