Tea Party takes it easy

from: August 19, 2004, IAN NATHANSON, METRO TORONTO

Animated Tea Party? That could be taken in two ways.

There?s lead singer Jeff Martin?s reaction to the band?s new Seven Circles disc: "I?m glad to welcome into the family our new bouncing baby album," Martin said dryly before lounging alongside bassist/keyboardist Stuart Chatwood and drummer Jeff Burrows at the Drake Hotel to plug their fresh-in-stores release.

Then there?s the Toronto-based rock trio actually being etched in animated form as part of the video to their leadoff single, Writing?s On The Wall.

"The inspiration came from the Yellow Submarine film, and we were trying to move it forward to ?70s," said Chatwood, who directed the video, before Burrows chimes in with his two cents: "Hmm, moving it forward to the ?70s? I love that."

Laughter ensues from all three, showing that after 14 years together, the Tea Party does have light-hearted moments.

"I was certainly guilty of taking my way too seriously a few years back," admits Martin, recalling how these three longtime pals rose out of Windsor indulging in dark, Eastern-tinged rock anthems such as The River, Sister Awake and Save Me. "Now if I see rock stars putting on the serious act, I just go, ?For God?s sake, relax, man!? "

The fun level on Seven Circles runs the gamut from an all-out rawkfest on Overload, name-checking David Bowie tunes on Empty Glass to including singer Holly McNarland on Wishing You Would Stay, making the disc the most commercial-sounding effort to date since 1999?s Triptych and its No. 1 sensation Heaven Coming Down.

With the band supporting Ozzy Osbourne?s 2002 U.S. tour and recently lending ex-Creed frontman Scott Stapp a hand on Relearn Love ? a track that is slated to appear on The Passion Of The Christ: Songs disc, due out Aug. 31 ? could that mean Seven Circles might bring greater exposure south of the border?

"We need to be very careful, because we don?t want to be in a situation where we have to compromise anything we do," Martin cautions.

"I mean, yeah, what we have is the No. 1 most desirable job, but we feel blessed to be doing this and we never take a day for granted."