THE ZOMBIES

Different Game (Cooking Vinyl)

It’s been eight years since the band’s last album, but The Zombies again are cooking with gas and – as the Ohio Players would say – on FIRE. This record has various influences, and original members Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone are at the helm again, with Argent writing all of the songs except one. The self-titled opener, blues-led with Argent on organ as always, is reminiscent of Procol Harum, and features a string quartet, as do two others.

Two more singles – the Steely Dan-ish Dropped Reeling & Stupid and Merry-Go Round – are the real movers: jazzy with raw lyrics and R&B-meets-rock, respectively. Rediscover is The Beach Boys meets Gershwin, and the smokey jazz Run Away partially resembles My Funny Valentine. You Could Be My Love and I Want To Fly are two of the most exquisite songs Argent has ever written and Blunstone has ever sung on. Different Game is another royal flush.

words RHONDA LEE REALI