Tesla--The Great Radio Controversy (1989)
Rating--9.2
Flight to Nowhere--RealAudio Heaven's Trail--RealAudio
A solid second effort. When I first got this album, I didn't like it as much as the first--mainly,
I didn't feel it was as heavy. Damn, was I wrong or what?? The more I listened to it I found out that these tracks
crackled and grooved just fine, thank you very much. Sure, there are a couple of commercial
"sounding" songs, and the band's biggest single ("Love Song") hails from this disc. Still, as is almost always the case,
the best tracks rarely get picked to be singles by the suits, eh?...
"Lady Luck" and "Flight to Nowhere" are two of Tesla's best (and heaviest) songs. "Flight to Nowhere" with that buildup,
and then the steamrolling mainframe? Oooooh! Other highlights include "Hang Tough," "Heaven's Trail" and its metallized slide
guitar, the frantic chorus of "Yesterdaze Gone," the transitional "The Way it Is", and the powerful "Paradise" (listen
to the live, acoustic version, then come back to this one-- a masterpiece).
Before the song "Signs" (on the afore-alluded to live album), the group's biggest hit was "Love Song." Sure, you've heard it. But
again (like on the last review), don't judge the band but that track's overall tone. A good track-- but not the band's best.
HOT CHOPS--The acoustic intro to "Love Song"--like with "Little Suzi" on the previous album--is very strong and moving. A nice piece. Also, the rhythm guitar in "Lady Luck" is tough.
TRACK LIST: Hang Tough/Lady Luck/Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)/Be a Man/Lazy Days, Crazy Nights/Did it For the Money/
Yesterdaze Gone/Makin' Magic/The Way it Is/Flight to Nowhere/Love Song/Paradise/Party's Over
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