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Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
1968
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!Stop me if you've heard this one before: a british rock band recorded an album at Abbey Road in the 60s. No, not that british band. This one recorded their album two years before that band. It's kinda crazy how much this sounds like The Beatles, honestly. It makes me wonder what else was going on in the British music scene at the time. Whatever the case, this was a very enjoyable album. Everything I love about The Beatles is on display here. The songwriting isn't quite as good (unsurprisingly) but the vocals are better and the harmonies are all on point. I think the most interesting thing about this is how clearly one can hear the thumbprint of the studio itself. The recording is immaculate and the production is just SO good. It sounds like an Abbey Road joint. Almost gave this a 4 but the last track is Time of the Season which is just a monster of a single. Took it to a 5 easily.
College era cult favorite among friends. A thing of beauty. Up there with Pet Sounds. I consider this a perfect album.
Honestly this album is amazing. It was received indifferently when it was released, but has since become a cult favorite. I feel like there isn't a bad song on the album... its really, really good.
I love this album, Care of Cell 44 probably ranks among my favorite songs. Great from front to back!
Despite the fact that I grew up listening to classic rock, I never listened to this album until about 5 years ago. I instantly fell in love with it. It's a shame that it was "received indifferently" on its release, and the Zombies didn't really do much after. They could have been one of the all-time greats for sure. But at least we have this classic. 5 stars.
Two thoughts before I even listened to this: 1) Since the 1001 App has hit us with so much Psychedelic, I get noxious when we are sent an album with a release date in the late 60s. 2) The choice of the band's name might not be the worst band name ever but second only to The Electric Prunes. Given the above, this album had to start the race 10 meters behind the starting line. The keyboards figure prominently. I don't think the organ works particularly well on songs like Butcher's Tale but the piano playing on some of the songs (e.g. Rise for Emily, This Will be our Year, et al.) makes some lovely ballads that are similar to what Bowie did a year or two later with Life on Mars. No accusations but, come to think of it, Zombies have a song named "Changes" and two years later Bowie releases a hit w the same name. Still no accusations. Now if his 1969 hit was called "Space Odeyssey" (sic), Bowie would need to do better than say that he went to the same grammar school that Argent and White went to. lol I find some of the songs tried to create too big of a sound. Care of Cell 44 is a fabulous song. It starts with vocals and keyboards but more sound keeps being added. First some very talented bass as well as drums which work well. They should have stopped there but it sounds like an orchestra is then added in the background. I expect this was Mellotron since that instrument was the bright new shiny object that everyone wanted to play around with at that time. Rather than helping the overall sound, it makes it cheesy. A lot of songs use harmonies extensively. The Zombies' harmonies are humble rather than being pretentious pursuits of perfection like CSNY's and the Beach Boys'. They end up wearing on me eventually but around half the time they are enjoyable the same way Queen's harmonies are. I didn’t remember that the song Time of the Season had the words "Who's your Daddy". The flavour of the song would have changed if it were released today. Given this line I figured it must be the sampling gift that keeps on giving to hoards of MCs. I couldn’t resist utilizing Google and the first hit from my search was Necro “The Sexorcist” I can’t make this stuff up. Check it out but probably not when there is anyone around who is too young, too old or too white. I have an unusual rating dilemma. I want to give a 4 for how the songs are written but a 3 for how they’re performed. If you don’t believe the songs are better written than they are performed you should track down Elliot Smith’s version of Care of Cell 44. wtf I’ll round up this time. Good news: While I'm not sure I'll smile, I’ll probably not grunt when the 1001 App sends us more hippy shit
First song sounds like it could be a demo of a 2010s band. These songs sound pretty 60s. I see influence on Queen, and influences from the Beatles. This was *surprisingly* good. Also, doesn't sound like what I would imagine a band called "The Zombies" would ever sound like.
Great sound. My fist experience knowing what I was listening to was music by the Zombies. I like it.
What a classic! Not a bad song on the album. Beautiful harmonies, groovy psychedelic music. Love it.
A genuine lost classic, they should have been huge. 1 perfect song after another. I particularly like the bit when you realise the girl in the first song is in prison
At least today, there's nothing groundbreaking or original about this album. Like The Beatles with more technical depth, like The Hollies with more psychedelia, like The Moody Blues with less organ. It seems like I've heard it all before, yet The Zombies combines these disparate parts perfectly to a great album that hits the right spots and which I'll gladly revisit. Standout song: Time of the Season.
Magnifique, du rock psychedelique qui fait penser a Forever Changes de Love. Premier coup de coeur du Challenge. Inattendu, vu le nom qui me faisait penser a du punk/metal. Je l'acheterai a la Fnac. Triste qu'ils n'aient jamais été reconnus.
#30 - the best album so far, and they had tough rivals - Deep Purple, Talking Heads, The Smiths, Elvis, Kraftwerk. Oh my God... What they did I never heard in my life. Every songs sounds both different and similar to the others. This is so good that you're afraid of listening to this album again.
A fabulous album through and through, one of my favourites. And props for one of the all-time most iconic songs of the 60's - Time of the Season. It so perfectly encapsulates the hippie counter-culture of that time.
A revelation. Amazing arrangements. Doesn’t go full on psychedelia, which is a good thing. Gorgeous melodies, great harmonies. Classic.
I had forgotten how much I enjoy a lot of tracks on this album, used to listen to a lot of them while in college. Standout song for me is This Will Be Our Year - I hadn't heard it in a long time and it put a big nostalgic smile on my face. I think this is gonna be the first 5 star for me - I would do 4.5 if possible, but it definitely deserves more than just a 4. This definitely isn't everyone's style, so it's not something I'd recommend to just anyone. But if you can get into it, then it's a great listen.
One of the best pop albums of the 60s, certainly after the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Right up there with the Kinks best work for me. Fucking tragedy this band only made two albums.
How in the world was this not the biggest album on the planet? I thought it was here because of the one single that everybody knows, but so many of the other tracks reached up and slapped me out of nowhere. Incredible. Best track: Time of the Season
Þessa uppgötvaði ég á Spotify fyrir nokkrum árum. Hún er geggjuð, mögulega besta barokkpoppið. Ekki mjög stórt genre, en oft mjög skemmtilegt svo þetta er mikið hrós.
Really enjoyed listening to this album. Has a very classical 1960's psychedelic and rock & roll feel. I could see myself listening to this album again. My favorite songs on the album were Care of Cell 44, I Want Her She Wants Me, and Time of the Season.
Maybe after he's Gone and Care of cell 44 extremely expressive songs, since lyrics with hope are embedded in quite life-affirming music, but the situations described are extremely gloomy and lyrical
Wow, I absolutely loved this one. It's refreshing, fun, and the perfect mix of psych and pop. I also knew a lot more tunes from it than I expected. So good.
There isn't a bad track on this album. There are a couple of truly exquisitely good tracks on this album. Two thumbs freshly, even after more than fifty years.
Awesome album, up there with the best in terms of classic 60s albums. Time Of The Season the obvious standout track, but a lot of amazing stuff on here.
Deceitful cover ahoy! This ain't no psychedelic headfuck, no tripping on the radical zephyrs of the Mother-Creator's minddrive. Of course, this album fits chummily into the late 60s hippy climate, and one can gesture towards the album's occasional suggestions of dreamscapes, but it's not a journey into the beyond. Rather, it's a genteel, mildly quizzical but bittersweet slab of baroque pop. Think Village Green Preservation Society instead of Tomorrow Never Knows. Actually, focus on that bittersweetness. Odessey and Oracle (the typo was an honest mistake by the cover artist, which the band tried to sell as deliberate). The album seems to have been dipped in the joyful pain of irrecoverable nostalgia. Fully the first side does not deviate from depicting the grief at the loss of potential, of the blueness at remembering when one could have been a contender. The first song, Care of Cell 44, has the convict wondering if his partner still loves him, A Rose for Emily concerns a woman who shall stay unloved her whole life, Maybe After He's Gone deals with a deluded suitor trying to persuade himself that she'll return to him, etcetry etcetry. And all that I found very effective. The songs themselves are exquisite, almost flimsy in their delicacy. But these multifaceted studies are great for a supine wallow. The second half turns more spritely and more positive, with some exception. Changes continues the melancholy of side 1, and Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914) is The Zombies' pacifist anthem, of a fear-ridden WW1 Tommy cursing the priest who encouraged him to enlist (set to an ironic church organ). But apart from those, side two is a lot more smoochy and romantic, ending with Time of the Season, that tribal hippy makeout perennial. You can guess that the second side coheres a little less than the first, but not that it alienates the listener at all; indeed, there will be plenty who prefer the songs about your current girlfriend to the ones about your ex. I was hesitant about awarding this 5 stars, but why not? One can ferret out flaws if one wants, but who wants to undertake such a miserable activity? I guess these five stars are partly akin to a Grade II listing, but I enjoy focusing on Odessey And Oracle's considerable charms much more than its scarce peccancies.
1/21 If “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” was an album, it expands on that psychedelic journey vibe. Standout Tracks: Beechwood Park, Brief Candles, Time of the Season
This was not bad. Makes for good background music while assembling Halloween goodie bags.
Feels like listening to every other 60's BritPopRock. Solid album overall. No bad songs, and Time of the Season is the most recognizable classic song.
very good.. a few songs I knew (time of the season) highlight..my hands wont stop shaking! butchers tale
I'm having a hard time classifying the musical stylings of this album. Regardless, I kinda like it! Maybe it's resonating with the rainy April day outside, but I think I'd listen to it again even if it were sunny. 4 stars!
Sounds of Beatles, Beach Boys, The Doors. Can hear influences for White Stripes Cool harmonies and low lead vocal
Me: Mom can we have Sgt. Pepper? Mom: We have Sgt. Pepper at home Sgt. Pepper at home: Enjoyed the psych-tinged 60s/early 70s pop vibes this gave me. 'Time of the Season' is a track that's been on the mental tip of the tongue for a while and the rest of the LP is similarly good.
Albums and Bands like these really prove that the Beatles only scratched the surface of how good this style of music can be
This morning I'm listening to 'Odessey and Oracle' by The Zombies released in 1968. I've heard Time of the Season many times over the years and I had no idea how good this album was. I've really enjoyed this and it is quite a journey through the late 60s with this band. Of the 'psychedelic' albums of the late 60s, this is by far the most enjoyable album track by track i've heard. I really like 'This Will Be Our Year' I'm sure Ive heard this before. Maybe it has been covered by someone. I'll check that out. I've already added to my playlist to hear over again. Really enjoyable!
It’s a wonder this album wasn’t more popular. Pretty great, timeless hippie-pop. Probably got lost in the era of the Beatles.
No denying their sound, Time of the Season makes this album a must. That song alone personifies the 60’s. Great classic album
British Beach Boys! Yay! Great album, fun listen and Time of the Season is still phenomenal!
Sounds very similar to Beatles. Recognized some tracks I would not have been able to name the artist for previously!
Pretty good melodic British psychedelia, kind of in the spirit of a "Beatles meets the Beach Boys" fusion band. The album is solid, but the real standout is the closing track, "Time of the Season".
I enjoyed this. It's kind of surprising that this band wasn't more popular than they were. They were kind of one hit wonders with that "Time of the Season" song. And that's far from the best one on this album. 4/5
Psychedelic wow. A great journey...I feel like Flaming Lips were influenced by this album.
What up what up y’all it’s Chanclas Batman a.k.a. Chanclas checkin in and checking out “Odessey and Oracle”. A sun-dipped daydream from the 60’s with a lingering finish. Bangers on top of bangers in the last half of the album. I’ll admit you might have to be in the mood for the genre or the dudes voice, but if you are it’s definitely a close to perfect album that deserves a full listen. Saved tracks: 8/12 tf? track: “changes” tf? I’m kinda sad now track: “butchers tale” Stand out tracks: final 3 tracks
First song and last song are pretty good. The rest are just alright 60s semi-psychedelic rock tunes. 7
Un disc per l'estiu. Increïbles harmonies vocals, pop psicodèlic -però accessible- i brillant i algunes de les millors cançons de l'època (ni més ni menys)
Better than I expected. The hit songs are immediately recognizable and the rest of the album sounds surprisingly contemporary.
A real good listen. I thought 'Rose for emily' screamed 60s. Fantastic Also, "This will be our year" sounded familiar as soon as it kicked in. I'd heard the cover by Beautiful South but not this original. A really good album and I'm sure it will get another listen.
Yesterday I worked on adding details from Train A into Train B and filtering out what we needed v "not used" information. I also worked on getting our slab plan and demo plan set up for the addendum. This album reminded me a lot of the Beatles which is always a go to for helping me get through my work day. My top songs were Care of Cell 44 & Brief Candles.
Beatles meets Beach Boys. Similar vocalisation, similar arrangements. Just not convinced that the compositions are as good though.
Going into this album, the only thing I had heard from them was “Time of the Season”. I had initially heard it as a sample on the Eminem track “Rhyme or Reason” which I had really enjoyed because of The Zombies song on it, not so much because of Eminem. I first found out that it was a sample today actually (6/13/21) when I saw the Cruella movie in theaters, which it is in, and I have been listening to it all day since! So, “Time of the Season” was my favorite track on this album, however the race was very close. This whole album was fantastic and so much fun to listen to! I love the vibe of these guys and will definitely be listening to more of them now! 4/5.
Sort of a mix between post-Sgt. Pepper Beatles and the Beach Boys, with a bit of Doors mixed in. Groovy.
I have never heard of The Zombies but I really enjoyed this album from start to finish. I would be happy to listen to this again and may even choose to play another album of theirs at some point.
I...actually quite like this. I mean, it closes with an iconic song, but the whole album has a nice, chill feeling to it. It's inextricably 60s, but that's not a bad thing. If I smoked pot, this would be a lovely album to turn on and just groove on.
Like a darker, more whimsical, much better Beach Boys. An enjoyable half hour. Time of the Season is an all time classic.
Really nice bit of 60's pop, you can actually hear how they influenced bands in the future.
Canonical psychedelic rock, what more is to be said? My ardor for this genre has cooled with age. But this is at top of this particular line.
Kolejny raz spotkanie z odyseja i wyrocznia, czyli drugim i ostatnim albumem wydanym w okresie pierwotnym okresie dzialalnosci bandy, po ktorego wydaniu dosc szybko nastapila dezintegracja zespolu, wiec jest to jedna z tych band beatlesowej ery, gdzie zespoly sie rozpadaly po stworzeniu hitu, ktory skutkowal albumem, koncertami z wielka woda i pozniejszym zapomnieniem, w tym wypadku sytacja wyglada dosc podobnie, ale jednak odyseja ma w sobie to cos, co od chwili gdy natrafilem najpierw na time of the season, a potem na reszte plyty przyciaga do ponownego odsluchu, pomimo tego, ze gatunkowo jest to dosc popowy rock z elementami psychodeliki, to jednak ma w sobie to cos co ciagnie do kolejnych odsluchow, a sluchajac dzisiaj kolejny raz tej plyty nie jestem w stanie stwierdzic co to jest, wokale pana Colina Blunstona, klawisze Argentowe, bo te dwa elementy najbardziej przychodza mi na mysl, ale na trakach takich jak this will be our year czy hung up on dream laur pierwszenstwa musialbym oddac gitarce w polaczeniu z praca basika, wiec duetowi Atkinson-White, do tego jeszcze Hugh Grundy na drumach i jest cala 5 osobowa banda, ktora z osobna nie zachwyca wyjatkowo, a stworzyla tak sluchalny material, do zyczenia pozostawia takze wersja spotifajowa na ktorej sa wymieszane nagrania w mono i stereo, co moze nie kluje w uszy sluchajac pojedynczych kawalkow, ale przy odsluchu calej plyty jest to dosc wyboista droga, wiec soulseek kolejny raz ratuje dzien, gdzie udalo mi sie zdobyc dobre monowe flaki, oczywiscie nipponskie wydanie, jak wiekszosc dobrych wspolczesnych repressow pochodzi wlasnie z kraju kwitnacej winsni i czarnego winyla, co do kontentu lirycznego plyty, to jak w popowym roku motywem przewodnim bedzie milosc i jej pochodne, wiec otwarcie o milosnym wieziennym kawalku, milosci do rodzinnych tradycji arystokracji, simpowania do baby co juz ma chlopa, rozpacze po zwiazkowe, a to dopiero czery pierwsze kawalki, kolejnym pojawiajacym sie odniesieniem beda psychodeliczne wspomagacze, jak przystalo na album z okresu sierzanta peppera, najbardziej czuc je w opisach codziennych rzeczy i zjawisk, na ktore normalnie nie zwraca sie uwagi, a sa tak interesujace w innych stanach swiadomosci, cos jak na traku changes czy time of the season, ktory ma jeden z najbardziej rozpoznawalnych basowych lini jakie znam, a otwarcie solowym basikiem to tez ciekawy zabieg, jak teraz slysze seasona, to mam przed uszami jeszcze jeden wazny aspekt dzwieku zombiesowego, czyli harmonie wokali wspomagajacych lub duetowanie wokalne Blunstone -Argent na brief candles czy a rose for emily, dopiero teraz sie zorintowalem, ze pan Blunstone jest jedynie wokalista, a traki byly pisane przez Argenta i Whita, z czego lirycznie ciekawsze wydaja mi sie kompozycje tego drugiego, na plejke nie dodaje nic nowego, bo juz wystarczajaco kawalkow na spotifajowej plejce jest, wiec jedynie dodam plyte na poleczke biblioteczka spotifaja
I really like this album. "Time Of The Season" has almost become a standard by now, and like so many others I grew up hearing it and almost ignoring it. I may be old but 60s rock for the most part bores me, so when I was given this album probably 20 years ago and told to listen to it I didn't think I'd enjoy it much. Wrongwrongwrong. Right off the bat the melodic "Care of Cell 44" starts the album right; a comically weird song about someone writing to their partner in jail. The 90s band Jellyfish is one of my favourite bands of all-time and this song *is* Jellyfish 25 years early. Jumps right into the song after a very short intro; killer vocal harmonies in the chorus - brilliant. The rest of the album follows suit with melodic twists and turns and although its unmistakable echos of 60s arrangements (a little too reverby, prevalent strings, etc) are a little too much on a personal taste level, there's so much to like on this record that it's a keeper. A few dips (e.g. "Changes" and "Butcher's Tale" aren't favourites) but nothing immediately skip-worthy. And to finish off, the aforementioned "Time Of The Season" is a great album closer and I've found I appreciate it's slinky creepiness much more in the album context than I ever had before. 8/10 4 stars
This was cool! Lots of psychedelic stuff but honestly reminded me more of late Beatles. Great harmonies.
Surprising great stuff. I always thought their music and their name didn't jive. This is the first time I've listened to anything by them that wasn't Time of the Season. They were really talented song writers. Name still doesn't jive though.
really good tunes on here particularly Time of the Season which is an all time classic with the keyboard sound so associated with the Zombies.
A good listen, like others have said this is typical of the era and the British rock and pop of the time. Influenced by both the Beatles and the Beach Boys, close harmonies lyrical content etc. I also hear the Kinks and Small Faces in this Album. See Itchycoo Park/Beechwood Park link. Love "This Will Be Our Year" and of course "Time Of The Season". "The Butchers Tale" is a great anti war song too. Recorded at Abbey Road allegedly with John Lennon's Mellotron that was used on "Sgt Peppers" which was recorded before this. love the lyrical bass work on Care Of Cell 44. A fine piece of 60's pop/rock ephemera.
Again, Its fine. great vocal harmonies. Time Of The Season is a thundering hit in an album that is the quintessentially sixties experiment.
I think I had only heard Time of the season from this album before, partly because it's their most popular song but also because it's sampled by Schoolboy Q in his song Rolling stone. I regret not listening to The Zombies earlier because honestly this is so fucking good, I love the vocals in particular. I'm torn between a 4 or 5 star rating for this album, but im gonna have to go for a strong 4.
La légende dit qu'après avoir entendu les enregistrement des Zombies dans le studio voisin à celui des Beatles, John Lennon rentra dans une colère noire, fustigeant ses camarades de groupe, déclarant notamment: "ça c'est de la musique, pas comme ta guitare de merde Paul!". La suite vous la connaissez, les Beatles se sépareront, et l'audimat générateurien commencera alors à les surcoter.
Interesting album - remind sne of some of the Beatles more experimental stuff I guess?
I'm actually pretty familiar with this album. I think it's really solid. I wish it came with a cheatsheet for what drugs I need to really enjoy it. I'm sure there is definitely a way to drop something and peak at the perfect time. Eitherway, I'm a fan.
Time of the Season is one of my favorite songs, but have never listened to this whole album. Enjoyed it, very Beatle like. 4
sounds like more somber, better, british beach boys! I only knew the last track before listening, but I really liked the whole album! 4.5
Pretty cool stuff. I wish there was a 1/2 star that I could give. 3 doesn’t seem like enough; 4 seems too much. Oh well.
баш пријатно изненађење, албум 50 година испред свог времена, пар песама улазе у моје лајковане на спотифају мост деф
сасвим солидан софт мелоу рокић допада ми се само још да није миксовано на мај литл пони миксети која је укована на десни канал био бих презадовољан хвала
So much joy in one album, the psych tones are warm and edgy at the same time and it basically feels like an album made (and made to be enjoyed) on a lot of psychedelic drugs.
-”Friends of Mine” is pretty catchy and nice -”Time of the Season” is pretty nice with a cool bassline and nice mellotron jam at the end. At least I think it's a mellotron, lol -Generally nice psychedelic rock stuff, but just nothing really stands out. A pretty weak 4 but the fact that it is rock really helps it out
This was my first time listening the zombie’s music and was a blast. They had everything: rhythm, groove, depth… The album flows smoothly and most of the songs has its own personality. Cannot complain at all!
Hi-Maybe After He's Gone, Hung Up On A Dream Lo-Changes Of all the hippy-dippy psychadelic music, the Zombies are mainstays that brought us the timeless Time of the Season that closes out this album. Before that, you'll get to experience the both sad and sunny Maybe After He's Gone and the equally brilliant Hung Up On A Dream. Changes is drab beat poetry, but it's worth hearing nonetheless.
Liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Always assumed The Zombies were going to be like the Beach Boys but there wasn't much of that sun-drenched saccharine sound that turns me off. More like the Doors but I enjoyed this more. Probably could have been 2 songs shorter. Favorite track was Brief Candles.
Gorgeous melodies and great bass lines. I think I need more time with this album to really appreciate. Oh also... FRICKEN STEREO ARGH!!
Hi-Maybe After He's Gone, Hung Up On A Dream Lo-Changes Of all the hippy-dippy psychadelic music, the Zombies are mainstays that brought us the timeless Time of the Season that closes out this album. Before that, you'll get to experience the both sad and sunny Maybe After He's Gone and the equally brilliant Hung Up On A Dream. Changes is drab beat poetry, but it's worth hearing nonetheless.
First time listening to this album, Iv heard a couple of Zombie songs before. Really enjoyed this, one of the better 60’s albums and I’d say very underrated compared to Sgt. Pepper, and Pet sounds, but maybe just isn’t quiet as good, though maybe my bias of knowing those records much better.
Captivating the whole way through. I would say it's a "one-of-a-kind" album, if I hadn't heard its sound elsewhere countless times already. 4/5
Such a good 60s pop album. Impossible not to smile while listening to This Will Be Our Year. Care of Cell 44 is a great one, and of course, the classic Time of the Season!!!
First of all, the name of the band: quite a juxtaposition from the sound, though perhaps not the lyrics, of their music. One thing I love about this album is how their lead singles are the first and last songs, arguably their most famous track being last, which means you have to sit through the whole album to get to it. I'm going to assume this was intentional, the band saying in 1968 that they weren't just making an album with a couple of singles and a bunch of filler tracks. There is no filler here. Every song is brilliant and fits in the overall whole of the album, a document dominated by the dual perennial themes of vivacious love and inevitable death. Leaves fall, and the summer crown of your roses wither. Also, opening your album with a seemingly innocent love song about “baby you’re coming home” type feelings but actually having it be a letter sent to a jailbird who’s about to get release from prison is a wonderful twist on the romantic song trope. Scratch the surface and you will reveal a darker message here: we’ll kiss and make up… wait. Why is the person in jail?
This is an excellent example of ‘60s rock. Culminates with one of the decades finest songs and perhaps it’s best closing track.
I knew a couple of Zombies songs including the infamous Time of the Season from this album, but had never heard of this album. The occasional baroque pop song with psychedelic pop leanings found on 60s albums here and there are usually such easy, upbeat, and enjoyable listens for me. That said, this album does not dabble in the genre; it is absolutely immersed. It is an absolutely shining example of baroque pop with psychedelic pop leanings from start to finish. People have been listening to this genre of music for 60+ years. And yet, you have a moderately known band that has a fairly unknown album that is especially representative of that genre, and even after so long, the album has still managed to stay fairly unknown. To me, that makes it a perfect inclusion to this project. Anyone who knows and cares about bands of similar sound, such as The Beach Boys, The Kinks, or even The Beatles should be made aware of this album and should listen to it! While I wouldn't say that this album necessarily blew me away, I really just found it to be all-around pleasant and a great listen. I didn't find a single song to be a skip. It’s just simply a very well done album on every level.
a feel good listen! that sixties, happy pop is still a wonderful listening experience. most songs made me smile, but the zombies didn't restrict themselves on subject matter: "a rose for emily," a sort of gothic pop song, and "butcher's tale (western front 1914)," a song using only a harmonium with white's unsteady voice to depict a scene in world war i. major props for including a protest song despite the album's generally pleasant tone. i was so reminded of the beach boys, especially on "care of cell 44"--it's so reminiscent of "good vibrations" from the year before. the subject matter, however, is different from the beach boys' number, but honestly i'm in love with this song. the topic, combined with the tone, made it stand out! "time of the seasons" is a great classic, but my goodness this album is rounded out nicely! an album that deserves its spot on this list but also on my personal album rotation.
One of my favorite genres of music done so very well! Time of the Season is such a great song!
One of the highlights of sixties psychedelic baroque pop whathaveyou. Would probably be a 5 if I wasn’t so late to the party
I like this a lot. They might be a little lacking in creativity, but its not a big issue.
Really enjoying this, harmonious English chamber pop. Complex arrangements but still accessible to non musicians like me. Should have been more famous, funnily enough ‘time for the season’ sounds a bit like an afterthought.
So synonymous are The Zombies sound with that Haight Ashbury groovy expansive psychedelic sound of ‘68 you’d assume they were American - but no, these rockers came from the UK - Hertfordshire no less, which is the last place you’d expect to find a scene. Their songwriting, melodies and harmonies and overall moods and production are exemplary and this album is a real gem, evocative, enjoyable and engaging.
A beautiful, soulful psychedelic pop album. Some really lovely songs, with my main issue being how it doesn't have much range.
Pretty amazing, Really enjoyed it throughout the whole album (some of the later songs didn't compare to the first half imo). Not anything really bad to say other than on some of the songs the lyrics did end up feeling a bit repetitive and bland. It feels like its only missing a little bit extra and it would be truly something great. Favourite Songs: Care of Cell 44, Brief Candles
Like the zombies, da e ganske nusselig. Lure på om eg såg at dei skulle spela konsert i norge te høsten, men eg trudde ikkje dei fantes fortsatt
Imogen: I like it as like soft late 60s music, it’s not that dissimilar from The Kinks, Small Faces etc., I don’t think it’s groundbreaking in any sense, but *Time of the Season* is a great song
Overall the album is solid but nothing amazing. However it ended on the highest note possible - Time of the Season. This song by itself is 5/5 which makes rating the album difficult...
It's fine. I don't get into 60s pop-rock stuff. It's like Beatles-lite for me. I'd rather just listen to the Beatles.
Worth revisiting! This album was totally in line with stuff I listened to ten years later. I’m assuming this influenced everyone from Wilco to... umm all those indie peeps later.
This was a good listen, pleasing sounds and more of them were familiar than I expected.
Good 60's rock album, some singular great tracks and a good overall feel of solid 60's rock.
Sehr schön. Wenn White Album ne 4 ist, kann das aber nur ne 3 sein. A Rose for emily bester song
Good for a little bit, more of a picnic with weed mood in the sunshine, otherwise like cotton candy.
I really enjoyed how most of the songs told a story, I like it when people do that. I liked the one about waiting for a partner to come out of prison, it was so jolly😅. I also liked the one about having two friends that are in love, there was a celebration and selflessness which I found touching. I listened to it twice and got more out of it the second time. I enjoyed the happy, light feel, but because of this I found that afterwards I was craving something with some darkness.
Enjoyed this more than I thought after some of the comments I'd heard before listening to it. Pretty easy to listen to, but some songs seemed to merge into each other. Very different sound than I was expecting from a band called The Zombies.
There is better versions of “this type of music” I don’t even know what genre this is? Old hippy shit? There is just no edge is there! Always singing about love and flowers and stuff like that. Atleast the beach boys sang about babes, I just feel like if you were in a bar speaking these lyrics to someone they would vomit in your face. And for that reason only 3 stars.
Really high quality production and mixing. A little too "Beach Boys" for me. Would be a great soundtrack for any Hugh Grant movie.
Very bright, Beatles esque tone, music is pop focused, but mixes in elements of psychedelics and rock
Sounds of the swinging sixties. Listen while driving through the Shropshire countryside in a Morris Oxford bullnose.
Couple of superb songs in This Will Be Our Year and Time Of The Season . Not sure I would revisit as an album though.
1960s psychedelia is not generally my bag, but I'm happy for any album to change my mind! Quite liked the sound on this, which ranges across folk, pop and rock, with hints of 1960s surf rock. I enjoyed the more esoteric and strange tracks, with some small echoes of Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). However, the standout highlights were actually the straight pop ones, like "This Will Be Our Year" - a great track. The song from the perspective of a WW1 soldier was unexpected but interesting. But also some throwaway tracks which haven't aged that well, like ""I Want Her, She Wants Me". Overall, this is a good example of a genre I'm not hugely into. 3.5, but it does deserve a place on the list, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's five-stars for other people who like the genre.
Released after they disbanded their swansong sounds 4 years too late. The high points still hold up Care of Cell 44, Brief Candles and Time of the Season. Sounds of psychedelia 60s England but some songs haven't held up well.
listened for a while, but somehow i'm only on track #2? shuffle is off, repeat is off. also not sure if the interviews are part of the album or part of a special edition, but i can't pay close enough attention to get anything out of them. album in general isn't jiving with my mood today.
25th May 2021 Post interview with the Financial Times listen. Funny one of the songs is called This Will Be Our Year - feels like a sketch given 2020. I like this album but I think I prefer the darker stuff the Zombies did, like She's Not There and Can't Nobody Love You, but I did really like Care of Cell 44. God band, nice album, 3.5
Of course I am familiar with the Zombies' most popular track ("Time of the Season"), which is on this album. The rest of the album was new to me. Musically the album is solid as a whole. The music had a psychodelic side, with elements that reminded me of the Beach Boys, the Mamas and the Papas, and even Belle and Sebastian. My favorite tracks were "Care of Cell 44", and "This Will Be Our Year". ¿Where all of the songs about girls?
Understand how this album has gained new fans and is listed as an influential album. I'm discovering that I'm not that into Psychadelic Rock, but I like the covers.
The Time of the season is pretty much a perfect pop song, beautiful vocals and instrumental solos. Just perfect. The remainder of the album though doesn't live up to the same standard. I hear lots of early Kinks, Beatles and Beach Boys, but most of it is pretty homogenous and nothing really stands out. But the Time of the Season, wow!
I read that the lead singer wanted to keep "Time of the Season" off the album and when he failed, refused to sing it, but eventually relented. It sounds like it could be from another album, or even another band. It's light and poppy, bass-heavy and modern, different than the moody, folkedelic songs on the rest of the album - songs about prisoner-boyfriends, World War 1 protest songs - they grow on you. 7/10
Truly spectacular songwriting, just not really for me. I was worried this would be like the other 60's psych albums and be a bit of a messy compilation of sounds but it ended up being surprisingly well done. I wish I liked it more though.
There is a lot to like here. It's a bit too sweet for me but some fun stuff. Really liked "Butchers Tale" and of course everybody's heard Time of the Season. Love the 60's era organ stuff. Also, bonus points for the great album art! Solid 3.
Right off the bat, listening to this reminds me of the Beetles, and to almost no surprise it was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios. The Zombies is a foray into the psychedelic rock of the mid to late 60s and has an airy lightness to it with the backing harmonies. Although there are darker toned themes such as prison, breakups, wallowing in ones sorrows, and yearning for a great love, it appears it's told through the haze of LSD (have you seen the album cover?). Best: Care of Cell 44; Butcher's Tale Worst: This will be our year
I have never heard of these folks but this was some catchy shit from the mid 60's. Caught me off guard - real fun
the songs towards the end got really weird, there was one song i cant remember what it’s called but it was just baaaad. i didn’t hate the beginning, it wasn’t anything too good or too bad.
The last song on the album, "Time of the Season" was the best song on the album by far. It's pretty easy to get through though the previous songs were somewhat forgettable. 6/10.
Des jeux de voix à gogo pour cet album des Zombies. Comme je le pressentais, ces derniers l'ont enregistré dans le fameux Abbey Road studio, ce qui laisse donc supposer qu'ils écoutaient aux portes des Beatles et recopiaient ainsi bêtement chaque mélodie qui parvenait à leurs oreilles de zombies en décomposition.
Niet onaardig. Zou me minder opgevallen zijn als ik sommige nummers niet al had gekend in een cover-versie door sommige van mijn favoriete bands (The Posies, Foo Fighters). En Time of the Season is natuurlijk een prachtig nummer.
Hippy Trippy Vibes Sound of the season is iconic for the timeframe. Sounds like the era, not the best, not the worst.
Love the album art, and the music is good for 1960s pop - sort of a poor man’s Beach Boys. “Time of the Season” was the only song I was familiar with, none of the others were standouts. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I only knew Time of The Season and This Will Be Our Year going in. This album has quite the reputation so I was expecting something great. What I got was something good but not what I'd consider great. There's absolutely nothing bad about any of this songs. They are all pretty enjoyable. It's just that they don't really hit any high points. The 2 songs I knew going in are easily the best on this album. I would definitely consider giving it another go sometime with tempered expectations.
"A Rose For Emily" ocigledan plagijat pesme "Za Ljiljanu" Tome Zdravkovića. Ostatak albuma inspirisan zvukom bitlsa i bič bojsa. Sve u svemu fin album mada ništa specijalno. Solidnih 7/10.
It's not quite "the british pet sounds" but it is very fun, nicely written psych tinged pop (sometimes psych heavy pop). General vibe and atmosphere is nice, with a few detours which are great on their own but I don't know how well they fit into the album itself.
Felt the Beatles impact, like a cross of Rubber Soul and Revolver... plus Beach Boys. Can't decide whether it's great and it'll get better with more listens - or whether it's an imitation and I'd rather listen to the albums it was influenced by given the choice, so middle of the road for now. Some stuff is great, some didn't quite hit the mark for me.
I'll give this another go someday but right now this album just didn't do much for me.
Kind of sounds like the songs I find most boring off of records from the era from Beach Boys, Kinks, Beatles, etc.
Pleasant, can appreciate the songwriting. Not quite as amazing as all that and a lot of the sixties stylings grate. But half a dozen really good songs.
Time of the Season is a classic - one of the best songs of the 1960s. The rest of the album is new to me. I listened several times today and think it is good and I can see how it can be on this list. 3/5
This album is really interesting. The band split up before they were ever able to perform the album live which has to be a rarity for albums. Very late 60s psychedelic sounds, simple melodies but some complexity in the background. It reminds me of the Beatles.
Rock clásico sesentero, sin grandes alardes. Fácil de escuchar, con melodías simples y acordes. Algún tema reseñable
Le iba a dar un 2, porque era un poco rollo, pero resulta que son los de Time Of The Season.
Not bad. But time of the season is the best song and a departure from the rest of the album
thought the music would be more interesting because of the cover but alas... i was disappointed. another album where i wonder why it was on this list. i like the dave matthew's cover "time of the season" better! 2.5
Entuudestaan tuttu, levyn vika biisi asetti odotukset tosi korkeelle, mut ei kohdannut.
Below average for me. Only a couple of great songs. _This Will Be Our Year_ and _Time of the Season_ being the two best
Beatles meet beach boys. To quote The Mighty Boosh- “Elements of the past and the future combining to make something not quite as good as either.” Pleasant, not life changing
Thoughts on this, in order, as I'm listening to it... Sounds a bit like Beach Boys. Actually this band is kinda irritating. Oh Paul Weller likes them. This song sounds like it's from medieval times. Oh I know this song. 5/10
Nice enough tunes, but never really been a band I’ve felt like exploring that much in the past. Don’t think this album will change that.
Liked the first track and a couple at the end. A lot of nonsense on there in between though
Meh. Meh. Enkel Time of the Season is een geweldige klassieker. Steekt ook hard af met de andere nummers.
I did not particularly enjoy this one. It was ok. Sounded a lot like the Beatles. A Rose for Emily was just very sad and Maybe After He's Gone was pathetic. Beechwood Park was probably the high point for me.
Really low key album. Too low key for my taste I think. "Time of the Season" is a great song though.
Good songs but I listened on headphones and the stereo effect gives me headaches on about 3 songs. Would rate a lot higher if the stereo wasn't present as the highs on this album are very high.
Time of the Season is an amazing track, but aside from that this album didn't engage me. It struck me an attempt to reproduce the magic of Pet Sounds but it fell short of the mark.
Meh, mostly bland pop rock. Wasn’t bad to listen to but uneventful and not necessarily the best representation of that era’s pop rock
OK - Time of the Season is a great song. The album might improve if I listened to it more.
Expected so much more from the band that gave us 'She's not There' and 'Time of the Season' - it's a listenable album but very forgettable
Time of the Season is, obviously, a complete and total classic, but the rest of this one was pretty forgetable.
Sounds similar to other groups of the time. Time of the Season is the only song I think I've heard before. It's not bad, but just bland.
I had heard "Time Of The Season" quite a few times before, but none of the other songs. "Time Of The Season" is okay; not on my list of favorite songs from that era, though I've always liked the melody. I don't particularly care for any of them.