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heavy lifting

  • 10 more10 More – MC50 (earMUSIC) 

    Well ain’t this the surprise packet, coming seven years after the run of shows it captures and more than a year after the release of the MC5-in-name-only record, “Heavy Lifting”. If you grabbed it, you might also have snavelled the live MC50 album “10 X MC5” that came as a bonus with some copies.

    MC50 is the all-star band assembled by the late Wayne Kramer to mark the 50th anniversary of “Kick Out The Jams”. It comprised Kramer and Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) on guitars, Brendan Canty (Fugazi)on drums, Billy Gould (Faith No More) on bass, and Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla) on vocals. Matt Cameron (Soundgarden/Pearl Jam)alternated on drums.

  • heavy lifting.cvr Heavy Lifting – MC5 (earMUSIC)

    I made an oath to not write reviews about albums that gave me the shits.  But The Barman sent me a copy of “Heavy Lifting” and I gave it a go.  

    As far as an MC5 album goes, it's not even a good Wayne Kramer record.  I hoped for more after the MC50 shows and Bob Ezrin's recent work with Alice Cooper.

    I made track-by-track notes as I listened.  I'll just give you my notes as written rather than an actual review.  You can work it out from there.

  • wayne kramer yt“Heavy Lifting” – which is being marketed as the first MC5studio album in 53 years – is out on October 18.

    Led by late founding member Wayne Kramer (pictured right) and recorded with iconic producer Bob Ezrin (Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, KISS), the album features original Five drummer, also late Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson,on two tracks along with special guests including Slash, Tom Morello, William DuVall (Alice in Chains), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Don Was, and Tim McIlrath (Rise Against).

    "Heavy Lifting" will be on LP and CD with a bonus disc of live tracks by MC50, the band Kramer fronted on a world tour to showcase MC5 songs for the 50th anniversary.

    earMUSICwill release the album a  day prior to the MC5’s induction into 2024’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.