Tesla are back with their first studio release in 10 years and they’re achin’ to show these young pups a thing or two ‘bout music. If’n you recall, they toured quite a bit a few years back, even playin’ a local gig, releasin’ Replugged Live, a successful double set of live recordin’s. Seems all the survivin’ original members, which would be all five of ‘em, headed into the studio to make some new music. Bein’ intelligent boys, they knew that they needed strong songs and so wrote about 30 such ditties, whittlin’ down the list to the 12 best and polishin’ them up during a grueling, two-year process. Such are the songs on Into The Now.
The first thing a feller notices is that their trademark melodic style is fully intact, and yet there be oodles of fresh sonic textures and plenty of maxi-limited “oomp” to bring their sound into this here modern age, makin’ it obvious that these here boys didn’t get stuck back in the early 90s like some o’ their long-haired compatriots.
The title track is a dandy example of this here combination, with massive geetars in 7/4 time that slide into a comfortable groove in the chorus. “Look @ Me” is pure Tesla, with singer Jeff Keith soundin’ like he hasn’t given his pipes a day o’ rest lo these many years. Acoustic geetars, a wash of them electric drums and one o’ them ‘stick-in-yer-craw’ chorus melodies make “What A Shame” a perfect mid-tempo radio rocker for after the farm report. “Heaven Nine Eleven” sounds like a Monty Colvin song - which for those of you in the know means its good stuff.
Tesla (the band, not the inventor) was loved by the ladies for their power ballads, and they go back at it with “Words Can’t Explain” and “Come To Me,” which blend acoustic guitars, hooky choruses and bluesy guitars like Uncle Joe-Carl used to play, God rest his soul.
“Caught In A Dream” likewise sports a lonely cowboy feel and opens with the syrupy lyrics of “If you can imagine this / The whole world sharin’ one big kiss.” The ladies may favor such sentiment, but it made my stomach go sour, despite the clean vocal harmonies. ‘Nuff said. I didn’t have to wait long for the elixir as the gritty, aggressive “Got No Glory” soon filled my head with thick geetars and a caustic bass tone. Then “Recognize” scuffed up what was left with flanged distortion that slapped me all over Main Street before butterin’ me up with a classic candy chorus melody.
Well, that about wraps up this here review. It looks like the Tesla boys still have whatever it takes to make great tunes. The geetars pack lots of punch, and most of the songs refuse to sound dated, which is a very difficult task, if’n I may speak from reviewin” experience. I’d heartily recommend you checkin’ out Into The Now if you were a fan of this band way back in the day ‘cause I’m sure you’ll find it mighty pleasin’ for both sexes.
Copyright 2004 Ad Media Inc.