REAL TO REEL 2
The second installment in TESLA's Real to Reel collection features the venerable quintet covering classic songs by the likes of Alice Cooper ("Is It My Body?"), Bachman-Turner Overdrive ("Not Fragile"), and ZZ Top ("Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers"), to the same satisfying results heard on the first R2R.

While some of the tracks (Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Saturday Night Special," Black Sabbath's "War Pigs") may feel unnecessary, TESLA triumphs with attitude, accuracy, and an enthusiasm for an unpretentious and bygone era of rock & roll. The most successful stabs come in the form of Monstrose's "Make It Last," Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes," and Bad Company's "Shooting Star," each having hints of faithfulness to the original while bearing TESLA's unique sonic stamp. (Witness Peter Frampton's "Do You Feel like We Do?," which bears a Santana-esque vibe.) In the end, Real to Reel 2 and its predecessor stand as great primers for no frills rock & roll.

             --Jedd Beaudoin  

REAL TO REEL 2 Released: March 9, 2004 Produced & Mixed by: TESLA and Michael Rosen Engineered by: Michael Rosen Mixed at: J Street Recorders Recorded at: Frank Hannon Productions Studio Mastered by: George Marino at Sterling Sound Label: Santuary Records JEFF KEITH – Lead Vocals FRANK HANNON – Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards and Background Vocals BRIAN WHEAT – Bass Guitar and Background Vocals DAVE RUDE – Electric Guitars TROY LUCCKETTA – Drums and Percussion