Hard to compute what our present-day musical outlook would sound like without Birmingham, Coventry and or The Black Country, absolute crap probably. Slade’s influence on not one but four or five genres pours out of this impressive Singles collection. The songs still stick to the ribs while shaking the skull and at times tugging at the heartstrings. If you’ve never heard ‘Cum Feel The Noize’ then you’re either under twenty or been residing on devil’s island. It’s a Glam Rock beast that is rarely bettered if at all whereas ‘Cuz I Love You’ stomps in heartbeat time with it’s down ‘n’ dirty fiddle playing undertones. The melancholy piano opening on ‘Everyday’ is buoyed by Noddy Holder’s gravel kicking voice which transports the listener into a simpler albeit harsher time as eyes glisten with nostalgic memories. Each track opens its own emotive box of tricks and none more so on the acoustic riff of ‘Far Far Away’ while ‘Gudbuy T’Jane’ is still a Queen of a track which includes another Slade jackpot chorus.
The last orders sing-a-long of ‘My Friend Stan’ is kissed with a Country noodling guitar before B-side (wtf) ‘My Town’ sticks a finger in the chest of unwelcome visitors. This impressive box set’s hidden joys are not just the hitz but the bands eclectic B-sides. Not sure there’s been a better opening line and riff than ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’ and five decades on it still rocks like a motherf**ker!
‘Feel The Noize’ is not just another cash-in box-set but a historical document and one every home should own. Slade are the very roots of Britain’s musical tree
SLADE
Feel The Noize – The Singlez Box
9/10