MC5

To say that I was excited to get my paws on the new “MC…Wayne?” release is an understatement. My fandoms and love of this band is rivaled only by Grateful Dead. Kick Out The Jams (the bands 1969 live/debut album) is, unequivocally my favorite album period and has been for over twenty years now.

Having officially broken up in 1972 during the tour in promotion of the bands third LP, High Time released the year prior. The “Europe 72” tour was as sonically beautiful as it was heartbreaking. Members quit or got fired during that run and when the band returned to The Motor City, the 5 was cut down to two (guitarist Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith) remaining. Having cycled through three bass players, two drummers and singer Rob Tyner (leaving midway through), leaving Kramer and Smith trading off lead vocals, all this happing on one tour. The band was absolutely done by then. New Year’s Eve 1972 saw the band play one last time with original five. Drugs had completely destroyed this powerhouse.

Rob Tyner had passed in 1991 and then Sonic Smith in 1994. The three (Wayne Kramer, bassist Michael Davis and drummer Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson) played a short set at a benefit show and Kramer quickly turned his focus back on his solo work. In 2003 the three got back together again with some great guests to tour the world again. This was know as DKT/MC5. The band dissolved a few years later and Kramer took the name out again on the road for the 50th anniversary celebration of Kick Out The Jams, billed as MC50.

A new record seems like the natural progression. What could a band that broke up over fifty years ago have to say? Turns out, lots! The current political climate today is almost as insane as the decade that birthed the band. The laundry list of gusts on the album is a true testimonial as the impact and the importance of the MC5.

The album kicks off with Heavy Lifting (the album’s namesake) and features Tom Morello on guitar. It’s a crying shame that we never will get a full-length album by the two guitar giants. It’s a decent balance between the 5’s sensibility and Morello signature riffs.

Barbarians At The Gate spends the last minute of Wayne showing us all why he’s so revered in guitar circles. A cool little rocker.

Change, No Change is what I feared about this album. It’s a huge departure from what I love about the MC5. It builds towards nothing and seems directionless at times. Perhaps I’d appreciate it more on a different album, but probably not.

The Edge Of A Switchblade was a tune originally released on Kramer’s solo album “The Hard Stuff.” That version absolutely rocks and is what I would have hoped that “fourth” original MC5 album would have sounded like. Slash plays on the tune as well.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. This one let me down.

Black Boots -again, it’s builds but never delivers. I sense a trend.

I Am The Fun (The Phony)- there is a trend. Not feeling the midsection of this album.

Twenty-Five Miles – puts us back on track! I hear a good amount of Sister Ann (from High Time) and a nice sprinkle of Chuck Berry. A fun rocker with a killer horn section. A highlight for sure.

Because Of Your Car- tune shows off the funk of the Five. A really strong groove that pushes the song along. Great stuff!

Boys That Play With Matches – one of the singles off the album. A good solid rocker.

Blind Eye- features original drummer Dennis Thompson on drums. A song that sounds akin to a cut from “Back In The USA.” Great chorus that has a sing along quality that would fit on any Guided By Voices release. My favorite off the record.

Can’t Be Found – Vernon Reid from Living Color and Thompson on drums again. This was the third single off the album and one I love immediately. Vernon Reid is a stand out on the album. Much like Kramer is well loved but should be recognized more for their outstanding ability. Everything I love about the band is in this one song.

Blessed Release- features a drum machine that unfortunately never really goes anywhere.

Hit It Hard- Funk and horns! Sounds like something off of side two of High Time. Excellent tune and perhaps a glimpse of what a studio album in ‘72 or ‘73 might have sounded like. Ends with the McCartney-esq “When it comes to love baby we’re all equal here.” For this to be the very last line on the very last MC5 album completely caused me to get misty eyed.

Heavy Lifting is the album that Wayne Kramer wanted or perhaps needed to make. I think he knew this would be the last chapter of the bands life and unfortunately his as well. I wouldn’t compare this to the previous output or as a follow to High Time. Judge it on its own merits. It’s wonderful to hear him and Dennis Thompson together again in the studio.

I’m glad and grateful to have one more MC5 album.

With the announcement of the MC5 being inducted in the to Rock Hall’s 2024 class the band seems to finally reached the recognized and innovators they truly are. Morello’s induction speech and his constant wave of praise will no doubt provide new listeners to the group. Kramer and Thompson both passed early in the year but thankfully at least knew about their induction. It’s just a damn shame that it took far so long for the Hall to do so. The mortal coils of the the five are all gone now, but the music and the message with live on forever. Kick Out The Jams!