KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!
Continuing off their notable followers from last night, here's the MC5. They are the greatest.
This debut album of theirs recorded after years together working as a house band, recording singles, and only a year after their long and legendary performance at the 1968 DNC in Chicago captures their unparalleled live energy. Recorded around the peak of their association with the White Panther Party there is a whole lot whole lot of political rambling which luckily just adds to the energy of the performance. It should be noted how loose these affiliations were in reality with members going on to say "We weren't really into the whole political thing but chicks seemed to dig it," and "Being the young hustlers we were, we knew this whole hippie thing was gonna be huge." And they sure were young. Fred "Sonic" Smith was only 19 at the time this was recorded, and he wasn't too far below the average age at all. Despite this, all musicians excel and Rob Tyner's vocal perforamce and stage presence is legendary.
The record, while recorded at two separate performaces in Michigan has the vibe of the best concert you've ever been to with a performance structure that puts any "theatre rock" to shame. This is highlighted by Tyner's delayed arrival after the poplitical rant/hype and Brother Wayne Kramer's bizarre vocal lead on "Ramblin' Rose." After the blues standard Tyner procedes to kick out the jams. The energy never wanes, especially on the first side with closer "Rocket Reducer #62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)." The album oozes with sexual energy and simply put is rock at it's rockinest.
While at the time this was considered heavy metal (a topic I could outline for ages), and now classified as proto-punk, the group really shows all their sides. There is a whole lot experimentation, not only in the heavily cited use of feedback and heavy distortion, but their moves in free jazz and psychedelic territory.
The MC5 - Kick Out The Jams (1969)
Best listened to in a muscle car. (RIP Pontiac)
If you ask me, THIS is the high society!
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