Kick Out the Jams [Video]

MC5

Overview

"The MC5 was one of the truly groundbreaking American rock & roll bands of the '60s, and photographer Leni Sinclair was on hand to photograph many of their most remarkable performances, but sadly she isn't able to make much of the band's live energy in this DVD release of a film created with artist Cary Loren. MC5: Kick Out the Jams has been transferred to disc in the full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1; the film was primarily compiled from old home movies, and this framing suits the material. Considering the age of most of the footage, the source materials are strong, but the quality of the material is quite variable, and plenty of it is of questionable relevance. The audio has been taken entirely from old MC5 recordings (in many cases low-fi live tapes); the music has been mastered in two formats, Dolby Digital Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1, with the two-track mix sounding tighter and cleaner. The songs are in English, with no multiple language options. Sadly, the film doesn't offer much of a perspective on why the MC5 were so important, and the bonus feature is even less effective -- an interview with poet and activist John Sinclair (who was once the band's manager), who displays a fuzzy memory of events while being interviewed at a burger joint where he belches on camera in between burgers and root beer, and the filmmakers make matters even worse by often drowning out his speech with background music. In short, this is an unremarkable presentation of a disappointing film."

Product Details

Release Date:	07/12/2005
UPC:	0022891444893
Original Release:	2005
Source:	MUSIC VIDEO DIST.***
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	0:35:00
Sales rank:	60,526

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

MC5	Performer,Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Robert Matheu	Photography
Cary Loren	Filmmaker
Charlie Auringer	Photography
Leni Sinclair	Filmmaker,Cover Photo
Greg Allen	Design,Art Direction
Brian J. Bowe	Liner Notes

Editorial Reviews

Creem Magazine presents this totally great film by Leni Sinclair and Cary Loren, Kick Out the Jams. OK, one wishes they would come up with a title other than that of a debut album, confusing projects is easy in this age of too much media, but this DVD movie -- featuring '60s footage of the band that Leni Sinclair shot, captures the essence of the group in a way that the vinyl format simply couldn't. Assembled by Cary Loren of the group Destroy All Monsters, and with the online-resurrected Creem Magazine's endorsement, this is a psychedelic fun house that gives new meaning to the term "going further down the rabbit hole." Young Wayne Kramer and the boys have the look -- and the sound and with performance spliced over footage from the day it comes off as some twisted Bikini Beach film outtake, and that is said in a positive way. The title track includes the "f" word, of course, many copies of the original vinyl LP were censored so some had it, some didn't. The live footage is riveting and it is a pity that this film wasn't concocted back in the day -- it could have easily given the band the prominence they deserved but failed to find on the world stage. Not as menacing as the Stooges, and perhaps a little too political for their own good at the time, and like the West Coast's Moby Grape, something like this musical documentary was needed to bring the band out from cult status. Said to have sold 25,000 copies worldwide after its release, the Kick Out the Jams DVD is probably the best representation of MC5 to date. The bonus track is an intentionally grainy and bizarre black-and-white interview with John Sinclair from November 19, 2003, which is told while "Peyoteland," from Sinclair and Monster Island, plays behind it. The DVD comes with a nice, four-page booklet that you'll have to blow up on the Xerox machine. Listen to and watch "I Want You Right Now" to hear a truly wonderful nightmare of Jimi Hendrix gone punk. Extraordinary. ~ Joe Viglione