Search - Mc5 :: Motor City Rebels: The Definitive Story

Welcome to the Motorcity, late 1960's

Mike48162 | Detroit, MI | 05/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a spectacular high energy, crashing band coming from the age of Vietnam and Civil Rights protests. At the same time in Detroit we had Amboy Dukes (Ted Nugent) , Iggy & the Stooges, Mitch Ryder, Bob Seeger, Scott Morgan, Mark Farmer/Grand Funk etc. It was a time of change and loud music. And no band epitomized this onslaught better than MC-5. And here they are, live at the sacredGrande Ballroom....(and the sound of this CD is excellent for live in the late 60's) Stations like WABX ('underground' FM radio) would late at night sneak in "Kick out the Jams" with it's obscensely controversial opening call to join the party. The song "The Motor City's Burning" refers to the 1968 riots in Detroit when a large portion of the city burned and the National Guard was called in. As Tyner writes in the liner notes: "We were Punk, before Punk. We were New Wave before New Wave. We were Metal, before Metal. We were even "M.C." before Hammer. ....We were the electro-mechanical climax of the age, or some sort of cruel counter culture hoax. We were considered killer, righteous, high energy dudes who could pitch a whang dang doodle all night long....People of tomorrow, from the deep past we salute you! Thunder in the night forever!" Pompous, arrogant, blistering raw. Enjoy! This time and music will never come again."

Play this one as LOUD as possible!

Samhot | Star Land | 04/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Have a lust for intense, brash and violently loud rock? Have a taste for rebellion and chaos? Have a taste for things that represent the gut of rock n' roll? Look no further than this brash juggernaut of an album.... Armed with a defiant aesthetic, they (and Brother J.C. Crawford) take the listener on a wild, brash and freewheeling sonic trip to a time when sex, drugs, rock n' roll and total debauchery was the order of the day. Let all your worries, fears and everyday concerns disappear while you listen to the loose, passionate and carefree atmosphere brought on by vocalist Rob Tyner and company. Have a laugh or two when you hear Brother J.C. Crawford's provocative speeches (for some reason, his speeches always crack me up a bit), but most of all, get lost in the soulful, chaotic, rebellious energy, and feel as if you can take on the world - like these guys did. This album represents 60s rebellion of the highest order. Want punk? Put this on,... But most of all, if you wan't pure, intense and unbridled energy to get your adrenaline up everytime, you MUST own this. This is the essence of rock n' roll. And remember - PLAY IT AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE!"

Rocking Proto-Punk

daibhidh | Chicago, IL USA | 05/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"