Review: Tesla Forever More
October 7, 2008 by Scott
The longevity of most modern rock bands is short. The chances of a veteran band that came about in the 80’s, releasing a new album these days that’s actually good, keeping it modern, yet not straying from the root sound is rare or nil. Some bands know how to do it and keep their old fans while gaining new ones as well and some bands…just flop. So where does Tesla fit in to this category? Let’s just say that 24 years later, Tesla still knows how to rock.
Following their 1994 release “Bust A Nut” they took 6 years of before getting back together and releasing a double live album called “Replugged” live. In 2004 they released “In The Now” and this year saw the release of Comin Atcha Live 2008.
Forever More brings back the rockin sound of Tesla in true form. Jeff Keith’s voice sounds great and the rest of the band is spot on as well. This is the first album with new guitarist Dave Rude, who replaced Tommy Skeoch after Tommy decided it was best to spend time with his new child and family.
Tesla keeps things simple with a lot of heavy power chords throughout the album, catchy rock sing-along choruses, and some really great solos to boot. Songs like Just In Case and Fallin’ Apart bring you back to those days of High school dances when all the great bands had some cool power ballads. I don’t know how it is these days, but that’s what these songs remind me of. Tesla are great at the power ballads. Breakin’ Free is obviously a “break-up, you done me wrong for so long” song. The First Time is an inspiration song with a slow verse/fast chorus to it. Great song.
The most touching and probably my favorite song on the album has to be Pvt. Ledbetter. Pvt Ledbetter tells a story through letters. It starts out as a family writing a letter to their son who is gone away at war. The second verse see the family writing their son again, worried and the last verse is a letter back to Pvt. Ledbetter’s mother telling her that her son has become a casualty of war. It’s a very touching song that if catches you off guard and you’re really into the song with your imagination, it can almost bring a tear to your eye. A live version of the song is below courtesy of http://Hardrockhideout.com
Forever More is a great album, especially if you’re already a fan of Tesla. If you’re not, give this a listen and you just might like it.
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COOLLLL
Nice review. My favorite tracks are “The Game,” “Forever More,” and “The First Time.” You can never have too much predictable heavy rock with 80’s roots.
Kick-ass CD … Crisp, heavy production (if a little dry for my taste) … There’s a really catchy song toward the end, called “Extraordinary” … I think first 3 songs are very good (ya need that in a CD to grab you) … The drumming is really good on this record, and Tesla shows everybody how you write and arrange a song. This has some influences certainly from the late ’80s, but also from ’90’s and 2000s music … just an awesomely put together album, with something else always unique to them and other bands of their ilk: GREAT lyrics. Their songs (even the commercial ones) have meaning in them … That is something I appreciate about the band .. their sincerity … They’re not trying to write “I see your photograaapphh _____ I miss yooouu __________ I can’t look at your photograaaapphh …”, like it seems like we’ve had a LOT of on the radio, lately – Enough, already … This record kicks my ass.