TRACK LIST
1. INTO THE NOW
2. LOOK @ ME
3. WHAT A SHAME
4. HEAVEN NINE ELEVEN
5. WORDS CAN'T EXPLAIN
6. CAUGHT IN A DREAM
7. MILES AWAY
8. MIGHTY MOUSE
9. GOT NO GLORY
10. COME TO ME
11. RECOGNIZE
12. ONLY YOU!
The band has done it again, reinventing themselves all
over again. The voice of Jeff Keith sounds better than ever, and with their
new sound and mentality this ride should be longer than their last run.
After a reunion show at ARCO in 2000 and the ensuing tour. Tesla came back
home to the Sacto area and started hammering out a time schedule to allow
for recording a new Tesla album. The band converged on the little town
of Pollock Pines at the Frank Hannon Recording Studio. It's a small town
in the Sierra foothills, way out in the stick's man. The studio was custom
built to Frank Hannon's specifications with a free floating floor and soundproofing
panels to not bother the dance studio for kids that resides next door.
The only bowling alley for for fifty miles is right around the corner,
we're talking small town central. This album has the big city sound though,
and the title is right on the money. Jeff Keith and Frank Hannon write
most of the music and lyrics and it is classic Tesla, as much as it is
"Into the Now."
The title track says it all, this band is back, and high stepping into
town, ready to restablish themselves as on of Rock's most popular bands.
A band with some of the most positive vibed music I've ever heard, this
album is no exception. Great music written with a conscious attitude and
with an overall positive message to the whole album. The cliches have all
been heard before, but Tesla lays it all down in such a unique way, it's
like a whole new balll of wax. The grooves are so infectious, it just makes
me want to crank it up as loud as it goes. With bitter love songs like
"What A Shame" that ring some old truth to every listener and just leaves
a smile on your face to think about it. The lyrics are so good you just
hear them like they were written in stone ages ago. The music is so crisp
and cutting edge, from all the specaial effects with drums and guitars
really displaying what Tesla has grown into. I think this is definitely
Tesla's best studio work to date, the guitarwork is so seasoned with ecclectic
styles and interlaced with subtle rythyms. The first time I listened to
it in it's entirety, I was truly stunned. I'm a Tesla fan, so I would have
been pleased just to hear some new songs by them, but these are songs that
anybody can identify with. The kind of songs that can speak for a generation,
and these youth of today certainly can carry these anthems with them.
The first couple of songs are rock hard tunes that can grab the younger
listener and hook him, or her for a lifetime. Just like in 1986, when I
bought my first Tesla album on tape and played it until all the type on
the front was worn off. Then there is the thought provoking "Heaven Nine
Eleven," which contains the message of hope and relays it in a very modern
sound that the kids will love. Next, you get right down into the meat of
the album with really deep songs like "Words Can't Explain" and "Caught
In A Dream," songs that are heavily laden with layers of thought and ambient
sounds. The kind that you only hear when you have heard them a hundred
times, and then the subtle sounds start to jump out at you and you can't
believe you hadn't noticed them. You know what I mean? Take a closer
listen, then. Then there's your straight ahead rock tunes like "Miles Away,"
with your classic slow intro and outro with earsplitting vocals and earth
shattering highs and lows in between. The heavy riffs of "Mighty Mouse"
and the cute little comic that goes with it are a first. I thought this
was the weakest song on the album at first, but after many spins, the song
grew on me quite a bit. So, my conclusion, the real story and not some
candy coated lies is, I didn't find any weaknesses on this album. I like
all the songs, especially "Come To Me," it is so catchy and you just can't
help but love it, even though it has a kind of pop-like guitar riff. The
space age "Recognize" has got some innovative guitar sounds that just kick
ass, those licks are awesome. Tesla is back, and I can't wait for their
next album.
ROCK
