Zombies Album: “Odessey and Oracle [2004 Bonus Tracks]”

Many bands (the Beatles, the Beach Boys) at least dabbled in psychedelica, but the Zombies are often overlooked. For the 30th anniversary of "Odessey and Oracles," the Zombies' best album was rereleased in a new form, proving that their enchanting psychedelic pop has aged exceeedingly well.

The Zombies were unusually good at taking perky, sweet, lush music and wrapping it around a more serious song, such as the upbeat "Care of Cell 44" (guy writing to his jailed girlfriend), or the lovely "A Rose For Emily," a poignant little song that tells of a lonely woman doomed to stay lonely. "And as the years go by/she will grow old and die/The roses in her garden fade away/Not one left for her grave..."

But the Zombies aren't all sadness wrapped in happy music. There are perky songs about being happy in love, losing a love and hoping she'll return, and reminiscing about "golden days and golden summer nights." The album ends on a reassuring note with the laid-back "Time of the Season," which sounds like the ultimate hippie anthem.

I have no memories of the 60s, since I was only born in the eighties. But "Odessey and Oracle" gives a rosy glow to that era,. Psychedelic flair minus the hazy, and every song is a gem. Though "Time of the Season" was the sleeper hit from the album, it's not the best or catchiest song on here -- it's just one of many excellent ones.

Rod Argent was definitely an outstanding songwriter. He was able to create atmospheric and beautiful songs with very simple writing ("Brief candles in her mind/bright and tiny gems of memory"). Perhaps his finest moment here is "I knew he when summer was her crown/and autumn sad/how brown her eyes," as a kick-off to a colorful look at a woman compared to all the seasons.

Colin Blunstone's vocals were well-suited to the music: a bit husky, quite pleasant and mellow. The music itself was generally based on guitar, gentle drums, pretty piano, and wavering Mellotron, with a bit of accordian coming in in one song. There's a rich interweaving of many instruments, in all sorts of pop music. Some is almost classical in tone, some is uptempo stuff that is perfect for the radio.

The Zombies were in peak form in "Odessey and Oracle," churning out some of the purest pop music ever. As sweet and exquisite as it was in the 1960s.

Especially the last part of "Hung Up On A Dream" that I could listen to forever. At points the lead vocals remind of "Chelsea Girl" era Nico, and that's a good thing. The idea that most people only view The Zombies as the band who sang "Time of the Season" and "She's Not There" is ridiculous, and I was one of those people only a few weeks ago.

Along with 'Arthur' (By The Kinks for those who are unlucky to not have heard it) and 'Forever Changes' (By Love, and you have to hear "Alone Again Or"), this is the third melodic masterpiece of the late 60s not made by The Beatles. So for those who believe The Zombies are only good for soundtracking an Austin Powers movie, this album shows why John Lennon and The Hollies both wanted to produce an album for the band.

If you enjoy when a band takes a leap of faith and explores beyond pop then this is a must have. Much like Odessa by the Bee Gee's and Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, this explores way beyond the tight limits of top 40. Truly a gem.

Hailed belatedly by some critics as the British "Pet Sounds," "Odessey and Oracle" is, like Brian Wilson's triumph, a keyboard and choral-based pop masterpiece that has aged far more gracefully than many other albums of the era. Its melodies, harmonies and arrangements are as sophisticated yet accessible as the Beatles' finest moments, and without the aid of a George Martin: The Zombies wrote, produced, arranged and performed the entire album. The extremely cool hit "Time of the Season" is, like "Good Vibrations" or "Eight Miles High," a zenith of 1960's pop-rock Other tracks hint at Anglican hymnody and neo-baroque psychedelia. "Changes" would not sound out of place on a John Renbourn Group album. Only the well-intentioned but jarring anti-war piece, "The Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)" detracts from the overall effect. It is simply out of place. Imagine if someone dropped "Eve of Destruction" into the middle of "Astral Weeks" or the Trinity's "Czechoslovakia" into the middle of "Pet Sounds" and you get the idea. But that's why God made bonus tracks and programmable cd players! This Fuel 2000 reissue is superior to the "30th Anniversary" version in that it features several additional songs rather than alternate mixes only. I usually program out "Butcher's Tale" and replace it with "Smokey Day," "Remember the Swan" and "I'll Call You Mine," all recorded after the "Odessey and Oracle" sessions and each equal or even superior to almost anything else on the album.

The Zombies 'Odessey & Oracle' (with bonus tracks) may well be the best CD I've ever heard. I can't honestly say I've ever enjoyed a CD more. My son (age 17) picked it up on a whim, (he liked Time of the Season), last August, and I've been playing it ever since. I'm addicted to 'Odessey & Oracle'. I've listened to it countless times since then, like once or twice a day, nearly every day. It's the singing, the vocals. Euphoric! They are just so happy, just so glad to be there! This is a CD in which the band just loves to sing - joyous, baroque, harmonious Beach Boys Beatles Barclay James Harvest Steeleye Span-like, they just love to sing! The lead vocals, the harmony vocals, the second harmony vocals, the background sounds, the oohs and ahhs and Beatlely little accents and touches permeate the disc - this band just loves to sing. Euphoric, that's it. Every cut is a musical journey, every cut has something special to offer, including the bonus tracks, (on which they also love to sing). I have no idea how I missed this when it was new, but I did. It's magnificent. I'm forever indebted to my son for finding it for me. (good thing I had him!) If you don't have it, GET IT!!! NOW!