Emerson Hart
Cigarettes and Gasoline
EMI/Manhattan
Cigarettes and Gasoline is former Tonic frontman Emerson Hart’s debut solo album, and it expresses Hart’s creative instincts outside of a band environment.
Becoming a solo artist has clearly allowed Hart to explore more introspective and personal lyrical themes, as the title track — which refers to the unresolved murder of his father as a child — demonstrates. The acoustic “Green Hills Race For California,” the soulful “Vanity” and the synth-pop of “Devastation Hands” further show Hart’s songwriting diversity and the multiple influences that have shaped his music.
Tonic fans will not be alienated by Cigarettes and Gasoline, however, as the melodic first single “If You’re Gonna Leave” sounds like it could have been recorded by the band, as does the haunting “I Wish The Best For You.”
Cigarettes and Gasoline is clearly a creative leap in the dark for Hart and successfully makes the difficult transition between band member and solo artist.
Emerson Hart: http://www.emersonhart.com
