10 Hard Rock Bands Never Better Than Their First Album

The MC5 were one of the most uninhibited rock acts to come out of the '60s scene. At a time when most teens were vibing to the sounds of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, these guys were taking rock and roll back to its roots as the type of genre that could rattle the walls. In terms of making a first impression, Kick Out the Jams is the moment where the band was at its highest peak.

Recorded live in the band's home in Detroit, this is the prototypical garage rock record, with some of the most raucous performances to ever come out of the hard rock genre. The song's title track has gone down in legend as one of the greatest rock jams, but it was a shame that we couldn't see more of these going forward.

While the band's later hits like Back In the USA were still decent efforts, they never had that spirited energy as their debut. Part of the reason for these subsequent struggles was surely the lack of the audience, which helped fuel the band's performance and excited listeners all across the world. The MC5's studio career may not have gotten very far, but what they left us with shook the entire music world to its core.