Social Distortion-“Down Here (With the Rest of Us)” from “White Light, White Heat, White Trash”

White Light, White Heat, White Trash is the fifth album by Social Distortion, released on September 17, 1996, by Epic Records. The album was produced by Michael Beinhorn. White Light, White Heat, White Trash is the last Social Distortion album to feature guitarist Dennis Danell who died on February 29, 2000, of a cerebral aneurysm at the age of 38. It is also the band’s last release on Epic Records. The album received Social Distortion’s highest chart position at the time, entering the Billboard 200 album chart at #27. Stylistically, the album is harder and considered a return to their punk roots.

The title of the album is a play on the 1968 Velvet Underground album, White Light/White Heat. The Velvet Underground record is known for being one of the most original, and probably the heaviest, records of the time, just as White Light, White Heat, White Trash for Social Distortion has a harder sound than those albums preceding it.

Stylistically, the album signifies a shift back to Social Distortion’s hardcore and punk roots. When this album was released, Social Distortion had been playing for 15 years. In that time, the music went from a hardcore Ramones-sounding punk to a more melodic Elvis/Johnny Cash rockabilly punk sound. With this album, Social Distortion came full circle to a harder sound which some consider their strongest album thus far. It was named #41 on Kerrang!’s 50 Greatest Punk Albums Ever. Some old-school fans were upset when the first single, “I Was Wrong”, was widely played on the radio as record sales equals selling out to some of the elitists; however, Social Distortion is something of a legend in the punk genre and continues to receive respect and support.

The lyrics on this album are as socially-conscious as most of their previous albums with “Don’t Drag Me Down” and “Down Here (w/the Rest Of Us)”. There are also reflective songs such as “I Was Wrong”, “Crown of Thorns” and “Pleasure Seeker”. There are a couple of more personal songs for Ness on the album like “Dear Lover” and “When The Angels Sing” which is said to be a tribute to Ness’s grandmother.