"The Big Bang! Best of"MC5 |
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The Motor City Five. or "MC5" as they're better known as, were the epitome of rock and roll infamy. The fact that some thirty years later they're still being pointed to as an influence by many of today's rock listeners and bands alike is truly a testament to their success. No, they were never the hipsters that followers of the whole overblown peace and prosperity flower-power movement during the late 60's could relate to. In fact there probably weren't many in their time that they didn't manage to insult, offend or irritate with their abrasive heavy rock style and extremist attitude. The MC5 would've done well today, and all things considered probably do in terms of album sales and notoriety as more and more catch the vibe that shook the music world to its foundations back in the day. When discussing influential American hard rock and punk acts-The Stooges and MC5 always manage to make it into the sentence! This new collection is a 21-song trip back to late 60's radicalism that somehow after all these years seems hauntingly relevant today. Revolution anyone? The MC5 represented the blue-collar working class of their time. they weren't mellow or laid back but rather loud, fast, and usually unwelcome. save for those few who were bold enough to get their point. This new collection, carefully assembled by Rhino, and contributed to in no small way by original guitarist Mr. Wayne Kramer among others, presents the band from every conceivable angle, padded comfortably with fully functional liner notes and photos. Select clips and extra tracks from each of their three original recordings that covered their brief but bombastic existence during the late sixties and early seventies. "Big Bang!" begins with three of their earliest singles that portray their garage/punk days prior to hitting a stride with the surprisingly curious and ultimately best known work the live "Kick out the Jams." Featuring the Wayne Kramer led "Rambling Rose, tracks four to seven find them at their in-your-face best! Sloppy to the point of ridiculousness, but so what, it's rock and roll, we're also getting the uncensored version of "Kick out the Jams," or "Kick out the Jams Motherfuckas!" as the case may be. Think they caught they're share for that? Their second album is the main focus here in the form of eight anti-establishment, socio-political rants that force their way amongst a quickly dispersing crowd flocking to the exits, exasperated to the point of a breakdown! "Rocket Reducer No. 62," "Teenage Lust," and "High School" rise to the top here and if we glimpse back to the time of their origins, they must have caused some uproarious discontent in the adolescent circles. "High Time" was their last full studio recording, a culmination of the approaches they took in each of the first two. They were a little more musically adventurous at this point where songs like the seven minute "Sister Anne," "Baby Won't Ya," and "Over and Over" followed various paths of classic rock, funk and groove in arriving at their final destination-revolution or bust! "Thunder Express" takes up the rear on this massive collection that if you've made it this far without loosening your tie and clearing your throat, takes you on a live in studio romp and boogie that'll have you jumpin' and jivin' on the living room floor in no time! This latest and best collection documents the life and times of The MC5 at their inimitable best! "The Big Bang!" collection explodes on your CD player and takes you on a high-spirited, intensely gratifying and historically significant journey that places the work of this highly touted band in its proper perspective! Released by Rhino Records Review By Vinnie Apicella |