Edges of Twilight
Like Led Zeppelin some 25 years ago, the Tea Party draw from a wealth of influences and cultures to create a sound uniquely their own, exotic and earthy, with neo-progressive flourishes and Middle Eastern-sounding melodies. OnThe Edges of Twilightthey start off with a hefty punch of finely crafted, hypnotic hard rock, and then ease the listener into a world where piano ballads, the blues, and hypnotic, sitar-laden meditations seem to fit together perfectly.From gorgeous acoustic instrumentals to jarring teeth-rattlers, the Tea Party prove unusually adept at everything they try. Sure, they are essentially an FM rock band, having more in common with Alice in Chains and Queensryche than they may care to admit, but they have far more talent and depth than many of their rather one-dimensional contemporaries. It's this versatility and wealth of quality material that separate them from the pack.--Adem Tepedelen