Album Club - Week 5

[EighteenSixty7]

Album 1

Album
Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies

Tracklist
1. Care of Cell 44
2. A Rose For Emily
3. Maybe After He's Gone
4. Beechwood Park
5. Brief Candles
6. Hung Up On A Dream
7. Changes
8. I Want Her She Wants Me
9. This Will Be Our Year
10. Butcher's Tale
11. Friends of Mine
12. Time of the Season

Picked by

@northernringo

"When asked for my album choice, I went with Odessey and Oracle, then changed it and did a write-up
for a different album, then changed it back... I was struggling to decide big time!
Very nearly changed it back to my other choice before sending this to EighteenSixty7.

Last May, I started working my way through the Top 100 albums on Rolling Stones
Greatest Albums of all time. (NB: They decided to update it when I was half way through,
but I'm still going through my original list). This album was number 100 on the list
so the first I listened to. Despite the majority of my favourite artists being
active in the 60s, The Zombies weren't a band I was familiar with beyond
Time of the Season, but when I first listened to this album,
I loved it - It's a great weekend album!

You can hear many contemporary influences in this " baroque psychedelic-pop" album -
I appreciate it may not be everyone's cup of tea but I hope you enjoy!"

 

Questions:

Did it sound as I expected?
Overall thoughts?
Favourite Track?
Would I listen to it again?
Will I investigate them further?
Score out of 5  

 

 

Album 2

Album
Brightest Lights by Lane 8

Tracklist
1. Groundhog Day
2. Road (feat. Arctic Lake)
3. Just
4. Brightest Lights (feat. Polica)
5. Sunday Song
6. Shooting Arrows (feat. Polica)
7. Yard Two Stone (feat. Jens Kuross)
8. The Gift
9. How Often (feat. Kauf)
10. Howling Hand
11. The Flood (feat. Nevve)
12. Don't Let Me Go (feat. Arctic Lake)
13. The Rope (feat. Polica)

 

Picked by

@Quark

"Like everyone I gave this a lot of thought, and I figured that as this
is the efests Album Club it made sense to pick something that represents that.
One of the best things about efests has been having my eyes opened to an
incredibly wide range of different music, often stuff that I'd never normally have listened to.  
Electronic music is the perfect example of that, as I was almost exclusively
into guitar-based stuff until relatively recently, and we've also
not had an album like that on the list yet.

This album is one that would have passed me by completely but it was
mentioned on the New Music thread last year, so I gave it a listen
and was absolutely hooked. For me it strikes a perfect balance between
mellow, melodic and upbeat, and was right up there in my AOTY contenders.
I love this album, and even if it's not everyone's cup of earl grey
I hope you'll find something in here that you like"

The only questions I'd ask are "did you enjoy it?" and maybe
"If this isn't something that would normally be your thing,
did you find it any different to how you expected?"

 

----------

The Back Catalogue

 

Last Week

 

The Jukebox

 

Now That's What I Call eFest Album Club!

----------

Welcome to Week 5 of Album Club!

Week 6 will be up next Monday evening 🙂

[fred quimby]

Love a bit of Zombies. Have not listened to them in  long time, so a good time to re-visit this one

 

Lane 8 is new to me so will look forward to having my ears opened

[northernringo]

Average scores after Week 4:

Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman (20 votes) - 4.05

Slowdive by Slowdive (16 v) - 3.63

I'm All Ears by Let's Eat Grandma (28 v) - 3.61

Given To The Wild by The Maccabees (18 v) - 3.5

Sails by The Travelling Band (16 v) - 3.06

The Shadow of their Suns by Wax Tailor (20 v) - 2.95

Melancholia Hymns by Arcane Roots (18 v) - 2.94

The Blackest Joy by Akua Naru (28 v) - 2.68

Edited March 16, 2021 by northernringo

[Gnomicide]

I already hate @Quark's choice just cos of all the (feat.).

I do though of course approach it with an open mind.

[Haan]

Another two new albums for me, nice!

[Quark]

31 minutes ago, northernringo said:

Average scores after Week 4:

Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman (20 votes) - 4.05

Slowdive by Slowdive (16 v) - 3.63

I'm All Ears by Let's Eat Grandma (28 v) - 3.61

Given To The Wild by The Maccabees (15 v) - 3.46

Melancholia Hymns by Arcane Roots (15 v) - 3.067

Sails by The Travelling Band (16 v) - 3.0625

The Shadow of their Suns by Wax Tailor (20 v) - 2.95

The Blackest Joy by Akua Naru (28 v) - 2.68

Apologies for not getting votes in, work last week really scuppered my timings to properly listen to some albums. Bloody work, getting in the way of important things! 😄

[Quark]

28 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

I already hate @Quark's choice just cos of all the (feat.).

I do though of course approach it with an open mind.

Which number in the side eye folder is this chappie then? I'm almost certain thatyou have them numbered.

[northernringo]

12 minutes ago, Quark said:

Apologies for not getting votes in, work last week really scuppered my timings to properly listen to some albums. Bloody work, getting in the way of important things! 😄

I go back and re-do the scores so any late votes are always counted too!

[northernringo]

Brightest Lights by Lane 8

Really enjoyed this album - haven't ever listened to an album in its entirety like this before. Definitely helps that it is a relatively nice day here today when listening, can see this album getting a few spins in the summer months when chilling with a drink or two!

[EssexIndie]

Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies

Now this is exactly why I love the idea of doing something like this - it really opens up the possibility of finding new music (I realise calling something released over 50 years ago "new" is stretching it a bit!). Listened to it once and instantly connected with it - loved the psychedelic elements. Will listen to it a couple more times before scoring, but sounds great on first listen.

[northernringo]

22 hours ago, northernringo said:

Brightest Lights by Lane 8

Really enjoyed this album - haven't ever listened to an album in its entirety like this before. Definitely helps that it is a relatively nice day here today when listening, can see this album getting a few spins in the summer months when chilling with a drink or two!

Just finished my 3rd listen to it, giving it a 5/5

[foolee]

Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies

Did it sound as I expected? Not at all. Didn't really know what to expect and didn't realise this album was as old as this. 
Overall thoughts? Thought it was decent and reminded me a little bit of The Beatles in places so that's got to be a good thing right? 
Favourite Track? No stand out tracks but just a solid nice album listen.
Would I listen to it again? Yes.
Will I investigate them further? I think so.
Score out of 5 - 3

Brightest Lights by Lane 8

Did it sound as I expected? Kind of considering the description so was expecting electronic. 
Overall thoughts? Not really my thing. Wasn't too bad to have on in the background whilst working but not something I'd seek out or go and put on. 
Favourite Track? N/A
Would I listen to it again? Probably not. Maybe just as background music. 
Will I investigate them further? No. 
Score out of 5  - 2

[Quark]

Enjoyed Zombies on first listen.  Grew up with a lot of 60s music in the house so it feels really familiar, even though I've never listened to the album.

[Avalon_Fields]

I saw The Zombies in the Avalon tent a few years back, never quite appreciated all the classics they had in their repertoire (Incl. Argent’s Hold Your Head Up, God Gave Rock & Roll To You, as well as their She’s Not There, etc).

As a consequence I bought Odessey & Oracle.

 

[a6l6e6x]

2 new albums for me again and at first glance very different choices, great stuff

[nikkic]

I’ve been following this thread without getting involved (lockdown and in particular home schooling meant I’ve had little time to explore new music).

However listened to The Maccabees last week after for the first time in ages, what a record!! 

So with that and the fact Lane 8 are in this week I might jump in if that’s OK? 

[Quark]

1 hour ago, nikkic said:

I’ve been following this thread without getting involved (lockdown and in particular home schooling meant I’ve had little time to explore new music).

However listened to The Maccabees last week after for the first time in ages, what a record!! 

So with that and the fact Lane 8 are in this week I might jump in if that’s OK? 

Get involved!

[Quark]

1 hour ago, nikkic said:

I’ve been following this thread without getting involved (lockdown and in particular home schooling meant I’ve had little time to explore new music).

However listened to The Maccabees last week after for the first time in ages, what a record!! 

So with that and the fact Lane 8 are in this week I might jump in if that’s OK? 

Actually looking back at the 2020 thread it was you that put me onto Lane 8 in the first place 🙂

[Gnomicide]

3 hours ago, nikkic said:

I’ve been following this thread without getting involved (lockdown and in particular home schooling meant I’ve had little time to explore new music).

However listened to The Maccabees last week after for the first time in ages, what a record!! 

So with that and the fact Lane 8 are in this week I might jump in if that’s OK? 

 

1 hour ago, Quark said:

Actually looking back at the 2020 thread it was you that put me onto Lane 8 in the first place 🙂

At least now I know who to blame for making me listen to that shit.

😘

[nikkic]

9 hours ago, Quark said:

Actually looking back at the 2020 thread it was you that put me onto Lane 8 in the first place 🙂

Glad it had such an impression on you! 

 

7 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

 

At least now I know who to blame for making me listen to that shit.

😘

You can’t please everybody.....

[gigpusher]

Sorry I am weeks behind on this. Will listen to all previous weeks at some point and give my thoughts on them. My work seems to be calls, calls, calls at the moment which is really hampering my music listening time at the moment. 

[EighteenSixty7]

Lane 8 is good so far, I think I dipped my toe into it when it came out as I know he’s had some tracks on Ajunadeep complications I’ve got. 

[fred quimby]

Given Lane 8 a initial spin. Liking this (I actually have a track from it on my Spotify liked tracks) I really like Arctic Lake, who I have seen, and Polica so up me street this. Have a feeling this will get a airing on a sunny day, beer in hand, chamber full of green and allow the world to wash over.

More listens to be had over the next few days

[Quark]

23 hours ago, EighteenSixty7 said:

Lane 8 is good so far, I think I dipped my toe into it when it came out as I know he’s had some tracks on Ajunadeep complications I’ve got. 

Can you see a doctor about that? 😄

[John the Moth]

The Zombies - Odyssey and Oracle

Did it sound as I expected? Very much so, and I loved it.

Overall thoughts? How wonderful. I love a slice of 60s psychedelia and this really fit the bill and then some. I always had them pegged as your typical guitar/bass/drums/vocals combo though, so it was great to hear a wide range of instruments too, from piano to brass section, Yhe darkly humourous lyrics really reward your attention too. Album sagged a bit in the middle relatively speaking, with a few tracks that seemed a bit filler.

Favourite Track? Going for the obvious ‘Time of the Season’, stone cold classic.

Would I listen to it again? Definitely 

Will I investigate them further? Yup. Lovely Sunday morning music,

Score out 4 out of 5,  would be more but they’re not quite The Kinks or The Monkees.

 

Lane 8 - Brightest Lights

Did it sound as I expected? Yes, sort of, and I was really looking forward to to bit of chilled electronic beats 
Overall thoughts? Wallpaper music. Uninspiring and a quite dull, I managed the first 3 tracks in full then sampled the remainder, it’s long for an album and life’s too short. I really wanted to like it too.
Favourite Track? N/a
Would I listen to it again? Not on purpose, but if it were on in the background I’d likely not notice.
Will I investigate them further? No, plenty more out there that needs my attention
Score 1 out of 5