Slade

Slade were deep into their dark ages by the time Alive, Vol. 2 was released: it was 1978, and they'd not enjoyed a major hit in over two years. Neither was this oddly depressing album going to change that. Although one cannot complain about a track listing that marries older hits with more recent efforts -- proof that they'd not yet descended to cabaret status -- still there is something unseemly about hearing the likes of "Tak' Me Bak 'Ome," "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and "Gudbuy T'Jane" having to rub shoulders with "My Baby Left Me" and "One Eyed Jacks."

Of course the performance is as powerful as you could hope. Slade might have lost their edge, but they never forgot how to rock. But compare this set with its six-year-old predecessor and, no matter that Vol. 2 packs five times the hit singles, it's Slade Alive! that you'll be returning to when it comes to getting down and getting with it. The time to release a second Slade live album was during 1973-1974, when they and their audience were at the peak of their game. Here, even the crowd sounds dispirited. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide