High Time - MC5

Advantages: Original and Provocative
Disadvantages: Production values are low as a live performance

...The first album from protopunkers MC5 caused much controversy and signalled a change in the musical direction of the time. Released in 1969 and recorded over two nights in Detroit it was to be seen as an important precursor for the punk movement and a variant of what would later be called Garage Rock. 'Kick out the Jams' and 'Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa' remain classics of their time. MC5 (short for Motor City 5) was formed in 1964 in Michigan, but it was in Detroit were they gained their first taste of success. They were lead by guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred 'Sonic' Smith with Michael Davis on bass, vocals by Rob Tyler and drummer Dennis Thompson. Influenced by Rn'B, blues and Free Jazz they listed Chuck Berry, Dick Dale and Sonny Sharrock amongst their idols and specialised in music with a fast rebellious attitude and left wing leanings... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: lots of songs to kill time with
Disadvantages: n/a

...... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A really mixed album
Disadvantages: band will be short lived due to singers insanity

..., but it must be difficult to do so. At times they are all garage (as in Nuggets, not bling bling) and caterwauling & guitar thrashing that reminds you of The Stooges or MC5 (good ol' Lester Bangs woulda loved 'em..). See - Highly Evolved, Get Free, Outtathaway Then the next track would sound like vintage Beatles (see Autumn Shade, and particularly Homesick), even adopting the same Lennon vocal echo, but only suggesting Beatles rather than adopting blatant copyism (Oasis please stand up..) Ain't No Room sounds like a Warm Jets song.. Factory is classic Kinks.. 1969 like the equally wonderful Black Rebel Motorcycle Club other bits remind me of the Boo Radleys' masterpiece "Giant Steps" I'm sure you could all throw other bands at me too, and I'd scratch my chin & pipe up "oh yeah!" But as I said, it's not blatant plagarism... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful