Album Notes

Reviews of "Big Top Soda Pop":

"Americana for the modern generation. Shreds of ragtime, tatters of R&B, touches of blues, bursts of rockabilly, slivers of C&W, tinges of hillbilly hoe-downs, lashes of pop, snippets of rock, a feathering of folk, and even, on the title track, the hurdy-gurdy sound of the circus; all are threaded through the set. But as eclectic as it, this Tea Party has a theme, or at least a distinctive sound that makes even the most diverse numbers instantly identifiable as the Mad one's own. Partially this is due to Ami Worthen's vocals, sweet and upbeat or calm and soothing, her come-hither intonations draws one straight into the songs, she's the perfect circus barker for this Party… Add thoughtful lyrics covering a wide range of themes, and Mad Tea Party have created one amazingly, tantalizing album.”
– Allmusic.com

”On its upcoming fourth album, 'Big Top Soda Pop'...Mad Tea Party crafts a wild mix of hillbilly, folk, jazz and rock 'n' roll. The result is a sound that falls somewhere between that of the 1940s country outfit the Carlisles and the indie-pop of more recent bands such as the Violent Femmes and the Vaselines. Like the music produced by the San Francisco-based pre-psychedelic outfit the Charlatans in the mid-'60s, Big Top Soda Pop oozes with a sort of frenetic, up-to-date take on traditional styles that can't be written off as pure nostalgia.”
– Spartanburg Herald-Journal

“Mad Tea Party sounds every bit like their name. With instruments ranging from ukulele (soprano and baritone!) to Mellotron, Fender Rhodes, and Optigan, you know there's a crazy mix going on. Surprisingly the music manages to stay in an old-timey mode while also sounding like a more organic Stereolab.”
– Movement Magazine

"Are you at a circus? Are you in an avant-garde college music class? Is it the Brady Bunch on acid? Mad Tea Party is all of this and more. Most of the songs are pop-driven folk and showcase Ami Worthen’s whimsical voice that is reminiscent of Natalie Merchant...While this effort by Mad Tea Party could be described as folk, bluegrass, psychedelic pop or influenced by jazz, this inability to label the album is exactly what makes the sound so unique. Mad Tea Party is indeed mad, but like cotton candy at a circus, you can’t stop yourself from going back for more."
- Southeast Performer

”The band does an album in 'Big Top Soda Pop' that could be done in 1960 as much as it could be done in 2006… Give this album a spin if you like any classic pop music.”
– NeuFutur Magazine

"Mad Tea Party is Asheville's premier nuevo-ragtime-swing three piece and with 'Big Top Soda Pop' they offer definitive proof that their brand of old fashioned feel-good medicine deserves a bigger audience."
- Go Triad

”An infectious romp of Carter Family meets Dick Dale”
– IGS Guitar Forum

“Skewed folk trio that…took things off into a zany direction that is deceptively sweet but has some serious bite lurking under the surface. There’s a big old-timey vibe right out front but don’t go thinking that’s all that’s going on here. Tasty, fun stuff in the alt.folk bag that likes to tease with familiar feeling music and clever word play.”
– Midwest Record Recap

Plus CD Baby's "Editor's Choice" review (below).