[.ca] Sugar

From Amazon.com:
Sugar is the cure-all for your rock & roll blahs. The follow-up to 1997's platinum-selling Lemon Parade shows that the Los Angeles trio Tonic has taken a big step forward. Here they've forged a sound that's memorable and timeless, thanks to stellar songwriting matched by equally fine instrumentation and vocals. There's nary a bad song on this self-produced, self-assured 13-song collection. The more upbeat fare, including "Future Says Run," is open, catchy, and forceful. Ballads, such as "Waiting for the Light," are instantly appealing and beautiful without being sappy. Nearly all of Sugar's tunes have that hauntingly familiar feel. With the exception of "Jump Jimmy," which is redolent of the Tubes' "She's a Beauty," they're fresh, honest, buoyant, and gladdening. Here, at least, high doses of Sugar are beneficial to your psyche. --Katherine Turman

Tonic is HIGHLY and boy do I mean HIGHLY under-rated:
This CD is simply amazing. I've been listening to this album off and on for the past year and every time I listen to it, it gets better and better. These guys have way more talent than a lot of newer band out there. Tonic makes Nickelback and Puddle of Mudd look like imbeciles. Every song is just great; I can't say anything bad about any song. Highlights: Well every one of them and I'm not just saying that. I can listen to this CD all day on repeat.

Tonic deliver the goods again...:
A alchemic blend of rock-anthems and melancholy musings, this album from trio Tonic is even better than Lemon Parade. This really is the thinking man's rock in a world quickly sinking beneath the nu-metal and hip-hop deluge. It's an eclectic sound...somewhere between Paul Simon and Live, with perhaps a dash of Crowded House. In equal turns both soothing and inspiring, this album is the latest in my collection from a Band that continues to grow and explore. My personal favourite tracks are Knock Down Walls, which growls and drives with a 'still-humming-it-3-hours-later' chorus, Queen, which is both subtle, and rock-out fun, and Waltz With Me, a rythmic, gentle love song that is touching without getting slushy. Yeah, I have favourites, but I love every song on this album...its one that I'll stick in my player and realise only when I come to switch it later that its already played through 3 times. More upbeat than Lemon-Parade, I'd highly recommend this to fans and new-comers alike.

High doses of Sugar recommended.:
Rarely has such a radio friendly band produced work of such consistent quality but make no mistake Tonic are a rare group. Their second record "Sugar" is a magnificent example of slick grooves and restrained ballads that will have you singing and tapping your feet in no time. Indeed the first track "Future says run" will get you straight in the game with its forceful guitars and big backbeat. The trend continues from there with the absolute rock 'n' roll of "Knock Down Walls" and "Stronger than mine" contrasting with sincere and haunting ballads ,"Waiting for the light to change" and "Waltz with me". The playing is tight with plenty of momentum but what really sets Tonic apart from the majority of progressive rockers is the song writing of Emerson Hart who consistently produces memorable hooks combined with simple and engaging lyrics. An excellent album from a band with a big future.

Great cd!:
What can I say? I love Tonic, the band is excellent, their cd is excellent! It was worth the money.

Even better than debut:
Tonic's first album, "Lemon Parade", was a very good album with a couple of excellent singles--namely "Open Up Your Eyes" and "If You Could Only See". While this follow-up effort didn't get as big a single as its predecessor, to me it is actually a better album from beginning to end. When I first heard this CD back when it came out, I was surprised how good it really is. Sure, the first single "You Wanted More" is excellent--melodic with an edge in parts. "Knock Down Walls" is a catchy, uptempo rock radio track. But the rest of the album is equally as good. "Future Says Run" is a memorable leadoff track, the title track is a nice mellow song, and "Queen" flat-out rocks. "Waiting For The Light To Change" is a track that I still rave about--a beautiful emotional track with a slower tempo. "Waltz With Me" is another fantastic slower track, while "Drag Me Down" is another good late-album rocker. All in all, I have to say that the average song on this album is better than the average song on "Lemon Parade". Both are good to great albums. And for sure, I hope Tonic gets more noteriety in the future. With future efforts like this one, they most definitely should.

• Future Says Run
• You Wanted More
• Knock Down Walls
• Mean to Me
• Sugar
• Stronger Than Mine
• Queen
• Waiting for the Light to Change
• Waltz with Me
• Sunflower
• Drag Me Down
• Top Falls Down
• Love a Diamond