Customer Reviews

Lemon Parade

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

If you mixed equal parts Zepplin, Deep Purple, Counting Crows and Husker Du, you would end up with a pretty fair description of Tonic. This is a solid album, containing both hard rocking songs like Casual Affair, Mountain, Thick, Wicked Soldier (best song on the cd), and ballads such as Lemon Parade and My Old Man. I originally bought the album for the two singles Open Up your Eyes and If You Could Only See, but after a few times through the cd, I decided they are probably among the weaker tracks on this disk. I would have given this album five stars, but for the fact it tends to get a bit tiresome more quickly than a truly great album - possibly because Emerson Hart's vocals, while quite decent, are nonetheless rather non-distinctive. Good liner notes containing full lyrics - this seems to be a vanishing trend, unfortunately. Overall a solid album that won't generate many regrets from purchasers.

I actually wrote a review of "Sugar", Tonic's second album when it was initially released, but realized I had never shared this one...this is where it started.

At first glance, it seems like Tonic hasn't really done anything new musically, but this couldn't be further from the truth. They have taken classic guitar rock and modernized it with a great beat and sound, with just a touch of country. They've also thrown in thoughtful and honest lyrics that don't pull any punches. This is an incredible album.

There is something for everyone, really. "If You Could Only See" and "Lemon Parade" are radio-friendly and very catchy tracks. "Bigot Sunshine", "Celtic Aggression", "Wicked Soldier", and especially "Casual Affair" rock very hard. "Mr. Golden Deal" and "My Old Man" are quieter and more introspective. And "Mountain" and "Soldier's Daughter" (my personal favorite) have a little bit of everything. I don't think I'll ever get tired of listening to this CD. Buy it now. :)

While you are doing it, get "Sugar"...it is awesome too. And finally, if you have the chance to see these guys live, DO IT. They seriously rock.

This first album by Tonic caught my attention immediately on the strength of its singles, the anthemic leadoff track "Open Up Your Eyes", and the pretty mid-tempo ballad "If You Could Only See". In buying the album and listening to it in its entirety, I was not disappointed.

"Casual Affair", the second track on the album and placed right between the two biggest singles, was a minor rock radio hit and is a rocking song. The pace of the album slows down a bit with such fare as "Soldier's Daughter" and the title track, although both songs are good.

From there on out, the pace is somewhat varied although not that heavy. Tracks like "Wicked Soldier" and "Bigot Sunshine" are solid rockers, while "Mr. Golden Deal" and the nearly six-minute closer "My Old Man" are a bit slow and lacking just a bit in the hooks department.

Overall, this is a very good debut album by Tonic, and it certainly contains their biggest hits to date. Better than this, in my opinion, is the follow up album "Sugar", which lacks the big hits (although I heard a few of the songs on radio for a time) but has more memorable songs with better hooks overall. Nonetheless, this album is still recommended as a good hybrid of classic and modern rock. Hopefully, their newly-released album, which I have yet to hear, will be good as well. This band clearly deserves more credit than it has gotten thus far in its young career.

There's a very classic feel to Tonic's "Lemon Parade," with its straight-ahead rock (with a teeny bit of country and a sprinkling of other areas). The songwriting is very good, the music is a mix of good ballads and simple rock songs like "Bigot Sunshine."

"Open Up Your Eyes" starts off with a guitar-tuning buzz for twenty seconds, before launching into a catchy rock melody; the harder-edged "Casual Affair"; the insistent and softer "If You Could Only See"; the less intriguing but likable "Lemon Parade"; the more country-ish "Mountain"; "Mr. Golden Deal" is unusually lackluster and slow; "Celtic Aggression" is a haunting tribute to the roots of the band members ("So we came across the water/From the shores of the isle of green/Speaking separate tongues/In the death of culture").

Tonic has something that many bands don't have and spend years trying to make up for: Musical talent. It's all about the music. Their songwriting is steady and enticing, with that slight note of dreamlike quality that really good rock songs have. The guitar and percussion are fantastic, hard-hitting and fluid. The music isn't drowned out by electronics. And Emerson Hart's vocals are excellent.

While it's not ultra-heavy rock, it's not fluff either. "Lemon Parade" is a satisfying rock album, well-written and well-performed. Definitely worth a look.

[...] Not only is Tonic (possibly) the most underrated appreciated band in it's genre, but this album is a foundation for pure talent. Emerson Hart sings with such passion that you believe and feel what he says, while Jeff Russo (lead guitarist) is no slouch himself while at the helm of his guitar. If you see them live, you'll quickly see Jeff's much underused ability. Nonetheless, containing everything from the rocker to the reflection on a wasted relationship with a father to the infectious and NEVER to die radio hit If You Could Only See, this album has everything ever needed from a good rock band. If you want to hear the birth of something, that i hope, will last for a very long time, but Lemon Parade. THEN buy their second and third cd's. You'll only grow to appreciate them more.

This band is SO under appreciated. They should've sold a TON of CDs. ALL of their releases are excellent. Don't just listen to "If You Could Only See". Listen to all of the songs. Great albums, all of them. This one and Sugar are my favorites. Head on Straight is also good.

The song "If You Could Only See" was haunting me for months, never heard who the artist was any time I heard it on the radio. I found it by searching the lyric on amazon, and Tonic came up in the results. A soundbite gave me the confirmation I needed, and I purchased a great used copy from one of amazons marketplace sellers.The rest of the CD is pretty good, but obviously, you know what my favorite song is! For the price I paid, even if that WAS the only good cut, I still got my moneys worth!

I really enjoyed this CD. One of my students once wanted to do a solo to If You Could Only See, so I spent the money and got the album so I could choreograph to it. I was totally blown away by the talent this group shows. The songs are all top notch, and I can really listen to the whole album through. Listeners to adult contemporary radio have probably heard If You Could Only See and Lemon Parade before, as they were both played a lot, especially If You Could Only See. But there are some other great tracks on here. Wicked Soldier and Casual Affair rock harder than the radio choices, and they really show their song writing abilities on My Old Man and Soldier's Daughter, which have great meanings and lyrics. If you are looking for some fresh music that isn't sugar pop, but isn't super heavy rock either, then this is the album for you. I still listen to this one, and I bought it a long time ago. Definately give it a shot. It's totally worth it.

The most popular tracks- Open Your Eyes, Casual Affair, and If You Could Only See- were enough to take this album to the 46th best seller on Amazon, but it is the songs that we didn't hear on the radio that are the best: The Soldier's Daughter, and the best song, My Old Man, which impeccably discloses the album. My Old Man is the most touching and most emotionally clear song that will be understood so completely by young men that they themselves will feel like their own souls wrote it, and Tonic was the instrument of their souls' voice. The understatement of the lyrics matches the repressed way that young men express themselves emotionally, especially to their fathers, who understand the male code society teaches it's y chromosomes. The song is written such that it makes the listener feel that the lyrics and the music were written as one thought: they match perfectly. Recommended to all listeners, especially young men.

This album truly touches your soul if you have one. It is great album that is in touch with the real world, real emotions, and culture. The people that don't like this album can't identify with with those that have had to dance alone (Soldier's Daughter), werent' best lookin, hid behind their books and forced to find secret friends (Lemon Parade), loved and been with the ideal perfect girl that they just couldn't end up with because the girl found somebody else (Mr. Golden Deal), appreciate and respect culture and history (Celtic Aggression), and were let down by your father (My Old Man). If you are like I am, this album will speak to you. Not to mention the music is great. This is far from the typical crap in the alternative rock area that is being put out today. I wish there were more bands like Tonic out there.