Siouxsie and the Banshees - The Scream

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I had no idea when I was obsessing over the Banshees' mid- to late-80s albums that one day their first would be among my favorite album of all time. Along with Juju and Tinderbox, I think this album defines the Banshees for me and outlines exactly what I dig about them; the fractured imagery, the assured musicianship, the underlying promise that music of all stripes and shapes can be subverted to their unique worldview, their frankly astonishing rhythm section, and Siouxsie's incomparable voice and frontwoman persona. It's all there, gritty and sexy, terrifying and enveloping, joyous and ominous all piled on top of each other in ten fine pieces of music, but which one is your favorite?

Poll Results

OptionVotes
9. "Suburban Relapse" (McKay, Sioux) 4
3. "Overground" (Severin, McKay) 4
6. "Mirage" (Severin, McKay) 3
7. "Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)" (McKay, Sioux) 3
10. "Switch" (McKay, Sioux) 2
4. "Carcass" (Severin, Sioux, Fenton) 2
2. "Jigsaw Feeling" (Severin, McKay) 2
5. "Helter Skelter" (Lennon, McCartney) 0
8. "Nicotine Stain" (Severin, Sioux) 0
1. "Pure" (McKay, Severin, Morris, Sioux) 0


a Barbie-like nub where he provates should be (HI DERE), Monday, 9 November 2009 21:25 (fourteen years ago) link

I thought this was going to be an easy choice for me but in looking at "Jigsaw Feeling", "Mirage", "Metal Postcard", "Suburban Relapse" and "Switch", my answer actually depends on exactly what mindset I'm in.

tho most of the time it is "Metal Postcard"

a Barbie-like nub where he provates should be (HI DERE), Monday, 9 November 2009 21:28 (fourteen years ago) link

Switch. It's got a haunted feel.

Dr X O'Skeleton, Monday, 9 November 2009 22:58 (fourteen years ago) link

Also one of my favorite Banshees album, along with A Kiss In The Dreamhouse and Tinderbox. I love "Mirage" the most, escpecially the vocals.

LeRooLeRoo, Monday, 9 November 2009 23:03 (fourteen years ago) link

This one is my favorite too. I always say "Jigsaw Feeling" but I'm going to listen again before I vote.

Nate Carson, Tuesday, 10 November 2009 12:29 (fourteen years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Sunday, 22 November 2009 00:01 (fourteen years ago) link

also my favorite album by these kids.

uh, I'll pick "Suburban Relapse", with "Helter Skelter", "Jigsaw Feeling" and "Carcass" pretty close behind.

Ivan, Sunday, 22 November 2009 00:21 (fourteen years ago) link

METAL WILL RULE IN MY MASTER SCHEME

fel (latebloomer), Sunday, 22 November 2009 00:33 (fourteen years ago) link

Probably my favorite SATB album when all is said is done. So many winners to pick from. I might go with Overground since no-one mentioned it, but Switch is pretty immense.

spiny doughboy (baaderonixx), Sunday, 22 November 2009 13:26 (fourteen years ago) link

I like it plenty but I don't think as much as any of the four after it, or as much as "Hong Kong Garden" tbh. Anyhoo I voted "Metal Postcard" cos it's been stuck for a long time.

Herman G. Neuname is the first European president (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 22 November 2009 13:32 (fourteen years ago) link

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

System, Monday, 23 November 2009 00:01 (fourteen years ago) link

I voted overground fwiw

Dr.C, Monday, 23 November 2009 09:51 (fourteen years ago) link

Missed this poll. I think I'd have gone with Metal Postcard but like Dan it would probably depend on my mindset.

I remember buying this for £2.50 at a record fair in the mid 80s. If I had to put the Banshees albums in order The Scream would definitely be top 5.

I'm Still Stanning (onimo), Monday, 23 November 2009 14:09 (fourteen years ago) link

five years pass...

"switch" sounds every bit the genesis of beach house as "slowdive" does you know who

reggie (qualmsley), Tuesday, 13 October 2015 16:02 (eight years ago) link

This album is still scarily good.

I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Tuesday, 13 October 2015 16:04 (eight years ago) link

I love it, but I find myself very rarely listening to it... Juju and Kaliedoscope tend to be the ones I reach for if I'm going to listen to a Banshees record, or even Dreamhouse.

Turrican, Tuesday, 13 October 2015 16:24 (eight years ago) link

I will listen to this, Juju, and Tinderbox in their entirety at practically any given time.

The various songs from Kaleidoscope and Dreamhouse are on shuffle but I never play those albums as albums.

I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Tuesday, 13 October 2015 16:27 (eight years ago) link

four years pass...

Listening to Join Hands for the first time in many years (20?) and I'm struck again how much it sounds like a raw, awkward debut compared to The Scream's power and assurance. "Mother / Oh Mein Papa" is the only song I genuinely like.

an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Tuesday, 21 April 2020 06:00 (three years ago) link

oops wrong thread sorry

an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Tuesday, 21 April 2020 06:01 (three years ago) link

five months pass...

Was digging this at like 1am a couple of days ago..

xyzzzz__, Friday, 25 September 2020 14:21 (three years ago) link

It's a beautiful piece of work. "Suburban Relapse" is definitely one of their most underrated songs.

shout-out to his family (DJP), Friday, 25 September 2020 14:29 (three years ago) link

Yes, and I used to read a zine long ago called Suburban Relapse

curmudgeon, Saturday, 26 September 2020 00:28 (three years ago) link

Okay so obviously this is pre-Budgie but since this thread got revived it seems the best place to put this story he posted today on Facebook up:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158582300786136&id=545041135&_rdr#!/story.php?story_fbid=2796465283921129&id=1516088061958864

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 26 September 2020 05:09 (three years ago) link

Wow, new Facebook message calls Budgie’s time in the ICU routine maintenance and says he’LL be drumming again in a few days. That’s good. I guess he was with Banshees the one time I saw Siouxsie Sioux and them in early 80s

curmudgeon, Saturday, 26 September 2020 17:49 (three years ago) link

His response to his doctor's comment was just charming: "You're famous!" "Only in my own head".

I saw him on the Creatures tour in 99 or 00, he was mesmerizing with his array of things to hit.

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 26 September 2020 18:18 (three years ago) link


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