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Rating: In the mid-90s, when nearly nothing was left standing of the hard rock scene that had defined an era up until a few years prior, Tesla was one of the few entities still able to gift a final, fleeting ray of light to a genre once glorious but now reduced to nothing more than a shadow.
The five (hard) rockers from Sacramento were coming off three sensational hits on as many albums, starting with their debut 'Mechanical Resonance' (dating back to 1986) and arriving at 'Psychotic Supper' from 1991, passing through 'The Great Radio Controversy' (1989) and the seminal live album 'Five Man', released a year later.
Always faithful to the motto 'a winning team doesn't change', our heroes returned to the scene with an album that roughly follows, in terms of tracklist and sound, what was likely their most successful work, and the one where they reached their full compositional maturity, namely the previous 'Psychotic Supper'. However, it's impossible to overlook that the year this platter was released was indeed 1994; and this is combined with the tensions that arose within the band, and the fact that expecting a fourth masterpiece in four releases was perhaps too much, even for a group like Tesla, who had always made passion, feeling, and harmony in their music their only creed. Unfortunately, over the 60 plus minutes that mark the 14 tracks of the album, some symptoms of 'fatigue' and flattening from a compositional point of view are quite evident, which is also understandable and physiological, as the band had spent eight years living at the maximum both in the studio and on stage, with an impressive series of consecutive nights during the tours of that period.
However, despite the level of the three previous full-lengths may perhaps never be matched by the Sacramento band again, Tesla is always Tesla, and a sublime opener of the caliber of ‘The Gate/Invited' is there to remind us; as the title of the piece suggests, we are faced with a two-faced song, where there is everything the band has always accustomed us to, namely intimate and delicate acoustic moments alternated with sudden spurts of pure hard rock. The same theme repeats itself more or less in ‘Shine Away', another engaging and inspired piece, which at times embraces sounds bordering on heavy. The memorable songs certainly don't end here, and if in ‘She Want She Want' we are even in glam territories so dear to party-metal bands such as Poison and Danger Danger; ‘Mama's Fool', with its southern style indebted to groups like Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet, tries to reconnect to 'Change In The Weather', which was the wonderful opener of ‘Psychotic Supper', but only partially succeeds in replicating its beauty. They slow down the pace with ‘Need Your Lovin', a song for ‘hard-rockers with a tender heart' (quote) which the band had already accustomed us to in the past, with more melodic and introspective interludes like ‘The Way It is', ‘Call It What You Want', ‘What You Give', and ‘Stir It Up', that broke the frantic pace imposed by most of their songs. ‘A Lot To Loose' is instead the real ballad of the album, as 'What You Give' was for its predecessor, but it proves to be even more emotional than the latter, thanks to its calm and reflective progression and its poignant and dreamy melody at the same time. Another reason not to forget this album is the presence in the tracklist of a piece like ‘Try So Hard', a ballad with strong acoustic tones and a suffering progression imbued with sweat and passion, in which singer Jeff Keith's heartfelt and emotional performance makes it probably the most beautiful slow song, and perhaps not only, of Tesla's career, alongside the unforgettable ‘Love Song' from '89.
Paradoxically, however, it's the more driven pieces, which in the past had been their real extra step, that fail to fully convince and seem almost standardized and lacking in bite in various parts, starting from the initial ‘Solution' to ‘Action Talks', ‘Cry', ‘Earthmover', and the more successful ‘Rubberband'; all songs that struggle to soar and lack precisely that ‘freshness' of composition that had always distinguished the band. From this point of view, the times of ‘Don't De-Rock Me' and the breathtaking 'Ez Come Ez Go', 'Cumin' Athca Live', 'Makin' Magic' (but the list would be much longer) seem even more distant chronologically than they actually are.
By the end of the album, Tesla opt for two episodes with more acoustic and relaxed sounds, with ‘Wonderful World', which also offers at times much more driven interludes, and finally ‘Games People Play', a cover by American singer-songwriter Joe South that, with its delicate folk-tinted chords, imbued with a veil of melancholy and slight sadness, closes the album and sadly also the first part of the band's career.
'Bust A Nut' went completely unnoticed and was the prelude to the inevitable breakup of the group, which indeed occurred during that same 1994, right after the end of the promotional tour. Seven years later, in 2001, the announced band reunion was confirmed with the release within the same year of the live album ‘Replugged Live', which presented us with a band still in great shape and still sounding like they did at the beginning, as if time had stopped, and the 80s had never ended. The subsequent album of unreleased tracks, released in 2004 under the name 'Into The Now', proved to be a good product with several noteworthy episodes, even though the shift towards more modern rock sounds partially cut ties with their great past. The following years saw first the departure of the historic guitarist Tommy Skeoch (replaced by Dave Rude), and then the release of a double album of covers ('Real To Reel', 2007) and another album of unreleased tracks, 'Forever More', dated 2008, a definitely less convincing work than its predecessor, which is also the last studio album released by the group so far. The latest albums and, above all, the latest convincing live performances have demonstrated that Tesla, even 25 years after their extraordinary debut, are a band that still has something to say. However, I, among the new ones, still prefer this 'Bust A Nut', which may not have the charge and sharpness of the best times, but definitely shows how Tesla, even at that time, despite a thousand difficulties, managed to strike the heart once again with the sincerity and passion that has always accompanied them, leaving us an album that, after each listen, cannot help but still provoke today a veiled sense of nostalgia for times gone by.
Feelin' Is Believin'
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Gate / Invited (05:39)
(Keith, Hannon, Skeoch, Wheat)
You don't even know, where I've been or where I'm coming from, at all
Who was the one who said nothing's impossible, who was wrong
Who was the one to even say at all, anything is possible
You ask me where I'm going, I don't even know myself
I couldn't say 'cos it's undecided on which way I should go
I don't know!
I've been invited but I just can't make it
Got too excited and I just can't take it
My fuel ignited, got too exited
I've been invited but I just can't take it no more
[Solo]
How am I to show, what I'm feeling deep down in my heart, in my soul
No other way but by a miracle - anything's not possible
I don't know where I'm goin', you don't even know yourself
You couldn't say 'cos it's undecided on which way you should go
Do you know?
I've been invited but I just can't make it
Got too excited and I just can't take it
My fuel ignited, got too exited, I took the message celebrating again
I guess it must have been at least an hour or more
I must've had myself some powerful thoughts
I've been invited but I just can't make it
Got too excited and I just can't take anymore
[Solo]
I've been invited but I just can't make it
Got too excited and I just can't take it
My fuel ignited, got too exited
I've been invited but I just can't make it - at all
02 Solution (03:57)
(Keith, Skeoch)
Down to the wire, on the end of the road
Down to the wire, and the kids don't know
Mother Nature's on her knees, and we're the reason of her disease
Hangin' off the ceiling, climbing up the walls
Crawling on my hands and knees to make it through it all
Now we can change or stay the same, one's the answer and the next to blame
Solution is a world of change
If we're gonna make it through tomorrow
Down in the dirt and fallin' out on the street
Crossin' the line myself [to make it to me]
Mother Nature's still on her knees, and we're the reason of her disease
Hangin' off the ceiling, climbing up the walls
Crawling on my hands and knees to make it through it all
Now we can change or stay the same, one's the answer and the next insane
Solution is a world of change
If we're gonna make it through tomorrow
The solution is to make a change today, oh yeah
Make it, I said make it!
[Solo]
Down to the wire, on the end of the road
Down to the wire, all the kids don't know
Mother Nature's down on her knees, and we're the reason of her disease
Hangin' off the ceiling, climbing up the walls
Crawling on my hands and knees, just to make it, just to make it
Now we can change or stay the same, one's the answer and the next to blame
Solution is a world of change
If we're gonna make it through tomorrow
The solution is to make a change today, okay
If we ever make it, now will we ever make it
Through tomorrow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow
Through tomorrow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow - ah!
04 Try So Hard (05:44)
Oh time well it goes on and on and on again
like a driving rain like asnow flake in the sun
fallin out of the sky on everyone
you and me everybody everyone now everybody you see
you know I traveled so far seemed like forever
never mattered just as long as we're together
I traveled so far you knlw it gets so oh oh no
and this time well it goes on and on and over again
like a driving rain like a snow flake in the sun
falling out of the sky on everyone
you and me everyone now everybody you see
You know I said it before
you're the only one that can make me feel better
I'm lonely out here on my own
Try so hard
I try so hard to believe
try so hard
are you believeing me
try so hard
you know I try so hard
try some more cause feeling is believing
try so hard
I try so hard to believe
try so hard
are you believing me
try so hard
you know I try so hard
try some more try to believe in you
Now I traveled so far but not forever
doesn't matter cause I know we'll be together
I'm singing this song 'til I see you again
try so hard
I try so hard to believe
try so hard
areyou believing me
try so hard
you know I try so hard
try some more cause feeling is believing
try so hard
I try so hard t believe
try so hard
are you believing me
try so hard
you know I try so hard try some more
try to believe in you
try so hard
whoa yeah
try so hard
seeing seeing and dealin is believin
try so hard
try to believe in you
06 Need Your Lovin' (04:20)
(Keith, Luccketta, Skeoch)
I'll be lovin' you come morning, day to day, dust to dawn
Feelin' you're the reason I won't be leavin' so
Love you in the evening, supper time and afternoon
Your days of happiness beside the month of June
Ooh, don't want my yesterday, to wake me up, slap me in the face
Ooh, don't let my yesterday, wrap you up and carry you away
Ooh I need your lovin', without you baby love don't mean nothing
Oooh I need your lovin', 's got to be your lovin' or nothing
January, and in March, February, June
Any day beside of that couldn't be too soon
My life without you babe is a heart that's torn
Season of love for you, storm without a warn
Ooh, didn't want my yesterday, woke me right up, and slapped me in the face
Ooh, you let my yesterday, wrap you right up and carry you away
Ooh I need your lovin', without you baby love don't mean nothing
Oooh I need your lovin', 's got to be your lovin' or nothing
Took all my yesterdays of sorrow, and threw them all away
Took all that I could take, or could borrow
'Cos today's yesterday, today is yesterday's tomorrow - whoa!
[Solo]
Ooh, go away my yesterday, can't take that much, I'll look it in the face
Ooh, wish all my yesterdays, would've packed it up and carried it away
Ooh I need your lovin', 'cos without you baby love don't mean nothing
Oooh I need your lovin', 's got to be your lovin' or nothing - whoa!
Ooh, ooh, ooh yeah, it's your love or nothing
Ooh, all I've got to say it must be your love or nothing
08 Mama's Fool (06:12)
(Keith, Hannon)
Out on the road, and a long long way from home
Why must I be so, must I be so misunderstood
While my intentions, my intentions all are good
Wish only one time that things would turn out like they should
Just like they should
Too many times, too many times payin' the price, just for the thrill
Too many highs, too many times, overkill
So many times, double around, how many faces do reveal
How many folks gettin' to be over the hill
She always told me things, like girls were made of sugar and spice
She always scolded me, Don't let the same dog bite you twice
Well I, Lord I've just been fooled again
Mama she raised no fool - you did not raise no fool
Mama I ain't no fool - I've just been fooled again
Mama she raised no fool - you did not raise no fool
Mama I ain't no fool - well I've just been fooled again
Too many lies, shame on the wives, too many cakes and eat it too
Too many hearts goin' straight down the tube
Hell of a dude, damned if I don't have the time and the words for use
Too many rounds, too many times, overuse
She's always telling me, Just take your time, always think twice
Forever scolding me, Don't let the same dog bite you twice
Well I, hell I've just been fooled again
Mama she raised no fool - you did not raise no fool
Mama I ain't no fool - I've just been fooled again
Mama she raised no fool - she did not raise a fool
Mama I ain't no fool
Oh, let me tell you if it happens again like it did next time
Somebody's gonna have to walk the line, walk the line!
[Solo]
She's always telling me, Take my advice boy and just think twice
Forever scolding me, Don't let the same dog bit you twice
Well I, Lord I won't be fooled again
Mama she raised no fool - you did not raise no fool
Mama I ain't no fool - I've just been fooled again
Mama she ain't no fool - I may be crazy but I ain't no fool
Mama you crazy fool - may be crazy but I ain't no fool
Crazy but I ain't no fool, may be crazy, I may be crazy
Crazy but I ain't no fool
Out in the cold, and a long long way from home
10 Earthmover (04:08)
Yeh (5 times)
Now I know why
The man on the moon
Won't show his face
I wouldn't if it was blue
Go run and hide
Think it better you do
Play no hide-n-seek, peak-a-boo
If it wasn't for you
If it wasn't for me
Where in the world
Where in the world would this world be
Why do we lie
till our faces turn blue
how can i rely
Countin' on you
Now I don't mind
Long as it's true
Kick out the old in with the new
It wasn't workin for me
It wasn't workin for you
So how in the world
Can we say to anyone what the world needs
One more day could be all it takes
To burn this d*** place to the ground
Down to the sea
(one more change)
Gonna rip the entire face
Off o' the earth and split the sea
('Cept for you and me)
Why don't we cry
Instead we laugh in the face
How can we deny
we're destroying this place
Now, I'm not fine, We're F##ked
If it wasn't for trust
Peace and harmony
If it wasn't for love
Tell me where in the world
Would this world be
One more day
We may rip this entire place
Off of the earth and split the seams
Bustin' in two
(One more change)
You're gonna take each entire race
Turn it all around and spli the seams
If it wasn't for land
If it wasn't for sea
Or the trees or the ocean
Or the aire we breathe
If it wasn't for life and all of us
Now tell me where in the world
Would this world be
Yeah
One more day
Could be all it takes
To burn this d*** place to the ground
Down to the sea
(One more change)
Gonna take each entire race
Turn it all around and split the seams
'Cept for you and me
(One more day)
May rip this entire place
Off of the earth and split the seams
(Bustin' in two)
One of these days
Just watch and see
Earth mother's gonna show it's face
And that's the end of you and me
11 Alot to Lose (05:11)
(Keith, Hannon, Wheat)
I thought I saw the light, was it real or something I'm imagining
I thought I saw the light, if it was then tell me, did you see it too
Did you see the light, if you did now tell me, could you feel it too
Hey I saw the light, yeah tell me that you saw the light
I don't know why I even do it, all I know is I'm so glad
We always make it through it, one way or another
We're gonna make it or break
I got alot of love for you, I guess that means I got alot to lose
I got alot of love for you and only you
I don't know how we even do it, all I know is I'm so glad
We always make it through it, one more time now baby
Got me two times a wife, just like my mother
She's there to love and understand
Got me two times a wife, she really does have a touch just like no other hands
The sparkle in my eye, too many times I left her there alone at night
The way you light up my life, yeah your love is two times as nice
I don't know how we make it through it, all I know is I'm so glad
We always seem to do it, one way or another
We're gonna make it or break
I got alot of love for you, I guess that means I got alot to lose
I got alot of love for you and only you
I got alot of love for you, I do, and that's the way it should be
I don't know why we even do it, all I know is I'm so glad
We always make it through it, one more time now friend
[Solo]
I got alot of love for you, I guess that means I got alot to lose
I got alot of love for you and only you and nobody else but you
I got alot of love for you, I guess that means I got alot to lose
I got alot of love for you and only you and no one else but you my friend
Oh, nobody else but you my friend
(I got a lot of love for you) I got a lot, I got a lot, a lot of love for you
(I got a lot of love for you) I do, oh I feel I got a lot to lose
12 Rubberband (04:36)
(Keith, Hannon, Wheat)
You should never take more than you can lend
Unless you wanna break you're gonna have to bend
Keep your mind at ease, your heart close at hand
The more you realize and the more you seem to understand
Ooh, will there be love to be made
Ooh, isn't it left anyway
I thought you was dyin' to love me, not to love on a shelf
Before you hurt somebody else you've got to help yourself
Ooh, are you ready today, you'd better be, 'cos there's hell to pay
[Chorus:]
All the lightning and thunder - out of hand
Ready or not, now tell me what's your plan
It gets to be all you can stand - rubberband
You got the [feels like] like a rubberband
I thought what was easy, well it turned into hell
Before I please somebody else I've got to please myself
I said ooh, is this a game that you play, it might as well be anyway
[Chorus]
[Solo]
All the lightning and thunder - out of hand
Ready or not, now tell me what's your plan
It gets to be all you can stand - rubberband
Just lay back just like a rubberband
Ready or not - what's your plan
Tell me what is your interest, show me where you stand
You're my release, your heart close at hand - rubberband
Bounce back just like a rubberband man
Rubberband, rubberband, rubberband, rubberband, rubberband
You got to bounce back, snap back, to the mouth if you can
Like a rubberband man
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