While Kick out the Jams is commonly (and deservedly) hailed as a rock & roll classic, the equally solid High Time is often lost in its shadow. This was the mighty MC5's swan song and recorded under much duress (though you'd never guess that from the performances). What the album lacks in the band's trademark political venom, it makes up for with solid production, courtesy of Geoffrey Haslam, and a strong set of songs. Hell, Wayne Kramer's "Poison" is my favorite MC5 song. The production here is great, considering it was '71. The sound of High Time is audibly better than other Detroit releases from its time period (FUNKADELIC, STOOGES, etc.) in that you can not only hear the bass, but you can hear it carrying the band as a functional aspect of the rhythm section. Check it out on the galloping closer, "Skunk". If the 13th Floor is a microcosm of intelligent rock fans, which I believe it is, the Faithful will always be torn down the middle when it comes to Back in the USA. We should be able to agree unanimously, though, that the MC5 came in, and went out, with a timeless classic.
1. Sister Anne
2. Baby Won't Ya
3. Miss X
4. Gotta Keep Movin'
5. Future/Now
6. Poison
7. Over & Over
8. Skunk (Sonically Speaking)
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