Track Listing

1. Future Says Run
2. You Wanted More
3. Knock Down Walls
4. Mean To Me
5. Sugar
6. Stronger Than Mine
7. Queen
8. Waiting For The Light To Change
9. Waltz With Me
10. Sunflower
11. Drag Me Down
12. Top Falls Down
13. Love A Diamond

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #197828 in Music
• Released on: 2001-06-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

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

CD Description
An oasis in a desert of souring pop bands--that's the best way to describe Tonic's sophomore release, SUGAR. The trio delivers hooks like a prizefighter, and their balance of tension and melody makes for consistently memorable songs. "Knock Down Walls" is an anthem of love and manipulation, as vocalist/guitarist Emerson Hart sings, "you always grab a hold of the ones you can change/just a group of loner zeroes who will play your game".
Tonic's country rock roots shine brightly on the title track, while the emptiness of celebrity worship is played out in "Queen". "Waiting For the Light to Change" is a tender ballad describing the moment where one faces the harsh reality of loneliness. The Beatlesque "Sunflower" has some of Hart's most poetic lyrical moments, such as "when the wind blows I will kiss you like sunshine/stealing pieces from a perfect sky". TONIC effectively uses simple arrangements and incredibly singable melodies, making SUGAR a musical remedy that goes down as sweetly as its name.

Customer Reviews

A must have for all american-rock lovers
One of the best CD's in my collection. Tonic provide within the album a mixture of rock numbers such as "Knock Down Walls" and "Drag Me Down" to more soulful ballads such as "Waltz With Me" and "Waiting For The Light To Change". The transition between the songs is quite excellently put together which completes an album from a band that's relatively un-known to the UK shores but one which I am proud to own.

A solid collection of meaningful, emotionally charged songs
The first time I listened to “Sugar” was a real thrill because I thought I had found myself another Vertical Horizon – similar sound and feel, clever and meaningful lyrics, powerful and competent playing. But that comparison really isn’t fair. It isn’t fair at all. Listen to the album again and you realize they don’t sound like anyone else. There’s this subtle Celtic feel running through almost every track, married to the most sublime, soaring electric guitars. It’s like the rough kid from the wrong side of town marrying the little-rich-girl and somehow looking like they were born to be together. Probably because they were!

All of the tracks on the album can stand on their own two feet. Most of them are about relationships and love; some of it unrequited; some of it unbelievable. The first two tracks, “Future Says Run” and “You Wanted More” grab your interest straight away, but it’s track three, “Knock Down Walls”, that really hooks you. It’s a lyrical two-finger gesture; it’s the turning of the proverbial worm; it’s driving in your car, sneering and sniggering at pedestrians without feeling regret, remorse or any need to explain. Or maybe that’s just me.

“Mean to Me” is melancholy with just a little anger thrown in to complete the picture of self-pity.

The title track, “Sugar”, is perfect: “Come on Baby, get your shoes on, you’re looking like you need a rescue…”. It’s sweet without being sickly (try organic demerara if you don’t know what I mean). It’s jingly-jangly meets fuzzbox. Turn the lights down, the volume up, think of someone you almost had or almost lost and submerge yourself in it.

“Jump Jimmy (Stronger Than Mine)” has fantastic fuzzy clashing guitars and a real positive message. “Queen” is a slower song, clever, but slightly disturbing. “Waiting for the Light to Change” is a moving ballad, all about being at peace with yourself. “Sunflower” takes me back, but I just can’t figure out where to!

“Drag Me Down” should perhaps be called “drag you along” because that is what the song does. It grabs you by the ears and marches you away until it finally throws you up against a wall without any explanation. And it doesn’t say “sorry” either. “Love a Diamond” is slow, lamenting, haunting and beautiful.

Verdict: Not always the first CD I grab from the shelf, but there is never a time it is the wrong choice.

Stunning Indie rock from the US
These guy's know how to write song's. The tunes flow like liquid with harmonies like no other and music that screams out with sublty and beauty. Well crafted rock. 70's rock for the 21st century. Packed with setiment and emotion.