Monday, 4 May 2020

High Time - MC5**

Sister Anne/Baby Won't Ya/Miss X/Gotta Keep Movin'/Future Now/Poison/Over & Over/Skunk (Sonically Speaking)

The third album from MC5, High Time, departed from their previous proto-punk style to provide more extended and experimental tracks with a classic guitar sound. (US:137)

High Time contends with the debut for the title of MC5's best album. Fast, furious Motor City rock, the only thing separating this from the power of the debut is the fact it isn't live.”

“It may not be Kick Out The Jams, but the whole room still smells like revolution when listening to this, and you can just feel the radical politics blasting out of your speakers. Even though the energy levels have been toned down a bit since the first album, this one still rocks hard.”

“The MC5's final album, High Time, boasts improved production over its predecessor. It is also more consciously a studio album, as several of the tracks feature heavily-layered guitars, pianos, back-up singers, non-Western percussion instruments, and a horn section. As a result, the proto-punk immediacy of the first two albums has been replaced with a more decidedly classic rock direction that yields solid, but hardly groundbreaking music.”

“Not my favourite band in the world, but this one rocks pretty hard. Some trippy stuff, but mostly it stays simple with lots of great guitar. Lyrics are more mumbly come-ons than revolution now, and there's a slight jazz influence to some tracks which keeps it interesting.”

High Time combines the meaty sonic onslaught of the first record with the more compelling musicianship and songwriting of the second. Rock solid through and through, there's something for all fans of rock music here - style for the classic rock aficionados, energy and rebellion for the punks and intelligent lyrics for the radical.”

“It's pretty simple, really, what MC5 does, but not easy: basic guitar-bass-drums rock and roll delivered with high energy.”

“Although not as immediately catchy as Back In The USA, this album reveals a grittiness and packs a soulful punch thanks to the amazing vocals.”

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