Watt - TEN YEARS AFTER****

I'm Coming On/My Baby Left Me/Think About The Times/I Say Yeah/The Band With No Name/Gonna Run/She Lies In The Morning/Sweet Little Sixteen

Watt was the quick follow up album to capitalise on the commercial success of the previous release Cricklewood Green. Some critics considered that greater delay would have produced an even stronger album. (US:21 UK:5)

“Well this is not as good as their previous recording but that was a tough act to follow. That said, this is still a very good hard blues album, not many psychedelic touches here but bluesy as hell.”

“A step down from Cricklewood Green, but still pretty fine. I love the way the band jumps out of the gate with the hard drivin' I'm Comin' On, and they even lay down a funky groove on I Say Yeah. As usual, there are a couple of ballads, a traditional blues, and some good old rock n' roll. So it's standard fare from a pretty exceptional band.”

“Ten Years After are a band that were consistently really good, who never quite attained greatness. Alvin Lee is a great guitarist but as a vocalist, I'd say he's average. The songwriting here, and on all their albums I've heard, leaves a little to be desired when compared to many similar bands of the era. The instrumental sections are the best parts of the album.”

“Alvin Lee and company may have been wiser to leave this album a few months until they had gathered stronger material, if only to make it something of a match for Cricklewood Green.”

“The atmosphere in this music is electric and captures a period of time that will never be duplicated. From I'm Coming On to She Lies In The Morning you're transported to the mythical realm of drug induced euphoria via the transport ship of Ten Years After. This band toured so much during this period that you can feel the weariness in this recording. This plays well on these songs and adds texture and atmosphere.”

“Watt is a solid effort with a great overall consistency to it. Every song is different but fits into a consistent sounding album. No clunkers, just good rock & roll blues. Alvin Lee and band really get into a great groove with a solid rocker to finish it off. When you talk about the good old days this album says it all to me.”