Customer Reviews

Slade Alive: The Ultimate Critical Review

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I picked this up today from a soon-to-be defunct Tower Records that had a 40% off tag on it. I figured it would be full of commentary and a just a bit of live footage with no audio like alot of other DVDs in this genre. Wrong. Lots of live footage with some original audio and some live footage with the original studio track mixed in. Not as bad as I thought it would be. Plus theres a bonus live video from a TV studio featuring...Hear Me Calling,Look Wot You Don,Darling Be Home soon,Cos I Love You,Get Down with It and Born To Be Wild. Running time for that is about 30 minutes and worth the price of the DVD alone. So order this DVD,pick up some plaid pants off of ebay and grow some mutton chops. For those about to rock....I salute you.

Amazing that this band are still rrrrocking and rrrrolling after 40 years. I first heard the classic 1972 'Slade Alive' album at the age of 13 on a portable mono record player. That was way back in 1973 and although my musical tastes have expanded considerably since then, Slade still deliver big time when it comes to classic, good times hard rocking and I still rate Slade Alive as one of the very best live albums EVER recorded. The 'live' presence of that album is amazing as was (and still is) the live presence of the band themselves.

Although the vintage 'live' concert disc in this set features a somewhat contrived setting with a seated television studio audience, the live feel and exhuberance of the band still manages to shine through. Few rock acts of that period or since could pull such a feat off with this much ease.

Another major element of Slade's success is the legendary good time rapport they manage to establish with their audiences of which frontman Noddy Holder is the keystone. As the band's master of ceremonies he etablishes a good time party atmosphere right from the word go. A born performer amongst a band of performers, Holder seems to draw upon classic English music hall tradition striking a balance between high energy and risque cheek. The rocking numbers are as well arranged as the hit singles while proving that Slade are far from a mere chart band. Lightweights they are not.

The critical analysis part of the package is up to the usual high standard of this series and gives the band their due as the respectable hard rocking and performing unit they deserve to be remembered for.

This DVD is a little disappointing in the fact that the interviews and commentary is limited to only a few individuals. Slade's imprint upon rock 'n roll is immense and this dvd just doesn't live up to the greatness that was Slade. Having said that, true Slade fans will appreciate some of the rare clips this dvd has.