A metà degli anni 90, quando ormai quasi nulla era rimasto in piedi della scena hard hard rock che aveva segnato un'epoca fino a pochi anni prima, i Tesla furono una delle poche realtà rimaste ancora in grado di regalare un ultimo, effimero raggio di luce a un genere un tempo glorioso, e che appariva ormai ridotto a nient'altro che un'ombra.
I cinque (hard) rockers di Sacramento erano reduci da tre clamorosi centri su altrettanti dischi, a partire dal debut 'Mechanical Resonance' (datato 1986) per arrivare a 'Psychotic Supper' del 1991, passando per 'The Great Radio Controversy (1989) e per il seminale live album 'Five Man', rilasciato un anno più tardi.
Sempre fedeli al motto 'squadra vincente non ci cambia', i nostri tornarono sulle scene con un album che ricalca grossomodo, a livello di scaletta e di sound, quello che molto probabilmente fu il loro lavoro più riuscito, e quello in cui raggiunsero la piena maturità compositiva, ovvero il precedente 'Psychotic Supper'. E' impossibile tuttavia non considerare che l'anno di uscita di questo platter era appunto il 1994; e questo va unito alle tensioni sorte all'interno della band, ed al fatto che pretendere il quarto capolavoro su quattro release era forse eccessivo anche una per un gruppo come i Tesla, che eppure da sempre avevano fatto della passione, del feeling e dell'affiatamento per la loro musica il loro unico credo. Risultano purtroppo evidenti, negli oltre 60 minuti che scandiscono le 14 tracce del disco, alcuni sintomi di 'stanchezza' e di appiattimento dal punto di vista compositivo, fatto anche comprensibile e fisiologico, dato che la band veniva da 8 anni vissuti al massimo sia in studio che on stage, con una serie impressionante di serate consecutive durante i tour di quel periodo.
Tuttavia, nonostante il livello dei tre precedenti full lenght non sarà forse mai più raggiunto dalla band di Sacramento, i Tesla sono sempre i Tesla, e un opener sublime del calibro di ‘The Gate/Invited' è lì pronta a ricordarcelo; come il nome stesso del pezzo suggerisce ci troviamo di fronte a una song a due facce, in cui c'è tutto quello a cui la band ci ha sempre abituati, ovvero momenti acustici intimisti e delicati alternati a improvvise sferzate di puro hard rock. Lo stesso tema si ripete più o meno anche in ‘Shine Away', altro pezzo trascinante e ispirato, che abbraccia a tratti sonorità tendenti quasi all'heavy. Le songs da ricordare non finiscono senz'altro qui, e se in ‘She Want She Want' siamo addiritura in territori glam tanto cari a party-metal band quali Poison e Danger Danger; ‘Mama's Fool', col suo southern debitrice di gruppi quali Blackfoot e Molly Hachet tenta di ricollegarsi a 'Change In The Weather', quella che fu la meravigliosa opener di ‘Psychotic Supper', riuscendo però solo in parte a ripeterne la bellezza. Rallentano i ritmi con ‘Need Your Lovin', song per ‘hard-rockers dal cuore tenero'(cit.) a cui la band già ci aveveva abituati in passato, con intemezzi più melodici e introspettivi quali ‘The Way It is', ‘Call It What You Want', ‘What You Give' e ‘Stir It Up', che spezzavano il ritmo forsennato imposto dalla maggior parte dei loro brani. 'A Lot To Loose' è invece la vera ballata dell'album, come 'What You Give' lo era stata per il suo predecessore, ma risulta ancora più emozionante di quest'ultima, grazie al suo incedere calmo e riflessivo, e alla sua melodia struggente e sognante allo stesso tempo. Altro, ma non ultimo motivo per non dimenticare quest'album è la presenza in scaletta di un pezzo come ‘Try So Hard', ballad dalle forti tinte acustiche e dall'incedere sofferto e intriso di sudore e passione, in cui l'interpretazione sentita ed emozionante del singer Jeff Keith ne fa probabilmente il più bel lento, e forse non solo, della carriera dei Tesla, accanto all'indimenticabile ‘Love Song' dell'89.
Paradossalmente sono però i pezzi pià spinti, che in passato erano stati la loro vera marcia in più, a non convincere fino in fondo e a risultare quasi standardizzati e privi di mordente in vari tratti, a partire dall'iniziale ‘Solution' per arrivare ad ‘Action Talks', ‘Cry', ‘Earthmover' e la più riuscita ‘Rubberband'; tutte songs che non riescono a spiccare il volo e mancano proprio di quella ‘freschezza' compositiva che aveva sempre contraddistinto la band. Da questo punto di vista i tempi di ‘Don't De-Rock Me' e delle mozzafiato 'Ez Come Ez Go', 'Cumin' Athca Live', 'Makin' Magic' (ma la lista sarebbe molto più lunga) sembrano ancora più lontani cronologicamente di quanto non lo siano in realtà.
Arrivati alla fine del disco, i Tesla optano per due episodi dalle sonorità più acustiche e rilassate, con ‘Wonderful World', che pure propone a tratti intermezzi ben più spinti, ed infine ‘Games People Play', cover del cantautore americano Joe South che, con i suoi delicati accordi dalle tinte folk, impregnati di un velo di malinconia e di lieve tristezza, chiude il disco e purtroppo anche la prima parte della carriera della band.
'Bust A Nut' passò totalmente inosservato, e fu il preludio all'inevitabile scioglimento del gruppo, che infatti avvenne durante quello stesso 1994, subito dopo la fine del tour promozionale. Sette anni dopo, nel 2001, l'annunciata reunion della band trovò conferma con la pubblicazione durante lo stesso anno del live album ‘Replugged Live', che ci consegnava una band ancora in piena forma e che suonava ancora come agli esordi, come se il tempo si fosse fermato, e gli anni 80 non fossero mai finiti. Il successivo disco di inediti, rilasciato nel 2004 a nome 'Into The Now', risultò un buon prodotto con diversi episodi degni di nota, nonostante l'avvicinamento a sonorità più modern rock tagliò parzialmente i ponti con il loro grande passato. Gli anni successivi videro dapprima l'abbandono dello storico chitarrista Tommy Skeoch(sostituito da Dave Rude), ed in seguito la pubblicazione di un doppio album di cover ('Real To Reel',2007) e di un altro disco di inediti, 'Forever More', datato 2008, un lavoro senz'altro meno convincente del precedente, che è anche l'ultimo studio album fin qui distribuito dal gruppo. Gli ultimi album e, soprattutto, le ultime convincenti esibizioni dal vivo hanno dimostrato che i Tesla, anche a 25 anni dal loro straordinario debutto, sono una band che ha ancora qualcosa da dire. Io, però, tra i nuovi continuo senz'altro a preferire questo 'Bust A Nut', che non avrà la carica ed il mordente dei tempi migliori, ma dimostra senz'altro come i Tesla anche all'epoca, seppur tra mille difficoltà, avevano saputo colpire ancora una volta al cuore con la sincerità e la passione che li ha sempre accompagnati, lasciandoci un album che, dopo ogni ascolto, non può non suscitare ancora oggi un velato senso di nostalgia per i tempi che furono.
Feelin' Is Believin'
Elenco tracce testi e video
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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