Customer Reviews

Tonic

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The album begins with "Release Me," and the effect on your ears and heart will be immediate. Everything that you ever loved about Tonic, bolstered by years of confidence and experience. After seeing them live two times on their 2004 Acoustic Tour, one of the things that always bummed me out about the studio albums was that the harmonies didn't come through as well on the records as they did at the shows. That's not a problem here -- I can hear Jeff and Dan's voices soaring behind Emerson's, and I LOVE that. This album also has a much better balance of -- and variety between -- acoustic and electric guitars than I heard on the previous Head on Straight album. "Daffodil" is my favorite, with a wonderful focus on the voices and guitars. "Nothing Is Everything" is as beautiful a ballad as these guys have ever done, and that's no easy feat to accomplish given a back catalog that includes legendary keepers like "Count on Me (Somebody)." The piano takes it to a whole other level. The only thing that makes this album difficult to sing along with is the massive smile that's been on my face since I started listening to it. For my money, it's their best record yet.

I've been waiting for Tonic to do another album for a while now, and figured that they'd sadly gone the way of other great, underrated bands like JellyFish. So glad that's not the case.

This is a great album and has everything that most Tonic fans have come to appreciate. There are great melodies and lyrics here, though the album at times feels a bit more stripped down to me than their previous albums.

It feels a bit more "intimate" than their other records (which are classic albums!). My favorite track has to be "Daffodil". Great feel to it. The acoustic version is better than the electric version. In fact either version of "Daffodil" would make a great single either on a Country station or an AOR station (are there AOR stations anymore??). Great chorus hook in that song. Unfortunately, with the state of the record companies and lame taste of most of the record-buying public, this album will most likely vanish into obscurity and the band will be forced to do something else to survive. Hopefully that won't happen for some time yet.

Does the beginning of "Feel It Now" remind of anyone else of "Polythene Pam" from The Beatles "Abbey Road" album? Not the melody, just the feel and instrumentation. Might just be me, but it's a great feel. There are actually a few "Beatley" moments on this album. I know I heard several Ringo drum fills, but that's beside the point.

There's something about Tonic's lyrical delivery that knocks me out every time. Something about the way the lyrics fit into their music forces you to listen to the lyrics like a lot of other band's recordings do not. It's not just "verse- bridge- hook-chorus". It's actually - "wow, listen to what he's saying" and some of them actually can choke you up from time to time ("Waltz with Me" and "Soldier's Daughter" definitely do this to me from time to time).

Somebody else mentioned the sonic quality of the album and how things are pretty compressed. Unfortunately, that's the lay of the land these days. I don't think Tonic deserves the blame for it. Again to cite The Beatles- have a listen to their remasters- they took all the air out of the songs.

Thanks Tonic for not going solo on us and doing a great album!

Although I've read some bad reviews, I listen with my ears wide open. I enjoyed it. No it's not like their previous cds, but still....it's got the Tonic flavor. A little more mellow....but I enjoy that side of the guys. Being in my fifties...I hear alot in their music & THAT is what I've always enjoyed the most. It's new & refreshing.....with just that hint of influence that I know & understand. Comforting to me in my "old age" LOL

I have liked Tonic since they released their debut in the late 90's. So glad they are back together, this album is as good as the previous three.

After three incredible albums and 100 years worth of incredible hooks and catchy tunes Tonic falls flat with their new album. The album starts off great with the opener `Release Me' which for me brought back memories of great openers `Roses' and `Future Says Run' from previous Tonic albums. However, after this song the album falls short of any great music that made you smile, rock out and sing along. In fact I would say this album is more of a progression from Emerson's good solo album "Cigarettes and Gasoline", a softer Tonic I'd say. A more mellow sound was great for Emerson's album but that's not what I expect from Tonic. Where are the great guitar riffs, the addictive hooks and the soaring choruses? That's what made Tonic great! Their soft sensibility with a rock edge. There is absolutely none of that on this album minus the opener.

I understand why die-hard Tonic fans come on here and give the album five stars after listening to it one time, but I'll be honest and impartial here. There's only one track on this whole album that holds a candle to any previous Tonic albums. If I were to personally make a Tonic great song playlist I'd maybe, maybe include one song from this album when taking their whole back catalog into consideration. Go back and listen to previous albums and tell me I'm wrong. There is nothing on this album but forced song writing and after an eight year hiatus that sucks for their great fans. I hope they stay together this time and I hope they remember to go back to their roots and do what they as a band do best, that's write great lyrical music backed by wonderful soaring choruses and hook hungry guitars. It hurts me to have to give a negative review here because I was so excited for their new album as I loved their previous work. But I'll pass on this album and I'll look forward to the guys spending quality time in the studio writing and producing their next album.

I am really enjoying this album, the latest from Tonic. I have read some of the other reviews saying that it doesn't sound like the old Tonic, but I disagree... it still has their sound, but of course it won't be exactly like the past albums. Good musicians grow and mature, and their sound will evolve while still maintaining some of its own unique style, and I think this album does just that.

There is a nice blend of softer tunes intermingled with harder ones, which I like. I can still hear that great combination of Jeff's "edgier" electric guitar with Emerson's "jangly" guitar, as another reviewer referred to it... that sound comes through in most of the tracks on this CD, and it produces a really good sound that leaves you feeling refreshed and energized.

Lyrically, the album is beautiful. The words are certainly coming from the depths of the heart and soul. The depth of some of the lyrics can really make you pause and say "wow" at the emotion behind them. Just a few examples:
"I'm the reason why the color of your eyes has gone."
"If you can't find a love that you can want enough, baby it will haunt you, and everything you can't do."
"She goes down, wrapped up in the armies of a love she's found."
"If I showed you all my castles, would you teach me not to burn them. If I opened up my heartstrings, would you show me how to heal them. I want it to be something bigger than me."
"It's hard enough not to grieve what you can't be, It's a deep that will take you to a hurt that grows."
If that isn't emotional depth, then I don't know what is! I also love that while the meaning behind many of the lyrics seems sad (in my opinion), much of the music behind those very lyrics has an upbeat feel to it, leaving the listener with a feeling of optimism and that life goes on despite sadness. Some of the tunes are soft and a bit sad-sounding, but again, there is a nice balance found here. And while I enjoy some darker-sounding songs, I really find it refreshing to hear some on this album that make me smile at the upbeat tunes, even if the lyrics have a stunning depth to them that is unexpected. I love when people can be positive about something even if it wasn't a happy experience, and that is how many of the songs feel to me. When I first heard the line "My life is torn to pieces" and realized what the words were saying, I thought, "Wow, he sounds so upbeat about it!" One can listen to this album once through while concentrating on the tunes alone, and then re-listen while focusing on only the lyrics, and it is a different experience (yet equally good!) each time, and that blows me away! How do they do that???

My personal favorite is "I Want it to Be" - love the contrast between the soft verses with the powerful chorus, and those bells in the chorus... wow. They really make the song, I think. Beautiful!!! I also love "Daffodil" and "Release Me" for their upbeat sound. "Nothing is Everything" is beautiful and soft (love the piano), and "Precious Little Bird" and "Torn to Pieces" have great beats and refrains that make you want to sing along. Another reviewer said that Emerson "butchered" the chorus of Precious Little Bird, with which I disagree strongly. I am not sure what was meant by that (how can a band butcher its own song in its original form?), but I love the chorus of that one - it has a "fun" sound to it, and it stands out in its uniqueness. I am pretty sure Tonic was happy with it if they included it on the album. ;)

For those who have only given this album one or two listens and don't like it, I say give it another chance. On my first listen, nothing in particular stood out for me, but it all started to hit me on about the third listen. And now I have been taking this album back and forth with me from the car to the kitchen CD player to the stereo... I'm loving it!

Thanks, Tonic, for putting this one together!

I am really glad that Tonic decided to reunite and give us another solid album. I have been waiting for this for quite some time now and it did not disappoint, after hearing the album, one would never know that this band took on a hiatus for almost 7 years.. Tonic got back from where they left things off with their Grammy nominated album Head On Straight and proved that they can still craft gems such as Release Me, Daffodil, I Want It To Be and Nothing is Everything. This album is well worth the money. Highly recommended!

I had hoped we'd get a new Tonic album one day - and finally, it's here.

If you are reading this, chances are you already know what you need to do. Buy it. Another stellar effort, and the only issue any Tonic album has, is that they ALWAYS leave you wanting more - you cannot listen Tonic without feeling something...they always take you on a ride that you want to get right back on, and that's why their music remains timeless.....

Enjoy - I know you will...

Frankly, I downloaded this album because I was bored. I wanted to try something new. Tonic hasn't had a hit in over ten years ("If You Could Only See"), but are prolific and determined. This self-titled CD is the first I have ever owned by Tonic. The first song to get stuck in my head was "Daffodil." Lilting guitars, uplifting melody, thundering bass-line, and catchy, if pop-y, lyrics. Reminded me of Pat McGee Band or Jackson Browne. Next, I got "Release Me" stuck in my head. I wasn't surprised to hear it on the radio as their single, but I have been surprised (Gladly so) that it's getting great airplay. Most of the bands I like are SO indie that they never get airtime!

About a month after I bought the CD, the band had a concert near my hometown. I was able to catch them live. Great show. Emerson Hart, the lead singer/songwriter, is excellent, musically, but not an "exciting" performer to watch. That could explain why the band hasn't had much commercial success. Some songs played live from the CD which really rocked were: Precious Little Bird, Send a Message, Torn to Pieces and She Goes Down. And worth mentioning, two ballads, not played live, but beautiful from this CD, are Nothing is Everything and Resolve. Hart's songwriting is exquisite. Rich tapestries of feelings expressed through his guitars. Finger pickin', rhythem guitar romps, rockin' riffs, or thundering whirlwind. Each song stands alone, but together, they've made my favorite CD of 2010. So much so, that I've picked up Sugar and Lemon Parade, two older CD's. Enjoy.

Tonic are compared to many bands, but remain unique in their crafting of perfect alternative rock songs. Emerson Hart and Co are my favourite band and this album is a welcome addition to my music collection. Whilst not quite as instantly memorable as their earlier efforts the album still holds some great tracks, most notably Daffodil, and the uptempo precious little bird.