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The Zombies - New World Audio CD

A fair review of the The Zombies "New World" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Zombies reviews here, or go back to the The Zombies tabs.

The Zombies Band: The Zombies
Title: New World
Rating:
Release Date: 2003-09-05
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: New World (My America) 2: When Love Breaks Down 3: I Can't Be Wrong 4: Lula Lula 5: Heaven's Gate 6: Time of the Season 7: Moonday Morning Dance 8: Blue 9: Nights on Fire 10: Losing You 11: Alone in Paradise 12: Knowing You 13: Love Conquers All 14: Hold My Hand aka Lula Lula [*] 15: When My Boat Comes In [*]

A Pleasant Reunion!
The three original members Chris White, Hugh Grundy and Colin Blunstone reformed the band for a short period with keyboardist/guitarist Sebastian Santa Maria. "New World" is a 1990 Zombies reunion album. Actually all five originals are featured on the album. Rod Argent plays his well-known keyboard lines on the re-make of "Time of the Season", and guitarist Paul Atkinson is also credited as "special guest"

Chris White was one of the two great songwriters in the original band, and here he has written three fine new songs; among them the title-track and one of the album's highlights, "Lula Lula". Lead vocalist Colin Blunstone only wrote very few songs to the band in the sixties, though the few he did write were very strong. Here he contributes no less than five songs, of which "Losing You" and "Alone in Paradise" are other highlights.

New member Santa Maria also wrote material for the album, and his "I Can't Be Wrong" is another fine track.

The Zombies' sound was always clean and polished. This was originally one of their strengths. Today, when so much clean (sterile) pop-music is produced, this is not necessarily an advantage. Though, containing many fine well-produced pop-songs, the album suffers a little from sounding too nice. A few more rough ends here and there would have been refreshing.

This does not mean that the album is not worthwhile; far from it. Blunstone's vocals sound as strong as ever and the playing is impeccable.


Very respectible outing by Colin Blunstone and Chris White
This resulted in Chris White pulling together Colin Blunstone, Chilean keyboardist Sebastian Santa Maria, and a couple of session musicians under the Zombies name to produce an album and do a limited tour in the States. Not exactly "The Zombies" circa 1965, but an attempt to legally reclaim the Zombies name in early 1991 from bogus groups who were touring under the Zombies name.

That sounds like a rather cold-hearted reason to make a record, but as an album, "New World" is redeemed by good songwriting, neat harmonies, and of course Colin's still-entrancing voice. The updating of the sound is kept finely organic, which means this album still sounds fresh, despite the use of synthesizers on most tracks (most distractingly on the jazzy "Moonday Morning Dance"). There are also some wonderfully delicate songs for Colin: "Nights on Fire," and "I Can't Be Wrong" which are quite beautiful, and worth hearing.

Boiled down, the CD sounds just like what it is: an album by middle-aged rockers who have always had the good taste and talent to craft good songs. Unfortunately, the record label demanded that a remake of "Time of the Season" be included, which is an almost note-for-note recreation, and while not an embarassment, adds nothing to the Zombies legacy.

So, while the paranoic freneticism of "Tell Her No" or the amazing experimentation of "Odessey & Oracle" is gone, what's left is sheer melodic songcraft and some very pleasant songs that may or may not linger in your memory after you've heard them. It's a good album, and worth picking up if you're a fan.

This reissue by Big Beat adds two bonus demo tracks to the original lineup: "Hold My Hand" (aka Lula Lula), and "When My Boat Comes In," both recorded in 1978 for an aborted "Zombies" project. The short booklet also contains an interview with Chris White who describes the genesis of the album.


You can see a complete list of all The Zombies discography, or go back to the The Zombies tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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