Seven Circles [Enhanced]

I've been a fan of The Tea Party for about 5/6 years now and feel I'm qualified to review them as a true fan:

I'm going to split this into 2 categories ... `cos it really is that simple with this album:

The Heavy Songs:

The riffs come thick and heavy. Perhaps dipping slightly into "The Edges of Twilight" style. And the song structures are a lot more of this heavy riff genre.

For me the heavier songs just sound like their trying to get the Audioslave audience. And (although I respect his work in the past) Bob Rock has been a little too harsh with the compressor (Bob only actually produced 3 songs on the album but the compression is simply too over used throughout, making the album a little too bass heavy) ... but then, that is what Mr. Rock does best! Rock bands! And I don't feel that the wonderful and skilful use of dynamics that Tea Party are known for is done any justice under his hands.

Now I'm going to point out my MAJOR upset with this album:

The song "Seven Circles" has a chorus riff in it that is EXACTLY the same chords as "Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song". After being a long term fan of this band to hear this was more than upsetting ... I find it very hard to believe they've never heard the STP tune.

The Quieter Songs:

There's some nice tunes here on the quiet front. And they do improve with each listen but when compared to their earlier work I really don't think there's much competition.

As far as the album as a whole is concerned it's their worst yet ... HOWEVER, if this were not a Tea Party album and I wasn't aware of their capability then I'd probably say it was a great album.

... sadly it is a Tea Party album, and it IS their worst.

For first time Tea Party buyers:

Get any other albums first! They are all very different from each other but each have there own merits:

"Splendor Solis" - Touches The Doors, STP and Led Zeppelin it's an album with a lot of depth and has a wonderful selection of epic tunes with great instrumental use.

"The Edges of Twilight" - Much like "Splendor Solis" but with more electric guitar/ fat riffage!

"Transmission" - A strange move for Tea Party. They almost went electronic with this album. This one is also in places very depressive. For me this is my favourite but is in no way a good example of their other albums.

"TRIPtych" - Combines their new found electronic love with their early natural and rocky sound. It's a fantastic album with some real gems, but for me is just a steeping stone to ...

"The Interzone Mantras" - This album sees the perfection in their combination of styles. This has an almost concept album feel to it and really invites you into a sound only the Tea Party can create.

To fans of The Tea Party thinking of getting this:

I honestly don't think it's necessary in your collection ... I have it on again now to help with this review and it's the first time I've had it on for months.

Oh, Jeff's lyrics have been better too!

It really is quite gutting!

This is just an FYI for those Tea Party fans like myself who listen to their music digitally. If you are on a PC you cannot pull the tracks off the CD onto your computer. Not only that, you can't even use an audio player to play the tracks, rather you're forced to use a built-in audio player with terrible quality that ships on the CD. This CANNOT be bypassed. If you are someone who only listens digitally you're out of luck with this CD and will end up with nothing more than an expensive plastic disc. Unless you own a Mac, in which case you won't have any problem at all. I hope this helps, I'm assuming there's no way I am the only person who is solely digital these days!

I got into The Tea Party with Spendlor Solis, a gutsy piece of pagan rock. Edges of Twilight was, in my humble opinion, their greatest work. Transmission and Tripytch was also very good albums, though the latter was weaker than the former. The Interzone Mantras was rather hit and miss (still more hit than miss), but this CD is so disappointing! The first song, 'Writing's On the Wall' is a great rocker. Then the second is a piece of poppy nonsence. The third song is good, the fourth poppy nonsense and so on. Don't get the impression I don't like the slow'uns - Shadows On The Mountainside, Release, Taking Me Away etc are all very good, but they are well written ballads not whiney pop-rock ... I am sure this album will be far more accessible than its predecessors, but I do hope that it is an aberration and the inventive and rocky Tea Party we all know will come back to the fore. I will still give it 3 stars as there are a handful of great songs (Luxuria gets particular note from me).