Zager & Evans - In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)

Essentially a one-hit record, 2525 will be of interest to most listeners solely for its compelling opening title track, which is a strangely haunting relic of dystopian kitsch that combines mariachi brass, jangling acoustic guitar, and a millennial narrative of technological meltdown. In one of the worst bits of track programming ever, it is followed by the hilariously awful sap-song "Woman." Zager and Evans are best when contrasting their rather nasal harmonies with an upbeat brass backing, as on "Bayoan" and "Taxi Man." When they repeat the title track's "count-up" narrative gimmick in "Fred," it's with little success. Read More