MC5 - The Big Bang: The Best of the MC5

Ka-boom!

There aren't many bands who would feel at home on the 'Nuggets' box set and a Sun Ra tribute CD. But one, a bunch of radical Detroit garage punks with free-jazz hearts, would--the MC5.

Their short-but-influential career was besotted by almost too much choice. It's no coincidence that like unruly children, all three MC5 albums go off in different directions (not the best way to build an audience, even in the anything-goes climate of the early-seventies).
But Rhino's MC5 compilation 'The Big Bang!: Best of the MC5' pulls it all together, and builds a powerful case for the Motor City Five's legacy.

Opening with a locally-recorded single, "I Can Only Give You Everything" points the way to 1969's 'Kick out the Jams', with its hard-as-nails riff and pounding beat. Two more singles follow before 'Bang!' sinks its archival teeth into 'Jams'. This is the MC5 at their most feral and brilliant. The transcendant metallic chaos of "Kick out the Jams", "Ramblin' Rose", "Come Together" and "Rocket Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)" ensues.

'Bang!' then turns its attention to 'Back in the U.S.A.', a 1970 attempt to focus the MC5's free-ranging muse on a song-oriented album. The collection does a good job of presenting 'U.S.A.'s strengths, and even adds weight to 'U.S.A.'s anemic production. "Tonight", "Teenage Lust", "The American Ruse" and "The Human Being Lawnmower" sound far-better than I remember. ("Ruse" is one example of why the MC5 were the target of so much law enforcement attention.)

But following in the wake of 'Jam's wild-eyed radicalism, the comparatively tame 'U.S.A.' failed to chart. That left the band in dire financial straits, and desperately needing to reconnect with their audience. 1971's 'High Time' was the result. And judging from the material presented on 'Bang!', possibly their best.

Abandoning the concise song structures of 'U.S.A.' (and producer Jon Landau), the MC5 stretched-out and followed their free-jazz desires. "Sister Annie", "Over And Over" and "Skunk (Sonicly Speaking)" all shine with inventive arrangements and instrumentation, and the blistering guitar tandem of Fred "Sonic" Smith and Wayne Kramer. But ultimately, 'High Time' failed to chart as well, providing the end, if not the means, for the MC5.

The MC5 never enjoyed a high-profile front man ala the Stooges' Iggy Pop, making it unlikely their albums will ever see the remastered and expanded treatment accorded '1969' and 'Funhouse'. Which makes 'Bang!' even-more critical. It integrates material from five different sources into one cohesive document that secures the MC5's place as one of the most-influential bands to ever plug in to an amp.

Pay whatever you need to get it, but get it. Yeah, it's that good.

June 27, 2007

Heard OF them but haven't HEARD the MC5?

If you've heard of them, know they've influenced every band every since, even the Stooges, but haven't actually listened to them, this collection is a good place to start. I think their first, Kick Out the Jams, is required listening & owning. It's a sweaty, loud, stomping set of political, heavy metal, rock & roll circa 1969. It kickstarted punk & metal. All that became the Clash starts here. Political lyrics with a Marshall stack. I actually also love their 2nd album, Back in the USA. Straight ahead rock & roll. Looking at You and Shakin' Street are classics - with demon guitar duelling supreme. High Time - some people it was their best. Others think it's their worst. But on this compilation you get a taste of all of them, + rarities like their earliest demos and Thunder Express. A great compilation I always keep in my car for cruisin'. January 11, 2007

The Big Bang: Best of MC5

I had heard so much about this band, and came close to buying "Kick Out The Jams" (their debut) many times. I was always averted though, at the last minute, by the feeling that they were just a bunch of hype. Their manager, after all, was the leader of the White Panthers (a bunch of white kids who were trying to express solidarity with the Black Power movement), so it seemed reasonable to think that The MC5 broke ground mainly in terms of image, rather than music. Wow, was I wrong.

I've heard that the MC5 couldn't play their instruments. They were practically virtuosos! The songs are melodic and well-written. The lead guitarist is terrific, and yes, he even solos. And the solos are terrific, too. You think The Who are "maximum R&B"? I don't blame you. Until recently, so did I. Now I realize that The Who are tame. If you like The Who, especially Live At Leeds, you will LOVE this disc (The MC5 even directly swipe the opening chords of "I Can See For Miles" for use in their own "Come Together"). If you like Zeppelin, you will like this disc. If you like British punk, you will like this disc. If you like Rock and Roll, you will like this disc.

And as far as the lyrics go, there is nothing really offensive. I love the lyrics of Joe Strummer (amazing) , and I don't mind the lyrics of Zack de la Rocha (they're a little dumb sometimes, but not offensive), but I had worried that the MC5's lyrics would be flat-out crass. Not so. Half the songs are about standard R'n'R subjects (girls, mild rebellion, etc.), and they even cover a Chuck Berry song. In the live stuff there are some little preachy diatribes about revolution, but they are never overbearing. The MC5 weren't just rebels, they really were rebels with a cause; but most importantly, the lyrics and the image never overshadow the music.

Why didn't this band get *huge*? I can't explain it. Surely, the world was ready for them and their radical stance - this is the late 60's we're talking about. Was it some sort of a conspiracy among music execs (who are, remember, upper class businessmen with a serious stake in the societal status quo)? I'm not big on conspiracy theories generally, but in this case a conspiracy seems to be the most compelling answer. I don't know if I've convinced you, but as for me, I predict I'll be buying up all of their individual albums in the coming weeks. Long live The MC5. October 6, 2006

A great compilation of a great band

From a band that exerted an enormous influence on the
punk/hard rock scene from the 70s onward I found this best of compilation to be well worth the wait.
From the sheer live energy of Kick Out the Jams to the more
measured progressive riff driven rock of the later `Sister Ann` I think the listener who is willing to give this disc a few
spins is in for a real listening treat.
A unique revolutionary band which were a true sign of the times and also possibly a sign of the things to come,its rather sad in the way that they could not have gone on to develop and further refine their music,but I guess that has been the fate of many a promising and talented rock band.
The 5 were indeed a formidable act and even if you did not get the privilege to see them live this well thought out and digitally remastered compilation should be more than enough ample compensation



May 12, 2006

There is no studio version of "Kick Out The Jams"

To the reviewer who mentioned "Kick Out The Jams" being live it's because the MC5's debut album (KICK OUT THE JAMS, 1968)was a live album and no official studio version exsists (except on possible bootlegs of demos). Don't write reviews if you don't know your material. April 12, 2005

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