Consumer Guide Album

Ten Years After: Cricklewood Green [Deram, 1970]
Despite Leo Lyons's responsive bass and Ric Lee's reliable drums, it's obviously the speed and tensile tone of Alvin Lee's guitar that makes this music what it is--pure boogie, a style which benefits from impurities. As such, it's best experienced on Undead. Alvin sings pretty well, but his songwriting is barely serviceable, which puts the ordinary amenities of studio pop beyond his means. B−