Tonic - Head On Straight

Los Angeles pop-rock trio Tonic's choice of Bob Rock as producer of their third disc is an odd one. Rock is a meat-and-potatoes studio man known for dialing up the thud quotient (see Metallica, the Cult, and especially, Veruca Salt), while Tonic is noted for its sweeping power ballads. With the release of Head On Straight, they still are. Certainly, there are some jagged moments: "Liar" absolutely pounds and opener "Roses" growls, lyrically and musically. But there's unabashed emotion in tracks like "On Your Feet," "Ring," "Count on Me," the title track, and the gently rocking "Let Me Go." And then there's "Irish," a rousing, historic jig where guitars mimic bagpipes, Big Country-style, and singer Emerson Hart manages a credible Irish lilt. Perhaps Rock's Maui base proved irresistible, but really, this is more of the same stuff Tonic gave us with Lemon Parade and Sugar--sturdy, wide-eyed power-pop with lyrics reaching for something grander than "ooh baby baby." Let's hope Tonic feels they got their money's worth. --Kim Hughes