POLL: Siouxsie & The Banshees albums

I would've gone with 'JuJu' buy you've gone an complicated things for me by including 'Nocturne'. So my vote is split; 'JuJu' is my favourite studio album but 'Notcurne' is my favourite Siouxsie release. I've never heard anything after 'Peepshow' which didn't really grab me. 'Tinderbox' is otherwise the most under listened to of those 80's record for me.

― AnotherDeadHero, Monday, 22 March 2010 08:20 (3 years ago) Permalink

The Rapture is a really great album - maybe not my favorite, but far better than could be expected for a 1995 album from them.

― I DIED, Monday, 22 March 2010 08:25 (3 years ago) Permalink

yeah 'The Rapture' was a pretty massive "return to form",s hame that album never really got the attention it deserved. I'm debating btw 'the Scream' and 'Tinderbox' for the poll.

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Monday, 22 March 2010 08:48 (3 years ago) Permalink

The Scream.

My Top 3 would be Scream>JuJu>Tinderbox. Enjoying JuJu and KIAD much more lately than I did back in the day when I wrongly found them too 'gothy' whatever that means. The Scream is still by far the best album though.

― Dr.C, Monday, 22 March 2010 09:13 (3 years ago) Permalink

Dreamhouse gives the best psychedelia imo. Would've liked to vote for Join Hands but bollocks to "The Lord's Prayer" really.

― Cankle My Appointments (Noodle Vague), Monday, 22 March 2010 10:42 (3 years ago) Permalink

Kaleidoscope, easily... i'm shocked at the lack of love.

― zingzing, Monday, 22 March 2010 15:50 (3 years ago) Permalink

The Scream (1978)
Juju (1981)
Tinderbox (1986)

One of these. I recently learned the greatness that is Kaleidoscope but my top three are pretty firmly entrenched (and "Night Shift" will likely always be my favorite song of theirs).

― big time (HI DERE), Monday, 22 March 2010 15:54 (3 years ago) Permalink

Argh impossible to choose.

But of course now I'm going to have to listen to all these on Spotify to help decide.

― There's Always Been A Dance Element To (Masonic Boom), Monday, 22 March 2010 15:59 (3 years ago) Permalink

It is really a shame that Siouxsie sounds so terrible on Seven Year Itch

― big time (HI DERE), Monday, 22 March 2010 16:00 (3 years ago) Permalink

(OK, so far it's Juju winning hands down. I mean... MONITOR. Fuck. So awesome I want to roll around on the floor.)

― There's Always Been A Dance Element To (Masonic Boom), Monday, 22 March 2010 17:19 (3 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, "Spellbound", "Monitor", "Night Shift", "Into The Light" and "Voodoo Dolly" all on the same album is very difficult to fuck with.

― big time (HI DERE), Monday, 22 March 2010 17:22 (3 years ago) Permalink

but does she have any 90s stans?

Well, I like The Rapture just fine... but I'm not gonna vote for it over Juju, Kaleidoscope, The Scream, Tinderbox, Hyaena...

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Monday, 22 March 2010 17:23 (3 years ago) Permalink

What I'm wondering right now is: how come Siouxsie didn't seem to get named as a touchstone so much for that whole "quirky girl of 2009" thing in the same way as Kate Bush?

Is this due to modern crits being dumb and not familiar with the work of Siouxsie - or more than Siouxsie is an unmined "influence" when it comes to revivals?

― There's Always Been A Dance Element To (Masonic Boom), Monday, 22 March 2010 17:59 (3 years ago) Permalink

It's due to modern crits being dumb, although Karen O has gotten a lot of comparisons IIRC

― big time (HI DERE), Monday, 22 March 2010 18:00 (3 years ago) Permalink

okay maybe "a lot" is stretching: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=karen+o+siouxsie+sioux&aq=0&aqi=g2&aql=&oq=karen+O+siouxs&gs_rfai=

― big time (HI DERE), Monday, 22 March 2010 18:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

Twice Upon a Time obv

― Jeff W, Monday, 22 March 2010 18:40 (3 years ago) Permalink

I've seen Zola Jesus get some Siouxsie comparisons by reviewers:
http://mishkanyc.com/bloglin/2009/07/27/review-zola-jesus-the-spoils/
http://swayingwires.blogspot.com/2010/03/zola-jesus.html
http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2009/09/11/still-more-weekend-music

Though I don't think Zola Jesus is really part of the "quirky girl of 2009" phenomenon.

― theskysgoneout (Jason Pitzl-Waters), Monday, 22 March 2010 18:45 (3 years ago) Permalink

Who is part of the "quirky girl 2009" phenomenon? I'm guessing Fever Ray, Bat For Lashes... Who else?

― LeRooLeRoo, Monday, 22 March 2010 18:56 (3 years ago) Permalink

Florence and the Machine, I'm guessing.

― theskysgoneout (Jason Pitzl-Waters), Monday, 22 March 2010 19:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

Susan Boyle

― Benday Bully (Noodle Vague), Monday, 22 March 2010 19:02 (3 years ago) Permalink

Initial gut reaction was to vote Hyaena but went with Tinderbox in the end. Not just because of my namesake.

― Sean Carruthers, Monday, 22 March 2010 19:09 (3 years ago) Permalink

oh yeah, Juju has "Sin In My Heart" too

this isn't nearly as close for me as I initially thought

― ALLAH! *rolls on floor* (HI DERE), Monday, 22 March 2010 19:11 (3 years ago) Permalink

Wow, this is much more difficult than I initially thought.

― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 22 March 2010 19:20 (3 years ago) Permalink

don't think they ever beat JuJu, but who else has?

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Monday, 22 March 2010 23:10 (3 years ago) Permalink

think I'll vote for Tinderbox. Surprised no-one else seems to rep for that album.

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 08:34 (3 years ago) Permalink

So Juju's going to win then....

If disc 2 of the de-luxe reissue of The Scream (2 x Peel sessions and demos) was a proper album I'd have voted for that, but anyway...

It is really a shame that Siouxsie sounds so terrible on Seven Year Itch

It is, cos it's an interesting selection of songs on there. The guitar tone is pretty bad at times too. A little flange goes a long way, unless you're John McGeogh, and Jon Klein isn't.

― Dr.C, Tuesday, 23 March 2010 09:24 (3 years ago) Permalink

Been listening to the singles comp and just amazed again and again at what a powerhouse singles band they were. I always kind of think of them as an albums band, but the singles are just diamond after diamond.

It's quite funny, though, listening to them again, even though they were solidly put into the "goth" genre, what a huge influence they had on lots of the shoegaze that I like - and not just the obvious Curve comparison - but on bands like Ride and especially Lush - that combination of BIG BIG DRUMS and washes of weird psychedelic chorus-effect guitar backing these incredibly distinctive off-kilter vocals.

― There's Always Been A Dance Element To (Masonic Boom), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 10:43 (3 years ago) Permalink

that combination of BIG BIG DRUMS and washes of weird psychedelic chorus-effect guitar backing these incredibly distinctive off-kilter vocals.

That's always been my favorite thing about the mid-to-late period records (and even in spots on the early ones).

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 23 March 2010 11:46 (3 years ago) Permalink

A little flange goes a long way, unless you're John McGeogh, and Jon Klein isn't.

Uh - I was wrong. It's not Klein on SYI - it's some guy who used to be in the Psychedelic Furs. Anyway....still too much flange.

― Dr.C, Wednesday, 24 March 2010 09:30 (3 years ago) Permalink

aaaahhh the drums on JuJu is what absolutely gets it for me. That line on "taken by the legs AND THROWN DOWN THE STAIRS..." and then the toms exactly duplicate the sense of tumbling headfirst down a staircase. Fucking amazing.

― pleasant enough evening with absolutely no spark whatsoever (Masonic Boom), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 10:35 (3 years ago) Permalink

I love the 12" version of 'Spellbound'. That groovy bass line in the middle could go on forever for me.

― AnotherDeadHero, Wednesday, 24 March 2010 12:13 (3 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

― System, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 23:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

I must say. After a few listens this weekend I have thus far completely underestimated 'Tinderbox'.

― AnotherDeadHero, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 14:56 (3 years ago) Permalink

That was the second album of theirs I heard and I fell so hard for it that I was kind of afraid to get any of their other albums out of fear of disappointment. I did eventually get Hyaena because of the the RSmith connection and disliked "Dear Prudence" enough to feel justified in avoiding the rest of their catalog (at the time I had those two, Peepshow and Superstition).

Much later, Ned foisted a bunch of mp3s scattered across their career on me and I realized I'd made a terrible, terrible mistake.

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 14:59 (3 years ago) Permalink

I loved Tinderbox when I was 16, but not nearly as much now. I tend to gravitate to the first four and, oddly, Peepshow.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 14:59 (3 years ago) Permalink

(oh and to go back to Seven Year Itch, that was where I first heard "Icon" and even though Siouxsie sounds a little like she's attempting to pass a bowling ball through her colon it's still a fucking fantastic song)

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

vote join hands or hang your goth heads in shame

― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:17 (3 years ago) Permalink

my goth head is attached to a pop body, so it is voting Juju

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:30 (3 years ago) Permalink

I still infinetly prefer the the first LP's. Esp. 'Juju'. It's gotta win.

― AnotherDeadHero, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:30 (3 years ago) Permalink

I listened to all of these albums last week, and it was Juju by a ... well, a more than slim margain.

(That said, I could not find Superstition.)

― Delia & Daphne & Celeste (Masonic Boom), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:31 (3 years ago) Permalink

I think I appreciate Join Hands more than I actually like it, if that makes sense. Like, I admire what it was going for but that's not quite enough to make me want to play it.

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:32 (3 years ago) Permalink

man I am listening to it right now and gothing the fuck OUT to "Premature Burial" - I yam what I yam

― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:34 (3 years ago) Permalink

Join Hands is like a lesser version of The Scream -- still goth, weaker songs, slightly experimental re: new directions taken on Kaleidoscope, but never really getting off the ground.

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:35 (3 years ago) Permalink

btw I will put my goth hand-movement dance up against anybody's, and it has the added benefit of you can do it without getting up from your rocking chair

― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:35 (3 years ago) Permalink

gotta say that rave and hip-hop has totally subsumed my goth-fu ;_;

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:39 (3 years ago) Permalink

like now I can only truly dance to Gravediggaz

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:39 (3 years ago) Permalink

lol!

― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:39 (3 years ago) Permalink

tolhurst

― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:39 (3 years ago) Permalink

btw this conversation is inspiring me to listen to Join Hands, assuming Simplify stops being a sandy jock strap and allows me to connect to my home iTunes library

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:41 (3 years ago) Permalink

btw this seems like as good a place as any to unleash the righteousness of Bats Day in the Park

I will be taking a pass on this for the 12th year in a row

― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:42 (3 years ago) Permalink

Guys, I hope your goth hands have got a hold of the BBC box set and the b-sides box set. Both are astounding and worthy of that black place in your hearts.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:45 (3 years ago) Permalink

Only 45 tix left to The Bats Day Ghoulish Gala (Package 3)

I misread that as "Goulash Gala" and was all "huh, goths are down with pasta; who knew?"

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:45 (3 years ago) Permalink

lol I am totally above image searching to find evidence of what goth pasta love has done to once-legendarily-slender goth waistlines but let it suffice to say the the concessions dudes at Bats Day will probably not regret showing up to work

― Twink Will Ferrell (J0hn D.), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 15:47 (3 years ago) Permalink

Much later, Ned foisted a bunch of mp3s scattered across their career on me and I realized I'd made a terrible, terrible mistake.

Better late than never. And glad to help.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 16:04 (3 years ago) Permalink

Listening to Hyaena right now for the first time in eons. "Dazzle" is really a beast of a song, but it all really kind of trails after that yeah?

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 19:36 (3 years ago) Permalink

You complaining about "Swimming Horses" over there?

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 19:37 (3 years ago) Permalink

Maybe I am...

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 19:38 (3 years ago) Permalink

I'm a big fan of "Bring Me the Head of the Preacher Man" and "Blow the House Down"

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 19:38 (3 years ago) Permalink

I haven't gotten to the second half yet, Dan. Perhaps I'll be surprised.

(Even years ago, this was never an album I listened to all that much.)

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 19:40 (3 years ago) Permalink

I'm a big fan of "Bring Me the Head of the Preacher Man" and "Blow the House Down"

Haha those were the other two I was thinking of.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 19:59 (3 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

― System, Wednesday, 31 March 2010 23:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

The Scream (1978) 8

Join Hands (1979) 3

The goths hath spoken.

Hyaena is really the only album with 0 votes that deserved at least a couple; it's damn good.

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 23:27 (3 years ago) Permalink

not really Dazzle and Bring me the Head are the only standout songs on this. Probably their least interesting release after Superstition

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 31 March 2010 23:44 (3 years ago) Permalink

Through the Looking Glass (1987) 0

To this album's credit, I was turned on to many things early on by figuring out what bands originally did the songs that were being covered (Kraftwerk, Television, etc).

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 1 April 2010 00:15 (3 years ago) Permalink

not really Dazzle and Bring me the Head are the only standout songs on this.

I would replace "Bring Me the Head" with "Swimming Horses" though.

― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 1 April 2010 00:23 (3 years ago) Permalink

The results are pretty much spot on how I feel. With the exception of the neglected 'Nocturne'. Ironically I'm sure 'Nocture' would gather more than a few votes in a Best Live Album poll. It's the best one stop shop for Siouxsie for me.

― AnotherDeadHero, Thursday, 1 April 2010 07:24 (3 years ago) Permalink

I wish people wouldn't refer to the Scream as goth!

Gerald OTM about both box sets.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 1 April 2010 08:26 (3 years ago) Permalink

Glad to see Kaleidoscope got 4 as I always thought it was under-rated.

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Thursday, 1 April 2010 14:31 (3 years ago) Permalink

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Thursday, 1 April 2010 14:33 (3 years ago) Permalink

Kaleidoscope has some great great songs on it but I haven't really gotten into it as an album.

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Thursday, 1 April 2010 16:06 (3 years ago) Permalink

It needed "Israel" to anchor it, but that song was released as a stand-alone single instead.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 1 April 2010 16:30 (3 years ago) Permalink

How the hell did "Hyæna" end up with zero votes? Life makes no sense!

― demonic splendor, demonic majesty (Abbott), Thursday, 1 April 2010 22:03 (3 years ago) Permalink

I guess part of the answer to that is "Abbott didn't vote."

― demonic splendor, demonic majesty (Abbott), Thursday, 1 April 2010 22:05 (3 years ago) Permalink

Hyaena deserves something, even if it's just for Swimming Horses.
Parts of Kalaeidoscope can sound sparse and underwhelming, but its standouts are just so great. Desert Kisses is one of the best things they ever did - and they never had another song in the same style. They were just inventing whole styles of music around this perdiod and then moving on.
Juju is the epitome of this inventiveness, and deserves to win.

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Friday, 2 April 2010 13:18 (3 years ago) Permalink

OTOH, Juju has "Spellbound" and "Night Shift" on it.

― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Friday, 2 April 2010 13:22 (3 years ago) Permalink

Actually, I take back my last comment. At no point is Kaleidoscope underwhelming.

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Friday, 2 April 2010 13:27 (3 years ago) Permalink

http://open.spotify.com/user/djperry1973/playlist/3f8NhEZkbfmDYRZjuEKbNg

one day I went through all of the SatB material on Spotify and made a playlist of the songs I thought were absolutely 100% indispensible

today I am playing it and I was totally OTM

― keeping things contextual (DJP), Friday, 10 August 2012 18:04 (9 months ago) Permalink