ALBUM REVIEW: Slade - Slayed?

    Hard rock is, in some way, the sound of the early 1970s - that pure outlet of heavy riffs, screaming vocals, and crashing instrumentation throughout is so singular with the decade that some artists like The Who or Led Zeppelin have become emblematic of the era. Slade is just one of many artists who picked up this cloak of hard rock and began using it as their own. Of course, there's something else in the water besides that kickass hard rock sense with Slade - emerging at the same time as glam rock made it big the world over, glam beats throughout the heart of this group's attitude and delivery, and if that isn't apparent on Slayed?, well then you're left behind. What it lacks in any real groundbreaking evolution or even some distinct artistic quality is more than made up for on this album with a palpably fun energy, great hooks, and some killer riffs through and through - it's everyone one needs in a damn good rock record.

    Slade are a band that don't take themselves overly seriously - you can hear it in the music, and you can certainly see it in the album cover. I can respect the hell out of a band that doesn't do it themselves, and Slade has that in droves. They're here for a good time, and you can't argue that they don't deliver throughout. The sensibility and aggression of hard rock is all here, but throw in a real knack for catchy hooks and equally catchy riffs that would fit right at home on some of the era's most well-known glam rock albums. This is immediately apparent when listening, and the madlad behind it is Noddy Holder; not only are his guitar stylings kickass, but he's got such a distinct sound and gravel to his voice that, in many ways, gives Slade its personality. This is all without mentioning that the rest of the band is damn good at what they do. From blazing Joplin covers to equally blazing originals, they are vamping and crashing all over this album, and each musician is damn good at what they do. The end result is a product that sounds great on top of it all, potentially in part due to production from Chas Chandler (former member of The Animals and producer of Jimi Hendrix's first two albums, no less).

    Of course, the songs have to be there for a good rock record, and luckily Slayed? delivers. Any album that opens with "How D'You Ride" is bound to at least some fun moments, but the album is proudly filled with these moments. One of the most impressive to me was a rendition of Janis Joplin's "Move Over" from her Pearl album. More than being able to match her original rendition, the crashing percussion and driving power chords on this version may even surpass it - that descending riff is incredibly fucking good. Holder's screaming voice even reminds me of Joplin at points, albeit not nearly as mixed in quality as on other albums I've heard Joplin sing on (yeah, I went there). The other cover in the closing track of "Let the Good Times Roll / Feel So Fine" is just as excellent. "Gudbye T'Jane" is just as galvanizing and fun as the opening track, if not moreso - probably the most glam rock-leaning cut on the album, but who said that was a bad thing? With an album as buoyantly tuneful as this, it's an almost impossible to list off every great hook, from "The Whole World's Goin' Crazee" to "I Won't Let It 'Appen Again" to "Mama Weer All Crazee Now". Sure, there's the occasional "Gudbye Gudbye" that doesn't manage to stick the landing, but Slayed? is most filled with some truly great rock energy and hooks, and that's all one really needs.

    Let it be known: Slayed? is far better than the album cover may lead you to believe - beneath the corny surface (which I'm starting to get used to - I don't know it suits the band) is some blazing glam rock with a real edge to it that gives a fresh dynamic. I'm amazed that I haven't dove head first into Slade before, because this is some excellent rock, perfectly suited for the time and far beyond in some ways. Consider me slain.

RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Listen to Slayed?.