In the opening seconds of this solo outing, former Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness peels off the line like a Chevy hotrod. Combining gritty punk attitude, honky-tonk toughness, and rockabilly swagger, Ness spins tales of depravity ("Crime Don't Pay," "Ballad of a Lonely Man") that would be downright depressing if they weren't so foot-tappingly catchy. A world-weary tough guy--equal parts Johnny Cash, Gene Vincent, and Johnny Rotten--Ness is a true homegrown talent, combining his trademark growl and wire-taut guitar playing with dramatic, captivating storytelling. Appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Brian Setzer, and members of the Royal Crown Revue add to this record's already formidable mix, but Ness is really the star, proving at every turn that there can be life after punk without coming anywhere close to selling out. --Donovan Finn