[.ca] Lemon Parade

From Amazon.com:
For the intro to "Open Up Your Eyes," Tonic's lead guitarist, Jeff Russo, pulls off a wicked little flirtation with the riff from "Badge," and when his guitar gently weeps on "If You Could Only See," Tonic sound enough like Cream-era Clapton to take you back 20 years. The point is, Tonic know how to rock. Russo and singer-rhythm guitarist Emerson Hart make a profoundly talented songwriting team whose material could be put up against anything from R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People. Highlighted by the massively seductive "Casual Affair" and the thunderous epic ballad "Mountain," the songs on Lemon Parade will make you nostalgic for music that doesn't sound like it came from a can. --Gail Worley

its no sugar!:
after hearing "waiting for the light to change" at my mates house i automatically fell in love with tonic and went straight out and bought the "sugar" album! i have to say its one of the best albums ive got this year!,, since then ive been online to get the rest of tonic's fantastic album. unfortunatly when "lemon parade" arrived this morning after days of anticipation waiting for it .. i was rather dissapointed.since this was their first album its bound to be a little slow, as all groups have slow starts! but tonic are like fine wine! they just keep getting better and sweeter with age! any music fans out there wanting to get into tonic i recomend buying SUGAR! it is by far thier best album. (since writing this article i have to admit that lemon parade has grown on me! go get it!)

absolutely wonderful.:
this is the beginning of it all. tonic is an amazing band with emerson hart on lead vocals his voice is just amazing. they blend all different kind of rock into their songs. few people know this but emerson sings the theme song to american dreams! they are so talented! i wish i could give it 10 stars!

You people are crazy:
\o...\c 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.

Some good things don't need change:
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.

Much better than I thought it would be.....:
This is really a quality CD with a bevy of great songs that come out of nowhere and really grow on you. Most people will be familiar with Open Up Your Eyes and If You Could Only See, the two big radio hits from this album. Honestly Open Up Your Eyes is one of the worst songs on this as there are some great gems which makes me wonder what their other albums are like. The band alternates between casual rock anthems and psuedo power ballads that aren't too heavy handed. Casual Affair, Soldier's Daughter and Thick are all excellent examples of vocal agression meets ambitious guitar gone gold. The songs are big and bold but the acoustic ones work as well. The only downer is Mr. Golden Deal, a poor mans Live ... that just doesn't work. Bottom Line: If you liked If You Could Only See, check this out. Some meanignfull lyrics, and some great guitar for your listening enjoyment.

• Open Up Your Eyes
• Casual Affair
• If You Could Only See
• Soldier's Daughter
• Lemon Parade
• Mountian
• Thick
• Wicked Soldier
• Mr. Golden Deal
• Bigot Sunshine
• Celtic Aggression
• My Old Man