From J.C. Crawford's opening declaration "It's time for each and every one of you to decide whether you are going to be the problem, or whether you are going to be the solution," to the very last track, this album is sheer musical energy. I've heard lots of noise that has tried to pass itself as music, and some decent musical noise, but this album is the archetype where noise and music collide and embrace to perfection. This is one of those rare live albums that would just not speak the same language in a recording studio.

What strikes me most about this album is that the first four songs are all distinctly different works, yet with the last chorus of "Rama-Lama-Fa-Fa-Fa" you feel as if you've listened to just one brilliant body of work. "Rambling Rose" is sheer jubilant chaos, "Kick Out the Jams" is a loud yet steady declaration. My favorite shift comes with the grinding methodical paced cries of "Together in the Darlkness" during "Come Together" that keeps the music at a steady pressure barely below boiling, before bursting into the explosive "Rocket Reducer #62."

This CD is one of the best bargains you will ever find. MC5 may be a reference to the 1960s and the birth of punk, but this music
is timeless.


Rocking Proto-Punk   May 5, 2000
 12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I love this album. I'd heard about the MC5 over the years, but never listened to them. I thought, "oh, well the Stooges came from Detroit, so why would I want to listen to another Detroit band?" I wish I'd had this album when I was a teenager, because it absolutely rocks. You can see how much influence these guys had on punk, years later. The raw, fuzzy, crunchy power of this band just blows my mind, no matter how many times I listen to it.

It is a live album, but something like this just couldn't be replicated in a sanitized studio. I'm reminded a little of the Who's "Live at Leeds", another great live album, except, as powerful as "Leeds" is, I have to concede that this one has it beat. Maybe not as tuneful, but willfully, gleefully over the top. I imagine the MC5 utterly toasted, sweating buckets, and blazing away with the amps bouncing on the stage before the avalanche of drum fills and rollicking guitar riffs.

My favorite songs are the title track (complete with expletives), "Ramblin' Rose", and "Rocket Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)". Forget Seattle flannel-laden angst -- you want true grunge, listen to these guys. Then go pick up a guitar and start your own band!


Best MC-5 Live Set and Best MC-5 CD   March 22, 2000
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This was originally the MC-5's first lp release and it brilliantly captures what the MC-5 wanted to do. It is a fabulous 1st CD if you want to learn about and enjoy the MC-5's raw energy and political zeal. If you love this CD then the HIGH TIME CD is good one to try next because HIGH TIME successfully extends on KICK OUT THE JAMS with songs like Sister Anne, Baby Won't Ya, Over and Over, Skunk, Future/Now, and Poison. If you love both of these CDs and want something more then the LOOKING AT YOU CD is a real treat because it has a good live set that was played just before the release of the second lp and has lots of 2nd lp tunes all played live. The LOOKING AT YOU CD also has a version of BLACK TO COMM which was a great high energy MC-5 original and which often ended their live shows. If you enjoy all 3 of these CDs then you might also enjoy the 5 pre-1st lp single tracks (JUST DON'T KNOW, ONE OF THE GUYS, I CAN ONLY GIVE YOU EVERYTHING, LOOKING AT YOU, BOARDERLINE) are all excellent and can be found on many of the reissue CDs. Looking at You and Boarderline were later rerecorded live on the 1st lp entitled KICK OUT THE JAMS.