Is Cartoon S/M a good place to start with John Zorn?

Yes, Cartoon S/M is recommended as a starting point for new John Zorn listeners. An eclectic blend of avant-garde jazz, chamber music, and fragmented soundscapes that challenge conventional listening experiences. By the time John Zorn released 'Cartoon S/M' in 2000, he was already an established figure in avant-garde music, known for his experimental compositions and collaborations. This album followed his prolific output throughout the 1990s, showcasing his ability to merge various styles and influences into a cohesive work that continues to defy genre boundaries.

Who is Cartoon S/M for?

Cartoon S/M works well if you're into wave-like pacing for exploration, surreal soundscapes for introspection and extended listening for deep focus.

How many songs are on Cartoon S/M?

Cartoon S/M has 20 tracks, running approximately 109 minutes.

Cartoon S/M

John Zorn · 2000

109 min · 20 tracks · avant-garde jazz

An eclectic blend of avant-garde jazz, chamber music, and fragmented soundscapes that challenge conventional listening experiences.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Cat o' Nine Tails Start here — This expansive opener sets the tone for the album with its complex arrangements and haunting motifs, embodying Zorn's signature style of blending tension and resolution.
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Kol Nidre (String Quartet in D minor) — As a reimagining of a traditional Jewish prayer, this piece showcases Zorn's ability to infuse cultural elements into his avant-garde framework, creating a profound emotional experience.
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Memento Mori — The lengthy composition serves as a culmination of the album's themes, weaving together various musical ideas into a meditative exploration of mortality and memory.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The album's eclectic structure and innovative sound make it a distinctive entry in avant-garde jazz.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

wave-like pacing for exploration
surreal soundscapes for introspection
extended listening for deep focus
interludes that provoke thought
cathartic release through experimentation

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification
prefer straightforward song structures

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — The album represents a deliberate departure into eclectic soundscapes and avant-garde forms.
Career context: By the time John Zorn released 'Cartoon S/M' in 2000, he was already an established figure in avant-garde music, known for his experimental compositions and collaborations. This album followed his prolific output throughout the 1990s, showcasing his ability to merge various styles and influences into a cohesive work that continues to defy genre boundaries.
Stylistic neighbors: Mike Patton· The Thing· Merzbow