Great Radio Controversy

Great Radio Controversy

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Their blues-influenced, grittier edge set Tesla apart from the bands that littered the hard rock landscape from the late '80s to the early '90s. The Great Radio Controversy is arguably their best album, with enough hooks to catch the listener, and good, solid songwriting. Songs like "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)," "Flight to Nowhere," and "Party's Over" show that Tesla is at their best when tackling anthems; by avoiding the overblown riffs and musical posturing of their peers, they keep these songs from sounding pretentious. Likewise, "Love Song" lives up to its title, a straightforward ballad that doesn't drip with treacle the way most hard rock power ballads do. A solid effort all around, if somewhat dated. --Genevieve Williams

Tracks:

Hang Tough
Lady Luck
Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)
Be A Man
Lazy Days, Crazy Nights
Did It For The Money
Yesterdaze Gone
Makin' Magic
The Way It Is
Flight To Nowhere
Love Song
Paradise
Party's Over

Amazon.com

Their blues-influenced, grittier edge set Tesla apart from the bands that littered the hard rock landscape from the late '80s to the early '90s. The Great Radio Controversy is arguably their best album, with enough hooks to catch the listener, and good, solid songwriting. Songs like "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)," "Flight to Nowhere," and "Party's Over" show that Tesla is at their best when tackling anthems; by avoiding the overblown riffs and musical posturing of their peers, they keep these songs from sounding pretentious. Likewise, "Love Song" lives up to its title, a straightforward ballad that doesn't drip with treacle the way most hard rock power ballads do. A solid effort all around, if somewhat dated. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

No sophomore slump here! .......2007-03-01

Five stars because it has stood the test of time; I still listen to it, and it was a near perfect follow up to Tesla's first release.
The production is way different from the Mechanical CD. Same engineers,just more $$$ to spend I'm sure,but it's more than that.
The rythym guitars are much more fuller sounding, the mix just a bit more sonically filled out.
This CD is one of the few from that "era" that still sits in my CD rack.
Buy It!

Great Album- Nothing More To It.......2006-08-31

I just bought this album a few days ago at Coconuts [it was the last one] and I have to tell you at first I didnt know if it could match the power of Mechanical Resonance but I think it is just as good or better. I'm overly pleased with it. After hearing how good this album is, it makes me want to get all their albums and by all the great reviews about Tesla I think I might. This record is great and and every song on here is worth a listen. If you want to here great rock instead of all the crap on the radio now, I highly recommend you getting this album the next time you leave the house!

A classic... say no more........2006-02-02

Still holds up almost 20 years later. This was one of the first CD's I bought back in 1989. Funny thing too, I was a fat lil kid, and I used this CD as my "workout" music. And I lost 60lbs in 6 months. No joke. But the music still holds up. They didn't need gimmicks like most of the bands back around then.

The Greatest - No Controversy!!.......2006-01-07

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!

I remember at the time of it's release there seemed to be some thought that this album wasn't as strong as "Mechanical Resonance". Looking back at these first two albums now, whilst the songs on the debut were more immeadiate, it's "The Great Radio Controversy" which has really stood the test of time.

Standout tracks? "Hang Tough" is brooding, moody and powerful (still love the piano breakdown piece as well); "Heaven's Trail" was a mini anthem for me as a twenty something wannabe rock star; "The Way It Is" is a perfectly weighted upbeat ballad and need anymore be said about "Love Song"; the rest of the heavy rock fraternity should have just given up on power ballads after that.

I've often thought that it's a shame that Tesla get thrown in with the other 80's hair bands. They were always more than just part of the hair metal scene and with the possible exception of Cinderella, are the only band of that genre whose material has really stood the test of time.

Just do yourself a favour and buy this album!!!

Still holding up.......2005-09-09

Ohhhhhh man, I heard some new Tesla stuff a while ago. So I've really been getting into Tesla as of late. Just bought "The Great Radio Controversy" since it looks like their best. Oh man, so happy I did. AMAZING CD. Even now, it still holds up with some of the newer cd's. I'm 15, and LOVE this cd, non-sexually, but man it is great. It's almost impossible to find a CD that beats this one out, it's just that great. I'll do a track by track breakdown.

Hang Tough: One of the best Tesla songs EVER, imo. I love this. Everytime I hear the opening riff, I know what's coming next. Jeff Keith's raspy voice "Took a shot to the chin, looks like you just can't win, in this do or die situation..." Such an amazing track, worth half the price of the CD.

Lady Luck: Oh man, we all know how luck works. But how many of us sing about it? I constantly find myself singing to this song, despite not singing much. Jeff Keith can do that to you... just an amazing track. Not as good as other tracks, but it's up there.

Heavens Trail (No Way Out): Everyone talks about how great this song is and how it's the best. I wasn't impressed after listening the first time. Or the second. Or the third. Fourth time I noticed something... not sure what... but something. Fifth time I had to listen again. It really is that amazing. From the guitars, to the vocals... the chorus makes this song.

Be A Man: I'll be honest, I haven't listened to this much, just because I'm 99% sure I'll be biased against it. I don't think Jeff Keith can match up to Randy Savage. I'll always be partial to Randy's song "Be A Man."

Lazy Days, Crazy Nights: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh man. Great party song. This song always gets me in the mood to go out and hit the clubs. Sure I can't get into the clubs. But still, this song gets the place rocking. If you don't feel amped up after this song, I'll personally pay you $100.

Did It For The Money: I honestly don't get why people don't like this. This song is one of those songs that will get in your head, and just will not leave you alone. It's just in there. "MONEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Although considering this is one of my favorite tracks on the CD, I don't mind hearing it over and over. I'm sure you won't either.

Yesterdaze Gone: Honestly, this track doesn't stand out much to me. I've only had the CD for 2 days, so I'm sure that'll change soon. But for now, this is just an amazing song, that really doesn't have anything "Special." It's still better then anything out now though, so it's still a nice listen. But it's hard to know when it comes on.

Making Magic: Same deal as Yesterdaze Gone.

The Way It Is: Oh man. This song just ended. Such an AMAZING song! Jeff Keith lays down the law in this, and you listen. The lyrics are just, the kind of stuff you want to say. This chorus really just hooks you. Getting to the chorus, it sounds like another generic Tesla song, but the chorus sets it apart.

Flight To Nowhere: Another great song. Really not much to say about it, but it's amazing. Every Tesla song is amazing. It's just about standing out. This song will amp you up though, not like "Lazy Days, Crazy Nights" but it'll still get the blood flowing. Like all good music should.

Love Song: Tesla's biggest hit. No where near as good as "Did It For The Money" Or "Lady Luck" or "Hang Tough" or even their early stuff in "Modern Day Cowboy" but it's Tesla. Can't be bad. It starts out somewhat soft. Not Barry White like, but a very noticable change of pace. A very much needed change of pace. The end really picks up though, and that's where the song gets it.

Paradise: PARADISE! When listening to this song, you'll feel like you're in paradise. Amazing vocals, lyrics, and guitars. Like normal. It's expected from Tesla.

Party's Over: A great ending track. I love this song. It's just put together so well. No flaws in it. No complaints. Jeff Keith and crew really pull out the stops to make this an awesome cd ender, to get you to buy their next cd.

Overall, this cd is around $10. How can you pass up? One of the best CD's of all time. If "Modern Day Cowboy" was on this CD, I swear this would be the BEST CD EVER. There's no question about it. But it's not, so this is just an amazing cd. You don't find stuff like this anymore. Certainly something any rock fan needs. The alternative for the main stream crap they call rock, like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and that other junk. If you buy this, and don't like it, I don't know what's wrong with you. You might need your head checked.