451 - MC5 - Back in the USA

[csberry]

While the album's title is Back in the USA, and despite the early rock and roll covers that start and end the album, at least a third of the songs remind me strongly of a certain British band - The Kinks. MC5 occupies a territory between The Kinks and their Detroit neighbors, The Stooges. This is stripped down rock delivered with force. The Kinks comment aside, the album sets the foundation for the Detroit Rock sound that would be expanded upon by Alice Cooper and KISS. Not only that, but you can also hear where the Ramones would explore a few years later (especially "High School").

The band isn't as furious as they were on their debut, Kick Out the Jams. There is a great revolutionary song with "The Human Being Lawnmower." However, most of the album explores youth (I guess you could argue the covers recall the band's own anthems of their youth). There is also a great ballad that is completely different from everything else in the album, but the raw emotions I hear in Rob Tyner's vocals makes it fit for me.

What does wear on my ears a little is the album is all treble and nearly no bass. Several of the uptempo songs could really use some low end help.

Songs I knew I liked: None.

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Tonight," "Teenage Lust," "Let Me Try," "High School," "The Human Being Lawnmower," and "Back in the USA"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None. I'm going to put this album on my shopping list the next time I go to Vertical House Records to buy some vinyl.