Review by Rery
Ten Years After’s HTV Music History: A Blues-Rock Beast That Still Kicks Ass
Alright, let’s get real for a sec. If you’re into raw, gritty rock with enough blues grit to grind your teeth on, then HTV Music History by Ten Years After is gonna slap you upside the head and make you thank it later. Released in 2001 outta Russia (yeah, Russia—don’t ask me how that happened), this album doesn’t mess around. It’s straight-up Hard Rock meets Blues Rock chaos, like someone threw a bottle of vodka at a jukebox and hit play.
First off, props to whoever VAL is because the design kicks ass too. But let’s talk tracks. There are way too many songs on here to cover ‘em all without sounding like some kind of Wikipedia page, so I’ll just hit ya with two bangers that stuck in my skull like chewing gum under a desk.
Track one: "Think About The Times." Holy hell, this thing hits hard right outta the gate. It’s got that dirty groove that feels like an old engine revving up—loud, kinda messy, but impossible not to love. This tune grabs you by the collar and screams, “Hey, punk, listen up!” The vocals sound pissed-off yet soulful, like they’ve been through some serious crap but still wanna belt it out anyway. And the guitar? Dude, it rips. Like, if you don’t nod your damn head to this riff, check your pulse—you might be dead.
Then there’s "Boogie All Day," which is exactly what it sounds like—a relentless boogie stomper that refuses to quit. You can practically smell the whiskey and sweat dripping off this track. It’s the kind of song that makes you wanna grab a buddy, hop in a beat-up truck, and drive nowhere fast. The energy never drops, and neither does the attitude. By the time it ends, you're ready to punch a wall or start a bar fight—your choice.
Now, sure, not every track slaps as hard as those two. Some dip into slower blues territory, which is cool if you’re into brooding introspection while staring out rain-soaked windows. But honestly? When the band cranks up the amps and lets loose, that’s where the magic happens.
Here’s the kicker though—this whole album came out on Invisible Halahup Records. What kind of name is that? Sounds like something a drunk guy would mumble after losing his glasses. Yet somehow, it fits perfectly with the vibe of this record: weird, unexpected, and totally badass.
So yeah, HTV Music History ain’t perfect. Sometimes it drags its feet, other times it gets lost in its own noise. But when it works, holy crap, it WORKS. Listening to this feels like finding an old vinyl at a garage sale and realizing it’s gold. Or maybe rusted iron. Either way, it’s worth your time.
Final thought? Screw genres. Screw labels. Just crank this sucker up and let it rip. Oh, and if anyone asks why you’re suddenly obsessed with Russian blues-rock from 2001, just tell ‘em Positive Vibrations told you to do it.
