Not to be confused with The Who song with a virtually identical title. This appeared on the debut album. I've never made the connection with the early work of the MC5 before that edt4 has, but I suppose it makes some sense, as the earliest work of the MC5 was essentially garage rock stuff- covers of bands like Them and 60's punk originals. The song was apparently heavily influenced by an early and pretty obscure Stones song called "What A Shame." Love were strongly influenced by The Byrds and the British Invasion groups, and this song had a Stones like feel with jangly guitars reminiscent of the great Byrds as well. A lament, an angst riddled tune from back in the time before everyone was doing angst ridden tunes. Love are also notable as not only of the first racially integrated rock groups of the 60's, but also as one of the first bands to be plausibly considered as an alternative or underground rock band- though they never had much commercial success, they were regarded as great by a cult following, especially in England, and especially amongst fellow musicians. The Doors were signed to Love's label, Elektra, upon Lee's recommendation.

I tend to believe that the people of today think that a rock song doesn't really "rock" unless it makes a lot of noise, has a lot of thrashing about and movement, and features "singers" warbling their ditties in affected, pseudo-passionate torment (much more often than I like when I hear a contemporary so-called "rock" song, I'm reminded of the quote from MacBeth: "It is a tale (or, in this case, song)...full of sound and fury; signifying nothing"). Love give lie to that assumption with their customary style and genius, and no song better illustrates that for me than the astonishing "Can't Explain". In some ways, it recalls the earliest gritty work by the MC5, but, as much as I love the MC5, the members of Love were far better musicians and song-writers, and their passions were inspired by more than mundane "sex and drugs". As I mentioned in another review, I recently discovered the recorded canon of Love, and I feel like an evangelist filled with the zeal and fervor of the "true believer". It's one of the few times in my life where I want to proselytize. Those benighted masses who listen to the awful pasteurized pap that passes for music these days...take a chance, brothers and sisters, and listen instead to the awe-inspiring majesty that is Love. There's not a bad song in their catalogue. Maybe, if enough people listen, we'll be able to collectively wipe out all the puerile corporate crap out there and replace it with genuine, exhilerating music created by true artistic giants. And even if we don't (unrealistic hope, I admit, but people can dream, can't they?), maybe it will inspire other creative, talented people to take a chance and buck the depressing tide of mediocrity that our culture has become in recent decades. As Lester Bangs once wrote in a review of The Stooges (and I paraphrase), "All other rock music is farina next to them." Such a ringing endorsement seems even more appropriate for a group like Love, and what was true then is even more so now. My consolation in my advancing old age is that, no matter how crummy popular music gets, I'll always be able to listen to these CD's. What more can I say, brethren? Buy 'em.