Tonic only underscores what bands like Creed, Third Eye Blind, Seven Mary Three, and Matchbox 20 have already demonstrated. It's not that difficult to come up with a compelling, slightly grungy, medium hard rock sound and a clutch of catchy tunes. What's challenging is cultivating the emotional hook that will give the music lasting appeal.
Tonic's long-awaited sophomore effort is chock-full of hummable melodies, guitar work that's edgy but not metallic, and front guy Emerson Hart's bitter-sweet but unremarkable tales of failed romance. Too many tracks wallow in a mid-tempo melancholia that's engaging enough in the moment but doesn't really stick to your ribs; what the album needs is a few more spunky pop-rockers like "Sunflower" or a full-on display of boogie impulse that flutters fleetingly in "Stronger Than Mine." And as smoothly as Sugar goes down, it still feels like empty calories.
All recordings courtesy of Universal Records. ÒMean To MeÓ and ÒWaltz With Me,Ó written by E. Hart, courtesy of EMI April Music/Big Ass Pete Music (ASCAP). ÒKnock Down Walls,Ó written by Emerson Hart, Jeff Russo, courtesy of EMI April Music/Big Ass Pete Music (ASCAP)/EMI April Music/Grace King Music (ASCAP).
