Gold

by James Christopher Monger Tesla fans looking for something a little more fulfilling than 1995's Time's Makin Changes: The Best of Tesla or 2001's 12-track 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Tesla will find Geffen's two-disc 2008 Gold compilation to be an aptly titled career summary, especially considering the fact that it's the first anthology to include songs from 2004's Into the Now and 2005's all-covers release, Real to Reel. At 32 cuts, Gold is clearly aimed at listeners who have more than just a passing interest in the underrated California pop-metal outfit. Fans who have followed the group since its late-'80s heydays will find all of their favorites ("Modern Day Cowboy," "Little Suzi," "Heaven's Trail [No Way Out]," "Love Song," and "Signs"), along with a bevy of live tracks, covers, and deep album cuts that follow the group well into the 21st century.