Can The Glam!

With 80 songs and hours of music, the four-disc compilation Can the Glam delivers a comprehensive look at glam rock during the 1970s and early 80s, with equal consideration for both big stars and more obscure acts. Theatrical, hedonistic, and exhilarating, the heyday of glam was a unique musical moment. The larger-than-life style and swagger of the best-known figures of glam rock is represented here with T. Rexs ecstatic "Metal Guru," the Bay City Rollers puppy love anthem "Lets Go," and Alvin Stardusts "Jealous Mind," which hit the top of the chart in the U.K. in 1974, along with tracks by Mungo Jerry, Slade, the Glitter Band, and a few other big names of the time. Glam was happening just ahead of punk, and some of the selections here incorporate the snideness and intensity that punk would revel in a few years later. The Damneds "Morning Bird" sounds especially fuzzy alongside some of the more clean-cut tracks, and theres a pre-punk level of aggression and bile in Suzi Quatros grooving "Can the Can," the inspiration for the collections title and a take-no-prisoners ripper of a song. Paper Laces 1975 track "So What If I Am" is a strange composite of sneering vocals, glam melodies, and synthesizer parts that sound especially computerized in the context of the song. Can the Glam is a deep dive into the genre, and includes ample coverage of bands that werent quite hitmakers but still made great music in glams peak years. Jeff Allen, who had once been the drummer for English glamsters Hello (who make an appearance earlier in the comp with their zippy "Games Up"), contributes his 1982 single "Good Times," and other lesser-known acts like Bobby Dazzler, Crunch, and Shorty all show up as the collection goes on. Anyone looking for an introduction to glam rock will have plenty to digest with this thoughtfully curated compilation, but even seasoned glam enthusiasts might find a surprise or two here. ~ Fred Thomas