Thank you - yes, I knew that DeGarmo was involved in writing/co-writing some songs and playing on the album. I remember leading up to the album's release there was some excitement building since, based on what was transpiring, there was a perception (hope?) a reunion was in the cards. Clearly, that didn't happen
I have to say...my enjoyment of the album, as it turns out, is somewhat independent of DeGarmo involvement. In fact, some of my favorite songs are not part of the EP you mention above It's not like there weren't duds but, like I said, there is plenty to like on it (more so, imo, than in their other albums of that "era")
No problem. I totally get what you are saying. Of the non-DeGarmo tracks, my favorites are Tribe, The Great Divide and Rhythm of Hope. But there's a feeling of incompleteness to it. Did you know that The Great Divide was supposed to have a solo? The album got pushed back twice after DeGarmo left the sessions and the band was in disagreement on the direction. So Wilton never put down the solo that's supposed to be in the tune. He finally added it, live, on the fall 2003 tour. It's a simple solo, but very moody, and works with the arrangement of the song, taking it up a notch.
Another example is "Blood." DeGarmo allegedly had another guitar part, a counter point to Wilton's, which never got recorded. So the song is like half done.
That's why that record really feels off to me, and why I think the DeGarmo tracks truly represent where the band was going. DeGarmo gave them direction and completeness. Those tracks in that "EP" I mentioned are finished, and they feel finished. Whereas the others...not quite so much. Still cool, like I said, those three non-DeGarmo tracks I like a lot. But they are half-baked, and it's a shame. I really wish everyone was on better terms. Tribe was a loss for the record company, and who knows who owns the rights to it now since it was released on the now-defunct Sanctuary records. But with its 20th anniversary next year, I'd love to hear "Losing Myself" yanked off of it (it was only added because Stone helped them finish the record), "Justified" added, and all the parts they had had planned on recording (what I mentioned above) done by the original lineup. I have a feeling Tribe would be a lot better.
I like Tribe. With those DeGarmo tracks, there's this (I talk about this a lot) natural songwriting arc. It's like they picked back up from HITNF, got a little moodier, more aggressive riffs, and were going places I liked. Had they done the full record as they intended (DeGarmo was coming back - a disagreement between Tate, Tate's wife, and DeGarmo allegedly caused DeGarmo to pack up and leave), I think it would have been very highly regarded.
Check this out -
https://anybodylistening.net/tribe.htmlI wrote up the details on the whole thing and included some facts some folks may not know about the record.