I have a tremor in my hands right now.
It doesn't happen often that I hold a new album from a band that was founded in 1964 (!) and hasn't released a new album in over 50 (!) years. I even believe this is something unique that won't happen to me again in my lifetime. I mean, which other band could that be?
Another superlative comes into play: all founding members of the band have passed away.
The last two living founding members, Dennis Thompson and Wayne Kramer, died this year. So, a new album, essentially posthumous, which can also be seen as the conclusion of an era.
MC5 were formed at a time that most people only know from television. It was a time of great upheaval, and MC5 were right in the middle of it.
MC5 were and are more hard rock than punk. However, the band carried an incredibly strong punk attitude within them and communicated this outwardly. At that time, it was not surprising that they were not only monitored by the authorities but also subjected to great humiliations.
The legalization of marijuana, free love, the abolition of conscription, and equality in all areas was simply too much at once for the conservative majority (and unfortunately still is...).
What remains of that after over 50 years?
The band, the sound, the attitude has remained the same.
Yes, MC5 have absolutely stayed true to themselves.
There are 13 new songs on the album (12 of which were written by guitarist Wayne Kramer), and all, without exception, are just like the sound of the band used to be.
Everything is loud, everything is noisy, guitar solos are not rare, every second has endless groove, and the vocals seem to come straight from a time capsule.
It's hard to believe that this is the first new album after 50 years. It sounds so powerful, so massive...so important, like the first three albums.
It sounds live, it sounds like a wall of hard rock from the old school...and it's just awesome to hear the music loud!
The energy that emanates from the music was wonderfully captured in the studio, and the album absolutely pulls you in while listening.
There are many MC5 fans who could probably write a small booklet about the album, the music, and the band's development. I do not belong to those fans, because first, I was born too late, and second, I have only recently been ready for something like MC5.
In addition to the album, there is a bonus version, both as a CD and as an LP, featuring ten songs in stunning live versions. The songs were recorded during the 50 years of MC5 tours and show the energy that the band still exudes live after so many years. When you first listen to the live recordings and then the studio recordings, you notice how similar they are. They are indeed really good musicians who loved what they did.
MC5 “Heavy Lifting“, this is music history full of energy.
All the best to you!
In rock 'n' roll heaven, you are surely sitting in a place of honor now.
