SLADE — Slayed? (review)

SLADE — Slayed? album cover Album · 1972 · Proto-Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Certif1ed
Rock and Roll album par excellence - to get any better than this you had to wait a year or two for The Sweet's "Fanny Adams".

Driving it all is that "Whoompah-Doompah" Glam Rock beat, and Noddy's unique and highly distinctive voice is absolutely at it's peak here, dripping with excitement, and, conversely, sounding almost exactly like Suzi Quatro on the incendiary "The Whole World's Goin' Crazee".

The album romps through several stylistic changes - this isn't just a bunch of similar sounding songs, there's real variety within the Slade remit.

The somewhat melancholy "Look at Last Nite", reflects during the morning after the Nite before, with sumptuous harmonies and tasty bass runs, then "I Won't Let It 'Appen Agen" packs an exciting melody, predicting some of the songs on The Scorpions' mighty "Virgin Killers".

Rounding off side 1 is a cover of the Janis Joplin song "Move Over", which Slade completely own, while staying faithful to the original - Holder's voice is probably the only male voice in history which could follow on from Janis, although he doesn't quite get the same spine-tingling factor she had, this is a killer cover with crashing goodness. Play the two back to back - it's amazing how great they both sound.

Flipping the vinyl over, the mayhem continues. "Gudbuy t'Jane" and "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" are two of Slade's biggest hits - the former a lightweight rocker, and the latter a drop-tuned, barnstormin' classic. Sandwiched between these chart toppers is the stompin classic that never was, "Gudbuy, Gudbuy".

The more alert among listeners will have noted the deliberately mis-spelled song titles, a practice which was widely adopted among NWoBHMers and Glam Metallers in later years. It's worth noting, especially in tracks as heavy as "Gudbuy, Gudbuy" that Slade's influence went far beyond the interesting naming conventions.

The final Slade original on the album, "I Don' Mind" is a down tempo throbber, reminiscent of early Priest.

Rounding things off is a blitzing cover of "Let The Good Times Roll" - again, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was a Slade orginal, as it gets the complete assimilation treatment. The guys really kick some ass on this one.

Slayed? is a tremendous album, bridging the gap between hard rock and metal, with a boot firmly planted in each camp - but the main focus is on letting the good times roll rather than contemplating anything of a serious nature, hence my marking is "Great, but not essential".
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