Emerson Hart is the frontman of alternative rock powerhouse Tonic as well as being a solo singer-songwriter. His new record Beauty in Disrepair, his first since 2007’s solo debut Cigarettes & Gasoline, has been written around a theme of the beauty in life as one ages and appreciates what the world gives you. Thematically, the album takes in ideas of loss, new and old love, and starting over. Hart has recorded the album with David Hodges, who has co-written and produced albums with artists as diverse as Kelly Clarkson, Christina Perri, and Carrie Underwood.
Hart has many years of grounding in writing songs and has crafted a delicate, yet at the same time, strong record in Beauty in Disrepair. His vocals and melodies are often soaring, as on the beautiful and redemptive “The Best I Can Give”. “Hurricane” contains some well executed pop elements, and his songs carry enough emotion to draw you in and make you feel involved in what he is conveying. “To Be Young” is an interesting highlight, combining different elements of sound with a laid back beat and a slight Spanish swing to it. Hart artfully masters the singer-songwriter field, with shades of his rock work coming in at intervals, but is not afraid to shake things up a bit along the way.
The album’s overriding feel is one of serious, heartfelt songs such as “Mostly Grey”, “The Confessional”, acoustic “You Know Who I Am”, and “Another Life” which remind us of what life is about. Hart delivers them with passion, understanding, and understated power. His sound is one part John Mayer, one part U2, and of course one part Tonic. All three of these parts fit together and give his songs a fine setting. Songs like “Hallway” and “All Is Well” especially have a resonance, painting a simple but highly effective picture.
Emerson Hart has delivered an album in Beauty in Disrepair which will appeal to fans of his work with Tonic as well as supporters of his solo work. The album contains well-constructed, emotional songs that will strike a chord with listeners old and new. CrypticRock give this album 4 out of 5 stars.
Review written by Gideon Thomas
){kind=link}
No comment