Best Ever Albums

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 13:46:16 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/28/2026 17:46

The Jazz Composer's Orchestra - Michael Mantler (1968)

Link

Notes for Analysis…

The socio-political climate surrounding the composition and recording of Michael Mantler’s The Jazz Composer's Orchestra (recorded January–July 1968) was one of the most turbulent, revolutionary, and chaotic periods of the 20th century.

The album’s explosive, avant-garde free jazz and dense orchestral tension directly mirrored three interlocking historical forces: the heights of civil rights radicalism, the anti-Vietnam War movement, and the push for artistic self-determination.

Global Political Violence and Uprisings:

The year 1968 was a historical flashpoint defined by systemic shocks. The album was tracked during a six-month window that witnessed the following…

The Tet Offensive: Launched in January 1968, this massive military campaign shattered American public support for the Vietnam War and supercharged the anti-war movement.

The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: In April 1968, Dr. King’s murder sparked deadly riots across over 100 U.S. cities, fundamentally hardening the tone of Black political and cultural resistance.

Global Student Revolts: In May 1968, massive worker-student strikes paralyzed France, signaling a worldwide youth counter-culture rebellion against institutional authority. The raw fury of this climate is explicitly sonic on the album. For instance, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders unleashes a brutal, shrieking solo over a relentless march pattern on "Preview," evoking the terror and unrest of the streets.

Black Power and Free Jazz as Protest:

By 1968, the optimistic integrationism of the early Civil Rights Movement had transitioned into the Black Power movement. Free jazz became the definitive sonic weapon for this shift. Key African-American soloists on the album—including Cecil Taylor, Don Cherry, and Pharoah Sanders—viewed their radical, unconstrained improvisation as a literal reclamation of freedom and a rejection of Eurocentric, capitalist structures. The music deliberately shed conventional rhythms and harmonies, choosing instead to channel collective anger, grief, and liberation.

Institutional Rebellion:

The climate of 1968 was also defined by a fierce desire for institutional independence. Mantler and his then-wife, Carla Bley, formed the Jazz Composers Orchestra Association (JCOA) as a non-profit alternative to predatory corporate record labels. Major labels routinely exploited avant-garde musicians or refused to fund large-scale experimental projects.Operating like a political collective, the JCOA gave radical artists total control over their labor and distribution.

The line between Mantler’s orchestra and explicit political activism was virtually non-existent. Many of the exact same musicians on this album—such as bassist Charlie Haden, Carla Bley, and Roswell Rudd—immediately went on to form the Liberation Music Orchestra. That project famously focused on anti-war anthems and even included pieces directly mocking the chaos of the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Mantler’s compositions successfully captured the friction of a young, multi-racial vanguard screaming against a crumbling establishment.

The Jazz Composer's Orchestra is a monumental exploration of tension, inward turmoil, and the search for freedom within strict boundaries. Thematically, it bridges European avant-classical traditions with American free jazz, using sweeping, brooding arrangements as a canvas for ferocious, shackle-breaking improvisations.

Structure Meets Chaos:

At its core, the album represents a dialogue between order and anarchy. Composer, trumpeter, and theorist Michael Mantler designed the compositions as frameworks—often vast and orchestral—that are intentionally tested and pushed to their breaking point by a who's who of avant-garde soloists (including Cecil Taylor, Don Cherry, and Pharoah Sanders).

The title, Communications, reflects an overarching theme of intense, sometimes fractured, dialogue between individual expression and the collective.

Emotionally, the album is heavy, brooding, and darkly romantic, yet imbued with a cynical edge . It masterfully captures the intense sociopolitical and artistic friction of the late 1960s. The emotional arc swings between introspective, somber valleys—like the gorgeous, mournful dialogue between bassist Steve Swallow and trombonist Roswell Rudd—and explosive, almost frantic expressions of anguish and liberation, particularly during the sprawling, unrelenting Cecil Taylor showcase on "Communications #11".

Key Soloist Contributions:

Communications #8 & #9: Don Cherry and Gato Barbieri deliver fiery, exploratory solos over roiling orchestral swells, while guitarist Larry Coryell pushes the sonic boundaries with fierce feedback.

Communications #10: This piece is morose and deeply inward-looking, allowing Roswell Rudd to wander through a dark, melancholic landscape.

Communications #11: The 34-minute finale is a harrowing, emotional freefall. Cecil Taylor unleashes a torrent of frantic, intense piano work that feels like someone desperate for release, leading to a gruesome and exhausting "landing" in part two.

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 12:51:42 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/27/2026 16:51

DelBocaVista wrote:

In case you missed it, "Freak Out!" (AH: 7.9) and Henry Rollins' "Half Animal Machine" now both 8.5. Also a little while ago he upgraded "Funhouse" to a 7.5, so same as your rating.

Thanks DelBoca!

I added those, among others and removed FH and some others that no longer applied.

Fwiw, my “7.9” for Hot Animal Machine is from years back and I just forgot to add it to my list back then. Still need to revisit it, haven’t listened to it for probably a decade or so…

If you notice any more missing, or other mistakes, please let me know!

Or even recs of albums that you feel myself or Scaruff the Magic Dragon *should* rate higher or lower by 0.5 or more, plus or minus. These may be considered as well.

Can’t guarantee I’ll get to everything this round of listening, but it will at least go into the “queue”

This applies to any and all of you BEA hooligans that may want to join in on the shenanigans!

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

DelBocaVista — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 23:25:38 GMT

Author: DelBocaVista

Posted: 06/27/2026 03:25

In case you missed it, "Freak Out!" (AH: 7.9) and Henry Rollins' "Half Animal Machine" now both 8.5. Also a little while ago he upgraded "Funhouse" to a 7.5, so same as your rating.

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 18:36:46 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/26/2026 22:36

AFTERHOURS VERSUS SCARUFFISAURUS REX!!!!

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Revisiting recent, notable Scaruffi ratings changes

And various notable ratings discrepancies of plus or minus 0.5 or more

Rock/Jazz - Running Log

The Jazz Composer's Orchestra - Michael Mantler (1968) [aka, "The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra - The Jazz Composer's Orchestra (1968)"] 8.3/10 to 8.9/10 / SCARUFFI: 8.5/10
Through Silver in Blood - Neurosis (1996) 8.2/10 to 8.5/10 / SCARUFFI RECENTLY: 8/10 to 8.5/10
Ascension - John Coltrane (1965) [First Recording, aka "Edition II"] 8.3/10 to 8.5/10 / SCARUFFI: 8.5/10
The Survivor’s Suite – Keith Jarrett (1976) 8.1/10 to 8.3/10 / SCARUFFI: 8/10
Vision Creation Newsun - Boredoms (1999) 7.9/10 to 8.3/10 / SCARUFFI RECENTLY: 8/10 to 8.5/10
Slow, Deep & Hard - Type O Negative (1991) 8.1/10 to 8.2/10 / SCARUFFI RECENTLY: 9/10 to 8/10
Kick Out the Jams - MC5 (1969) 8.4/10 to 8.2/10 / SCARUFFI RECENTLY: 8.5/10 to 8/10
Even the Sounds Shine - Myra Melford (1994) 8.1/10 to 8.2/10 / SCARUFFI: 8/10
Ptah, the El Daoud - Alice Coltrane (1970) 7.9/10 to 8.1/10 / SCARUFFI: 8.5/10
Third Ear Band - Third Ear Band (1970) 7.9/10 to 8.1/10 / SCARUFFI: 9/10
End of Silence - Henry Rollins (1992) Not Rated to 8.0/10 / SCARUFFI: 8/10 …Rating from years ago, never added at that time, still needs revisit…
Extensions - McCoy Tyner (1970) 7.9/10 to 8.0/10 / SCARUFFI: 8/10
Sahara – McCoy Tyner (1972) 7.9/10 to 8.0/10 / SCARUFFI: 8/10
Sackcloth n’ Ashes - 16 Horsepower (1996) 7.6/10 to 7.8/10 / SCARUFFI RECENTLY: 7.5/10 to 8/10
Croce - Father Murphy (2015) Under consideration… still 7.5/10? Will update…
Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan (1965) Maintained 7.4/10 / SCARUFFI: 6.5/10
Pithecanthropus Erectus - Charles Mingus (1956) Maintained 7.3/10 / SCARUFFI: 8/10
Birth of the Cool - Miles Davis (1950) Maintained 7.3/10 / SCARUFFI: 8/10

___________________

NOTABLE DISCREPENCIES WITH SCARUFFI

+/- 2.0 OR MORE
Have A Marijuana - David Peel (1968) (AH: 5.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Croce - Father Murphy (2015) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 4.5/10)
Bangerz - Miley Cyrus (2013) (AH: 6.9/10; SCARUFFI: 4/10)
Apocalypse, girl - Jenny Hval (2015) (AH: 7.6/10; SCARUFFI: 5/10)

+/- 1.5 - 1.9
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel (1998) (AH: 8.9/10; SCARUFFI: 7/10)
Psychic...Powerless...Another Man's Sac - Butthole Surfers (1984) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Mu - Don Cherry (1969) [Parts 1 & 2] (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Stateless - Dirty Beaches (2014) (AH: 7.5/10 / SCARUFFI: 6/10)

+/- 1.1 - 1.4
Moondance - Van Morrison (1970) (AH: 7.1/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Laughing Stock - Talk Talk (1991) (AH: 8.3/10; SCARUFFI: 7/10)
The Emotional Plague - Supreme Dicks (1996) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Cop - Swans (1984) (AH: 6.8/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Repeater - Fugazi (1990) (AH: 7.9/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Fire of Love - Gun Club (1981) (AH: 7.9/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Surfer Rosa - Pixies (1988) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Telescopic - Edith Frost (1998) (AH: 6.9/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)

+/- 1.0
Safe as Milk - Captain Beefheart (1967) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Bozo - Lida Husik (1991) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Songs the Lord Taught Us - Cramps (1980) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
You The Night And The Music - Gallon Drunk (1992) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
New York - Lou Reed (1989) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Filth - Swans (1983) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Tim - Replacements (1985) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Let It Be - Replacements (1984) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Another Mind - Hiromi Uehara (2003) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 7/10)
Sticky Fingers - Rolling Stones (1971) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 7/10)
Badmotorfinger - Soundgarden (1991) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 6/10)

+/- 0.9
The Good Son - Nick Cave (1990) (AH: 8.1/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Good - Morphine (1992) (AH: 8.1/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Nail - Foetus (1985) (AH: 8.1/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Atlantis - Sun Ra (1967) (AH: 8.1/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Third Ear Band - Third Ear Band (1970) (AH: 8.1/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Uncle Meat - Frank Zappa (1969) (AH: 8.1/10; 9/10)
Underwater Moonlight - Soft Boys (1980) (AH: 7.6/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Return of Red Emma - Lida Husik (1993) (AH: 7.1/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Low Kick & Hard Bop - Solex (2001) (AH: 7.1/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
After the Rain - Michael Jones (1988) (AH: 7.1/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
If I Could Only Remember My Name - David Crosby (1971) (AH: 7.1/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
The Lemon of Pink - Books (2003) (AH: 7.1/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Bringing it All Back Home - Bob Dylan (1965) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 6.5/10)

+/- 0.8
Lullaby Land - Vampire Rodents (1993) (AH: 8.2/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Double Nickels on the Dime - Minutemen (1984) (AH: 8.2/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Well Oiled - Hash Jar Tempo (1997) (AH: 8.2/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Atomizer - Big Black (1986) (AH: 7.7/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
California - American Music Club (1988) (AH: 7.7/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
A Picture of Nectar - Phish (1992) (AH: 7.7/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
The Beatles - The Beatles (1968) (AH: 6.8/10; SCARUFFI: 6/10)

+/- 0.7
Fare Forward Voyagers - John Fahey (1973) (AH: 8.3/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Hosianna Mantra - Popol Vuh (1973) (AH: 8.3/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
For Alto - Anthony Braxton (1968) (AH: 8.3/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Dream Theory in Malaya - Jon Hassell (1981) (AH: 8.3/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Half Machine Lip Moves - Chrome (1979) (AH: 7.8/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Lost Works of Eunice Phelps - Maquiladora (1998) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Labradford - Labradford (1996) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
At Action Park - Shellac (1994) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Telephone Free Landslide Victory - Camper Van Beethoven (1985) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
On Fire - Galaxie 500 (1989) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Delete Yourself - Atari Teenage Riot (1995) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Marshmallows - The For Carnation (1996) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Live From a Shark Cage - Papa M (1999) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Balaklava - Pearls Before Swine (1968) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
The Land of Rape and Honey - Ministry (1988) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Ornette! - Ornette Coleman (1961) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Fantasia For Guitar & Banjo - Sandy Bull (1963) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Ptoof! - Deviants (1967) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Fontessa - Modern Jazz Quartet (1956) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
New York, NY - George Russell (1959) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Giant Steps - John Coltrane (1959) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Structures From Silence - Steve Roach (1984) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Saxophone Colossus - Sonny Rollins (1956) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Weasels Ripped My Flesh - Frank Zappa (1970) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Tweez - Slint (1989) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Whiskey for the Holy Ghost - Mark Lanegan (1994) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Crazy Rhythms - Feelies (1980) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
1933 Your House is Mine - Missing Foundation (1987) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Conspiracy - Jeanne Lee (1974) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Transition - Peter Michael Hamel (1983) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Far Cry - Eric Dolphy (1960) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy - Sun Ra (1963) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Pithecanthropus Erectus - Charles Mingus (1956) (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Birth of the Cool - Miles Davis (1950) [recorded 1950; released as LP 1957] (AH: 7.3/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
The Long View - Marty Ehrlich (2002) (AH: 8.2/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Sylvan Esso - Sylvan Esso (2014) (AH: 6.9/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Beware (The Funk is Everywhere) - Afrika Bambaataa (1986) (AH: 6.8/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Paid in Full - Eric B & Rakim (1987) (AH: 6.8/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Excitable Boy - Warren Zevon (1978) (AH: 6.8/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
The Guild of Temporal Adventurers - Kendra Smith (1992) (AH: 6.8/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
The Visitor - Jim O'Rourke (2009) (AH: 6.8/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Good Old Boys - Randy Newman (1974) (AH: 6.8/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
12 Songs - Randy Newman (1970) (AH: 6.8/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
With Fontella Bass - Art Ensemble of Chicago (1970) (AH: 7.7/10; SCARUFFI: 7/10)
Purple Rain - Prince (1984) (AH: 7.7/10; SCARUFFI: 7/10)

+/- 0.6
Saxophone Improvisations, Series F - Anthony Braxton (1972) (AH: 8.4/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Geek the Girl - Lisa Germano (1994) (AH: 8.4/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Spiritual Unity - Albert Ayler (1964) (AH: 8.4/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Not Available - Residents (1974) (AH: 8.4/10; SCARUFFI: 9/10)
Hot Animal Machine - Henry Rollins (1986) (AH: 7.9/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Freak Out! - Frank Zappa (1966) (AH: 7.9/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Barrett - Syd Barrett (1970) (AH: 7.9/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
15 July 1972 - Taj Mahal Travellers (1972) (AH: 7.9/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Pavilion of Dreams - Harold Budd (1978) (AH: 7.9/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth (1988) (AH: 8.6/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Head Over Heels - Cocteau Twins (1983) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
In A Silent Way - Miles Davis (1969) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Colors - Between the Buried and Me (2007) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
666 - Aphrodite's Child (1971) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
2 - Earth (1993) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Robin Holcomb - Robin Holcomb (1990) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Freedom Suite - Sonny Rollins (1958) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
White Soul - Green (1989) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Buy - Contortions (1979) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Amsterdam - The Lofty Pillars (2001) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Head Over Heels - Cocteau Twins (1983) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
A Burning Circle And Then Dust - Lycia (1995) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Day In The Stark Corner - Lycia (1993) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
2 - Kraftwerk (1971) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Freedom Now Suite - Sonny Rollins (1958) (AH: 7.4/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
6 - Supersilent (2003) (AH: 8.1/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Vade Mecum (Part I and II) - Bill Dixon (1993) (AH: 8.1/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Reign in Blood - Slayer (1986) (AH: 6.9/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul (1989) (AH: 6.9/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (1976) (AH: 6.9/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Johnny Comes Marching Home - The Del Lords (1986) (AH: 6.9/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
Hounds of Love - Kate Bush (1985) (AH: 7.1/10; SCARUFFI: 6.5/10)

+/- 0.5
Faust - Faust (1971) (AH: 9.0/10; SCARUFFI: 9.5/10)
Novus Magnificat - Constance Demby (1986) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Bricolage - Amon Tobin (1997) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Cyclops Nuclear Submarine Captain - Dogbowl (1991) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Free Jazz - Ornette Coleman (1960) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Symphony For Improvisers - Don Cherry (1966) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Consumer Revolt - Cop Shoot Cop (1990) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Songs of Leonard Cohen - Leonard Cohen (1967) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
A Rainbow in Curved Air - Terry Riley (1968) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
In Den Ghaerten Pharoahs - Popol Vuh (1972) (AH: 8.0/10; SCARUFFI: 8.5/10)
Ys - Joanna Newsom (2006) (AH: 8.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Variations in Dream-time - Anthony Davis (1982) (AH: 8.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Indian War Whoop - Holy Modal Rounders (1967) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Unsane - Unsane (1991) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
You Can't Pray A Lie - Laughing Hyenas (1989) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Ruby Vroom - Soul Coughing (1994) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
The Firstborn is Dead - Nick Cave (1985) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
In Praise Of Learning - Henry Cow (1975) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Phantasies And Senseitions - Bugskull (1994) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Blues For The Red Sun - Kyuss (1992) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
May I Sing With Me - Yo La Tengo (1992) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Kill 'Em All - Metallica (1983) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Damaged - Black Flag (1981) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Prayer For The Halcyon Fear - Tiny Lights (1985) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Monster Walks The Winter Lake - David Thomas (1986) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
King Kong - Jean Luc Ponty (1970) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Departure From the Northern Wasteland - Michael Hoenig (1978) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Warren Zevon - Warren Zevon (1976) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Streams - Sam Rivers (1973) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Removal of Secrecy - Rova Saxophone Quartet (1979) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Rocket to Russia - Ramones (1977) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
The Problem With Me - Seam (1993) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Blanket Warm - Lullaby For the Working Class (1996) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes (1983) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Hole - Foetus (1984) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Goat - Jesus Lizard (1991) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 8/10)
Between The Buttons - The Rolling Stones (1966) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 7.5/10)
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye (1971) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 7/10)
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd (1975) (AH: 7.5/10; SCARUFFI: 7/10)
Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan (1975) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 6.5/10)
Stand! - Sly & The Family Stone (1969) (AH: 7.0/10; SCARUFFI: 6.5/10)

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Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:29:11 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/25/2026 14:29

MadhattanJack wrote:

AfterHours wrote:

Sleep Token…

A close friend adores them and puts at least two of their albums among the best ever. He has been strongly recommending them for months… But his taste is very hit and miss for my tastes and I’ve just been swamped with other things and I have yet to bite. Any one who knows my taste have a take on this band and if they should be strongly recommended to me or not?

Oddly enough, I can't find any custom charts here ranking albums recorded by masked bands. Maybe that's something I should do, except that I generally don't like masked bands, other than The Residents, and Pussy Riot, and Los Straitjackets... maybe Animal Collective too, and MF Doom, and Nash the Slash, and apparently Devo is considered a masked band by some people... Okay, so I like a lot of masked bands. There, I admit it! That said, the quality of Sleep Token's masks is actually well above average, and way better than Slipknot's, which is the first band everyone thinks of in the genre. The Rubberbandits were probably the worst, though. The pits. Just really, really shitty masks.

Um… thanks as always MH? 🤣

…So based on these, *cough* “analogies”, Sleep Token are basically somewhere between Vampire Rodents Lullaby Land and Carla Bleys Escalator Over the Hill!! Got it ❗

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

MadhattanJack — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:17:59 GMT

Author: MadhattanJack

Posted: 06/25/2026 05:17

AfterHours wrote:

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:28:17 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/25/2026 04:28

Misc…

Scaruffi upgrades…

I do intend (very soon) to revisit his recent and seemingly ongoing ratings updates he has been working on for Rock 1990s (with more probably coming) and posting a log here where I document mine vs his ratings and just see if I agree with him upon my own revisits… Vision Creation Newsun and the Neurosis are two I’ve each had 8.5 before so are maybe the most likely to match up.

I’ll probably also log (combined with above) albums with the biggest discrepancy to Scaruff, and revisit those to see if he has successfully hypnotized me into changing my mind. For example, Have a Mirujuana might be the biggest difference where I give it about a 5 maybe 6, and he gives it an 8. NMHs Aeroplane also, where I give it a 9 and he a 7…

Anyway, some discrepancies are larger than others, so might be interesting to see if I’ve changed on some of these after all this time

Some Jazz revisits…

Becoming more and more convinced that both A Love Supreme and Black Saint are 9.3+ and that I mistakenly dropped them a few years ago. ALS was 9.3 and dropped to a 9ish before climbing back up to 9.3 pretty recently … BSSL was 9.4 and dropped about the same and is now back to 9.1-9.2 with a strong possibility of 9.3.

Also started revisiting some other Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Miles, others… may be some ratings changes on the way…

Also track ratings of these — if that interests you, be on the lookout for some jazz updates to my list

Btw, for ALS I can’t stress enough how important it is to notice (continuously in variation/development) that all the playing is “straddling the border” between rational discourse (highly structured, carefully phrased, considered) — analytic — and the very feverish or spontaneous or extremely emotive. And how it tends to maintain (all instruments, Coltranes sax the most dominant) the “register” (adhering to vocal type/tone) of a concerned intellectual or philosopher or someone in serious quandary, searching mid existential or spiritual crises (but no matter how frantic or feverish, always the “register” of intellect, real thought, concern, searching and inward character, behind the phrase). Try noticing these main phenomena all the way through and how incredible the compositional or structural fluctuation, dynamism and character is between these two main poles so to speak, and get blown away all over again by this incredible masterpiece.

Painting…

Very good chance I may finally post an analysis of Picasso’s Guernica, or at least a “rough draft”. If this is something wanted please let me know whether here or PM. Can sometimes help to hurry me up if I know it’s of interest to others!

Sleep Token…

A close friend adores them and puts at least two of their albums among the best ever. He has been strongly recommending them for months… But his taste is very hit and miss for my tastes and I’ve just been swamped with other things and I have yet to bite. Any one who knows my taste have a take on this band and if they should be strongly recommended to me or not?

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 20:21:49 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/14/2026 00:21

Link

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 15:55:38 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/13/2026 19:55

I added notes/analysis to page for Laocoon and his Sons:

https://www.besteveralbums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=736527#736527

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:30:10 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/11/2026 16:30

I’ve finally added a fairly extensive “rough draft” analysis of Leonardo’s Last Supper to the artist page.

You may also notice that I just recently put the rating back to 9.0/10 as it was a few years ago.

My analysis is probably about 60% complete with still various parts needing quite a bit more explanation, more alluded to or mentioned then explained yet. But mostly, the foundation is pretty much all there and the meanings that are the hardest to come by I’ve at least given some further explanation to so far.

Much of it is still in a semi sloppy or incomplete “notes” but nevertheless it is very likely to blow your mind (if properly grasped) beyond comprehension the depths and likes of which only the profoundest, most moving masterpieces of history are capable of.

Other parts are also explanations of theology in preparation for more analysis to be added…

Regardless, hope those interested find it worthwhile to at least stoke the vision or imagination of what true genius is capable of…

Note that certain details mentioned in the analysis are best seen by also viewing the copies provided in the links on the page (Tongerlo above all as this is probably the closest to how it originally looked, especially figuratively, with much evidence suggesting Leonardo himself assisted it).

Leonardo page here: https://www.besteveralbums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=612344#612344

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:07:40 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/11/2026 02:07

Paintings, Sculpture, Architecture - Ratings Updates - Running Log

The Last Supper - Leonardo da Vinci (circa 1495 - 1498) / Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy [Painting] 8.4/10 to 9.0/10

Pieta - Michelangelo Buonarroti (1498 - 1499) / St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy [Sculpture] 7.9/10 to 8.0/10

Lady with an Ermine - Leonardo da Vinci (1489 - 1491) Not Rated to 7.1/10

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne - Leonardo da Vinci (circa 1501 - 1519) Not Rated to 7.1/10

Not Rated to /10

Not Rated to /10

Not Rated to /10

Not Rated to /10

/10 to /10

/10 to /10

/10 to /10

/10 to /10

/10 to /10

/10 to /10

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:31:32 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/10/2026 20:31

EXPLANATION: WHAT IS THIS LOG??? Go here: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=571094#571094

For my criteria page, go here: http://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15503

To visit my Main lists, go here:
Greatest Classical Music Works: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15098
Greatest Albums (Rock & Jazz): https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15276
Greatest Songs/Tracks/Movements: https://www.besteveralbums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15246
Greatest Films: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15558
Greatest Paintings, Sculpture and Architecture: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15560
Greatest Works of Art: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16117

Various (in progress) genre lists, listed in order of how recently I've worked on them:
Best Action/Adventure Films: https://www.besteveralbums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=749761#749761
Best Comedy Films: https://www.besteveralbums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=748991#748991
Greatest Literature: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=691617#691617
Best Teen and/or Coming of Age Films: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=683219#683219
Best Gangster and/or Hood Films: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=682513#682513
Best Editing/Structure in Film History: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=667443#667443
Best Visuals (Color) / Best Visuals (Black and White): https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=666231#666231
Best Horror Films: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=656102#656102
Best Hip Hop/R & B/Soul/Funk Albums: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=650323#650323
Best Animated Films: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=647884#647884
Best Comic Book/Superhero Films: https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=646189#646189

Bold = Newly added
Bold + Italics = Was already listed but recently upgraded/downgraded

Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week(s): 4-27-26 - 6-28-26
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane (1964)
The Last Supper - Leonardo da Vinci (circa 1495 - 1498) / Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy [Painting]
Sistine Chapel Ceiling and The Last Judgment - Michelangelo Buonarroti (1508 - 1512; 1535 - 1541) / Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Rome, Italy [Painting]
Rock Bottom - Robert Wyatt (1974)
Guernica - Pablo Picasso (1937) / Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain [Painting]
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady - Charles Mingus (1963)
The Survivors Suite - Keith Jarrett (1976)
The Jazz Composer's Orchestra - Michael Mantler (1968) [aka, "The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra - The Jazz Composer's Orchestra (1968)"]
Lady of the Mirrors - Anthony Davis (1980)
Through Silver in Blood - Neurosis (1996)
Vision Creation Newsun - Boredoms (1999)
Virgin of the Rocks - Leonardo da Vinci (circa 1483-1486) [Painting]
Sackcloth n’ Ashes - 16 Horsepower (1996)
Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan (1965)
Ascension - John Coltrane (1965) [First Recording, aka "Edition II"]
Pieta - Michelangelo Buonarroti (1498 - 1499) / St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy [Sculpture]
Impressions - John Coltrane (1961)
Dimensions and Extensions - Sam Rivers (1965)
Slow, Deep & Hard - Type O Negative (1991)
Laocoön and His Sons - Unknown Artist; suggested Athanadoros, Hagesandros, or Polydoros of Rhodes (circa 200 BC - 70 AD) / Vatican Museum, Vatican City, Rome, Italy [Sculpture]
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne - Leonardo da Vinci (circa 1501 - 1519)
Brilliant Corners - Thelonius Monk (1956)
Pithecanthropus Erectus - Charles Mingus (1956)
Mona Lisa - Leonardo da Vinci (1505) [Painting]
Abduction of a Sabine Woman - Giambologna (1583) [Sculpture]
Birth of the Cool - Miles Davis (1950)

Top 10+ SONGS/TRACKS for the Week(s)

FAMILIAR ROCK/JAZZ ALBUMS - RE-RATED:
SEE HERE FOR RECENT UPDATES: https://www.besteveralbums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=758644#758644

NEWLY LISTENED - ROCK/JAZZ ALBUMS - RATED:

NEWLY LISTENED - CLASSICAL WORKS - RATED:

FAMILIAR CLASSICAL WORKS - RE-RATED:

FAMILIAR SONGS/TRACKS/MOVEMENTS - RE-RATED:

NEWLY LISTENED - SONGS/TRACKS/MOVEMENTS - RATED:

FAMILIAR FILMS - RE-RATED:
SEE HERE FOR RECENT “ACTION/ADVENTURE” UPDATES: https://www.besteveralbums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=752087#752087

NEWLY WATCHED FILMS - RATED:

FAMILIAR PAINTINGS/VISUAL ART - RE-RATED:
SEE HERE FOR RECENT “PAINTINGS/VISUAL ART” UPDATES:
https://www.besteveralbums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=753512#753512

NEWLY VIEWED PAINTINGS/VISUAL ART - RATED:

FAMILIAR LITERATURE - RE-RATED:

NEWLY READ LITERATURE - RATED:

Not Rated to /10
Not Rated to /10
Not Rated to /10
Not Rated to /10
Not Rated to /10
Not Rated to /10
Not Rated to /10

/10 to /10
/10 to /10
/10 to /10
/10 to /10
/10 to /10
/10 to /10
/10 to /10
/10 to /10
/10 to /10

TOP 50 WORKS OF ART OF THE YEAR (2026)
Notre-Dame de Paris - Main construction principally directed under Bishop Maurice de Sully (1163 - 1260, main construction; various additions, updates, restorations thereafter; reconstruction of fleche and roof from fire damages: 2019 - 2024) / Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul-II, Paris, France [Architecture, including Stained Glass and Structural Sculpture]
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane (1964)
Spiderland - Slint (1991)
Suicide - Suicide (1977)
Geek the Girl - Lisa Germano (1994)
Down Colorful Hill - Red House Painters (1992)
Yerself is Steam - Mercury Rev (1991)
St. Peter's Basilica - Principal Architects: Donato Bramante (Original design and began construction of central Greek Cross plan: 1503 - 1514); Michelangelo Buonarroti (Revised plan and construction with updated Greek Cross design heavily informing the final result less the later addition of Maderno's Nave and Facade; revision and main design of the central Dome: 1546 - 1564); Carlo Maderno (Revised to Latin Cross plan with addition of central Nave; addition of Facade: 1603 - 1629); Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Revision of St. Peter's Square, addition of Colonnade: 1656 - 1667) (Building completed and opened by 1626; various revisions and additions thereafter) / Vatican City, Rome, Italy [Architecture, including Structural Sculpture]
Improvisie - Paul Bley (1971)
The Doors - The Doors (1966)
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady - Charles Mingus (1963)
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1822)
Ys - Joanna Newsom (2006)
Y - Pop Group (1979)
Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1820)
Laughing Stock - Talk Talk (1991)
Chartres Cathedral - Master of Chartres (Anonymous French Architect) (early phase of construction from 1120s - circa 1165, with only the crypt, towers and West Facade surviving a fire of 1194; thereafter the main Gothic structure as currently seen was largely established structurally from 1194 - 1221; further completion and details from circa 1221 - circa 1250 with consecration in 1260; various modifications and additions thereafter) / Chartres, France [Architecture, including Stained Glass and Structural Sculpture]
The Velvet Underground and Nico - The Velvet Underground (1966)
Bullet in the Head - John Woo (1990)
St Paul’s Cathedral
The Sagrestia Nuova - Michelangelo Buonarroti (1520 - 1533; final composition completed later: 1559) / Medici Chapel, Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy [Sculpture and Architecture]
Taj Mahal - Ustad Ahmad Lahauri (1631 - 1653) / Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India [Architecture, including Landscape Architecture]
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Houses of Parliament, London
The Gates of Hell - Auguste Rodin (1889 "Expressionist" Version; Unfinished, revised between two main versions, 1880-1917; Bronze cast 1926-1928) [Sculpture]
Salisbury Cathedral
Sainte-Cécile Cathedral
Süleymaniye Mosque
Strasbourg Cathedral
Westminster Abbey
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington DC)
Mission: Impossible III - J. J. Abrams (2006)
Good - Morphine (1992)
Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan (1965)
Master of Puppets - Metallica (1986)
David - Michelangelo Buonarroti (1501 - 1504) / Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, Florence, Italy [Sculpture]
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor "Appassionata" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1805)
Laurentian Library - Michelangelo Buonarroti (1524 - 1534; completed posthumously: 1571; Tribune of Elci rotunda added by Pasquale Poccianti in 1841) / Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, Florence, Italy [Architecture]
Reims Cathedral - Jean d'Orbais (Principal Architect: 1210 - 1228; additional architects, construction, modifications thereafter with the main phase of construction from 1211 - 1275; further modifications through 1345, High Gothic, Rayonnant Style) / Reims, France [Architecture, including Stained Glass and Structural Sculpture]
Milan Cathedral - Begun by Simone da Orsenigo; Several architects thereafter (Begun 1386; several stages of development through 1965) / Milan, Italy [Architecture and Sculpture]
Batalha Monastery - Afonso Domingues (1388 - 1402); Huguet (1402 - 1438 in which several Flamboyant Gothic elements were added; changed architects posthumously, continued construction, revisions, additions through completion circa 1517) / Batalha, Portugal [Architecture, including Stained Glass and Structural Sculpture]
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (original construction, primarily Romanesque: 1075 - 1211, Pricipal Architect: Bernard the Elder (late 1000s - mid 1100s?); Master Esteban (completed Romanesque Facade: 1103); Pórtico da Gloria, an early work of Romanesque sculpture, Master Mateo (completed 1188); Gothic construction, modifications (especially in the Cloister and some Interior features), more prominently major Baroque construction and modifications, these mainly from 1400s - circa 1770; most notably Fernando de Casas Novoa, constructing the North Tower (aka, da Carraca) and Baroque Facade (circa 1738 - 1760); various other, additions, modifications during that period and thereafter) [Architecture, including Stained Glass and Structural Sculpture]
Westminster Abbey
Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1820)
Hungarian Parliament Building
Lincoln Cathedral
Jeronimos Monastery
Canterbury Cathedral
Church of Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp
Amiens Cathedral - Robert of Luzarches (1220 - 1228; Building Plan and Principal Architect); Thomas and Regnault de Cormont (1228 - 1258); Renaud de Cormont (1258 - 1288; Mostly constructed 1220 - circa 1270; modifications thereafter) / Amiens, France [Architecture, including Stained Glass and Structural Sculpture]

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 14:11:57 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/03/2026 18:11

Link

Obviously not at the level of his future masterpieces, but nevertheless prodigious for a child, of significance to his development, and alludes thematically and symbolically to his future art.

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:24:42 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 05/29/2026 15:24

Masaccio

Holy Trinity

Link

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Sat, 23 May 2026 16:03:27 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 05/23/2026 20:03

A fun, efficient snapshot, informative of the fundamental, general tenets of each

Link

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Fri, 22 May 2026 20:50:35 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 05/23/2026 00:50

Bernini

Ecstasy of St Teresa

Link

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Fri, 22 May 2026 14:10:35 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 05/22/2026 18:10

Though incomplete imo, this is a satisfying analysis of Michelangelo’s impossible David. Especially recommended is the section that shows and gives one a good idea of just how impossible the achievement was. This is hard to “explain” without visual aid, so this video makes a good partner to my own roughly drafted analysis on my Michelangelo page from several months ago (still incomplete and needs improved explanations in its own right)

Link

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Tue, 19 May 2026 10:23:37 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 05/19/2026 14:23

Link

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Sun, 10 May 2026 13:04:47 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 05/10/2026 17:04

AfterHours wrote:

Link

Highly recommended analysis of Caravaggio’s St Matthew cycle that I (mostly) agree with

Unless you speak Italian, you will want to adjust the language to English (or whatever your choice). The English translation checks out without a hitch far as I can tell … can’t vouch for the other translations one way or the other…

Note that — if you must — there is an English dubbed version of this broken up into 3 parts, but it is not as good, not as articulate and exact in its descriptions. Still worth watching if you just can’t stand subtitles or something, though it won’t give you quite as exact an interpretation as this one…

Main points I would add is that I think the Martyrdom of St Matthew (3rd painting on right of the cycle) doubles as a fear or admission of Caravaggios own sinful inclinations and guilt (he had a short, violent temper and had already begun to get in trouble with the law, and eventually wanted for murder to which he would die from illness while on the run).

Caravaggios tenebrism, stark contrast of light and dark is not merely theatrical, dramatic, but also always features hidden secrets, truths, ambiguous reality and figures amidst its shadow and light.

It is furthermore a quandary into the truth of Catholic belief, into his own worthiness of it. Caravaggio stages regular people (even using the homeless, poor, even prostitutes…) and in stark reality in his religious scenes where the transcendent reality is not obvious and in question between shadow and light. He does not believe, or at least questions the supernatural transfigured visionary scenes of a Michelangelo, of Mannerism, of contemporary Rubens and others, and so on, who’s religious conviction is far more evident and evangelical or overt or demonstrative or resplendent.

One has to really investigate the picture to find the supernatural and even here it is only overtly displayed in floating angels and (usually vague) display of wings and vague halos. Otherwise the reality is stark and the scenes are stationed in hyper realistic where their divinity is never clear, rather hidden, and can’t be definitively claimed or asserted.

In the Martyrdom painting it is always presumed that the angry man with the sword is who has stabbed and on the verge of killing Matthew but my theory is that it is Caravaggio, hidden in guilt and shadows and being whisked away in the background who has just done so, while the guard with the sword has just charged in to protect Matthew and lift him up by the arm, after the capture of Caravaggio who is being taken away to trial or prison.

Looking closer one will find that the figure of Caravaggio may have a sword or very large knife at his belt. Another figure, feathered cap, to the left of the guard that is grabbing Matthew, surely does, but it is also increasingly blanketed by shadow the further back into the picture and seems to mysteriously point and lead the eye back to the figure of Caravaggio, and the extended sword happens to line up and give illusion or allusion to the fact of a sword or large knife at his waist or that was there before (during the attack perhaps, but since dropped, his hand also extended as if it has just dropped something). It is ambiguous and not entirely clear if it is casting a perfect shadow of it right at that placement exactly where one could be or if there happens to be one on his person too, that so happens to cast a perfect shadow fusing his with the other in the foreground.

Regardless, Caravaggio has clearly painted this in such a way to lead the eye and confuse the cause and effect of such and to lend mystery to what has occurred. And it can be read as an extension of guilt and a hidden reveal of the murderous task that has just occurred, shrouded in darkness, with some details emerging in the contrasting light and theatrically placed shadow.

Caravaggio surely knew and, if my interpretation is correct, intentionally painted this in an ambiguous hidden way that his sense of guilt would not be too obvious, and probably knew it could and would likely be misinterpreted, the central figure “taking the fall” for him, an added layer of guilt of his own sinful or criminal inclinations and temperament (and up until then, without severe consequences)

Thus the painting is Caravaggio’s fear or admission of sin and that he cannot live up to the life of Matthew and a fear that he will not be able to bear and to follow the word as Matthew did.

In each painting can be ambiguously read on the faces of Matthew, no matter what else, a sense of doubt or apprehension of belief in the self, and this is in my opinion the additional meaning and admission of the painter.

One may also notice that the Martyrdom further turns the point of view from the side ways of the Calling, to the closer-in perspective of the Inspiration, to now the first person of this, where the scene opens of to a view that is straight ahead and looking head on and directly into the back of it, where through the chaos of bodies, ambiguous action, of the states of shock and surprise (of who the real criminal is and what just happened), and through the stark darkness and light, there is a looking into and at oneself stricken with guilt, looking back at what he has just done, while Matthew lay (open armed and laid out to God, full acceptance at his martyrdom).

The perspective, back to front into confrontation, the space, into consideration with the viewer (also Caravaggio’s first person POV in painting and looking into it), is angled exactly in alignment from Caravaggio’s perspective, internal point of view, from inside the painting out.

Re: Top 10+ Music, Movies, and Visual Art of the Week (2020 - 2026)

AfterHours — Sat, 9 May 2026 21:53:24 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 05/10/2026 01:53

Link

Highly recommended analysis of Caravaggio’s St Matthew cycle that I (mostly) agree with

Unless you speak Italian, you will want to adjust the language to English (or whatever your choice). The English translation checks out without a hitch far as I can tell … can’t vouch for the other translations one way or the other…

Note that — if you must — there is an English dubbed version of this broken up into 3 parts, but it is not as good, not as articulate and exact in its descriptions. Still worth watching if you just can’t stand subtitles or something, though it won’t give you quite as exact an interpretation as this one…