Mechanical Resonance

by Tesla

Overview

Sacramento's oddly named Tesla (a moniker inspired by renegade inventor and pioneering electrical engineer Nikola Tesla) took the side door to '80s hard rock success, sneaking up on the charts and into the bedrooms of none-the-wiser glam metal consumers with their rock-solid debut, Mechanical Resonance -- itself titled after one of Nikola's better-known experiments, and a fascinating case study in musical compromise if ever there were one. Essentially, the album was partitioned into two quite different halves, with side one predominantly tailored to seduce the aforementioned music fans via radio-friendly templates and therefore packed with mostly throwaway, cliche-ridden arena anthems like "EZ Come, EZ Go," "Cumin' Atcha Live," and the gloriously dumb "Rock Me to the Top," boasting few surprises but plenty of testosterone. Yes, a few hints of Tesla's substantial songwriting intelligence can be glimpsed within the gritty strut of "Gettin' Better" and the bluesy balladry of "We're No Good Together," but most of the band's more mature and accomplished songs are saved for Mechanical Resonance's revelatory side two. Here, lead guitarist Frank Hannon really takes charge and establishes himself as the band's de facto difference maker, beginning with an epic of Led Zeppelin-like class and complexity in "Modern Day Cowboy," which was built upon a lopsided riff so irresistible that not even its finger-twisting complexity could keep it from becoming one of their most popular standards. This was followed by another pair of eventual fan favorites doubling as good examples of Tesla's creative range, since the wintry drama of the piano-laced "Changes" stood in stark contrast to the upbeat summer vibe of "Little Suzi." And finally, as though the aforementioned detours didn't proffer enough food for thought, Tesla even flirted with art rock on the odd rhythms and clever economy of "Cover Queen," before concluding with the desolate sobriety of closer "Before My Eyes." Given all these qualities and contrasts, it's no wonder that Mechanical Resonance stood out as one of the 1980s' most eclectic hard rock albums, and provided a formidable introduction to one of the era's most underrated American bands. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	Geffen
UPC:	0720642412022

Tracks

1. EZ Come EZ Go
2. Comin' Atcha Live
3. Gettin' Better
4. 2 Late 4 Love
5. Rock Me to the Top
6. We're No Good Together
7. Modern Day Cowboy
8. Changes
9. Little Suzi
10. Love Me
11. Cover Queen
12. Before My Eyes

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tesla   Primary Artist
Michael Barbiero   Vocals (Background)
Brian Wheat   Guitar (Bass),Bass (Electric),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Tommy Skeoch   Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Troy Luccketta   Drums,Cymbals
Jimmy Maelen   Percussion
Frank Hannon   Mandolin,Keyboards,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Jeff Keith   Vocals,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Barbiero   Producer
Michael Barbiero   Engineer,Producer
Brian Wheat   Composer,Engineer
Tony Hymas   Composer
Steve Thompson   Producer
Tom Skeoch   Composer
Jeffrey Keith   Composer
Tommy Skeoch   Composer
Diamond   Composer
Anthony Hymas   Composer
Troy Luccketta   Composer
Pat Olguin   Engineer
Frank Hannon   Composer
Jeff Keith   Composer
Phil Collen   Composer
Ronan McHugh   Mixing