CD Review: New Music From The Zombies, Hollis Brown And Bruce Sudano

British rock band The Zombies cracked the top ten back in the sixties with the singles "She's Not There," "Tell Her No" and "Time Of The Season." Since breaking up in 1968, The Zombies have tried numerous times to reunite with mixed results, but their latest album "Still Got That Hunger" has the right chemistry for a comeback. The new ten song release begins with the big seventies rock sound of "Moving On," led by the vocal duo of Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone. They bring their classic sixties sound to the 21st century with the steady keyboards of "Chasing The Past" and a bluesy remake of their 1965 single "I Want You Back Again." The Zombies add a Steely Dan-style to "And We Were Young Again," before closing the album with New Orleans-jazz of "Maybe Tomorrow" and the big sweeping ballad of "Beyond The Borderline." The Zombies will be performing over in Europe in April, before returning to the States in May, beginning with a show at the Mohegan Sun Casino. For a complete list of tour dates and to find out more about their new album "Still Got The Hunger," please visit thezombiesmusic.com.

New York based rock 'n' roots band Hollis Brown released their latest album "3 Shots" last year and are currently on tour with Jackie Greene, promoting their latest single "Rain Dance." The new eleven-song release begins with the alternative-country stomp of "Cathedral" as they will easily find their way into your heart. They tell the cowboy tale of "John Wayne" as the slow, acoustic beginning gets taken over by raw, grunge-like guitars of this seven-minute rock wonder. The guitar boogie shuffle of "Rain Dance" is from the blues legend Bo Diddley as Hollis Brown make the most of that classic riff. They slow down for the ballad of "Death Of An Actress," before bringing their country sounds out during "Highway 1" featuring guest vocals from Nikki Lane. The album closes with the acoustic Latin/folk delivery of "Mi Amor" and the wonderful Americana feel of "The Ballad Of Mr. Rose." Hollis Brown are playing a few festivals this spring, but to find out more about their new release "3 Shots," please visit hollisbrown.com.

From California comes the latest release from singer/songwriter Bruce Sudano titled "The Burbank Sessions." It features Bruce with his backing band The Candyman Band in a rehearsal studio in 2014, capturing the songs in only one or two takes with the "feel of a night club performance." The new seven-song release starts out with the blues of "One Beautiful Life" as the band helps flesh out Bruce's soft vocals. The band gets a little jazzy with "These Shoes," Bruce brings on a light, uplifting swing to "Why Aren't You Here." The album finish up with the Bob Dylan-inspired, folk-rock of "September In Your Eyes" and the slow blues of "Alone" as Bruce's vocals steals the spotlight. To find out more about Bruce Sudano and his latest release, "The Burbank Sessions," please visit brucesudano.com.