Blake Solomon
06/23/07, 10:17 AM
Emerson Hart – Cigarettes and Gasoline
Record Label: EMI/Manhattan Records
Release Date: July 17, 2007
I owe my dad pretty much everything. I get my (horrible) sense of humor from him, he has taught me more life lessons than I will ever actually need, and he’s somehow listened earnestly to all of my lame rants. Frankly, I can’t imagine what I would do without him. All of this is wonderful, sure, but Emerson Hart was never afforded many of these privileges. His father was the victim of a still unsolved murder when Hart was just a young boy. The album title, Cigarettes and Gasoline (and closing song), pays homage to the few memories Hart has of his dad. Just a helpful reminder: hug your pops today. And guys, if he calls you “Nancy” or “Evelyn” afterwards, simply smile and hug him again.
The name Emerson Hart might not be familiar, but his former band, Tonic, should mean something to anyone listening to the radio in The 90’s. After “If You Could Only See” made him a millionaire, Hart moved to Nashville to give his mellow solo career a try. But this isn’t meant to be a biography, and to be honest, this guy is much more talented than the rest of his Buzz Ballads peers.
Cigarettes and Gasoline is fairly plain alt/pop-rock perfect for the contemporary listening crowd. The Nashville influence is apparent on acoustic “Green Hills Race For California” and the forced accent and piano of “Devestation Hands.” If one tune were going to make a splash on radio, it would be “If You’re Gonna Leave.” Gee, that sure does sound familiar. The vocal melodies and happily simple riffs will be replayed in my mind for some time. Hart knows how to write a hook, and he has plenty of experience pleasing mainstream audiences. That being said, the simple and slow-moving nature of these songs might not attract many new fans.
The closing song about his father is a quiet, lengthy track in which Hart’s husky voice and heartfelt lyrics shine. The song is also about Hart finally forgiving the people who stole his father’s life. It takes a big person to do that. It takes an even bigger person to broadcast said forgiveness to the masses.
The intentions of this album are admirable, but, at times, Cigarettes and Gasoline feels like a sad, last-ditch effort to reclaim past glories. Equal parts brooding and happy; Cigarettes and Gasoline will obviously please Tonic fans. However, a lack of name recognition and a (hair) thinning fanbase will most likely leave Emerson Hart overlooked this year. On the purely personal side of things, Hart overwhelmingly succeeds. And for him, that’s probably enough.
Recommended If You Like: Tonic, Dishwalla, dinner for two at El Fenix, James Morrison, being a middle child
www.myspace.com/emersonhart
Record Label: EMI/Manhattan Records
Release Date: July 17, 2007
I owe my dad pretty much everything. I get my (horrible) sense of humor from him, he has taught me more life lessons than I will ever actually need, and he’s somehow listened earnestly to all of my lame rants. Frankly, I can’t imagine what I would do without him. All of this is wonderful, sure, but Emerson Hart was never afforded many of these privileges. His father was the victim of a still unsolved murder when Hart was just a young boy. The album title, Cigarettes and Gasoline (and closing song), pays homage to the few memories Hart has of his dad. Just a helpful reminder: hug your pops today. And guys, if he calls you “Nancy” or “Evelyn” afterwards, simply smile and hug him again.
The name Emerson Hart might not be familiar, but his former band, Tonic, should mean something to anyone listening to the radio in The 90’s. After “If You Could Only See” made him a millionaire, Hart moved to Nashville to give his mellow solo career a try. But this isn’t meant to be a biography, and to be honest, this guy is much more talented than the rest of his Buzz Ballads peers.
Cigarettes and Gasoline is fairly plain alt/pop-rock perfect for the contemporary listening crowd. The Nashville influence is apparent on acoustic “Green Hills Race For California” and the forced accent and piano of “Devestation Hands.” If one tune were going to make a splash on radio, it would be “If You’re Gonna Leave.” Gee, that sure does sound familiar. The vocal melodies and happily simple riffs will be replayed in my mind for some time. Hart knows how to write a hook, and he has plenty of experience pleasing mainstream audiences. That being said, the simple and slow-moving nature of these songs might not attract many new fans.
The closing song about his father is a quiet, lengthy track in which Hart’s husky voice and heartfelt lyrics shine. The song is also about Hart finally forgiving the people who stole his father’s life. It takes a big person to do that. It takes an even bigger person to broadcast said forgiveness to the masses.
The intentions of this album are admirable, but, at times, Cigarettes and Gasoline feels like a sad, last-ditch effort to reclaim past glories. Equal parts brooding and happy; Cigarettes and Gasoline will obviously please Tonic fans. However, a lack of name recognition and a (hair) thinning fanbase will most likely leave Emerson Hart overlooked this year. On the purely personal side of things, Hart overwhelmingly succeeds. And for him, that’s probably enough.
Recommended If You Like: Tonic, Dishwalla, dinner for two at El Fenix, James Morrison, being a middle child
www.myspace.com/emersonhart