Reviews (page 2 of 13)
Beginning sounds more Beatles-esque than I would've thought. The tight harmonies and piano guiding the rhythm along is very Beatles circa mid 1960s, this is a good thing!
Lighthearted.
Didn't get it at first w/ lack of context, but after framing my mind around the "Beatles-era", really enjoyed the album. It maintains that late 60's baroque pop sound, while having just enough variety and strong melody to keep each song distinct enough to not let the album get too repetitive Fav songs: Care of Cell 44, Maybe After He's Gone, Beechwood Park, Brief Candles, Changes, This Will Be Our Year, Friends Of Mine We'll see which ones I come back to over time, but a lot of potential staylist for sure, and I have a feeling the songs on this album will grow on me over time as I listen to it in different contexts living life
A couple of spins washed over me apart from “Time of the Season”, which I knew as I’m old enough to have listened to the radio. This is the platonic sound of the la-la-la period, marooned with Austin Powers cuddling the Beach Boys in Carnaby Street. Marked down for taking what should have been a garage band name and corrupting it with flowers.
Sing-songy and a little obnoxious. I almost DNF-ed. The repetitive words with a harpsichord just irked me. Perhaps they walked so vampire weekend would run. Only held on to hear time of the season. Which is an incredible song, and the only reason why this record is not 1 star for me.
Felt like the soundtrack for either a b-movie film of the 70s or a scooby doo episode with a terrible cameo
Seemingly a Beatles knockoff. The rarely seen album that had their most famous song as the last song on the album. Unfortunately I do hate this song. It’s not the zombies fault but Jesus I feel like I’ve heard it so many times against my will. It’s in so many movies/tv shows or any oldies station in like doctors office.
Bored me.
I really hoped to like this album, but really didn't. I kept thinking, if this was a book, I'd put it aside. But I was driving and kept it going. I found it interested that the 'hit' from it was so different from the actual rest of the album.
Quite possibly the most hippiest album I’ve listened to. If this was rhe 60s I’d be in a meadow, high as a kite jamming to this. Unfortunately it’s 2022 and I’m as low as the marinas trench.
Too folksy for me to really get into
A less interesting version of the Beatles
harmonizing 60s folk pop, psychedelic stuff. Feels like a cheap Beattles rip off at times.
Liked the first track and a couple at the end. A lot of nonsense on there in between though
Expected more.
Setting aside that Kanye West is just a terrible human being with mental health issues and needs serious help, this album is just so bad. Good thing I just pirated it. I feel like I should be paid for being assaulted by this noise. I'd give it a negative score if I could. My other 1/5s are at least somewhat listenable. 1/5
I have a serious soft spot for psych pop/rock with a British accept. Frolicking drums and Beatlesque vocal harmonies, what more could you ever wish for? Thing is, while I do enjoy the soundscapes, I can't say any song in particular sticks in my memory. Even immediately after listening, it's all very forgettable. Feels like it has the superficial form of music I enjoy, but the songwriting is lacking. I can’t remember a single thing about a song after having listened to it.
If I'd made that album I would have been so embarrassed I would no not have let anyone hear it. Absolutely terrible, especially when you think of what else was being produced at this time. And the cover is crap. Is this list a joke and it's really just all the shittiest albums of all time.
One song. Just one song, and that a cult discovery. How do you call youselves The Zombies, and then make music fit for the Cowsills? Most of this is just trite pop.
Great throwback album that still holds up. Time of the Seasons still rocks.
This has always been one of my favorites
An underrated album from an underrated band. It's got their hit Time Of The Season that is very well known by people. Definitely one of The Zombies best albums. The psychedelic sound that they've become known for has inspired a lot of other groups. Their piano arrangements are really good as well! Truly amazing album!
A surprise 5! This was a very strange album, and I don't normally like this type of music, but I actually loved it. I'm not sure exactly what it is. It kind of reminds me of The Beau Brummels album that was also weird but I loved that too. Interesting harmonies, chords, song subjects, instrumentation. There's something very simple about this music, but it's complex at the same time. I never knew that Time of the Season was by The Zombies.
Vaya pedazo de album, me ha recordado a la sensación que tuve al escuchar Rubber Soul.
Buenísimo. Imposible no comparar con los Beatles, igualmente tiene una estilo propio que es lo que hace que escuche regularmente este disco. Me gustan todas las canciones, una obra maestra, pero entiendo que es un poco gusto adquirido, cuando lo descubrí me gustaban algunas canciones solo. “Time of the season” pese a ser un temón no pega nada ahí, siento que ya terminé el álbum y estoy escuchando otro tema de la banda. No sabría dónde ubicarlo dentro de los de 5 estrellas, porque es el único que ya venía escuchando seguido. Sin duda uno de mis discos preferidos, desde la portada hasta la historia.
521/1089 - A bit more sophisticated than a lot of the psych rock and pop on the list. Great songs and a cool organ solo to end the album.
I love them, I love the singing arrangements, I love the simple melodies, I love the use of other instruments. Such a good album and it put me in such a great mood.
I like it! It definitely reminds me of the Beatles and The Mamas and Papas’ sound. Nice to here some more of their music, apart from Time of the Season. Album art is gorgeous as well!
Soooo good
One of the best all time
One of the best albums of the 60s.
Great bouncy feeling. Relatively new to psych/baroque pop but this album was a great introduction to it, with a great arrangement of instruments and catchy melody. favorite track so far: Beechwood Park Gorgeous album art.
10/10
I love this record. I probably got this one when I was in 8th grade? I think I was expecting it to be a punk record, but then quickly learned that it was like a 60s dream pop record. And it’s incredible because of that. Obviously, the sex appeal of Time of Season is what makes me want to start this over after finishing. But the wholesome ballad of This Will Be Our Year can’t help but make you feel good. Hung Up on a Dream is kind of the sonic heartbeat of the whole experience. I love how weird and psych it feels while also feeling like The Beach Boys or The Beatles. This is fantastic. Always good to pay this one a visit.
It’s a melodic triumph and fast breaking its way into my top 60s albums.
Je suis dans un blitz de chorale pré-show (petite plug, vous êtes les bienvenus, 14h30 église Ste Madeleine d'Outremont le 14 juin). Ce qui me fait penser qu'en partie pourquoi j'aime tant les boys band de l'époque, c'est leur maîtrise quasiment innée de l'harmonie vocale. Mon prof de littérature musicale au cégep avait une hypothèse là-dessus, les Anglais sont dès la petite enfance incités à chanter à l'église (les protestants ont ça de plus sur les cathos, c'est beaucoup plus démocratique). En tout cas, pensez-y bien, c'est peut-être vrai, peut-être pas... Dès la première track, j'ai tout de suite pensé à Pet Sounds et Sgt Pepper, les références ne pourraient pas être plus claires. Je ne connaissais pas ça mais ça me parle x1000!! Allez allez, je retourne à mon Purcell.
still a great album. it's a late _pet sounds_ response and is pretty good in that regard. "time of the season" is still absolutely perfect and a great album ender
So I’ll start off by saying that this is one of my favorite albums of all time, and one of the rare, if not the only example of me liking the album from start to finish on my first listen. From the opening of “Care of Cell 44” to the end of “Time Of The Season”, it’s filled with jovial rhythm, beautiful harmonies, and amazing instrumentation. Now, looking at a few parameters, you’ll see a pattern: 1. Released in the 60s? Check. 2. Is it a sunshine pop/psych album? Check. And you may think to yourself “Oi, this is just a rip off of what The Beatles or The Beach Boys have been doing for the majority of the 60s!” Ahh, you may be right. But! Did the Beatles or the Beach Boys have Rod Argent taking you on a fucking grand adventure with his organ playing? No. Did the Beatles or the Beach Boys have Colin Blunstone weaving beautiful lyrics that covered love from a whole different view as opposed to the “I love you, you love me” porridge of lyrical shit show from Paul and Brian? Well, on one song yes, but no! No, they didn’t. And that’s what sets this album apart from anything ever done in the 60s psych era. Looking superficially, it’s a run-of-the-mill psychedelic “la di da” album, but deeper down, a dark and hard-hitting manifestation intertwines between the lyrics, shining a new light on life, love, war, friendship, and every in between. Now, talking a whole paragraph about two musicians here would do no justice to the drummer, Hugh Grundy, who isn’t the flashiest drummer, but, just like the late Charlie Watts, perfectly helped the group achieve musical greatness, Chris White who’s playing on “Hung Up On A Dream” made the song one of my favorites and Paul Atkinson, whose harmonies with Rod and Collin made the album what it is. And also, his bass lines on a few of these songs are as beautiful and memorable as it gets, especially on the closing track. I’d go as far as to say that this album is better than “Pet Sounds“ and, for that matter, better than anything The Beach Boys have ever put out, and better than most of the catalog of the Beatles. Shame it never got the recognition it deserves when it first came out, for this is one of the crowning achievements of 60s rock. A+ album, from start to finish.
Romántico 💕
Ansol
I love this album. To me, this is the peak of the 60s and I feel a lot of bands fell flat on their face while trying to create this lush, baroque sound. (Sorry, Paul McCartney, but you never made the brass section sound as warm and inviting as the organ here). This is an album that slapped me in the face when I first heard it. Perfect.
Hay tres temazos que ya escuchaba, amo este disco
Well, this is an easy one for me. It doesn't get much better than Odessey and Oracle. Psychedelic 60s Brit rock at it's ultimate best. I have loved this album forever and had to listen to it two times in a row to get enough.
Big fan of the Zombies - managed to break-up before the album was released alas.
Such a good album. The music is unique and varied, the lyrics are excellent, and the harmonies are outta sight. I've only heard Time of the Season before off this album. I'm glad I've now rectified that and really enjoyed the experience. Between the Beatles and the Beach Boys, The Zombies need to be on the Mount Rushmore of incredible harmonies. It's a short album, but there's no wasted space.
reminds me of moody blues and beach boys.. idk if im accurate but i like it
- I've always really liked this album. I like every song on it (though, not necessarily equally, and minus Butcher's Tale), and the flow of the songs works really well. - It definitely feels very baroque pop & Beatles-like. The song structures are interesting -- they have a lot of space but also layers and moments of coming together. - The songs have a bittersweet, sentimental vibe and lyrics. - I also really enjoy the vocals - soft and sweet but full, with good range. The harmonies work well, too. - In terms of instrumentation, what stands out most to me are the keys, winds, and often random percussion-y elements (and occasional drum fills). Again, I like how everything has its moment, so it's definitely the opposite of a wall of a sound, with all the sounds used judiciously. The quality of the arrangements really stands out to me. - Everything just feels very thoughtful, including that the songs never overstay their welcome. The album is the perfect length, as well. - I rate it a 4.5, rounded up.
I mean, it's a timeless classic. Arguably the best baroque pop album of all time. Its only real flaw is that 'Odyssey' is spelled wrong.
I own a physical copy of this one. Such a great 60’s weirdo psych rock album with silky smooth harmonies. Criminally underrated band.
Wow, completely surprised about this album. Every song feels different, full of feelings, sweet. is amazing this is almost an 60 years old album. Its a 5
Really love this classic.
the album to end the 60s. this thing is immaculately produced with insane orgasmic vocal harmonies and melodies that will make you cry. listen to it!!!
So much melody and musicianship. The entire body of this work is a strange and familiar piece. The allure is in the feeling that is conveyed. A warm summer cup of sunshine
Just very goooood
Reminds me of a summer road trip as a kid. Loved it.
One of those albums that grab you by the neck and make you feel like doing coke.
Amazing! I've had three albums this month that I've always meant to listen to and never got around to doing so. Pet Sounds was superb; Forever Changes was worthwhile; now this! For me, the 1960s are musically defined by The Kinks, so anyone who sounds like The Kinks are alright by me. This sounds like The Kinks, so good job lads! Played right through twice without skips and will buy a vinyl copy the next time I'm in town 😎
good and comfy
Perfect album. One of the best of the first psychedelic era
Surprisingly really good
9.5/10
Dammit, now I have to get into The Zombies.
Took an extra listen, but this is definetely 5 stars. Beautiful piece of 60's Psychedelic pop. Every song here has it's own merit and beauty, vocals are beautiful and accompanied really well. The songs work as standalone singles, yet there's a cohesion to the entire album as well. The entire backstory behind this album and the Zombies is amazing too.
Among the greatest albums of all time. Up there with Sgt Peppers, Pet Sounds and Something Else by The Kinks. Books have been written about the album's greatness. Go read one but first hear Odessey And Oracle.
This record doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
Every day it brings sunshine, brightening a prison stay. Pure love. A walk, a lovely talk. A hug from those you love. The hug is warm, but it's overcast. The world is still dark, and there's nothing to do. Still, there is loving everywhere. It's simple, but that's the truth. I love the truth.
I like The Zombies. They're fun, it sounds nice, and they've got nice voices.
I know it's considered a classic but I feel like this album is underrated in some way. Like some people seem to think their only claim to fame is because of Time of the Season, but the whole album is almost flawless in my book.
A psychedelic masterpiece, to say the least!
This album is a true gem. Clever songwriting, perfect in tones, wonderful arrangements and just to make it perfect, a stunning and iconic cover art.
The joy of getting two 5 albums in a row. Odyssey and Oracle (despite the poor spelling) is one of the best pop records of the '60s. Pound for pound, better than any Beatles record. Elite tier sophisticated pop music but splattered with fun throughout. The story of The Zombies is a weird one but, on this recording, I think they might have been one of the most talented acts of the decade. Best: Care of Cell 44, Hung Up on a Dream, Maybe After He's Gone
Similar to the Kinks, The Zombies are another serious blind spot for me. So good. Hearing 'Time of the Season' in context, or contrast, to the rest of the album is interesting.
I really enjoyed this album. The only song that I knew off of it was the last one, but the rest was a really good pop album from the era.
un hermoso viaje a los 60
Immaculate vibes
This has been my absolute favorite listen so far. I love the baroque, psychedelic vibes so much. This album is now on my vinyl wish list for sure.
POURQUOI IL Y EST PAS SUR DEEZER RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH IL EST TROP BIEN ET IL EXISTE PAS SUR DEEZER GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH je leur ai envoyé un message ducoup Il est incroyable l'album purée j'ai presque envie de mettre 5 étoiles IL EST TROP BIEN MAIS IL EST MEME PAS SUR DEEZER RAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH
What a great album. The first song sounds like it might be by The Mamas & The Papas, or the Beach Boys - think “God Only Knows.” But (big but) it’s directed to the singer’s girlfriend while he waits for her to get out jail. “And we’ll get to know each other for a second time / And then you can tell me ‘bout your prison stay.” From that awesome, quirky starting point, the album never disappoints. For an album recorded in the summer of 1967, it has a bit of a throwback sound...pleasantly so. Each song is really enjoyable, with some delightful lyrical turns. I enjoyed “Changes” for example: “I knew her when summer was her crown / And autumn sad how brown her eyes / I knew her when winter was her cloak / And spring her voice she spoke to me.” The big hit is “Time of the Season,” which seems to take their sound and production to another level. Maybe because music was evolving so quickly in the pivotal year of 1967, and this was among the last songs recorded. But I enjoy every track, and happy to give 5/5 for a deserving album.
En la primera canción estaba dudando sobre la calidad de este álbum, pero a partir de la segunda canción logro atraparme con un sonido alternativo/reggae que hizo que álbum se mantenga coherente, buenas letras, voces y producción, me gustó más de lo que pensé.
Pop music high point
In the same way that Sgt. Pepper, Revolver, and Pet Sounds are acclaimed as 60s pop masterpieces, this album belongs right up there with them. The difference is popularity. The album was never really discovered during the 60s - the Zombies had already broken up by the time the album was released. As a result, the album has less visibility. But in terms of quality, from the lush pop arrangements, to the baroque feeling it gives, it certainly doesn't lack behind its more famous 60s counterparts. 5/5
Like little else from that time period. It still holds up.
Unequivocally one of the best albums of the '60s, holding its own against the best offerings of more celebrated peers like The Beatles and The Beach Boys. The band was criminally under recognized and imploded as a result, but this record remains their defining achievement. Great pop meets great orchestration with terrific baroque and psychedelic touches. Numerous highlights, including "Care Of Cell 44", "A Rose For Emily", and the anthemic "Time Of The Season." Masterpiece.
This one is groovy for sure. Outstanding vocal harmonies. Time of the Season is a real earworm. Another really strong 60's psychedelic rock album. I'll visit the rest of their catalog.
Beatles ahh
one of the best albums of the sixties
Care Of Cell 44 - 5/5 A Rose For Emily - 4/5 Maybe After He's Gone - 4.5/5 Beechwood Park - 4/5 Brief Candles - 4/5 Hung Up On A Dream - 3.5/5 Changes - 3.5/5 I Want Her She Wants Me - 3/5 This Will Be Our Year - 3.5/5 Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914) - 3/5 Friends of Mine - 4/5 Time of the Season - 4/5
I have this record in my collection. A classic & easily a 5/5
it’s so indescribably incredible
5 stars, I already know. Back when bands had to be able to sing and play. The songwriting / arrangements / vocal harmonies / 60s sound / steez. Yup!
So full of love!
the songs switch between the coziness of waking up on a sunday morning with your partner to the chirping of birds to make breakfast and the longing of a saturday evening. couldn't ask for more
So good, timeless
This album is very interesting, from a band called The Zombie I was expecting dark almost goth type music but instead I get a bright peppy sound and honestly I'm here for it! Every track here sounds great and this is definitely a 5/5 in my books!!
It’s great! I was surprised by how clean the sound is, or how modern and varied the tracks are. It's one of the first albums I have listened to on this thing that genuinely feels like a diamond in the rough.
I’m a sucker for beautiful, lush ballads; which just so happens to fill most of this short and sweet album. It is reminiscent of the Beach Boys and a little bit of the Moody Blues. Love the mellotron textures throughout Glad to be reminded of this one. It may not be for everyone, but it definitely is for me! Favorite track: Care Of Cell 44
10/10
Loved loved loved!!!!!
Easily one of the greatest albums of all time, this 60s rock album is truly a must listen. It’s such a criminally underrated album, the harmonies are amazing. I love Colin. Their story is also insane, with the album initially flopping and the band breaking up, and then a fake Zombies took their place, they were robbed of payments from huge shows, and never got the attention they deserved in their hay day. Go watch their documentary/movie, it’s very very well made and interesting as hell, it’s a real rollercoaster of a story. So many hits on this album including Time of the Season and Care of Cell 44. Incredible.
If time of the season doesn’t immediately lift your mood there could be something wrong with you. The first notes of care of cell 44 ignite something in me.
I had never heard of this. wow
Note perfect. The ultimate cult album? Anyone into psych, garage rock, invasion, prog, jangle pop will find something, maybe everything, to love here
Loved this one. It’s a very timeless sound that was very obviously an inspiration for later bands like Queen and the Beatles. The story behind the fake American bands is hilarious as well, but their success is a testament to this album’s excellence.
The worst part about revisiting this album is realizing how much it sounds like the Beatles. then the best part about revisiting this album is realizing how much it sounds like the Beatles.
When to listen: Feeling like you're in an indie movie. I know this band isn't indie music, but it's the foundation of all that came after it ya know? I knew I loved Time of the Season and This Will Be Our Year but I ended up liking the whole album.
The late 60's saw some superb psychedelic, layered, incredibly accomplished pop-rock albums released. The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, Love's Everything Changes, The Beatles' White and Sgt Pepper albums, The Kinks' Village Green Preservation Society ... This is in that league. Amazing story, The Zombies. They sort of disappeared after this. One of the best albums of the decade and with Time Of The Season, one of its best songs. And then ... nothing.
This was a wonderful album. I love some baroque pop, and this is a shining example of the genre, with dreamy melodies & harmonies, and some unconventional yet always enjoyable instrumentation. The songwriting itself is quite sophisticated, with some great melodic change ups and good use of layered vocals and instrument tracks. As an example, I particularly enjoyed the way the third chorus in Maybe After He's Gone strips down to just the simple piano track and the harmonized vocals. Speaking of vocals, the lead vocals of Colin Blunstone and the backing vocals of the band really make the record; there's just something about Blunstone's voice and singing style that I find very captivating — soft and elegant, yet never boring. Favourite tracks: Care of Cell 44, A Rose For Emily, Butcher's Tale, This Will Be Our Year
The best psych pop album of the 60s. Beatles eat your heart out.
I really liked this album, it's really perfect. I think, personally, I just feel like it's really an album I want to listen to before I die. I also really like all the influence there is from the Beatles and the Beach Boys, it is felt a lot
A top 5 album from the 60’s— right up there with “Sgt Pepper” and “Village Green”.
la voz de colin blunstone es de mis aportaciones favoritas de inglaterra a la cultura internacional. y siento que si pienso mucho en por qué me gusta tanto voy a llorar
I really liked it, it was chill
This album is absolutely fabulous. I've loved listening to it, it's really enjoyable, a bit psychedelic, and worth a listen or more, for sure. It has some Beatles sound, but with its own personality. A bit of experimentation from here to there and also with some variety. Sure a fantastic listening. I've loved it!
Hippy folksie chill vibes -transports one to the 60s
i’m really happy i got this one because i’ve been meaning to listen to the zombies. this is great early psych rock album, and i particularly loved maybe after he’s gone, hung up on a dream, i want her she wants me, this will be our year and time of the season. loved the keys and vocals and of course the flute throughout the whole album. very cohesive conceptually.
good album. sounds a little like the doors.
Wow. Dit voelde als een lome zomerdag op de beste mogelijke manier. De harmonieën waren iets te vaak ingezet, maar goed, zou ik ook doen als ze zo crispy klonken. Eigenlijk alles wat deze typische jaren 60 sound zo goed maakt is hier wel te vinden. 9/10
love!
What a surprise! Loved it
First album I’m familiar with and have listened to prior to starting this. This is generally more my speed. Haven’t listened to this in a number of years and it still holds up. Just a great late 60s psychedelic sound. Some great songwriting. First half is just great song after great song. As good as the best of the Kinks, Beatles, Beach Boys of this era. Harmonies and full sound. Needs to be heard with headphones on. Am I nuts or is this a perfect album. I’ve always been a fan of that late 60s baroque sound and this is as good as that gets. Probably a 5 for me. Was a great re-listen.
SOOO GOOOD
One of my long-standing favourites from this era. A lot going on sonically here, beautiful arrangements and melodies.
My favourite album of the 60's!
From the opening bars of 'Care for Cell 44' this is a delight - intricate Beach Boys harmonies, Beatlesque melodies, a chamber-pop sensibility, folky undertones, the lightest smattering of psychedelia. Beatles comparisons are obvious, but it's not unlike some of the better-quality Kinks material of the mid-60s. 'This Will Be Our Year' is irresistible.The melodies have a thread of interesting melancholy. It's a shame The Zombies were so poorly managed as this is superbly crafted and wonderfully understated. Probably my favourite quasi-psychedlic chamber-pop (with a lilting cadence to the minor key, and lush harmonies) album.
musicboard
Excellent album, love The Zombies.
Love time of the season always
This is a GREAT album and probably the best one that I’ve listened to so far in my project. I love the harmonies, lyrics, and the musical composition. I think my top three songs are care of cell 44, this will be our year, and I want her she wants me. There honestly isn’t one bad song on this album but the worst was probably brief candles. I love the beach boys and Beatles inspirations.
Looks hella promising ngl. Imma give it a listen. Omg sooo firee
This was a sweet one with hidden gems, alongside some classic favorites.
I was not expecting this so sound so much like The Beach Boys. Five stars.
One of my favorite albums of all time. Start to finish, a psychedelic masterpiece up there with the greatest 60s albums. It has hits, it has deep cuts, it’s an all time great.
A very pleasant surprise - enjoyed this. Great songwriting. Nearly gave this a 4 but to be honest the highlights of this push it to a 5.
Insanely good, more of a 4.5 but I'll just round up
Been listening to the beatles more lately, so maybe that's why I liked this 60's album a lot. Usually don't dig old stuff but ts was great.
Every so often you are served up a great album you were totally unaware of. Knew of The Zombies and Rod Argent but to my permanent loss never bothered to go into their catalogue. 68 years it has taken but better late than never. Serves has a lesson that there is a lot of great undiscovered music out there. Nice album to end 2025 on. 5/5 31/12/25
Good 1960s sound.
A classic.
ICONIC ALBUM
Hopefully this is the year....
This has been a favorite of mine for a while. Its magic hadn’t dulled this listen either. When you can start and end an album with Care of Cell 44 and Time of the Season you know a masterpiece is in the works. The vocal harmonies and melodies littered throughout are incredible. The first half is the greatest baroque pop of the decade rivaled only by The Beach Boys. The second half is a bit more adventurous and still executes with Butchers Tale being the prime example of that. It’s not even worth calling out my favorite songs as I’d be naming all but a couple. I realized I’ve never listened to their debut and it was pretty great too as far as mid-60s debuts go. 28th perfect album, 900 albums in. Rating: 5.0
Not sure why but this unexpectedly delighted me
Audiences and critics in 1968 must have been really spoilt for classics if they felt they could give this album a miss. It’s a baroque psychedelic gem.
Beautiful melodies and overall vibes! The guitar on 'Hung Up On A Dream' is SUPERB! Makes me ascend into the heavens!!!Beginning of 'Butcher's Tale' scared the SHIT out of me! 'Care Of Cell 44' wasn't that great as an opening but 'Time Of The Season' wrapped it up very nicely! Enjoyed listening to this while playing Ecos La Brea!
classic (dis)comfort album. i have gone through periods of obsession w/ this record and maybe im just getting increasingly soft with age but i kind of view those as an uncanny daze...repeat casual listens must get caught up in the color and light as a way to dull the emotional blow of songs that could broadly be described as "bittersweet" but occasionally dip into pure eleanor rigby territory. a garden of earthly heartbreaks, which i seldom have the full constitution for anymore but still absolutely screams I AM A CLASSIC from start to finish. i do hope someday to play This Will Be Our Year in earnest hope and excitement. time of the season is obviously great but its inclusion and the stylistic clash is always a little jarring, and i wonder how the record would fare with friends of mine as the closer...culminating not with an idealized summer of love but by swallowing the lump in your throat for the sake of everyone else...could be kind of caroline no esque!
Exceptionally good album. Baroque psycedelia and all time classic, season to love included.
Overall not a bad album! The first song was certainly my favorite/best on the album.
This is Baroque 60s psychedelic pop Rock at its best. A cult classic that for a long time I dipped into and didn't quite get, then I gave it a few moments more and it became a favourite. I could literally listen to A rose for Emily all day, but that would mean missing the others, not a lesser track on here, the sound, the harmony, just a great record 5 Star
This is the first album I listened to twice without skipping a single song. The only song I actually knew was Time of the Season which is an all time classic along with She's Not There, but every other song was enjoyable and interesting because of the underlying dark nature of the lyrics disguised with relatively cheerful music and good instrumentation at that. This will be one is listen to occasionally along with Back in Black.
I really enjoyed this! All the songs went together well and nothing felt super out of place or jarring. I will be adding it to my listens in the future!!! 5/5
barock kammarpop är helt i min lane. Orgel + vden valsiga rytmen + temat i Butcher's tale och whiplashen man får i övergången till Friends of mine är en highlight.
Iconic 60s psych
Undeniable, still sounds fresh, love the mono of it, the vocals all around are amazing. Never gone out of my way to listen to The Zombies, they have been ever present, so focusing on an entire album made me realize how great they are.
"Odyssey and Oracle" is lavish baroque chamber-pop, with singing storytelling fused with Beach Boys-esque harmonies. Thematically, it conveys typical psypsychedelic landscapes of freedom, imagination, and memory, ranging from the reminiscent tones of "Beachwood Park" and ascendant harmonies of "Brief Candles" to the chorals and modulations of opener "Care of Cell 44". The melodies, harmonies and instrumentals all combine together beautifully to tonally create an unmistakeable, melancholic feel, hearkening back to a time perhaps unfamiliar to the listener. A great album, no skips on it. Key Songs: "This Will be Our Year", "Beachwood Park", "Time of the Season"
Pure pop perfection. The bridge between mid-60s Paul McCartney and early Chicago.
What a start! Instant great vibe from the opening track. Really good chord choices in A Rose for Emily. Lots of unexpected harmonic turns which are really fun. I feel like this probably influenced a lot of the Elephant 6 collective stuff I love. This feels made for me, I love it, I’m so glad it was recommended to me.
They broke up after this!? What the fuck? This is a really good album. Quite frankly it feels like a perfect representation of the state of UK pop music in the late 60s. There's some lush arrangements in here, especially vocals. Seems like a common story in rock history; band creates a masterpiece, album does nothing, band breaks up, album becomes an all timer. The Wiki says Al Kooper heard three potential singles when he pushed this album on CBS. Although Butcher's Tale is an interesting choice for a single. It says the label chose it for America's anti Vietnam vibe at the time. (Ferengi rule of acquisition #34: war is good for business) Time Of The Season was clearly the better choice.
Really enjoyed this album. Great songs written by band members Argent and White. Well arranged and performed. Particularly liked A Rose for Emily Brief Candles Butcher's Tale Time of the Season
Easy 5 stars.
My wedding first dance song appears on this album. Hard to be rational about this one. 6 stars out of 5.
I am genuinely surprised that their label could fumble this album so bad that it wasn't well received when it was released. It sounds like a mix of the Beach Boys and the Beatles and there's not a bad track on here. It's just a solid psychedelic baroque pop album from front to back!
One of my all time favorites. I caught wind of this a few years ago and has been a grail of mine. It is just so well written, catchy, and so much more than just its lone hit single. I love it significantly.
Very pleasant songs - a great album - I was pleasantly surprised
Great songs, fun harmonies, lovely instrumentation.
Pretty, pretty, pretty good.
Actually it's very good! I didn't expect to like it so much but I do.
What a suprise! I knew one song. Masterpiece.
If there is ever a band that gained a cult following from one album alone, it would be the Zombies. Frustrated by their lack of success, they signed to CBS Records and recorded their second studio album at Abbey Road Studios. Tempers flared as the band worked under a tight budget, with morale hitting an all-time low at the end of the sessions. After the first two singles failed to chart and demand for their live appearances dwindled, the Zombies split up. Months after their breakup, Odessey and Oracle was released in the UK, and it was musician Al Kuper's convincing of the album's merits to his superiors at Columbia Records that the record had a second chance in the US market. "Time of the Season" became a sleeper hit, and the legend of the Zombies started to grow. After giving this album a listen, I can hear the dedication in the songcraft and production. After the Beach Boys put out Pet Sounds, and the Beatles put out Sgt. Pepper's, the Zombies had their baroque pop record. The sound is lush and ornate, with Rod Argent's elegant work behind the Hammond organ and Mellotron, the bouncy rhythm section from Chris White and Hugh Grundy, eclectic guitar lines from Paul Atkinson, and Colin Blunstone's breathy vocal delivery supported by a multitude of harmonies. The overall style is very psychedelic and avant-garde, paired with lyrics that present as a series of dream sequences in the mind, with vivid imagery used to describe the passion for love felt by the narrator, only broken up partway with the wartorn conflict eloquently described on "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)". Even in the argument could be made for more varied subject matter, the execution makes up for any shortcomings. I honestly couldn't find any fault with Odessey and Oracle. The Zombies would reunite decades later to revel in the glory that this album brought.
No
Gorgeous listen, made me a bit misty at points
Some probably find this too precious but I’m a sucker for orchestral pop. I was introduced to this album by This Will Be Our Year which is the best song by a fair margin. Some of the tracks took time to grow on me but did with the exception of only a couple. Colin Blunstone has one of my favorite rock/pop voices of any era.
21.00, hima, sennheiser, qobuz JES
so good
Why did I never realize the 'good morning to you' song is about someone in prison
Just barely a five!
Love the zombies!
another great record
This album is a miracle, a brilliant shimmering diamond. It captures the spirit of that romantic, pure, youthful, idealized world of the 1960s better than any other album. The songwriting is pop perfection. Catchy hook after catchy hook, while also maintaining a high degree of intricacy. None of the songs are simple 4-chord pop fluff; many of them weave between keys or employ strange and complex chords, without compromising the allure of the music. I love the vocals, both the lead and those in the background. And I love the lush sound quality of the album as well; many songs have that magical mellotron-sound popular in the late 60s. A thoroughly charming, delightful listen.
While I've never sat and listened to the whole thing in one go before, I've heard quite a lot of it before and it's great.
Increasingly obsessed with this. A conglomeration of everything that made the '60s great.
Another unexpectedly fantastic album. I want it on vinyl.
Fucking fire psychedelic pop. The mixing has great layers.
Wow, I enjoyed this so much. Time is the season eat the only song I recognized but I loved the entire album.
Fun Beach Boy-esque harmonies and a tinge of 60s psychedelics. There was a point in my life where I would have listened to this over and over again. A Rose for Emily is a brutal song, but I really did enjoy the album.
I honestly loved this one. You can hear a lot of Elliott Smith influences, especially a great example of a more sophisticated version of 60s pop
I mean cmonnnn. One of the best albums ever made. Every time I listen I have a new fav. I think as time goes on tho care of cell 44 and a rose for Emily r my favs lol. What a wonderful album that has aged beautifully
Awesome classic so great such a wonderful experience to get to hear this again with fresh ears. One of my favorites ever.
Deserves to stand proud in the pantheon of the late-sixties psych-pop pillars: Forever Changes, Sgt. Pepper, etc. Progressive and baroque, equally indulgent in simple melodies and studio-created multi-layered textures, it conjures the fleeting moments of long-ago in an inexplicable, phantasmagorical, and utterly magic manner.
“the warmth of your love is like the warmth of the sun, and this will be our year, took a long time to come” I love this album so much. it feels like a hug on every listen
Jawn was nuts
Much better
Me gustó el disco, amé la historia alrededor del disco.
The Zombies are endlessly charming and have n irrefutable control of music theory. Putting "The Butcher" after "This Will Be Our Year" is the most dastardly move in album order I think I've ever heard
Un Chef d'Oeuvre du même niveau que Pet Sounds ou Sgt Pepper.
So many hits! Loved this album.
The perfect autumn record. A total hidden gem of the 60s. So many different styles explored and perfected. Excellent stuff all around. This one has earned its place in history.
4.5 08.14.2025
Like a cross between The Beach Boys and the Beatles, but with its own panache. ‘What’s your name who is your daddy is he rich like me?’ is one of my favorite creepy lines in rock, repeats in my head from to time (I’m broke). But there is way more to this band than I thought. First off the album sounds amazin. But the songs are so assured and complete - Care of cell 44, rose for Emily (English majors ftw) changes, this will be our year, are all such unique compositions. I can’t decide if the fact that they didn’t get famous off this album and the singer (whose voice I love) spent years as a car salesman afterward is cool or just a travesty. Huge find. Thank you bountiful list god.
excellent listen
Odessey and Oracle is one of the best psychedelic pop-rock albums ever. Fantastic songwriting, vocal harmonies and organ playing and overall it has a very British sound. It's really unbelieveable that this gem was overlooked upon release and the consequence was that the band split up - and while later Time of the Season became a major hit in the US, some agency made two other fake Zombies band and send them touring to make money. Crazy story which would be impossible to do today. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this album today and it deserves no doubt 5 stars.
Buena producción, los ingleses tuvieron una vara difícil de superar, pero estos estuvieron tan cerca...tan cerca. No sé puede ganar siempre, estaba difícil.
This album was so cool, interesting songs and vocal layers. Piano driven.
Classic art/chamber pop album
I love this! It reminds me of The Beach Boys a little bit! Also, I didn't realize that “Time of the Season” was from here! I love that song. This album rocks!
I like this one.. Variety of instruments and vocals in a fun way Chaotic in a good way
Clichê. Essa palavra que eu escolheria pra descrever este álbum. Mas eu não a vejo como sendo inerentemente pejorativa. Pelo contrário, eu tenho um certo carinho por clichês. E este disco é inegavelmente um grande clichê do que se espera de um LP de Rock da década de 1960. Se fizer uma cartela de bingo de tudo que a década de 1960 foi famosa por produzir no âmbito da música popular, esse álbum iria gabaritar a cartela. Logo, acho que é fácil ver que o seu aproveitamento dessas canções depende muito do quanto você gosta da década de 1960 e do seu som. Eu, particularmente, tenho a década de 60 como uma das minhas favoritas, logo, eu adorei este disco, de capa a capa. Gostei de todas as faixas, e achei maravilhosas as composições e os vocais daqui. Certamente este disco merece mais atenção, visto que apenas uma faixa dele é reconhecida popularmente. Não vejo defeito nenhum neste disco. Entrega demais, sem frear em momento algum. 5/5
One of the best pop albums of all time, no faults in this. Happy, beautiful, and interesting.
Classic no skips
One of my favorites of all time. Listened for many years and will continue to.
Time of the Season dominated my transistor radio when I was ten. Classic.
Banger, could be wrong but sounded like the beach boys to me (compliment).
One of my favorite albums that starts off strong and ends even stronger
Amazing album!
Another great discovery! This is a wonderful album that fills that Pet Sounds and Abbey Road-esque hole in my heart. The opener and closer are bangers, the middle can get slow but the harmonies and brightness of it make up for it. Very glad to rate this a 4.5, bumped up because why not
So close to perfection. It's more like 4.5.
Come on? So good, right? Right.
Really good
If The Beatles and The Beach Boys had a secret love child, it would be The Zombies.
Gorgeous chord progressions and arrangements, accompanied by very lovely choruses. Standout was by far the lyricism, just beautiful but simple lyrics that paired with the instrumentals made for very memorable songs.
Other than "She's Not There" and *maybe* "Tell Her No", nothing the Zombies did before this album is really worth your time. And then they broke up before this one came out, so there's only a couple lackluster partial reunion singles to compare it to. But then, this is one of the all-time great psych pop albums; it comes off favorably against the best work of anyone you'd think to compare it to, even the Beatles. Not sure how they managed it, but this might be the greatest flash-in-the-pan album of all time.
The Zombies were on par or better than other, more commercially successful UK contemporaries (Beatles, Stones, Kinks) unfortunately, with only 2 releases and limited touring, they never received the same recognition at the time. This album is on a short-list of the greatest albums recorded in that period.
5/5. This really does feel like the perfect mix of the Beach Boys and the Beatles, and even has a more modern feel as well, with the melodies. I think I was expecting a sillier album but there is a good case for a good album here. Some serious lyrics with excellent vocals and instrumentation. I was enjoying pretty much every song and although I don't remember each one, it felt like a 5 rating by the end of it. Maybe because it ended strong but it made me want to restart it so I'll take that as a plus. It might change in my head but this was a great listen. Best Song: Time Of The Season, This Will Be Our Year, Beechwood Park, Care Of Cell 44, Friends Of Mine
И еще один классный альбом 60х, очень стилевый, более доступный для масс, но сведение и вокал потрясающие.
Muy bueno conocía la última canción del álbum pero no lo asocie a ellos
I like classic rock and I like the zombies. I am feeling 5 today :> Full of joy with a little bit of melancholy. Care of Cell 44 is a great opener.
One of the best albums of all time. And yet it was not a success when it was released and would cause The Zombies to disband shortly after. Stand-out tracks would be: Care of Cell 44 (Great start to the album. Fresh and positive. Unique and bright instrumentation. Beautiful and tight backing vocals and harmonies. Melancholious and optimistic at the same time. Exquisite Beach Boy-esque a cappella breakdowns. British innocence that is now nostalgic. Driving and inspired.) A Rose For Emily (Intricate and top-class harmonies. The song tells a story, and you are admitted into another world for a short while. Simple and complimentary instrumentation.) Beechwood Park (Stunning and haunting backing vocals (seriously, gives me chills when they first come in) - sounding for a ravishing moment and gone before they can be mourned. Another story song. Invoking memories and places that will not come back. We shouldn't underestimate the privilege it is to be let into someone else's world like this. Organ reminiscent of a Whiter Shade of Pale.) I Want Her She Wants Me (So many of their songs feel like the elusive heightened positivity only a Summer's day is capable of. Can really see the influence of the Beatles and the Beach Boys.) This Will Be Our Year (Classic. Unique sound. Clear and bright vocals and instrumentation. Every song seems to be arranged in a beautiful and considered harmony between the vocals and the instruments - there is never any playing where it is not needed, and silence is given appreciation and generous space throughout the whole album and this song especially.) Time of the Season (Immortal. White soul.) But truly, every song is enjoyable. The melodies and harmonies are utterly unique and remarkably crystal clear, and every song was a first take. Odessey and Oracle (unintentionally mispelled by their friend) is a portal to a better place. From the beginning of Care of Cell 44 we are transported elsewhere. To a place that feels like Summer. It feels like an innocent England. A creativity given the confidence and imagination to longingly venture onto the thin air of infinity, inspired and allowed for by the example of the trailblazing Beatles. This is the Summer of Love (it was actually recorded in the Summer of Love and you can really tell!). Daringness to dream and musically express beyond all predecession. There is a great forward positive energy, and the instrumentation gives way to the vocals and the vocals to the instrumentation. It is a wonder that the album was not a contemporaneous success as it fits right into the English pop and rock canon. The question is, are you better off for listening to this album? How is your mood during and after this album? Are you wondering and dreaming a little more since? The answer is yes. 35 minutes of pure musical genius.
"A Rose for Emily"? Based on the Faulkner short story! Are you kitten me! I have such a deep appreciation for this album and this band. Did you know that Creed from the office is in this band? I did. 😎 Also "This Will Be Our Year" amazing song. So of the times. So 60's baby. Also they used that song in a Mrs. Maisel episode so just hits me in the feels! And then we CLOSE OUT with "Time of the Season." I mean if you feel upset after listening to that song you are clearly beyond help. What's your name? Whose your Daddy? 😎 Is he rich like me? Mom, I am a rich man!
Hard to rate this objectively because I’ve always loved The Zombies. Ah, what the hell, it’s the time of the season to dish out a fiver.
Outstanding. Had heard of Zombies, but didn’t know this album. Favorite so far!
Super lovely. Catchy melodies, dreamy harmonies, great bass and piano work - beautiful without being saccharine.
so awesome sauce, i love the zombies, so i’m happy im able to listen to an album of theirs i’ve never listened to!!
What a gem of an album, some songs I knew but didn’t know where from.
Criminally neglected classic.
By the time of the release of this album, nobody really cared for it. That's unfair. The Zombies deserved better. When it comes to melody, harmony and that certain longing feeling they are on par with the Beatles and the Beach Boys. This album is certainly one of the best examples of chamber pop or baroque pop and maybe more so than many other songs and albums that are categorized as such. It sounds really like something a baroque artist time-travelled to the 1960s could've created.
I feel like I’m giving out too many 5’s but these last 5 albums have just been incredible. It is a beautiful album. Incredible.
An absolute tonic after some pretty crap late 60's/early 70's albums which try so hard to achieve what this one does, but aren't able and are a shoddy imitation. Have always loved many many songs from this album but don't think I've ever actually listened all the way through !
I really liked this!
Wonderful start to back.
Oddly I know nothing about this band. I have heard of them. I like the first song. Off to a good start. This is a great album. I need to dive into this catalog. Ok, time of the season is the song I know by this band. So many good songs on this album.
Beautiful pop melodies and arrangements. A very underrated band from de 60’s.
This is incredible! How haven't I ever listened to this before? I have heard "Time of the Season" but that's it. This is just Beatles Lite, if Lite means the same exact thing, basically. I love the heavy harmonies. The choruses are somehow really catchy without feeling like earworms? I don't really understand it. It got an instant relisten. Favorite Song(s): Care of Cell 44, Maybe After He's Gone, Brief Candles, Changes, Time of the Season
Loved it!
The bridge between the Beatles and Big Star. Beautiful power pop melodies, interesting organ and keyboard lines, amazing harmonies. Gets a little proggy but not enough to spoil things.
Didn't listen
wowi was es album. eif praktisch jedes lied gfühlt. wördi 100% weder lose type shiiii type shit
It's interesting to me that great talent isn't always recognized. I probably first heard this album in 2023 and, even though I knew two songs, couldn't believe that The Zombies weren't better known and celebrated. Maybe that's just the benefit of hindsight. The universe is a mystery. . .
Amazing album, I previously only knew about Time of the Season, one of the best songs of the '60s, but discovered that most of the other tracks are great as well. A Rose for Emily, Beechwood Park, Brief Candles, Hung up on a Dream, Changes, Butcher's Tales, Friends of Mine are certainly going into my regular listening rotation.
One of those albums I'd listened to before because of reading it was an all time great. It's a delightful listen and on the strength of all the (over 900) albums I've listened to in this project , it is one of the best.
This is incredible.. i never heard this before - what an absolute master piece.. this will be getting air play in my life forever going into the future.. just incredible musicianship
An album that I would definitely listen to again. I discovered about 4 songs that I really like. Overall there were no songs I wanted to skip. I really like the vibe. Some of the songs came to my playlist.
Caught me off guard honestly. I hadn’t even heard of them and if it were a Beatles album it would be a classic for sure. I don’t want to know how much people think they’re just a ripoff tbh
Brilliant 👏 👏 👏
60s emo music, I'm obsessed. Definitely will listen again
Time of the Season is definitely the star of this album, but Care of Cell 44, Butcher's Tale, Brief Candles and This Will Be Our Year are also great tracks. Some impeccable keyboards too. I'm feeling generous today.
Solid album. I had only heard the time of the season.
Fed up with the industry, The Zombies were just going to call it quits. Then a hero bandmate suggested doing one more album of whatever they wanted. They agreed. What followed was the release of one of the greatest albums of all time. Listening to Odessey and Oracle is the equivelent to having an orgasm. The choruses are PERFECT! Each song sounds like a hit, each song is an earworm. Then there's "Butcher's Tale", and wow, what a fucking song. Probably the greatest chorus ever, the sheer energy off the build and release is astounding not even taking in the song's subject matter. Masterpiece. One of my all time favs, wish they changed their minds about quitting after releasing this
Another album I love and don’t listen to enough. The sound is excellent, Colin Blunstone’s vocals, the stunning harmonies, Rod Argent’s keys; it’s incredible that the band had already split by the time of release. Perhaps they and it were too idiosyncratic - the album starts with a lovely, bouncy, upbeat song about welcoming a lover back after her prison sentence… Odessey and Oracle should be spoken of in the same terms as Pet Sounds and Sgt Pepper’s but perhaps it was fated to disappear when the artist misspelled Odyssey in the cover painting. There are so many good songs, so many great moments on the album - listen to the transitions to the choruses in Care of Cell 44 or Brief Candles for examples. The vocal melodies and the piano/mellotron (John Lennon’s mellotron in Abbey Road) combination foreshadows ‘70s prog. Butcher’s Tale (Western Front 1914) written by Bassist Chris White is as harrowing as a Wilfred Owen poem. And then comes Time of the Season, possibly The Zombies’ best known track and their biggest hit in America, when the band was no more. They should have been huge.
Okay, I loved this album. Didn't realize so many of my faves from the Zombies was just this album alone. A Rose For Emily is a toned down Eleanor Rigby, but doesn't make it worse IMO. Something about it made the yearning stronger.
Where has this album been all my life
We are lucky to live in a world where this was made
Includes This Will Be Our Year and Time of the Season, probably their best songs. This whole album has feel good vibes - a gentle sway. Very much enjoyed.
A perfect sunny hit of psychedelic pop. Lots and lots of Beatles influence, but of course the Beatles were exploring psych at the same time--there's something unique about the Zombies' take on pop-psych. Not as weird and silly as Traffic's first couple of albums, but more chamber-pop than either band. Sweet, beautifully crafted songs with gorgeous arrangements and harmonies. A must-have for aficionados of pop music.
Being at the level of a signed, framed picture, this album checks all the boxes for me. Snappy songs, captures the essence of the era, great musicianship (I love the extended psychedelic breakdown on Time of the Season), and holds up well. I also rate Colin Blunstone's voice - he also sings the lead vocal on Old and Wise by the Alan Parsons Project. Best songs other than Time of the Season are A Rose for Emily, Beechwood Park, Butcher's Tale, and This Will Be Our Year. I saw them live around 2022, original (well, close enough) line-up in a concert hall in the Hague. Whilst the crowd was generally over 65, there was a good atmosphere and a buzz - everyone was so excited to see them, and despite all being ancient, they sounded fresh and lively. Really nice to hear this album again after a few years of not really listening to it.
A top 10 album of all time, with extraordinarily rich, complex melodic pop songs, perfumes with muscular simplicity and grace. To my ears, far beyond anything the Beach Boys did, and equivalent to the best of the Beatles from the same era.
My favorite album that's been recommended to me by this platform. The harmonies are perfect, the piano work is intricate, and the melodies are perfectly '60's!
Great album that still stands up well today.
Every track on this album is wonderful. I love it. Though I think “Time of the Season” doesn’t really fit in the album, it’s a good song still.
Baroque psychedelic chamber pop. Groovy. They certainly had a knack for writing grand and memorable songs.
This is kind of a pop masterpiece. Yes its got a dated sound, but man these are well written songs!
LP
Three biggest tracks are excellent; crisp and full production, great melodies, and catchy. Rest of the album is very solid. No real skips.
Great classic album.
This is one of my favourite albums of all time. The harmonies are on par if not better than the beach boys or the Beatles. I had heard the songs since I was a kid but on a whim bought this album on cd in London when I was a young man. I have been listening to it on and off for 20 years.
Care of Cell 44 - like the vocalists and backing vocals/harmony, some nice blasts of noise, bass and piano are both pleasant A Rose for Emily - very sad, again I like the vocal performances, reminds me of The Beach Boys
I hate 60s music. But this album is a corker
Even though I don't listen to too much psychedelic rock, no less from the 60's, I fell in love with this album hard. It's very much a shame that people were so indifferent towards it during it's release. They're missing out!
First listen alright. Two big hits. Supposedly influenced MGMT "Congratulations"
Five stars for Time Of The Season!
Мне очень понравилось!
Very cool album, I really liked it
Not bad. I liked some of the songs like "Time of the Season" and so on. 4/5.
"beautiful harmonies, would be surprised if Yes did not love this record" -u/Muzak_For_A_Nurse. This quote had me putting effort into this album 4 years ago, but I didn't recognize it as a 5 star until today. No skips
One of the best albums ever ! Takes you on a proper journey from start to finish. My favourite is A Butcher’s Tale, which adds deep gravitas in the form of imagined narratives from ordinary soldiers in the First World War.
Always a classic
It’s hard to listen objectively when I’m sobbing uncontrollably and getting lost in Colin’s voice. One of my all-time favorite records. The only real questions worth pursuing: is Butcher’s Tale a good song? (A good song no, but it’s surprisingly effective. Puts me in some sort of evil trance). Should TotS have been on this record? (I vote no. Great song, but it stands out both because of overplay and very different sound from the rest of the album). It’s funny that The Beatles get all the credit for doing the R&B->bubblegum->psychedelic rock pioneers thing, but the Zombies did it, in fewer recordings, skipping the bubblegum stage, and were often better. The Beach Boys skipped R&B and made one classic album. Give me Odessey over Pet Sounds or Sgt Pepper’s any day of the week. This is a 5-star album and anyone who says otherwise is a BUFFOON. I’m looking at you, phlops.
Amazing to see this live in Barcelona. Peak psychedelic rock that doesn't forgo melody nor outstay its welcome.
yah it's ok
A beautiful, haunting time capsule. What a opening, "Care of Cell 44" is one of the cutest love songs ever.
Odessey and Oracle is a record with as much of a wild backstory as any other. One, such as myself, wouldn't have known or thought of that as the music sweeps through the ears as though it were a nice, comfortable velvet blanket in spite of song topics including a prisoner and anti-war sentiments. Despite the Aquarian age beginning to sour and resemble something far grimer, The Zombies (whether they were a unit or disassembled) had crafted an album that has stood the test of time regardless of the upheaval that had faced it. Now, if there was a way for the mono version of this album be reached upon further ears so that everyone can hear the horns in This Will Be Our Year then that would be great.
Nice and psychedelic but chill and fun
A truly spectacular work, with incredible production that sounds so ahead of its time yet so distinctly 60s. It’s maybe the best psychedelic rock album I’ve heard, mainly because it doesn’t devolve into pure tripped-out jamming like a lot of psych albums of the era and is instead held together by stellar yet diverse songwriting - I Want Her She Wants Me sounds like it clearly influenced Queen, the opener sounds like it basically shaped Flaming Lips musical ethos, and the gorgeous Friends of Mine would sound at home on a Kinks album. Time of the Season is the biggest song here and it is a genuinely fantastic closer, but I’d hesitate to call it a stand out because the rest of the album is so damn good
Christ Almighty where has this been all my life. This thing is almost perfect from start to finish (looking at you Changes), the production is unbelievable, the songwriting is excellent. This is my first surprise on this journey 100% and I didn't want to give a 5 this early, but I really cannot ask for more from this, I just loved it. Best: all of 'em except Changes; Worst: Changes 4.7/5
For an album from '68, this album sounds amazing. I'm sure there's been some remastering over the years but I am stricken by how clean everything sounds and how well mixed the harmonies and individual elements are. Not a whole lot of detailed points as I was listening while doing some electrical work around the house, but this was a pleasure to listen to. The songs are well written, and well sung. Standouts for me we're Beachwood Park, Hung Up On A Dream, Time of the Season, and Friends of Mine. But honestly this was great straight through... Sleeper 5 for me
I love this kind of 60s pop. Not every song on here is amazing but some really are.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I love this album and I love The Zombies. Listening again, I wonder why this band hasn’t had the same staying power as the Stones or the Beatles. They surely had a stronger handle on the psych elements of the 60s more strongly than either of those bands. And I love the musicianship on display here - relic of a bygone era in music. Truly enjoyed this.
These guys should have worked with Brian Wilson! Not that asshat Mike Love! Groovy, psychedelic, and hauntingly beautiful. The kind of album that takes you to a place and a feeling.
A reminder of a great album by a great band. “This Will Be Our Year” is an example of a song that just keeps me optimistic. This entire record just mellows me out.
normally i’d run screaming from any 60s psychedelic album on this list, but something about this one just works. the harmonies are great and work really well with the instrumentation throughout, the songs are fun and engaging, and the vibes are just immaculate overall. it’s a shame this was received so poorly upon release and the recording sessions were so fraught with setbacks and tensions within the band, though maybe i like this so much specifically because it’s not like all the other albums from this time. favorites: care of cell 44, a rose for emily, beechwood park, this will be our year, friends of mine, time of the season
Perfection