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Tesla
Real To Reel
Tesla Electric Company Recordings/Ryko
A widely known fact about Hunter S. Thompson is that he used to type the work of Hemmingway or Fitzgerald word for word, just to see how it felt to write their sentences. Tesla’s new covers collection Real To Reel seems to be engaging in the same kind of exercise—the hard rock quintet step into the shoes of their rock and roll forebears and lovingly tip their hat to them in the process. Singer Jeff Keith has never sounded better and whether it’s a take on Led Zeppelin’s “Thank You,” Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” or The Beatles’ “I’ve Got A Feeling,” his voice is as soulful and stirring as ever. Recorded live in the studio without the aid of Pro Tools or other studio trickery, Real To Reel demonstrates that Tesla is one of the few bands that can thrive in an organic setting. Elsewhere, their eight-minute take on UFO’s “Rock Bottom” is positively rousing; the Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women” turns into a slow, sexy burn, and The Temptations’ “Ball of Confusion” comes with a delicious grind. A terrific aural love letter to the past.
—Alex Green
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