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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
the gift isn't any of the things you read here. it is lounge music for the 00's. some of ribot's stylish gutar playing is indeed surf like but the basis of the music is latin beats so this isn't surf. the melodies are strong, the band is excellent, and the arrangements (which is zorn's greatest tallent, exploiting the individual talents of the players in the composition as well as the arrangement) are ingeneous. this is no parody of lounge music (which is boring and of which there is enough already) it is respectful and exploits the values of lounge effectively in an updated context.
that's all very well but what earns this disk 5 stars is its extraordinary feel. initially it sounds just like those 50's pop instrumentals: happy, carefree, upbeat. but you quickly get the idea that something is wrong. the smile is slowly turning into a sinister grin. as the cd moves on this aspect begins to dominate and the music becomes tense with evil. the intent is made clear with the last track; a grotesque reprise of the first. it's as though the music has been secretly invaded and taken over by an invisible, sinister force like in a cheesy horror movie: the face still has a vapid smile on it but you can see that behind it is a body posessed by evil.
this therefore functions as a powerful critique of 50s american life: vapid, hypocritical and secretly sinister. this is quite an achievement for an instrumental cd. the packaging and art (which is really nothing to get excited about) is another metaphor of the same deciet: evil wrapped as a gift.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By SPM
Format:Audio CD
Zorn's reputation comes from his noisy cut-up music. It seems like he's either recording a complex collage of sound effects or he's squealing his way through a Masada improv. From Painkiller to Leng T'che, the guy knows how to melt a speaker or two.
This album --- a collection of beautiful, playful melodies --- seems to be out of character. But it's not. Scattered throughout the massive Zorn catalogue are dozens of songs like these. Just
listen to Bar Kokhba or his soundtrack to Port of Last Resort and you'll see he's been here before.
The real step forward on this album is an eerie tension that underlies every song. Somehow, there's a *threat* lurking in the surf music and the gentle trumpet solos. Is it in the composition, or should we credit the musicians? I have no idea. I just know that after the sixth or seventh time I heard this album, I heard more than pretty background music.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Zorn's reputation comes from his noisy cut-up music. It seems like he's either recording a complex collage of sound effects or he's squealing his way through a Masada improv. From Painkiller to Leng T'che, the guy knows how to melt a speaker or two.
This album --- a collection of beautiful, playful melodies --- seems to be out of character. But it's not. Scattered throughout the massive Zorn catalogue are dozens of songs like these. Just listen to Bar Kokhba or his soundtrack to Port of Last Resort and you'll see he's been here before.
The real step forward on this album is an eerie tension that underlies every song. Somehow, there's a *threat* lurking in the surf music and the gentle trumpet solos. Is it in the composition, or should we credit the musicians? I have no idea. I just know that after the sixth or seventh time I heard this album, I heard more than pretty background music.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Zorn Is a Genius
I don't like every piece of music John Zorn has created, but some I fasten on and can't get enough of.
Published 2 months ago by A. Lucas
3.0 out of 5 stars
Gift mildly gives
Zorn's present of mild-mannered cultured dance stands out even in his ultra-diverse catalog, but more as mere statement then anything truly worth remembering. Read more
Published on May 2, 2009 by IRate
4.0 out of 5 stars
an awesome album of high prestige!
I was expecting a lot more technical playing on this album,and after the first listening session I said to myself"hmm...it's good chill music,but there isn't much substance. Read more
Published on January 10, 2007 by Trottin'-Butterz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasant, but feels underdeveloped
If you fell in love with the Naked City song "Sunset Surfer" from Radio like I did, this album is for you. Read more
Published on July 29, 2006 by The Pitiful Anonymous
1.0 out of 5 stars
Music is great, Zorn is Sick.
I went through a Zorn phase in the early to mid nineties. I thought the Japanese bondage and torture was cool, I thought showing pictures of pre-pubescent Japanese girls urinating... Read more
Published on July 6, 2006 by josh allen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very pretty
As others have previously (and better!)pointed out, this CD is John Zorn's take (partly) on surf guitar (marc Ribot plays)but it is also much much more. Read more
Published on February 18, 2006 by Lovblad
3.0 out of 5 stars
Zorn takes on surf music.
One of the more unexpected albums in John Zorn's catalog, "The Gift" finds Zorn exploring primarily surf music. Read more
Published on November 14, 2005 by Michael Stack
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Soundtrack To Getting Lost In the Woods At Night
Picture this. You Have spent the last hour through the woods, and you reach the top of this gigantic hill right as the sun is setting, and as you look out onto the horizon, you are... Read more
Published on August 18, 2005 by a pen name
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly is a gift
This is not your typical John Zorn CD. Known mostly for his avante-garde arrangements and game pieces, this set is a wonderful blend of jazz, latin, and surf music. Read more
Published on March 17, 2005 by Wobby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must-have Zorn! Really great, and melodic
I've got about 30 Zorn albums, and this is on my must-have list. It's Zorn at some of his most listenable--good lovemaking music for weird nights. Read more
Published on April 26, 2004 by Douglas S. Benson
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