There are simply far too many Fall albums out there, but this combined reissue is a bit special. Originally released as a 10" EP by Rough Trade in 1981, Slates featured six tracks with somewhat decent production for the first time in the band's history. Some of Mark E. Smith's most withering tracts -- and his group's most able songwriting -- can be found here. Three of the songs -- "An Older Lover Etc.," "Fit and Working Again," and "Leave the Capitol" -- are among the best things Smith has written (or will write). Those six tracks are the main reason for owning the disc, but a major bonus comes with the inclusion of live material, recorded on tour in the U.S. in 1981. After an astonishing introduction -- "From the riot-torn streets of Manchester, England...." -- it kicks off with a Smith kazoo solo. You couldn't script it. While not as good as Fall in a Hole, released around the same time, A Part of America Therein, 1981 features generally strong performances of Fall favorites including "Totally Wired," "Lie Dream of a Casino Soul," and a contrasting version of "An Older Lover," which loses the "etcetera" from its title for unexplained reasons. ~ Alex Ogg|

Rovi