Tonic Album: “Head on Straight”

usually you buy a cd for one song and find that it is the only song you like on the cd. THAT is NOT this cd. i am new to "tonic" but this is one GREAT cd and while i do not love every song ,10 OUT OF 12 is not bad.if you're a fan of Train ,Matchbox 20 ,The Calling ,Lifehouse ,YOU WILL enjoy this cd.

Considering the lofty place that Tonic's two previous albums ("Lemon Parade" and "Sugar") hold in my music collection, it is safe to say that I was very excited about their newest release, "Head on Straight". So excited, in fact, that I made a trip at lunch to pick it up on the first day it became available.

As the intro to "Roses" gradually pounded its way into my car stereo, I found myself smiling uncontrollably. My boys are back. In my excitement, I also unfortunately found myself exceeding the speed limit considerably. Tonic is definitely (still!) best described as "driving" rock. The things that I enjoyed about their earlier music are still present: the perfect blend of pop, hard rock, and folk influences with intelligent, emotion-rich lyrics. The harmonies of lead Emerson Hart, guitarist Jeff Russo, and bass player Dan Lavery are still there. In fact, Hart shows a bit more vocal range that on the previous two albums.

Some songs that jumped out at me after a few trips through the CD -- "Roses", the opener, is awesome, reminding me a bit of "Casual Affair" (from the band's first album) in its power. "Take Me As I Am" is harder as well, catchy, rich, and is probably my favorite at this point. It is also the most "radio-friendly" track since "If You Could Only See" and I'll be surprised if it doesn't get considerable airplay. The title track is beautiful. "Liar" is angry, both lyrically and musically. Speaking of angry, "Irish" is an old...well, Irish tune about how the people of that country were, at one point in the past, forced to fight as mercenaries for England. This song will probably be familiar to those who have seen Tonic perform live, as they've played it at concerts for quite some time. As much as I like the song, I'm a little undecided as to whether it should have been included here. It worked so well as a crowd-pleaser...but I feel like a lot of the song's charm came from the improvisation and spontaneity of that atmosphere. Finally, I liked the closer, "Let Me Go", a lot...it has an introspective feel similar to "My Old Man" from "Lemon Parade". Well done on that one.

In a nutshell, this album is a worthy successor to "Lemon Parade" and "Sugar". I suspect it will hook quite a few new fans, and will also satisfy those who, like me, have been fans for awhile and have been eagerly awaiting more.

So why, you are probably wondering, only four stars? Why not five? While I feel that the songs themselves are all well-written, performed, and recorded, there isn't quite as much variety among the songs as there was on, say, "Lemon Parade", which took you from anger to longing to love to regret to resentment and back again. I also feel that, with this being their third album, the band could have tried to stretch themselves a bit more, musically speaking. They certainly have the talent to do so.

As a whole, however, I enjoyed this album a lot and hopefully will (as with the previous two albums) continue to enjoy and appreciate it more each time I listen.

Finally, I mentioned this in the review I wrote for one of the earlier albums, but I'll say it again: if you get the chance to see these guys live, DO IT. They put on a great show and are very fan-friendly (always willing to hang around afterwards for pictures, autographs, or just to talk with the fans).

I think this is a very good CD.Tonic sounds as good as they've ever sounded on "Head On Straight", although it's only moderately different from their other albums.Some songs like Roses, Liar and Irish(bag pipe guitars?) are rockers, and most of the other songs are typical melodic relationship power pop that Tonic puts out(Ring Around Her Finger is my Favorite of those), Come Rest Your Head & Let Me Go sound a little different to me than what Tonic has done in the past.

It's all excellent stuff from talented musicians. Head on straight and head and shoulders above most of the mediocrity and junk that rotates on the radio.

If you like Tonic you probably can't go wrong with this CD and if you aren't familiar, but like melodic pop/alternative rock , check it out.

Dishwalla's "Angels Or Devils" and Tonic's "Head On Straight" are truly 2 of the best adult pop/alternative rock CDs that I've bought in the past year or more.

I will admit I am fairly new to Tonic, but they have quickly become one of my favorite bands. I heard an awsome track (from this album) on the radio, and since at that time I did not know what album it was from, I bought 'Sugar'. I was hooked immediatly. 'Head on Straight' is even better, with beautiful, soring anthematic songs that totally rock. Lead singer Hart's vocal cords are simply sent by heaven. I am a bit suprised that Tonic has not risen to super stardom, and maybe someday they will. 'Head on Straight' is the best album I have heard all year.

Remember sitting around back in 1995 and listening to the radio and hearing "If You Could Only See?" by Tonic? Remember getting Lemon Parade and hearing the same type of song all over the album? Remember when "You Wanted More" was in American Pie and then on Sugar and they did it again with an album of the same type of music?

Tonic has done it again with "Take Me As I Am" and Head On Straight. If you've liked Tonic since day one, then you'll love the new album. If you don't like their melodic guitar heavy crunch and the original "Lifehouse-styled" band, then don't read any more.

Tonic is one of the bands that has escaped from the forefront of the music world and appears every once in a while with a new album. Disappearing after Lemon Parade, it took them another few years to get out Sugar. And now, after another disappearing act, Head on Straight is the Tonic of the prior two albums.

Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo's lush guitars and harmonies meld with Dan Lavery's strong bass playing, and their studio drummer's rhythm all over. There's nothing spectacular to the rhythms like their old drummer, Jeremy Voght gave them, and the bass lines are nothing spectacular. But that isn't what Tonic is known for. The layering of acoustic and electric guitars has always been the strong point to the key-Tonic sound. Not only is that pulled off here, but to the "remember the song on ____" extreme. For example: "Head On Straight" is a nice strong ballad, along the likes of "Waiting for the Light to Change" (from Sugar); "Irish" invokes memories of "Celtic Aggression" (from Lemon Parade); and "Take Me As I Am" is like every poppy song that Tonic has written, especially invoking "You Wanted More."

All in all, Tonic has copied what they do best and released it as a new album... If you're a fan, get it; if you've only listened to the radio Tonic stuff, listen to the radio or buy the single.