tesla

(9/10) Some records pushes you out of the denial box when it comes to age. It's really true, Tesla's debut "Mechanical Resonance" was released in 1986 and I can remember it as it would have been yesterday, and it means that I'm thirty years older too.The album was introduced with quite some good reviews which made me and my friends very curious. So we went, as each week, to the local record shop and there it was. When I heard the album I was more than impressed. Tesla released a debut that was filled with hits. There was no bad song on this record and each of the tunes kept the thrill up till now.

Next to the songs it was the dynamic guitars, the powering rhythm section and last but not least Jeff Keith's very unique husky voice that made this entire package to a real winner.

Therefor it was a great idea to celebrate this milestone with a live release, including all songs from "Mechanical Resonance". "Comin' Atcha Live", "Changes" and "2 Late 4 Love" are also three decades later great rock songs of an awesome band. Not to forget the iconic "Modern Day Cowboy" and "Lil' Suzie".

It wasn't one single show that build the base of this live album. It has been concerts played at the Graspop festival, Rocklahoma, Sweden Rock and the Monsters of Rock cruise that have been combined to a unique live release.

As a special treat Tesla added a new song to this album too. "Save that Goodness" is the name of the track that was written and produced by Phil Collen of Def Leppard. It's actually a cool rocker that is pure Tesla with some Def Leppard links. It actually would be great if Def Leppard would have had this kick-ass expression in some of their later songs.

Anyhow, "Mechanical Resonance Live" is a damn cool album that has a great sound which makes legendary songs shine bright and fresh. This album is a 'must have'.

(9/10)

Tracklist:

1. Rock Me to the Top
2. Ez Come EZ Go
3. Gettin' Better
4. Comin' Atcha Live
5. Changes
6. Before My Eyes
7. 2 Late 4 Love
8. We're Not Good Together
9. Love Me
10. Cover Queen
11. Lil Suzie
12. Modern Day Cowboy
13. Save the Goodness

Label: Frontiers Music

Genre: Hardrock

Release Date EU: August 26th, 2016

Good news for all fans of hard rockers Tesla. The band did a live recording of their classic album "Mechanical Resonance" and will release this longplayer on August 26th via Frontiers Music. The album comes right in time for Tesla's North America tour with Def Leppard and is a great idea to celebrate a milestone in thirty years of Tesla.

In addition to the well-known material the album also features a brand new tune called "Save the Goodness" whiuch was written and produced by Phil Collen from Def Leppard.

Here comes the tracklist:

1. Rock Me To The Top
2. Ez Come Ez Go
3. Gettin’ Better
4. Comin’ Atcha Live
5. Changes
6. Before My Eyes
7. 2 Late 4 Love
8. We’re No Good Together
9. Love Me
10. Cover Queen
11. Lil Suzie
12. Modern Day Cowboy
13. Save That Goodness (Studio Track)

(8/10) It was in the second half of the 80's when a new band entered the scene. They had a pretty interesting sound and already their debut album "Mechanical resonance" didn't take prisoners. Their second album "The great radio controversy" became their next highlight. But for me it's still "Five men acoustical jam", a live unplugged album, which is the icon of the band.

The trademark of Tesla is the 'scratchy' and rough voice of singer Jeff Keith. The grapevine says, that Keith trainind his voice by singing to songs played on the radio during long truck rides. However, the vocals are standing out and makes an Tesla song immediatley recognisable.

With some up's and down's the band from Sacamento is in the meantime almost 30 years in business and releases in June 2014 their new studio album called "Simplicity". It took the band 6 years ("Forever more" was released in 2008) to come out with this album. The result shows, that it was worth waiting.

Tesla wanted to produce an album which goes straight back to their roots. They produced it in the same way as they did with "Into the now" from 2004 and I think they succeeded. "Simplicity" has no real title track, but the opener "MP3" could be seen as being the one. The tune is kept in mid-tempo with a typical Tesla melody line. The lyrics are about the modern world and all the missing simplicity which is connected to it. "Rise and fall" is another cool track. Starting with a pumping bass and the vocals from Keith, the song stays on a slow and ballade-like level with acoustic guitars. And Tesla can still give these kind of songs the necessary rock'n'roll feeling. The same goes for the following track "So divine". One of the heaviest songs on the album is called "Flip side!". It starts with a powerful guitar riff, the verse is acoustical before the tune explodes again in the chorus. Another well-crafted track is "Break of dawn" which is based on the guitar sound and the deep groove rhythm a real headbanger. My personal fave is the piano based "Life is a river' which comes with very intelligent lyrics. The song spreads a cool atmosphere amd the captivating chorus is the cherry on the cake. You need another heavy tune? Here you go. "Time bomb" serves you with what you need. The song is a bad-ass-headbanger with a snappy beat and down tuned guitars.

All in all I can state that Tesla is still around after so many years. "Simplicity" became a grooving and rocking album which shows, that simplicity is a virtue. A must for all rock fans.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. MP3
2. Ricochet
3. Rise and fall
4. So divine...
5. Cross my heart
6. Honestly
7. Flip side!
8. Other than me
9. Break of dawn
10. Burnout to fade
11. Life is a river
12. Sympathy
13. Time bomb
14. 'Til that day
15. Burnout to fade (writing demo version)

Label: Frontiers Records

Genre: Hardrock