This is the band’s third album, released in the dark days of ’91 (well, at least for rock bands anyway). But that didn’t stop Tesla from releasing one of their best albums and going out and doing good business on tour. I mean, eventually it did have an effect on them as after the next album (Bust A Nut), they would not release an album until 2004. This is a 2016 reissue and it still has Man Out Of Time listed on the cover but crossed out.
The opener, Change In The Weather is a killer opening track with a very raw rock n’ roll vibe. Edison’s Medicine kicks off with some guitar histrionics and leads into one of the best on the album. What a killer tune, great hook and melody. Don’t De-Rock Me is a serious up tempo monster with an epic riff, and sees the band rocking faster than they ever have; it is my favourite on the album. That middle eight!!! Call It What You Want follows, and is a classic hair rock anthem. Song & Emotion is a tribute to their friend Def Leppard’s Steve Clark, and is quite a heartfelt piece. That twin guitar attack of Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch is one of the best in the business, and on Time they are giving it their inner Aerosmith with a superb dirty groover.
Government Personnel is a good old country/folk Americana piece. Freedom Slaves starts off real slow before that massive guitar hook kicks in. Had Enough has a very simple riff in the same vein as Judas Priest, but is a great fun tune. Another country infused track is next in What You Give, and just like Poison, every band knows that a little country goes a long way.
Onto the final side now, Stir It Up starts with a psychedelic vibe and as the volume goes up that little bit of country creeps in. Can’t Stop has a killer intro that just builds the anticipation into a great rock song and hats off to the wonderful middle section. The album closes out with Toke About It; again, that Aerosmith vibe is strong with a hint of funk thrown in. Tesla don’t make bad albums and it’s good to see them still cranking out great tunes.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
