Review: Blunstone & Argent of The Zombies

The Zombies may not have been the most famous or commercially successful of the bands who were part of the British Invasion, but they may well have been the most sophisticated musically.

Original Zombies Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent reunited somewhat by accident in 2000, and have been touring and recording ever since. Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent of The Zombies Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London was recorded in 2005 and released in 2007 as a two-CD set and on DVD.

The Zombies of the 60s broke ground in psychedelic rock with a distinctive jazz-influenced sound. The presence of a string quartet in this live performance at times creates a progressive rock feel that is a little unexpected, but quite enjoyable.

Some updated arrangements and fresh interpretations of staples from the Zombies catalog are a delight: "I Love You," "Tell Her No" and "She's Not There." Missing the mark is "Time of the Season," which they deliver mechanically, almost seeming to rush through it as if they've performed it one too many times. The arrangement lacks the slightly eerie quality that made the original version appealing.

Some of the best performances are from Blunstone's and Argent's non-Zombies catalogs. Blunstone masterfully delivers the haunting "Old And Wise" that he originally recorded with the Alan Parsons Project. "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You," originally by Argent's group bearing his last name, gets a nicely done new treatment.

Another highlight is Argent's "I Want To Fly" from the 2004 Zombies album, As Far As I Can See. The song is a testament to Argent's considerable songwriting skills.

"This Will Be Our Year" -- from what is considered The Zombies' best work, 1968's Odessey and Oracle -- has new cachet after being used in a Nike commercial that paid tribute to Tiger Woods' father, Earl, shortly after his death in 2006.

The CD release contains 25 tracks on two discs. There's room on the DVD for 16, but they are, for the most part, well chosen.

It's good to see that these guys aren't just trading on their old catalogs. Their updates of the older music and their new material demonstrate why The Zombies were the darlings of music critics who otherwise dismissed the British Invasion as so much pop fluff.

If you can afford it, you won't regret getting both the CD set and the DVD. If your budget will only allow for one or the other, go for the CDs and get twice as much music.