Naked City: The Complete Studio Recordings cover

Naked City: The Complete Studio Recordings

John Zorn · 2005

327 min · 121 tracks · avant-garde jazz

An audacious blend of avant-garde jazz and chaotic noise, pushing the boundaries of genre conventions.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Batman Start here — This track showcases Zorn's ability to transform a familiar theme into an unpredictable sonic experience, encapsulating the raw energy that defines Naked City's sound.
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    Lonely Woman — A bold reinterpretation of Ornette Coleman's classic, this track highlights Zorn's knack for blending intricate melodies with abrasive textures, illustrating the band's range.
  • →
    Fuck the Facts — Clocking in at just fourteen seconds, this track exemplifies Zorn's subversive humor and willingness to challenge musical norms, leaving a lasting impact despite its brevity.
  • →
    Graveyard Shift — With its haunting atmosphere and unsettling shifts in dynamics, this track serves as an excellent example of Zorn's ability to evoke strong emotions through unconventional structures.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

Instrumental
76 /100
Alpine
Higher than 98% of albums we've rated

This collection showcases Zorn's innovative approach, blending genres with precision and intensity.

What we noticed

  • The album features a rapid-fire sequence of short tracks, many under two minutes, creating a sense of urgency and unpredictability.
  • Each track often shifts abruptly in style or tempo, with some transitioning from jazz to noise within the same piece.
  • Several tracks incorporate dissonant harmonies and chaotic rhythms, challenging conventional song structures.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
9/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
9/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

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 with surprises
  • short bursts of intense energy
  • immersive cinematic soundscapes
  • chaotic exploration of sound
  • dynamic shifts in emotion

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer predictable song structures
  • seek straightforward listening experiences

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Experimental — This album showcases Zorn's avant-garde approach, pushing genre boundaries.
Career context
By the time 'Naked City: The Complete Studio Recordings' was released in 2005, John Zorn had already established himself as a leading figure in avant-garde music. This collection compiles the band's recordings from the late '80s through early '90s, encapsulating a crucial period in Zorn's career marked by his innovative approach to jazz and experimental sounds, following the success of earlier projects like 'Naked City' (1989).
Stylistic neighbors
Mike Patton· The Thing· Merzbow
New to John Zorn? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Batman Start here 2:04
  • 2 The Sicilian Clan 3:32
  • 3 You Will Be Shot 1:31
  • 4 Latin Quarter 4:11
  • 5 A Shot in the Dark 3:13
  • 6 Reanimator 1:43
  • 7 Snagglepuss 2:20
  • 8 I Want to Live 2:12
  • 9 Lonely Woman 2:45
  • 10 Igneous Ejaculation 0:24
  • 11 Blood Duster 0:16
  • 12 Hammerhead 0:11
  • 13 Demon Sanctuary 0:41
  • 14 Obeah Man 0:20
  • 15 Ujaku 0:30
  • 16 Fuck the Facts 0:14
  • 17 Speedball 0:43
  • 18 Chinatown 4:28
  • 19 Punk China Doll 3:04
  • 20 N.Y. Flat Top Box 0:45
  • 21 Saigon Pickup 4:50
  • 22 The James Bond Theme 3:06
  • 23 Den of Sins 1:15
  • 24 Contempt 2:54
  • 25 Graveyard Shift 3:32
  • 26 Inside Straight 4:16

Disc 2

  • 1 Grand Guignol 17:49
  • 2 Blood Is Thin 1:03
  • 3 Thrash Jazz Assassin 0:48
  • 4 Dead Spot 0:35
  • 5 Bonehead 0:56
  • 6 Piledriver 0:37
  • 7 Shangkuan Ling-Feng 1:18
  • 8 Numbskull 0:32
  • 9 Perfume of a Critic’s Burning Flesh 0:28
  • 10 Jazz Snob: Eat Shit 0:27
  • 11 The Prestidigitator 0:47
  • 12 No Reason to Believe 0:27
  • 13 Hellraiser 0:42
  • 14 Torture Garden 0:39
  • 15 Slan 0:26
  • 16 The Ways of Pain 0:35
  • 17 The Noose 0:12
  • 18 Sack of Shit 0:48
  • 19 Blunt Instrument 0:56
  • 20 Osaka Bondage 1:16
  • 21 Shallow Grave 0:43
  • 22 Kaoru 0:54
  • 23 Dead Dread 0:49
  • 24 Billy Liar 0:15
  • 25 Victims of Torture 0:26
  • 26 Speedfreaks 0:51
  • 27 New Jersey Scum Swamp 0:44
  • 28 S/M Sniper 0:16
  • 29 Pigfucker 0:27
  • 30 Cairo Chop Shop 0:24
  • 31 Face Lifter 0:57
  • 32 Whiplash 0:23
  • 33 The Blade 0:43
  • 34 Gob of Spit 0:28
  • 35 La cathédrale engloutie 6:26
  • 36 Three Preludes, op. 74: I. Douloureux, déchirant 1:22
  • 37 Three Preludes, op. 74: II. Très lent, contemplatif 1:42
  • 38 Three Preludes, op. 74: III. Allegro drammatico 0:51
  • 39 Prophetiae Sybillarum 1:52
  • 40 The Cage 2:03
  • 41 Louange à l’éternité de Jésus 7:23
  • 42 Grand Guignol (version vocale) 17:40

Disc 3

  • 1 Main Titles 1:28
  • 2 Sex Games 2:23
  • 3 The Brood 2:49
  • 4 Sweat, Sperm + Blood 2:04
  • 5 Vliet 0:50
  • 6 Heretic 1 2:33
  • 7 Submission 4:23
  • 8 Heretic 2 1:46
  • 9 Catacombs 2:46
  • 10 Heretic 3 2:43
  • 11 My Master, My Slave 2:23
  • 12 Saint Jude 2:13
  • 13 The Conqueror Worm 2:32
  • 14 Dominatrix 2B 2:15
  • 15 Back Through the Looking Glass 2:40
  • 16 Here Come the 7,000 Frogs 1:59
  • 17 Slaughterhouse/Chase Sequence 2:19
  • 18 Castle Keep 1:49
  • 19 Mantra of Resurrected Shit 1:43
  • 20 Trypsicore 1:47
  • 21 Fire and Ice (Club Scene) 2:37
  • 22 Crosstalk 1:41
  • 23 Copraphagist Rituals 0:53
  • 24 Labyrinth 5:49

Disc 4

  • 1 Asylum 1:55
  • 2 Sunset Surfer 3:24
  • 3 Party Girl 2:33
  • 4 The Outsider 2:28
  • 5 Triggerfingers 3:31
  • 6 Terkmani Teepee 3:59
  • 7 Sex Fiend 3:32
  • 8 Razorwire 5:31
  • 9 The Bitter and the Sweet 4:52
  • 10 Krazy Kat 1:54
  • 11 The Vault 4:44
  • 12 Metaltov 2:07
  • 13 Poisonhead 1:09
  • 14 Bone Orchard 3:54
  • 15 I Die Screaming 2:29
  • 16 Pistol Whipping 0:57
  • 17 Skatekey 1:24
  • 18 Shock Corridor 1:08
  • 19 American Psycho 6:09

Disc 5

  • 1 Val de travers 6:19
  • 2 Une correspondance 5:09
  • 3 La fée verte 5:12
  • 4 Fleurs du mal 4:08
  • 5 Artemisia absinthium 4:34
  • 6 Notre Dame de l'oubli (For Olivier Messiaen) 4:51
  • 7 Verlaine, Part One: Un midi moins dix 4:28
  • 8 Verlaine, Part Two: La bleue 6:03
  • 9 ...rend fou 6:16
  • 10 Leng Tch'e 31:38

What to play next

Masada Rock
Listen next

Masada Rock

2005

This album continues the avant-garde energy while blending in rock elements for a fresh experience.
Naked City
Go back to

Naked City

1990

A natural lead-in, sharing similar chaotic and genre-defying qualities.
Full John Zorn discography Where to start with John Zorn Artists like John Zorn
avant-garde jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata