Los Angeles rockers Tonic will release Head on Straight, their first album in three years, on September 24th. The band recorded the album in Hawaii with Bob Rock (Metallica, the Cult) and wrapped up mixing in June.

The first single, "Take Me as I Am," hits radio on August 20th and will have a lot to live up to: Tonic's debut record, 1996's Lemon Parade, spawned the ubiquitous alt-rock radio hit "If You Could Only See" while the follow-up album, Sugar, yielded the equally popular "You Wanted More."

Lead singer Emerson Hart believes the album's personal bent will create a similar stir on the airwaves and among fans. "This is definitely the most personal and focused album we've ever made," he says. "I took a lot of time writing the lyrics. It's a real album, and a lot deeper lyrically than a lot of music out there today."

Tonic just wrapped up dates on the World Outside Festival with Sheryl Crow and Train. They plan to tour behind Head on Straight this fall.

CHRISTINA SARACENO
(August 8, 2002)