A metà degli anni '80, gli Stati Uniti partorirono una delle loro innumerevoli realtà hard rock/heavy metal destinate con il tempo a essere dimenticate e in parte anche sottovalutate. Oltre ai Tesla mi vengono in mente anche i Savatage di Jon e Criss Oliva, capaci di affermarsi pienamente soltanto nella mente di pochi aficionados. I Tesla sono uno di quei gruppi non propriamente fortunati, che per diverse e molteplici cause hanno sempre dovuto combattere per raggiungere gli obiettivi prefissati. Eppure fin dalla loro formazione nel 1984, la band ha avuto la fortuna di mantenere inalterata la line up per ben 20 anni, avvenimento raro in ambito musicale.
Il loro è un hard rock sostenuto e cadenzato, espresso attraverso la voce quasi "grunge" di Jeff Keith e le chitarre di Tommy Skeoch e Frank Hannon. Una musica mai troppo pomposa, sempre delineata sui binari di un hard rock personale ma allo stesso tempo legato al passato e alla NWOBHM. Così dopo un periodo di smarrimento durato ben 10 anni, la band di Sacramento è tornata in studio nel 2004 con "Into the now", successore di "Bust a nut" (del 1994). L'opener, nonchè titletrack ci mostra una band che nonostante un lungo periodo di stop riesce a portare in musica tutta la rabbia e la frustrazione degli ultimi anni, dando vita ad una canzone dal ritmo possente e dalle linee vocali secche e precise. Tutto è al suo posto, così come nelle canzoni successive: nessuna traccia risulta inutile ma tutte hanno una loro anima, chi più prettamente rock, chi più melodica come nel caso delle ballate "Words can't explain", "Caught in a dream" e nella conclusiva "Only you".
Rispetto al passato però sembra che la band abbia perso in inventiva: i pezzi, pur godibili nella loro conformazione, sono abbastanza standardizzati e simili tra loro nella forma. Nonostante ciò, Keith e soci riescono comunque a tenere alta la loro bandiera e con pezzi come "Miles away", "Got no glory" e "Come to me" ribadiscono il loro modo vario, semplice e melodico di fare hard rock. E' forse proprio per quest'attitudine da "anti star" che i Tesla non hanno raggiunto i grandi successi che avrebbero meritato: d'altro canto sono però osannati dalla ristretta schiera di fans che li segue abitualmente.
"Into the now" è un piccolo gioiello per i fans, un altro lavoro meritevole dei Tesla, una delle tante realtà del sottobosco musicale mondiale fin troppo sottovalutata.
1. "Into The Now" (4:23)
2. "Look @ Me" (4:16)
3. "What A Shame" (4:29)
4. "Heaven Nine Eleven" (4:38)
5. "Words Can't Explain" (3:14)
6. "Caught In A Dream" (4:50)
7. "Miles Away" (6:55)
8. "Mighty Mouse" (4:15)
9. "Got No Glory" (4:20)
10. "Come To Me" (4:43)
11. "Recognize" (5:01)
12. "Only You" (4:34)
Elenco tracce e testi
02 Look @ Me (04:16)
Verse 1
Well i'd never break your heart, now tell me would you break mine
Re-wind and clean the slate, wipe away the hard times
Well i never did forsake you, and i never would
I got away from the common ground, just because i could
There was a shadow, following me around
Somehow i lost my way, that was then, take a look at me now
Chorus
For everything in life, there is a reason
Sometimes the reason i do, make it not so good
Verse 2
Seems like all that time away took me one step closer to my suicide
Spun around like i jus got played, all caught with the users and the crucified
A shining example of what you never wana be
The fame of teachers drowning in a wishing well
With no apology
Me and my shadow, no-body else around, somehow i lost my way, that was then take a look at me now
Chorus
Short Verse
Feels like the time is right for getting back to even
You are the reason i do, aint that enough for you!
Chorus
Short Verse
Feels like the time is right for getting back to even
You are the reason i do, aint that enough for you
Aint that enough for you
You are the reason i do
Aint that enough for you
ahhhh, take a look at me now
03 What a Shame (04:29)
Did you think it wouldn't show, you're here with me, but I'm so alone
And now this house don't feel like home, I can't believe how much we've grown
So far apart, so far away, you just can't hide something as plain as day
I think it's safe to say, that's it's just no good
And I don't need you in my life, the way you cut me like a knife
You burned me once, but now that it's done, you'll never burn me twice
Now that it's all been said and done, do you like what you've become
Now that it's all but over, you haven't changed, and what a shame
I know you think you're always right, and just because, you've got God in your life
But he don't appreciate the way you lied, he can't believe how hard you tried
To take me down, to take it all, hanging around, and making sure I fall
Then say it was me to blame, and I was, for trusting someone like you anyways
And I don't need you in my life, the way you cut me like a knife
You burned me once, but now that it's done, you'll never burn me twice
Now that it's all been said and done, do you like what you've become
Now that it's all but over, you haven't changed, and what a shame
Now that it's all been said and done, do you like what you've become
Now that it's all but over, you haven't changed, and what a shame
And I don't need you in my life, the way you cut me like a knife
You burned me once, but now that it's done, you'll never burn me twice
Now that it's all been said and done, do you like what you've become
Now that it's all but over, you haven't changed, and what a shame
Now that it's all been said and done, do you like what you've become
Now that it's all but over, you haven't changed, and what a shame
05 Words Can't Explain (03:14)
Once upon a day
Love walked away
Soon after I would learn
Only never to return
Feeling life was through
Like it was to you
Save me before I drown
Put me up on dryer ground
And I meant what I said
When I told you
I'd never love like this again
I wanna hold you in my arms
Wrap my legs around your pretty self
If only words could explain
I'd surely tell ya now
How I feel about everything
I'd never let you down
And you better believe
You can count on me
I couldn't ask for better friends
I'd never love like this again (oh no)
This love is real
So much I feel it
So deep inside
As though our hearts are synchronized
Since you became the color of my life
I'll never make it in black and white
Or pales or shades of gray
You come around then go away
And I meant every word I said
When I told you
I'd never love like this again
I wanna show you
You're in my heart
You're in my soul
You're all I wanna know
If only words could explain
I'd surely tell ya now
How I feel about everything
I'd never let you down
And you better believe
That you can count on me
What does that really mean?
I'd never know for sure
I don't know what to believe
I only know what I'm feeling
I'm going to a place
I've never been before
I just cant help myself
Can't help what I'm feeling
If only words could explain
If only words could explain
If only words could explain
If only words could explain
Baby how I feel
06 Caught in a Dream (04:50)
If you can imagine this
The whole world sharin' one big kiss
These are thoughts all through my brain
That I daydream every day
I'm alive and well
Right now I'm alive, I'm feelin' well
It's my life to live my way
So I'll keep daydreaming away
Who knows, maybe someday it will all come true
And I will get my way
And we will live as one
I'm caught up in a dream
I'm gonna wish for it all
No one is gonna tell me how
No way, this is my dream now
I'm caught up in what seems
Simply impossible
I ain't gonna change a thing
No way, it's my dream
what cannot will be done
for every living thing under the sun
foggy color foggy race
just be one big happy face
among the sea of people
live among God's creatures sharing love
that was sent down from above
here to share with one another
father, brother, sister, mother
everybody sharing love
sharing love
I'm caught up in a dream
I'm gonna wish for it all
No one is gonna tell me how
No way, this is my dream now
I'm caught up in what seems
Simply impossible
I ain't gonna change a thing
No way, it's my dream
I close my eyes
And everything will be alright
Here in my fantasy
Living in harmony
Make my dream come alive
I'm caught up in a dream
I'm gonna wish for it all
No one is gonna tell me how
No way, this is my dream now
I'm caught up in what seems
Simply impossible
I ain't gonna change a thing
No way, it's my dream
If you can imagine this
The whole world sharin' one big kiss
Take away the pain and hurt
Make like heaven here on earth
Without reason to die
Givin' everlasting life to all
08 Mighty Mouse (04:14)
Mr. Trouble never hangs around,
when he hears this Mighty sound,
Here I come to save the day!
That means that Mighty Mouse is on the way!
Yes sir, when there is a wrong to right,
Mighty Mouse will join the fight!
On the sea or on the land,
He's got the situation well in hand!
11 Recognize (05:00)
Wonderful lady
Such a beautiful baby
Gonna teach him what's wrong and what's right
Gonna show him direction
With love and affection
Gonna make his connection in life
But now things didn't go the way she thought they would
He think's God is the devil and evil is good
He probably wouldn't change it even if he could at all
*CHORUS*
All you know is what you feel
You got to read between the lines
What is not and what is real
You got to learn how to recognize
What you're holdin' in your hands
What you see before your eyes
If you're gonna understand
You got to learn how to recognize
Heart is in danger
Well, love is a stranger
When the fear turns the anger to rage
It's not makin' any sense
'Cause you don't know the difference
Wouldn't know it if it slapped you in the face
Now it's all mixed up
It's all a big mistake
He don't know the difference between love and hate
He probably wouldn't change it even if he could at all
*REPEAT CHORUS*
Why should I understand
When I could not comprehend what you say
Just shove it in my face
But if I cannot be made
I'm gonna understand
But now things didn't go the way she thought they would
He think's God is the devil and evil is good
He probably wouldn't change it even if he could at all
*REPEAT CHORUS 2X*
Recognize
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