“Back In The USA” by MC5 - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1970 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s

So I’ve now collected all three MC5 albums and my long-held view that they’re nowt special is confirmed; way too much bluster and flab. Still, they have occasional moments which resonate, and their second LP is best of the three, with at least two good tracks on-board; “The American Ruse” and “The Human Being Lawnmower”, both of which are asking questions of the American dream. The former is especially fantastic – their best track in my opinion. It’s a crisp and sharp attack musically and lyrically. The land of the free? Yeah right. They can smell the bull. There’s got to be more to life than taking up arms for Uncle Sam or slaving like a dog for the man…

The Jukebox Rebel
09–Jan–2016

Tracklist

A1	[01:30] MC5 - Tutti Frutti (Dorothy LaBostrie, Joe Lubin, Richard Penniman) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
A2	[02:29] MC5 - Tonight (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Rock
A3	[02:36] MC5 - Teenage Lust (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Proto-Punk
A4	[04:16] MC5 - Let Me Try (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Pop Ballad
A5	[03:03] MC5 - Looking At You (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Proto-Punk
B1	[02:42] MC5 - High School (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Proto-Punk
B2	[02:06] MC5 - Call Me Animal (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Rock
B3	[02:31] MC5 - The American Ruse (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Proto-Punk
B4	[02:21] MC5 - Shakin’ Street (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Proto-Punk
B5	[02:24] MC5 - The Human Being Lawnmower (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Proto-Punk
B6	[02:26] MC5 - Back In The U.S.A. (Charles Berry) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly

ratings by TJR