The band received some media criticism for Jeff Martin's Jim Morisson-like stage persona in some of its videos and their Led Zeppelin-esq riffs, although he seemed determined to be striving to create his own image and sound. His looks certainly do draw some comparison, however, to The Doors' late front man.
Their sound is hard to categorize as each album possessed different themes and influences. Splendor Solis (1993) was a more acoustic, blues-based record, while Edges of Twilight (1995) was much darker with strong Middle Eastern influences on several tracks. Transmission (1997) saw a dramatic change to a darker, more industrial-tinged sound, and it was distributed in the USA by Atlantic Records. The last three albums by the band featured various efforts to attract a wider commercial audience, with the single "Heaven Coming Down" reaching No.1 on the Canadian mainstream charts in 1999.
In 2000, Capitol Records finally released a retrospective compilation in the USA of their Canadian singles entitled Tangents after only releasing their first two albums south of the border.
The Tea Party released The Interzone Mantras in 2001, but it did not possess the singles of its predecessors.
In October 2005, a year after their final album Seven Circles was released, Jeff Martin left the band and embarked on a solo career, releasing an album in early 2006. Jeff Burrows (drummer) and Stuart Chatwood (bass/synthesiser) have also had post-Tea Party successes, the former in several projects and the latter in soundtrack composition. Burrows and Chatwood worked together on a new project called The Art Decay before Burrows joined Crash Karma in 2008.
On April 12th 2011, an official Facebook page was launched with a biography section that closed with "The band is scheduled to play a select number of dates in 2011. No other info was available at this time." The following day, the local radio station K106.3 announced the Sarnia Bayfest lineup including The Tea Party, which was later confirmed by drummer Jeff Burrows on his radio show on April 13th. Burrows further stated that a Canadian tour was also in the works.
The Tea Party performed at the Cisco Systems Bluesfest in Ottawa, Ontario on July 14th, 2011, and the band will be playing a Canadian tour commencing on November 15th, 2011 in Vancouver. The band's website and tour is called "THE TEA PARTY - No Politics... Just Rock and Roll". In September 2011, the band was reportedly approached to sell its website URL for over a million dollars by the extremely popular American political movement bearing the same name: www.teaparty.com.
Correspondences
The Tea Party Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Charmed by approaching listlessness
Hands reaching out
To grasp the open emptiness
Leading me down
And this goodbye
Souls slip away
To bask in glowing radiance
Leading me down
As we run from the sun
And we harbor the lies
And we leave things undone
As we cover our eyes
Does it tear you apart my love
Does it tear you apart my love
It tears me apart
Charmed by this light
This somber guidance in her eyes
Rage would entice
And final moments would arise
Leading me down
Does it tear you apart my love
Does it tear you apart my love
It tears me apart
The Tea Party's Correspondences is a song about the varying emotions that people experience in life. The first verse describes a feeling of hope that is emerging, but is tempered by feelings of listlessness and emptiness. Despite these negative emotions, the singer still reaches out in an attempt to grasp something- anything- that might bring them solace. The chorus then speaks about running from the sun and harboring lies, leaving things undone, and covering one's eyes. These actions suggest a reluctance to face the challenges and truths of life.
In the second verse, the tone shifts to a more melancholy one. The singer is charmed by a light, which may represent hope or perhaps death. The woman's eyes offer a kind of guidance, but it is somber and implies a sense of finality. Rage and final moments would arise, leading the singer down a path they might not want to take. The chorus repeats, with the added question "Does it tear you apart my love?" which speaks to the emotional weight of these experiences.
Overall, Correspondences is a song that speaks to the complexities of human emotion and experience. It deals with the highs and lows that we encounter in life and how those moments shape us. It's a contemplative track that encourages the listener to reflect on their own emotional journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Hope springs to life
Feeling optimistic and full of life
Charmed by approaching listlessness
Fascinated by the idea of surrendering to exhaustion and fatigue
Hands reaching out
Trying to grasp something meaningful
To grasp the open emptiness
Trying to find purpose in something seemingly meaningless
Leading me down
Following a particular path or journey
And this goodbye
Saying farewell
Faced with hope and countenance
Confronting optimism and courage
Souls slip away
People gradually disappear
To bask in glowing radiance
To embrace the beauty and brightness of something
As we run from the sun
Avoiding something that brings light and clarity
And we harbor the lies
Holding onto falsehoods and deceit
And we leave things undone
Neglecting responsibilities and tasks
As we cover our eyes
Pretending not to see or acknowledge something important
Does it tear you apart my love
Asking if the situation is emotionally damaging
It tears me apart
Admitting that the situation is emotionally damaging
Charmed by this light
Fascinated by the brightness of something
This somber guidance in her eyes
A serious and melancholic expression that offers guidance
Rage would entice
Feeling provoked or agitated
And final moments would arise
Suggesting a possible end or conclusion
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lyns W
hope springs to life
charmed by approaching listlessness
hands reaching out
to grasp the open emptiness
leading me down...
and this goodbye
faced with hope and countenance
souls slip away
to bask in glowing radiance
leading me down...
as we run from the sun
and we harbour the lies
and we leave things undone
as we cover our eyes
does it tear you apart my love
does it tear you apart my love
it tears me apart
charmed by this light
this sombre guidance in her eyes
rage would entice
and final moments would arise
leading me down...
does it tear you apart my love
does it tear you apart my love
it tears me apart
joethebar1
This album is a complete masterpiece
Lou Sekoya
Agreed
MisterSausage
My all time favourite Tea Party song. A mesmerizing song with one of the best guitar solos ever.
Lou Sekoya
Yes to all !
Michael Dresch
I love the Transmission album, but I have to say, this is my favorite song of theirs. I can just feel the raw emotion in it and I love it.
Opaque47 ***
This + A Certain Slant of Light = two best tunes of theirs.
IndecisiveConclusion
Always seems like the best songs artists do are never the popular well known hits.....this is a perfect example one of their best songs in my opinion......the emotion in that solo and the lyrics is unreal!
MeneerJose
Well said, IndecisiveConclusion!
K Puch
Great tune, great band so under rated!!
Tristan Vadim Terranova
One of the best songs I've ever heard.
I've been listening to it for almost 25 years now.
So many memories and important moments of my life with this song as a perfect soundtrack.