Mike Ness
Under the Influences (Time Bomb)
by Jon Sarre
Ah Jeez, Mike, ya shouldn’t’ve, no really. I know it sounded like a swell idea, but come on! Albums consisting entirely of cover songs either recorded cuz they influenced the performer (as the story behind Mike Ness’ new Under the Influences goes), or cuz they’re just fun or whatever (see Joan Jett’s whateverthefuckitwascalled [The Hit List; sheesh, I know too much useless shit -ed] or UB40’s entire career) should be banned under an international agreement maybe after a conference co-chaired by Tony Bennet and Sergio Mendes. The artist should be instead required to compile a mix tape containing the original versions of the songs which would otherwise be covered. Except for a couple of isolated cases (almost all of which would start arguments between partisans of that or the other), the source recording is superior to the homage, no matter how fucking sincere or close to a Xerox the remake is. Ditto, while I’m at it, for compilation “tribute” records. Each band should be asked to simply contribute a line or two on “why,” for example, “‘Making Plans For Bison’ is our favorite Shonen Knife song,” as it apparently was for defunct Boston noise rockers Big Dipper. For another example, “As strong supporters of libertarian causes in general and the Fourth Amendment in particular, ‘The Guns of Brixton’ is our favorite Clash composition, cuz it clearly enunciates the common sense argument that if the Constitutional right to bear arms is taken from the citizenry, we all become pushovers for totalitarian tyranny; gimmie anothah beeh, will ya,” the Dropkick Murphys could say in the notes to City Rockers: A Buncha Punk Bands Explain Their Favorite Clash Songs.
Getting back to the actual record (the Mike Ness record, that it), as the primary sum of the parts of Social Distortion and now, a guy searching for a solo career a la J. Mascis or Bob Pollard (if your band consists basically of you, then aren’t you already a solo artist?), Mike Ness wants to share some of his seminal influences with us. That’s cool, right, but then he wants to sing their songs himself (seriously, next time, just make a list or something and send out a bulk e-mail, it’s cheaper for all concerned). Much as it went with his previous Cheating At Solitaire solo effort (where he covered Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzel and others), Ness does a credible job of rockin’ the pre-Big E jukebox selection of hard country and hillbilly music. Credit Mr. Ness as well for not pickin’ out the most obvious selections from the big names (no automatic lightbulbs by the likes of Willams, Carl Perkins, George Jones, Marty Robbins, and the Carter Family) and for cuttin’ mostly great versions by the more obscure Jean Shepard, Wanda Jackson, Wayne Walker, and Marvin Rainwater. The mediocrity hits, maybe not surprisingly, when Ness attempts to tackle something well-known like the Bobby Fuller Four’s “I Fought the Law.” Sure, it’s better than Hank Williams Jr.’s version offa Family Tradition, but not as good as the Clash’s ringing take on their first record. Hell, that may even be a fine description of this steel peddle and tattoos alt-country-punk picnic he’s got goin’ on. Thankfully, though, Ness only gets fullbore cornpone on Billy Lee Riley’s bluesy “One More Time” (a far cry from his better known “Flying Saucer Rock”); it gets to the point where it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine Mr. “My Life’s Been Much Harder Than Yours” on his knees with a toady draping him in a cape like he was throwin’ a James Brown-variety fit. Oh yeah, then there’s his cover of the influential Social Distortion’s “Ball and Chain,” or maybe that Chris Gaines guy wrote that one. It’s hard to keep track of these things.
(3162 2nd Ave. Laguna Beach, CA 92677)
