...and explain what's so great about your choice.

So far, I have:

Greatest Hits
Peepshow
Superstition
Through the Looking Glass
Hyaena

But I don't feel like I have a good handle on the older albums.

What early stuff is good? Should I delve into live stuff like Nocturne and the recent live album?

Anx said:

The earlier stuff has a much rawer feel than the albums that you listed. I personally only like scattered tracks from the early days, but some of them are brilliant. Nocturne is a bit of a mess, IMHO. The sound isn't that great and it just sounds muddled and murky.

Do you have the first singles collection that covers the early years? I would start w/ that if you don't already have it.

If you want an underrated Siouxsie gem, try the Creatures CD "Boomerang". It came out after "Peepshow" and before "Superstition", and it's an amazing record. Probably my 2nd favorite Siouxsie album after "Peepshow"

Here to help...

I'm not an expert on the older stuff. You have 2 of my faves..Peepshow and Hyena. But Tinderbox is great and I lik the Rapture...def has classics and real Siouxsie sound. The really old ones like Juju (which I like) or Join hands are very raw IMO but that adds to it. A kiss in the dream house is close to Hyena.

A really good addition is Nocturne their live album from way back. I got this when I was a budding fan and not sure of thier stuff....AMAZING!!!! It's a bit pricey on CD but, Anx it's very worth it It will also give you a clue as to the older stuff...like Melt! or Pulled to Bits or Night Shift and Painted Bird...and of course the opener Israel. You can imagine her writhing on the stage during the performance.

Of course I like the Creatures MUCH better. But that's me. Boomerang is one of my desert island cd's.

NorthernLad said:

Glad to know I wasn't that far off! TOTALLY agress with the Creatures Boomerang. That's when I really got into her music, though it's nothing like them.

You might want to hold off until her remasters start coming out soon.

superspaceboy said:

I LOVE that tape.

heh heh, sadly I only have it on casette, I should fix that!

Tinderbox is the one album I always go back to on a regular basis.Great drumming on that album.

GangstaFam said:

i have access to low risk acquisition at the moment.

Oboy, a Siouxsie question!

First of all, stay away from the 'Seven Year Itch' album. The DVD is great, but take away the visuals and it's not a very good live document in that Sioux's voice was shot for the entire tour. Because of her smoking, much of the vocals were off-key and she could no longer hit some of the high notes on the tracks recorded earlier in the band's career. Also, the setlist consists mostly of obscure album tracks and b-sides so non-fans might be left scratching their heads when listening to it. I happen to really like 'Nocturne' because the live versions of many songs (like "Israel" and "Paradise Place") sound better than the original album versions. It also has a better balance of hits vs. album tracks. Plus Robert Smith was the guitarist (he really tears it up on "Pulled To Bits").

The one album that you are missing that most fans would say is a must have is 'Juju'. That album is where the band found their signature sound--after leaving their punk roots (The Scream, Join Hands) and experimenting with new wave (Kaleidoscope)--that would reach it's zenith six years later in 'Tinderbox' (my favorite Banshees album). A remastered 'Juju' album with extra tracks is supposed to be released some time this year, but no exact date has been determined yet.

I would also recommend 'The Scream' as a great punk album that stretched the boundaries of what was considered punk at the time. That album is the only one that has a remastered rerelease with an extra disc of outtakes and live tracks à la The Cure's recent rereleases, but it's available only as an expensive import so you may want to get the domestic single disc instead if your funds are limited.

The Creatures albums are an altogether different beast, pun intended. Except for 'Anima Animus' they are very tribal (the original idea was only voice and drums) and worldly/ethnic depending on where the albums were recorded: 'Feast' - Hawaii, 'Boomerang' - Spain, 'Hai!' - Japan. If you are looking for more experimental music then try those.

sextonseven said:

The first four albums , The Scream, Join Hands, Kaleidoscope, & JuJu will have a European release on March 28th , all with bonus tracks.You can pre-order here http://idealcopy.american...heBanshees

Anx said:

PhilG said:

I should have been more specific and said U.S. release dates have not been determined yet. There is some sort of problem with working out a deal with Geffen which owns the U.S. rights to the old Banshees albums.

Odd that a single disc version of 'The Scream' is being released so soon after the double disc late last year.

sextonseven said:

The single disc version has 2 songs from the 2 disc set that was released last year. I'm guessing people would get the one disc version if they're not interested in those extra tracks.I'd pre-order them if I were you, according to that site, they're only 9.99 each!

There's a Kiss them for me single that has a b-side called "Return"

I absolutely love this song but have not been able to find the single anymore.
I lost my cassette of it back in 93.
[Edited 2/25/06 17:14pm]

AsianBomb777 said:

nevermind. found it.

AsianBomb777 said:

He has Superstition that that was on. Worst album IMO.

I have the b-sides box set, and it's quite yummy.

GangstaFam said:

i bet! that thing tempts me whenever i see it at the wrecka stow.

Anx said:

I don't know about albums...but definately listen to Peek A Boo....AWEOME SONG!!!!

Anx said:

AsianBomb777 said:

i luuvs my boo.

PhilG said:

My point was that I would have thought Polydor would try to get a little more mileage out of the double disc version before releasing the single disc. The Cure waited about a year before releasing the single disc versions of their new remastered albums. For the Banshees, it hasn't even been six months.

Anx said:

Yeah, but it retails for 80 bucks.

superspaceboy said:

that's a bit of a problem.

If I may chime in and suggest something: Anx, I know you're a Cure fan too, so I'm gonna suggest the 1983 Banshees live album "Nocturne". It features Siouxsie and her crew (which would include a coked-up Robert Smith) in top form, playing all the hits and sounding wonderful in the process.

Anx said:

I got mine for like $45.

NWF said:

got it! and loving it!

superspaceboy said:

Not anymore. The U.S. price was recently dropped to under $40. Look it up on Amazon.

Anx said:

That was fast!

Tinderbox sounds amazing in headphones