AMG Review of Slam

Steve "Spaz" Schnee
All Music Guide

Though the sound quality varies throughout, this is a fascinating look into 999's musical canon. Consisting of demos recorded during the early '80s, Slam takes a peak at the original recordings of tracks that eventually ended up on the Biggest Prize in Sport and Concrete albums and various B-sides, plus a handful of unreleased songs. Though some of the tracks are similar in arrangement to the released versions, many are more raw and lack some of the eventual studio polish (which just adds to their charm). Of the unreleased tracks, "Heart to Heart" stands out as one of the better ones that would have definitely have fit onto either of those albums. The better sounding tracks sound like they were recorded on a primitive four-track recorder, while many sound like we're getting an insider's look-and-listen into the band's rehearsal room. Although those tracks lack the audio fidelity of the four-track demos, their energy is contagious. Not a substitute for the actual studio recordings, but a must-have for the 999 fan.