On ’60s Resurrection / Reconstitution Tours (Love, The Zombies)

www.california66revue.com/MySpaceWe always seem to be talking about (relatively) new music hereabouts. Let’s talk about some old. A few acts with legendary names recently announced tours, but as is the case more often than not, the actual product bears some extra scrutiny.

First, you’ve got ’60s British pop giants The Zombies. Though four of the five original members still survive - guitarist Paul Atkinson died in 2004 - and they’ve reunited for special shows in the UK in recent years, this touring outfit boasts just two original members. Those members are singer Colin Blunstone and pianist Rod Argent, though, so it’s probably reasonable to think that they’ll sound pretty damn good when running through their stone-cold yet still probably underappreciated classic tunes like “She’s Not There”, “Tell Her No”, “Care Of Cell 44”; and “Time Of The Season”.

But the act that is simultaneously the most intriguing and most probably disappointing - Love.

Love’s Forever Changes-- it’s such a unique record, towering with ambition and somehow delivering on every promise - glorious both for its singles and as a single, unified artistic statement. With a number of reissues over the last few years, each with different bonus goodies, as well as a live CD/DVD set, one could argue that it’s no longer the criminally overlooked treasure it once was, but it’s also so good a record that you could also argue that it’s simply not possible for it to get the praise it actually deserves. I hold this record in that high esteem.

And so on one level, it’s exciting that Love is coming to town, but also problematic due to the fact that Love frontman and mastermind, Arthur Lee, died three years ago. The current outfit isn’t without some claim to the name though - they boast guitarist Johnny Echols and drummer Michael Stuart-Ware, both of whom played on Forever Changes.

But the point is: though they’re called Love, and have members of Love, and may even sound a helluva lot like Love (I don’t know who’s handling vocals), it’s just not Love. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be good, just not Love.

Video: The Zombies - “Time Of The Season”
Video: Love - “Alone Again Or” (live)

Blurt reports that in addition to the upcoming reissues of Big Star’s seminal Number One Record and Radio City albums - as a remastered single CD or individual LPs - on June 16, there’ll be a four-disc box set chock full of unreleased goodies due out September 15.

Jambase talks to Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon.

Exclaim puts Apostle Of Hustle on their cover, eye just gives them an inside story.

State, The Journal-Sentinel and Decider interview various Decemberists.

Pitchfork talks to Jason Molina of Magnolia Electric Co about their new album Josephine, due out July 21. The title track from said record is now available to download.

MP3: The Magnolia Electric Co - “Josephine”

The whole of the star-studded Dark Was The Night benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall earlier this month is now available to stream at NPR.

- Frank Yang