MC5
Kick Out The Jams

THE REVIEW

In your opinion, what is the first truly hard, violent, and devastating album in the history of rock? Well, without a doubt, I say "Kick Out The Jams" by the MC5 (Motor City Five), released back in 1969. These five guys from Detroit managed to create an album nothing short of explosive, surpassing the ordinary limits of rock already with their first album.

Recorded live in 1968 (on Halloween night) at the Grande Ballroom, which was one of the few places in Detroit where local bands could get known, "KOTJ" is a fundamental album for subsequent generations, influencing more than one genre, from punk to garage, from hard rock to metal, especially thanks to the supersonic riffs of Wayne Kramer and Fred Smith and the revolutionary screams of Rob Tyner.

John Sinclair, a very important figure in Detroit, was crucial in discovering the MC5, embracing their reactionary spirit by supporting the political lyrics of the songs and was also the mastermind behind the successful live dimension of "KOTJ", which kicks off with "Ramblin' Rose" characterized by Tyner's falsetto voice and the rawness of the guitars. And then Tyner unleashes chaos by shouting their battle cry, "Kick Out The Jams, motherfuckers!!!", their most well-known track. The riffs are sharp, the solos very acidic, Dennis Thompson's drums and Michael Davis's bass are relentless, and the ending is an abomination of distorted sounds. "Come Together" gives no escape, the power of the riff overwhelms you, a great song; "Rocket Reducer No.62" is characterized by the radio-friendly chorus, with Tyner continuously repeating I'm the man for you baby (along with the nonsensical phrase Rama lama fa fa fa), then an orgasmic solo surprises you before the final frenzy; "Borderline" especially showcases the group's collective vigor, pure energy. "Motor City Is Burning" is a long blues ride that slightly lowers the tone, but the quality remains high; "I Want You Right Now" has an eternal riff, many bands in the coming decades will copy it. The conclusion is entrusted to "Starship", eight minutes of hallucinogenic trip, something overwhelms you and you don't realize it, the guitar distortions break your legs in two, Tyner's voice takes you to a parallel universe from which it is difficult to escape, but the end comes and you can't think that a greater finale couldn't exist for a concert that only a few unsuspecting lucky ones can say they saw.

It's a pity that the MC5 did not maintain the greatness expressed in this album: later they made decent but not exceptional albums, they brushed success but didn't achieve it, they remained a semi-unknown group unlike their fellow citizens the Stooges who kept away from politics, presenting themselves to the public with the allure of ambiguity and transgression. Nonetheless, "Kick Out The Jams" will remain an immortal album that every rock music enthusiast should own.