JOHN ZORN LP SPILLANE ELEKTRA 979172-1 AVANT-PROG

$

29

JOHN ZORN
SPILLANE
1987 ELEKTRA NONESUCH 9 79172-1

In his long career, John Zorn has done just about everything. He's invented new ways of composing/improvising music (file cards and game pieces), he's invented two new genres of music (extreme avant-garde, genre hopping), he's played or composed every type of music imaginable (free jazz, jazz, klezmer, grindcore, ragtime, soundtrack, metal, noise rock, avant-classical, minimalism, etc), and he's run a fantastic record label that has released a myriad of great releases (Tzadik). His greatest accomplishment of all, however, is Spillane, the most famous of his file card pieces. Mixing bluesy themes with spoken word into long, thoughtful compositions, Spillane is not only Zorn's compositional peak, it's also one of his most accessible releases, and a perfect introduction his vast discography (over 100 releases and swiftly counting - by the end of March, he will already have three 2008 releases).

To understand Spillane, though, one must understand exactly what his file card pieces are. Unlike Cobra (a game piece), where John Zorn creates rules to guide improvisation, turning music into a game, Spillane is purely compositional. The idea behind file cards is that Zorn, without writing any notes, imagines musical themes and writes down his ideas on file cards. After doing this, he takes the themes, no matter how disparate, and organizes them into the order he feels will sound best. Only once he's found the order that "feel's right" does he write down the notes, tying together the various themes into one tremendous composition, in this case, the twenty-five minute "Spillane".

Over its long run time, "Spillane" moves through a series of bluesy themes, allowing touches of jazz and free jazz to work their way in. Despite their great variety, from calm, quiet, and emotive to fast and joyous, all of the themes feel connected. Add on top the spoken vocals (in a somewhat Texan accent), and the end result is a piece that wouldn't feel out of place in a Western at any particular moment. On the whole, it probably wouldn't fit in such a movie, but each individual part feels like it could've been pulled from that setting. These spoken vocals give the track a great atmosphere, complementing the music but never distracting from it. Though it's all fantastic, my favorite moment is probably the one about 15:20 in, where the powerful, sweeping piano comes in. It only lasts half a minute, but it's one of the most compelling moments I've heard from John Zorn.

The rest of the LP is similar, though I don't believe it comes from the same file card composition technique as "Spillane." Tracks two and three are part of a larger composition (about eighteen minutes long in total) that explores similar bluesy avenues as "Spillane", and does so equally effectively. These two pieces, known as "Two Lane Highway," are a bit more energetic than "Spillane," making them slightly more accessible ("Spillane", on first listen, seems dead in sports, though repeatedly listening reveals the inherent purpose of these seemingly weaker sections). They actually feel slightly jam oriented; I wouldn't be surprised if Zorn snuck some improvisation in. Even more interesting than "Two Lane Highway", though, is the closing "Forbidden Fruit", which easily ranks among my favorite John Zorn pieces (as do "Spillane" and "Two Lane Highway"). Once again looking to blues for its base, it incorporates some Asian music influences that gel surprisingly well, making for a song that is equal parts compositionally rigorous and atmospherically intense, a balance that's incredibly hard to find.

Naked City may be the defining work in John Zorn's catalogue and is definitely a masterpiece, but Spillane is equally good. Along with Naked City and The Circle Maker, this is the place to go for a newcomer to Zorn's music. As for those who have had the pleasure of hearing Zorn's music (and who liked it), all I can say is, what the hell are you waiting for?!? This should be your next Zorn purchase, no question. Brilliantly composed, stunningly executed, and undeniably creative and innovative, Spillane is an all-around classic, and one every music fan should hear. Indispensable.

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• Mint (M)   Absolutely perfect in every way. Certainly never been played, possibly even still sealed.(More on still sealed under "Other Considerations"). Should be used sparingly as a grade, If at all.
• Near Mint (NM or M-)   A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly)that no record is ever truly perfect.
  
  The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.
  
  An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like.
  
  Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.
  
  Near Mint is the highest price listed in all Goldmine price guides. Anything that exceeds this grade, in the opinion of both buyer and seller, is worth significantly more than the highest Goldmine book value.



• Very Good Plus (VG+)   .
  
  A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.
  
  Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".
  
  The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play.
  
  Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.
  
  In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.



• Very Good (VG)    Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.
  
  Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.
  
  Goldmine price guides with more than one price will list Very Good as the lowest price. This, not the Near Mint price, should be your guide when determining how much a record is worth, as that is the price a dealer will normally pay you for a Near Mint record.



• Good (G), Good Plus (G+)   Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white).
  
  A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.
  
  It is a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But, if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade.



• Poor (P), Fair (F)   Generally worth 0-5 percent of the Near Mint price. The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon.

  Satisfaction is guar-un-teed. :)

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