Search - Mc5 :: Babes in Arms

MC 5 - 'Babes In Arms' (Roir)

Mike Reed | USA | 12/08/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This fifteen track disc is a nifty collection of remixes,demos,
and uncensored edits from MC 5's lead guitarist Wayne Kramer's
own private vault. All these cuts were recorded from 1966-71.
Their other guitarist was the late Fred 'Sonic' Smith, who sings
lead on the pleasant-souding "Shaking Street".I sincerely hope
that my copy doesn't wear out 'cause I tend to play it quite
often.Simply love the TOTALLY ripping uncensored "Kick Out The
Jams....Mutha.......".
Vocalist Rob Tyner sounds like he's having the time of his life.
Also enjoyed the wailing guitar line on "Gold" and not to
mention their moving cover of Van Morrison's "I Can Only Give
You Everything". The final two songs are the best this CD has
to offer,"I Just Don't Know" and "Looking At You" are early
numbers the band played when they FIRST formed.Only down side
is that since Smith is gone and Tyner has passed on as well
means that there can never be a true MC 5 reunion. Great sound."

Good, but not great. Not the best MC5 album

drumb | milwaukee, wi United States | 03/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When it really comes down to it, Babes in Arms is a very good album, but it certainly is not a necessity. A compilation of various outtakes, demos, and rarities released after the untimely termination of the delightfully raucous MC5, Babes in Arms is a fairly comprehensive disc that, especially when compared to the countless sloppy boots featuring tracks from their Detroit brethren the Stooges, proves to be a very pleasant listen. Carefully selecting tracks ranging all the way from the dawn of the band's career in 1986 to the unreleased outtakes from their final recording sessions, Babes in Arms does an impressive job of collecting and organizing the unreleased life of the MC5. Despite this promising achievement however, the majority of the songs on the album are simply not on par with the consistently timeless material released on the classic "Kick Out the Jams," "Back in the USA," and "High Time." Highlight tracks like "Poison," "Tonite," and "American Ruse" do help balance out the negative effects of some of the boom box quality demos, (i.e. "I Just Don't Know,") but even the CDs brightest moments fail to equal the utter brilliance of the Five's regularly circulated material. Even so, this is the MC5, and even on a bad song, the MC5 still sound great. There are plenty of good songs on Babes in Arms as well though and it is by no means a bad album, it simply should not take precedence over the group's "big three" if one is planning on buying an MC5 CD. Babes in Arms is certainly good, and I enjoyed it immensely, but while the MC5 is easily a great band, Babes in Arms just isn't a great album."

Early Heavy

Peter D. Page | Wickenburg, AZ USA | 04/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The MC-5 [Motor City Five] was the real deal. The electricity rips through these recordings, opening you up to a new understanding of "rock music". Of course, the blues influence is also here as in all great rock music. Distortion guitar at it's primal majesty. Real vocals that meant something then, though the message may be a bit dated today. Also, try Iggy and the Stooges for a taste of what real rock music is all about."