Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great mix of music, December 26, 1999
Not many hard rock bands have spread their wings as far as The Tea Party has in just four albums. In the past, the trio were always about expanding their musical horizons. Each new record saw the band create new sounds and in essence, recreate themselves. But on TripTych, the bands fourth release (already available in Canada), the band decided to meld all their previous incarnations together on one record, as well as implementing another new style. The first sound you hear is the hard driving electronic rock sound the group created for Transmission(their third record), songs like Touch and Great Big Lie are a great showcase for lead singer Jeff Martin's Jim Morrison like growl. Then on songs like Chimera, the middle eastern flair the band put on it's second album The Edges of Twilight resonates strongly. Best of all though is the bands creation of a new lighter pop rock sound on tracks like Heaven Coming Down with its U2 like guitar sound, that hasn't been heard on any previous record. With the combination of such sounds on one album, The Tea Party at once are able to expand their long time fans view of them, but also allow new listeners to get a sense of what The Tea Party is all about. The best song is the sweet romance found on Taking Me Away with its lush sounding chorus. TripTych is the most complete sounding record the band has ever done, which makes it a must have.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A poetic and musical masterpeice for the late 90's, December 5, 1999
Why this amazingly talented band is not huge in every country on the planet is the biggest musical injustice of the 1990's. Listening to the Tea Party is like having your innermost emotions sung to you by a man with a beautifully seductive and rich vocal style that is often compared to Jim Morrison's, but in my estimations is much more compelling, powerful, and definately has a superior range. TRIPtych is a poetic and musical materpeice, and has completely surpassed my high expectations for their 4th album (5th if you include Alhambra). Their musical growth since their first album Spendor Solis, which at the time seemed like it couldn't be topped, has been phenomonal. The production of TRIPtych is excellent, Jeff's innovations with the guitar (like the harmony accompanying his vocals on These Living Arms)adds texture to every track. Each song blends seemlessly with the next, and when it's over you left wanting more. For those who might question whether they can pull the same sound off on stage, they can. At a recent show in Toronto, songs like Heaven Coming Down (the biggest selling song of the year in Canada) and , The Messenger ( their first ever cover), and Gone (which features violin, cello, and viola)already sounded as familiar as older songs like Fire in The Head and Temptation. Underground, These Living Arms, and Chimera are also outstanding tracks. The final word - if you have liked past Tea Party albums you'll love this record. If you are new to Tea Party, this cd should be an enlightening introduction to a band who will hopefully be huge in the next millenium. For the few who liked early Tea Party and feel left out in the cold with TRIPtych - listen to this album again. Open your minds, and realize that a band is made up of human beings who change and grow. I see alot of musical and spirtual growth in this album, and hope that it continues. This is cutting edge, it incorprates amazing lyricism, with indian mystism, classic rock, and a late 90's sound that blows away every other so called alternative rock band in the charts at the moment.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
it continues to grow on me..., March 8, 2000
well, i reviewed this album back in august of 99 and my affection for it has only grown with time. this album is an amazing alchemy of intellect and talent. the lyrics are enough to blow me away time after time, thousands of rotations later. "great big lie" - an outright rejection of organized religion. "underground" - an autobiographical tale of "a very wicked man", as jeff martin usually introduces it. "the messenger" - the band's first recorded cover tune by the brilliant daniel lanois. "samsara" - jeff's take on hesse's watershed "siddhartha." "gone": a love song for "the one that got away". this album is just plain brilliant, no two ways about it. please, i implore you, buy now and listen as soon as possible. music will not be the same for you. if you have the opportunity, see the tea party live - it will make you appreciate the albums all the more.
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by The Tea Party 
