It’s been nearly seven years since Mike Ness released an album under his Social Distortion moniker. The only remaining (living) member of the band, Ness has done a terrific job replacing his long-gone band mates with talented imitators. The guitars sound the same, the drums are just as routine, and even Ness has managed to sound just like his old decrepit self (and his self is aging — he’s now 48 years old). The biggest difference? The lyrics.

Social Distortion may have never been known for the most intelligent lyrics, but they did have some great messages. Eloquence aside, Ness knew how to express the angst that hard times create. These days, though, it just sounds more like he hasn’t felt hard times in a while and wrote lyrics that someone who’s doing alright feels sounds like hard times. Even the song titles seem cliché and goofy — “Road Zombie?” “California (Hustle and Flow)?” “Diamond in the Rough?” — are you joking? Unfortunately, just like he’s serious when he wears a beret, he’s serious about these lyrics.

He’s got back up singers (“Can’t Take It With You”), he’s covering Hank Williams (“Alone and Forsaken”), and he’s getting in touch with his bluesy side (“Bakersfield”). This isn’t Social D; this is Mike Ness. And it isn’t the Mike Ness that so many people know and loved.

(Epitaph Records, 2798 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026)