Reviews (page 2 of 7)
A perfect example of Post Punk! This has everything I like about music.
I've dabbled in Siouxsie And The Banshees before but reading up on this album I realize I haven't been giving them nearly enough credit - a lot of the things I associate with early post-punk that I hear in their sound likely originate with them - they weren't just going with the flow, they were the source of the current! Definitely need to go through their discography in more depth! Fave tracks - "Overground" was probably my main stand out - that slaps. "Nicotine Stain" was another. Also really dug their version of "Helter Skelter"...
The Scream is another amazing album from Siouxsie and the Banshees. It has been a long while since i did an album by this band and because of that, i have forgotten just how good they really are. There is already the fact that the guitars and vocals in the songs are great and really do a lot to help me enjoy them as much as i do. This album is also home to my second favorite Helter Skelter cover (My favorite is the Rob Zombie/Marilyn Manson one). I don't think this album is as good as Juju though i can't really pinpoint why. Regardless, i think both albums are some of the best listens i have had on this project. Best Song: Mirage Worst Song: Suburban Relapse
One of those albums that is able to transcend a band’s lack of talent (which sounds harsher than I mean it) to be something great. So many punk/post punk bands aspire to do something like this, but few succeed. A pleasant surprise for me.
I'd give this 4.5 stars if I could, but I'm going to bump it up to 5 for this scale, because this album and band was just so influential for so many artists afterwards and started a sound that is being carried forth still today. I don't think it's their best album, as it was a first of what they would later improve upon. However, it is still amazing to me to think of such young kids (as they were at the time) creating such a brand new sound that would help push and change music forever.
Love it
Such a singular sound. Intense and focused throughout.
The squeak of leather. The taste of hairspray.
Holy shit. Blown away by this album. I know I've heard of Siouxsie and the Banshees but I am not sure I ever listened to them. Honestly probably judged a band by its name and rightly know I made a mistake because this is one of the coolest albums I've ever heard. So angsty and angry and bleeding influence into the bands that followed them. Pleasantly unpleasant. Never ever judge a band by their name because you never know what you're missing until you actually listen.
Siouxsie es una de las artistas más influyentes de Inglaterra, siendo la principal precursora de la estética y el sonido gótico, lo que queda bastante claro en su debut "The Scream". Tambores estridentes, interpretaciones de guitarras punk agresivas, letras extrañas y pantanosas, sumados a la particular voz de Sioux, crean una experiencia que dejó a más de algún británico sorprendido y obsesionado (Robert Smith, por ejemplo). Sumamente influyente e importante. Escúchelo por favor.
This is terrific. I'm not really a big lover of them and haven't heard of any of the main album tracks but this is a distinct powerful sound unlike any other.
Outstanding first album
Missy, outstanding and energetic. Not a fan of Helter Skelter.
Great!
Masterpiece!
9.5/10. The vocals and instrumentation are incredible. It's heavy, and great!!! :)
Is this 80s synth pop? I think so. I like it but it's not my go to.
4.5 rounded up absolutely fantastic debut highlights: jigsaw feeling, carcass, mirage (aug 10 2024)
Enfin l'occasion de me pencher sur Siouxsie and the Banshee, et pas déçue du voyage ! The Scream est leur premier album, il va donc me falloir me pencher sur la suite de la discographie pour bien prendre la mesure de la forte aura de ce groupe et son impact sur tant d'artistes que j'apprécie et qui les cite allègrement comme source d'influence. Carton plein !
I think I could listen to this one over and over again - loved it!
This album rocks. Lived the instrumentals and the general vibe of the album.
What is more impressive: 1) Laying the foundation for the entire post-punk genre, or 2) Actually turning 'Helter Skelter' into a tolerable tune?
Mittageisen becomes even more fun if you imagine it being said by a Tom Baker era Doctor Who villain. A lot of talk here about how influential The Banshees were, and despite that not being up for debate, it also misses that the reason this was so influential is because of how good it is. Like so much of the early Gothic Post-Punk scene, The Scream grips you with it’s doomy atmosphere, but unlike the gloomy soundscapes of The Cure’s Gothic trilogy or Joy Division’s albums, The Banshees still bring Punk energy to Post-Punk. This is one of my favourite albums simply in terms of how music sounds. I’m sure I’ve read a joke somewhere about an aging Baby Boomer music critic complaining about new music because his Platonically ideal music sounds exactly like Led Zeppelin. Well to me, that sound is Post-Punk. When I picture myself recording an album, it sounds like The Banshees, and The Cure, and Joy Division, and all of these other bands that I love so dearly
If there is one thing I adore about music, it is finding what is seemingly an artist you love out of nowhere. It happened with me and Sparks, my now favorite band, and while there could be a world where I still hadn't discovered them, I'm extremely happy that my music journey led me to them. So, getting that feeling again is always great, and that seems to be the case with me and Siouxsie and the Banshees. I mean, I could assume I would like them just because of my general enjoyment of post-punk and, to a lesser extent, gothic rock, but to find out they may be one of my favorites of the genre and era is an extremely nice surprise. Siouxsie's vocals are unique and emotionally strained without being difficult to listen to, and their instrumentation on this album is amazing, with tons of riffs and hooks that are surprisingly catchy for such a dissonant album. This should be an album where you stare into space and overthink every thing that has ever happened to you, but you can't help but rock out a little while you do it. Siouxsie and the Banshees seem to love their unique covers, and this features a fascinating Helter Skelter cover that towers over other Beatles covers for actually doing something different whilst not removing the ton of the original, and the whole album is just haunting. The album cover is perfect, just being something relatively normal, but distorting it to a point of being terrifying, and while perhaps by modern standards this album could come off a little cheesy, by 1978 standards this feels like a nightmare, albeit a lesser one. This debut just feels like something sinister is afoot, and while their later, more rock oriented releases are amazing in their own right, this take is something I just really enjoy, being exactly what I go to post-punk for. That pure anxious energy that few others can balance with purely great songwriting so well. It is a treat, and I look forward to diving into their discography more in my own time.
Gran primer trabajo de tremenda banda, ideal para afrontar el frío y bailarlo. Música que genera atmósferas hermosamente oscuras, amplificadas por la bellísima voz de Siouxsie y toda su estética, precursora del post-punk y de toda la movida gótica.
How have I never listened to this post punk masterpiece before?
This album is an essential post-punk record. It is brooding and dark and features great song development. It reminds me quite a bit of Joy Division/New Order. I can also hear this sound in later bands as well. As a debut, this is fantastic.
What an awesome band this is. I just love the way that punk bands play their instruments...so much power and connected rhythms. I could listen to both this and Juju on repeat forever. Favorite track: Switch
Best album so far top 5 punk of all time. Experimental, progressive, industrial post punk. Nothing you have heard sound like this. Now its probably in my top 50 ever best albums. Grace Slick meets sex pistols, with the ramones in the trunk on a car full of the runaways. Simply a masterpiece with punk rockers who are actually great musicians. Clean as punk can get.
Awesome!
To start, I am VERY picky when it comes to 5 star music. This album had me HOOKED. I've known of & listened to Siouxsie and the Banshees before (I love spellbound) so I had high hopes, and safe to say my hopes were met. If you like goth music, this album is DEFINITELY worth a listen.
Great album if you are into that unrefined early punk sound.
Yeah this album rocks… how have I never heard this? Sounds completely modern despite being over 40 years old
"The Scream" is the debut album by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It is considered "a landmark recording with an innovative combination of angular and serrated guitars with bass-led rhythms and machine-like drums" and "a pioneering work of the post-punk genre." I really can't add much more to that. The bandmembers included Siouxsie Sioux (vocals), Steven Severin (bass), John McKay (guitar) and Kenny Morris (drums). The album reached #12 in the UK and had wide-spread critical acclaim. The first song "Pure" is mostly an instrumental but we get a sense what the band is: angular, high-pitched guitar, heavy bass and Siouxsie howling. This leads into "Jigsaw Feeling." Thumping bass, pounding tom-tom drums and that same guitar sound which does sound like a jigsaw. The pace picks up. Oh, yeah, this is post-punk. "Overground" has Siousie screaming about sacrificing yourself for normal people. No one in this group seems normal. Nice starting and stopping by the bass and drums. Of course, there's a song named "Carcass." Of course, it's about a butcher falling in love with raw meat. By far, their most normal sounding rock and roll song. I like the dichotomy. "Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)" is very mechanical sounding. Guitar scratching which goes into some sort of eerie guitar chord progression. A tom-tom drum beat. About waking up and finding you're under the rule of a totalitarian mastermind. The album closes with "Switch" which may be guitarist McKay's finest moment. More eerie guitar strings; he dominates going all over the place with echoes. The pace keeps picking up. Siouxsie screaming about the hypocrisy of everything. This is quite the album and is one of the best debut albums that I've heard and along with Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures," defines post punk. The music and lyrics create a foreboding and eerie atmosphere. McKay's serrated and angular guitar is unique and just spectacular. I hear this guitar sound in PIL. The Pretenders, Sonic Youth, U2 and I'm sure a lot more I'm not thinking of right now. Although muttled, Siouxsie's vocals are haunting and appropriate for thr music; she would become much more in the forefront in the future. The bass and drums are also great. I thotoughly agree with the landmark label.
That's funny Autumn just mentioned these guys the other day! oh wow! It has been cited as a key influence on a number of succeeding post-punk, noise rock and alternative rock acts, including Joy Division, Killing Joke, the Cure, Big Black, Sonic Youth, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Faith No More and Massive Attack. That's crazy. Just for that it deserves 5 stars
This was a great album from Siouxsie and the Banshees! The music was so dark, gritty, and punky (which I absolutely love!). I highly recommend this one! I liked almost every track and will definitely save for future listens. Favorite Song(s): "Hong Kong Garden", "Nicotine Strain", "Overground", "Carcass", "Mirage"
goths undead
love her
This is, and I don't say this lightly, an absolute fucking masterpiece. For me it's the ground zero of post-punk. Every track is superb, and let's not forget this is a debut album. There are few bands that close their debut with a near seven minute song, but Switch is the standout track on The Scream.
Rounding up to 5 stars out of fear that this is the only Siouxsie album on this list. Production is a bit tinny, and her voice isn’t featured as much as later albums. However, Switch is a sign of things to come. Hope Juju is amongst these albums, when she is at the peak of her powers.
I have enough goth friends that I knew of Siouxsie and the Banshees but had never done a deep dive. What a hell of a debut album. Some of it sounds a bit dated to me but looking at the date it really defined a genre for years. 5/5. Great album.
As gothic post punk masterpiece. I love the guitar.
"The Scream" by Siouxsie and the Banshees is a groundbreaking masterpiece that continues to captivate listeners with its hauntingly innovative sound. Released in 1978, this debut album effortlessly blends punk energy with a dark, atmospheric quality that sets it apart from its contemporaries. Siouxsie Sioux's mesmerizing vocals, often veering from eerie whispers to powerful howls, are the album's driving force. Tracks like "Metal Postcard" and "Jigsaw Feeling" showcase her commanding presence. The band's sonic experimentation is evident throughout, with unconventional percussion and John McKay's screeching guitar work on "Pure" adding an extra layer of intensity. The album's lyrical themes explore alienation and disillusionment, creating a sense of unease that perfectly complements the music's edginess. "The Scream" is a timeless classic that remains a testament to Siouxsie and the Banshees' enduring influence on post-punk and gothic rock, making it an essential addition to any music collection.
Siouxsie Diosa
PJ Harvey sprung out fully formed from a Siouxsie album
S&tB debut album - it is their noisiest album and in my top 3 of S&tB albums. (Two days ago we had the Teardropes Explodes debut, a more psychedelic version of post-punk which I also like, but Scream is of a different level.)
Punk, post-punk, goth - pretty much everything and the best debut to come out of the first punk wave. It's five stars even without Hong Kong Garden and Staircase mystery - both singles but not on the original album. John McKay on this album is as good a guitarist as John McGeogh - very different, and a lot harsher, but as good.
love
Still sounds great after nearly 45 years! What a debut album and highly influential.
I loved this! really well done gothy post-punk - noisy but organised yet still danceable for some reason. and so cool that the beatles covered that helter skelter song! [NB - I'm glad Hong Kong Garden was not on the original release because it's easily the worst song there]
Really fucking good album. 5 stars for sure.
Feels timeless, like its a sign of good things to come for music. Scratches a unique itch.
A low 5, but it grabbed the spot by being proto-everything I like out of the 80s, so great job!
I kept coming back to this album and listened it 5 times over the last 24 hours. What a crucial and amazing post punk record. I find it hard to word how this album has been impacting me, but songs like Jigsaw Feeling, Suburban Relapse and Switch make me listen close, to all sounds, cracks and noises. Amazing. I was washing up the dishes / minding my own business / when my string snapped. I had a relapse / a suburban relapse.
Not as impressive as *Juju* but still a historically important and seminal record in the post-punk genre (and one of the earliest of its kind). No one on Earth can sing like Siouxsie, with her instantly recognizable haunting voice. As for the instrumentation, Steve Severin's bouncing basslines bring a breath of fresh air to the claustrophobic mood of those tunes, and John McKay literally invented a playing style--if there was a patent for "angular" guitar lines, he should be its rightful owner. "Jigsaw Feeling" and "Mirage", along with the atmospheric and mysterious "Switch" are landmarks of the genre. And if it's too bad the band didn't include their all-time classic "Hong Kong Garden" in the original album tracklisting (a non-album single), I'm pretty sure most CD copies available out there now include it as a bonus track. So 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. A couple of songs are indeed a little difficult for non-fans of the genre, but given how ridiculously *low* the overall score of this seminal album is, I can't give it any less than that. Number of albums left to review: 657 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 171 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 82 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 96
Fucking amazing
Female vocalist sounds hot
Clesic
5/5. Easy dub 😎👍
Women were so much better at punk than men.
Amazing!!!
I’m going to listen to this one over again.
Decent
Siouxsie and the Banshees is one of the first bands I fell in love with when I really started getting into music. They really set the tone for a lot of the other bands that I love like The Cure, New Order, etc. Needless to say, I've listened to this album many times before and love it. And while a lot of people really focus in on Siouxsie and her voice, the guitar is amazing on this as well. I listened to the 2006 remastered reissue which contains the last two songs that weren't on the original album. Ironically, probably the one song that most people would know on this is "Hong Kong Garden", which was their single and hit before this album came out and was only included in the reissue.
You can hear the echoes of this everywhere from the Cure all the way to Sonic Youth.
Not as good as later albums, it has a rawness that clearly influenced alt rock bands (and grunge?). Good cover of “Helter Skelter.”
Really liked this
With their debut album, Siouxsie and the Banshees introduced a decidedly darker side to post-punk. To say they simply added a 'goth' element oversimplifies their impact, though they certainly influenced the gothic acts that followed. What stands out most is how distinctive they were musically, even before you factor in the vocals. The rhythm section defines the band's core sound: Steven Severin’s superb, much-underrated bass lines drive the melodies, complemented by Kenny Morris’s powerful drums, which heavily favour the tom-toms (as heard on 'Switch'). Layered over this is John McKay’s sharp, abrasive guitar work, perfectly exemplified by the intro to 'Helter Skelter'. Finally, there are the vocals. Siouxsie Sioux possesses one of the most distinctive voices in music, particularly of this era. Her delivery relies on a series of dramatic chants rather than traditional singing, and I say that with genuine affection. It suits the music perfectly, even if it might prove alienating to some listeners. Steve Lillywhite’s production holds up remarkably well. While it feels a little murky and muddy at times, this atmospheric grit ultimately serves the music. The standout tracks on what is an excellent album are 'Overground', 'Carcass', 'Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)', 'Suburban Relapse', 'Switch', and their radical deconstruction of The Beatles song 'Helter Skelter'. The original album closes with the superb 'Switch', at which point the record secures a strong four-star rating for me. However, the more recent reissues only enhance the experience by appending the essential singles 'Hong Kong Garden' and 'The Staircase (Mystery)'. 1 "Pure" (3/5) 2 "Jigsaw Feeling" (4/5) 3 "Overground" (5/5) 4 "Carcass" (5/5) 5 "Helter Skelter" (5/5) 6 "Mirage" (4/5) 7 "Metal Postcard (Mittageissen)" (5/5) 8 "Nicotine Stain" (3/5) 9 "Suburban Relapse" (5/5) 10 "Switch" (5/5) 11 "Hong Kong Garden" (7" A-side) (5/5) 12 "The Staircase (Mystery)" (7" A-side) (4/5) Total - 53 Average - 4.42 350/1001 188/350 albums reviewed were new to me.
I dabbled in this group a while back so I enjoyed this a lot. Their later stuff is better tho.
I liked it, rock but I get it.
Better than juju, I had a good time
Om bara det egna materialet var i nivå med deras covers... Kanske världens bästa coverband. Här med en sublim Helter Skelter. Och sångrösten! En svag fyra.
8 / 10
This is very very good
Exactly the kind of moody, stylish punk I like. Great record.
Good old punk, before they went more goth. Really really good
This is definitely their most impactful work and feels like a cohesive artistic statement. However, I just love their era with John McGeoch more. Hong Kong Garden feels like required additional listening for this one. It’s sometimes hard to remember all of the stuff that sounds similar to this came after it. It’s one of those touchstone albums where countless bands are inspired by it. After relistening, the first half is pretty flawless and second half is solid. Most of the songs I like but don’t love. But not sure you’re supposed to feel in love with what they’re trying to do. Rating: 4.2
A landmark. Raw, cold, unsettling and already packed with personality. Not an easy listen, but I’ve learned to love it. The atmosphere is incredible and the band sounds unlike anyone else. A huge debut.
Girl power. Honestly a great album with real guts and energy. Will definitely be listening again and again. 4.5
Liked this, had a bit of edge. Particularly enjoyed the Beatles cover. Hope there's more by these to come.
Good early punk
I do like their sound. It's hard and straightforward. Reminds me of Sleater-Kinney. I think it's fun to listen to worth playing on repeat. It also makes me want to dig deeper into their catalog. Any album that makes me want more is on the plus side of rating.
really good, Siouxsie and the Banshees are my favorite artist of all time, this just isn't necessarily my favorite though.
This was fun. You can see the influence this had on many later artists. This still sounds really fresh.
This sort of music is right up my alley. I'd never given a whole Siousxie and The Banshees album a go before and didn't realise quite how influential they were. Other bands may have perfected the formula, but this is a very good beginning.
Never listened. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Great - The intro track is cool and the Jigsaw Feeling is very good. I like the version of Helter Skelter. Mirage is also really good, I'm thoroughly enjoying this album. Switch is a massive closer. I can't believe I have never listened to this before. I definitely like it more than Juju. Fantastic album.
Hong Kong Garden is the only song I knew from this album, so I wasn't sure what to think before I started listening. This album really grew on me and I was three songs into another of their albums before I realized it. Siouxsie And The Banshees are definitely unique. Great album, great band.
I guess this band is good. I will investigate further
I enjoyed this. Many modern bands that clearly influenced by this. Chastity Belt is spot on. It was emotional, raw, and unique.
Some more seminal 70s punk
I absolutely love that gothic energy running through the whole record. It’s dark, sharp, and has this cold atmosphere that just pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It feels raw but intentional, like every sound is placed exactly where it should be. Siouxsie really feels like the queen of post-punk here-her presence is unreal, confident and almost untouchable. For a debut, this is honestly godlike. Metal Postcard (Mittageisen) and The Switch were the standouts for me-both tracks hit that perfect balance of tension and energy
Not my vibe at all
Pioneering
I had never listened to this album in full before. It's always nice when this project shows you albums that are basically in line with what you like, but haven't given dedicated time to.
This is great
Feel like I've always known Siouxsie & The Banshees' music without really properly getting into it, so this was a great excuse to properly listen. This record is clearly massively influential on loads of later stuff that I love. Siouxsie's voice and the coruscating guitar is amazing. Not sure about the Helter Skelter cover, and some of Hong Kong Garden hasn't dated brilliantly, but everything else is mystical and thrilling. Didn't hit me as a 5 star on this initial listen, but definitely want to come back to it which could up it from the 4 I'm giving for now.
Album bello gotico, un po’ post punk, un po’ new wave, ha gasato. Ho apprezzato molto anche la cover di helter skelter
The album sounded like something experimental, which to be clear isn’t bad. The first song in the album it sounded lad if it belong in a horror film. Overall this was pretty fun to listen to. Favorite song: Jigsaw Feeling
I liked this a lot. This era of punk is so important to the genre as a whole.
Idk what this is called but it’s good
I LOVE the sound and the vibes, even if I don’t completely, erm, connect with the lyrics of every song.
Pure - 3/5 Jigsaw Feeling - 4/5 Overground - 3.5/5 Carcass - 3.5/5 Helter Skelter - 3.5/5 Mirage - 4/5 Metal Postcard (Mittageissen) - 3.5/5 Nicotine Stain - 4/5 Suburban Relapse - 4/5 Switch - 4/5 This is one of those albums where even though I don't vibe with it 100% of the time, I can totally see how this was an influence to the genre. Without this, post-punk wouldn't have been the way it was and likely not have gotten stuff like Joy Division/New Order, The Cure, or any of those bands influence by post-punk. It's normally a 3.5 for me but it gets rounded up due to its stature. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Jigsaw Feeling, Switch
Nice sound, nothing really jumped out as greatness but I did enjoy. 3.5/5
I’m a sucker for an interesting Beatles cover. The rest of the album is also pretty good.
Another fun one from the 80s, you know I love it
Unsurprisingly really enjoyable.
Fav Songs: Mirage, Helter Skelter, Carcass, Nicotine Stain Least Fav: Overground 7.6/10
Enjoyed this. Would listen to again
schowieder susi hoila. erste song isch es nüt, zweite isch en guete sehr susi und au sehr banshees. sind sie mega früe gsi mit post punk oder so? ok jo sinds. overground baut uhuuuere guet uuf und sie tönt bitz wie d alanis morrissette wenn sie hässig isch und da isch guet findi. overground isch meega fun gsi. helter skelter beatles? ja beatles. ok sie mached avant garde time hä. respektieri. wird schneller, baaanger cover findi. bin etz bi suburban relapse und sie singt scho cool aber s isch au eeaasy streng.
OHA POSTPUNK aso s andere album vo ihne hani na cool gfunde I'M BACK s intro isch scho recht cool, setzt e gwüssi atmosphäre hmm ok es tönt ufe art recht reduziert? s fehle vode cymbals merktmer schochli hahah hans gfühl d cymbals tünds amigs zemmeliime helter skelter findi no haaard, het chli öppis unhingeds leider verlürts mi chli, s tönt alles chli glich für mich ohh switch mitem switch! jaa au wenn jz für mich selte lieder ah sich ussegstoche sind, hanis recht cool gfunde!
Really great early punk with a killer vocalist and catchy tunes. Must-listen #299.
unfortunately only got through half but what i did listen to i enjoyed! very unique sound that while slightly repetitive i really appreciated the vocals
Preffered this album to the later 80s ones. More raw, viseral.
Starts off really strong, dips a little but comes back with a vengeance. Hard to imagine The Strokes hadn't listened to The Staircase before they wrote Reptilia. 4 - a great album, even among this list
fun
Siouxsie my Banshee!
Awesome debut album, still sound innovative today. Curious about all the other stuff they made.
I like
Well this is awesome. I can hear the influence they had on The Cure and Joy Division
Not really something I'd throw on but it is undeniably cool and influenced many other artists I really like so extra points for that.
they're very cool
I thought I didn't like SaTB, but it seems I do. Enjoyed this more than expected. 4.
Je connaissais pas le groupe. C'est original, des grosses vibe de The Cure entre autres. La voix est particulière mais on s'y fait
Hooray! The type of album that makes this dumb ol thing worth it! I’d heard Hong Kong Garden & I don’t like that song so I never gave the album a shot. Turns out I like everything else.
musically and vocally good. dark and twisty
Something very different from what I typically enjoy, but has a very alluring quality that kept me entertained through the runtime. Uneven in places, but carries a strong goth post punk sound that reminds me a lot of Joy Division (even though this came first). Top tracks: Jigsaw Feeling, Mirage, Switch
I started really getting into this album after Overground, so much so that I relistened. While it hints at the pop punk and new age genres I usually pan, I see so much influence by this artist in modern music and really enjoy the edginess of the vocals and guitar/percussion (haven't analyzed the lyrics yet). Possible it's a 4.5 but I'll go with a 4 while I evaluate more deeply
Very Good. But not as distinctive as some of their other albums. 4 stars
A classic, which I played to death as a teen. Doesn't really sound like anything else of the time, especially the icy rush of tracks like Jigsaw feeling. I have finally warmed to the version of Helter Skelter, but am still not buying the story about the lyrics to Hong Kong Garden, given some of their other efforts (Arabian Nights, for one).
The Beatles released Let It Be only eight years before The Scream came out. It sounds like a musical lifetime has shifted in that period when you listen to the Banshees debut compared to The Beatles. The music of 2026 is very similar to that of 2018. Sure, the Banshees weren't alone responsible for this transformation, but The Scream does show what is possible when you refuse to play alongside the established rules. It's still accessible, with the rhythm and SHOCK tunes! Hong Kong Garden is a little, erm, awkward these days. Still a great debut.
I’m on a post punk period in my life so kind of dig it. Not a fun of her wailing but when Siouxsie is singing on the low register, oh it work so well with the angular guitars, pounding bass, and thundering drums.
Lubię ten wokal. Gdyby Florence próbowała śpiewać punk to pewnie tak właśnie by brzmiała. Dziwne, nietypowe, oryginalne. Tak, niektóre utwory kaleczą uszy, ale po to ma się ich parę, aby się specjalnie tym nie przejmować. 7/10
Good clean post punk. Not for everybody and it’s not something I’m going to reach for often but I appreciate it. Switch and Hung Kong Garden were my faves.
This was a pretty good album on the one listen I gave it. It is one I have to definitely be in the mood for I think; It definitely has a good sound and energy to it. If I was presented this album closer to Halloween, I might have had a different reaction to it. I may go back and listen when I have proper wits about me, based on what I have read about it. That's what I love about this whole list is that it does give you awareness that these albums exist and may trigger a point to go back and listen. Biggest Hit - Carcass, Hong Kong Garden (though the Apple Music version doesnt list this on the 1st CD) Biggest Miss (if I had to choose one) - Helter Skelter Biggest Surprise - Jigsaw Feeling (after the intro, this one hits you in the face)
I had Juju in the last week or so and whilst I liked it, I wasn’t sure I gave it the attention it deserved and landed on 3 stars but with a note to return. I’m glad I got another album so soon as a chance to listen and again, I could hear the influence they must have had on PJ Harvey. The first half of the album felt a bit more raw and energetic and at times, I wondered how much I liked it but as the album grew to a close it became apparent that’s where I was finding the best songs, feeling a bit more rounded and really catching my attention. A good debut.
If I could do half stars it would be a 3.5 but I pushed it up to a 4
Really good to hear this album again, I had it many years ago, and saw them in 1978, with The Cure as support! So many good tracks on here
Not bad at all. Really dig the goth feels. Not my cup of tea the way other post punk bands are, but undeniably good.
Siouxsie and the Banshees are an amazing band and this is maybe their most underrated album. It's just a good dose of that dark, gothic-tinted post-punk with amazing vocals and a strong atmosphere. I love the tension between the nocturnal guitars and tight drums. Creates a very one of a kind sound that is different from the rest of the band's discography. The energy is pretty crazy and makes the album a wild ride. Jigsaw Feeling, Overground and Helter Skelter in particular are highlights.
Marvellous
Another day, another late 70s punk album, and honestly, I can’t complain. This was a pretty interesting listen, especially since I wasn’t familiar with the band at all going in. It’s raw, energetic, and has that early punk feel where everything sounds urgent and slightly out of control. Nothing fancy, just attitude and momentum the whole way through. Favorite song: Jigsaw Feeling
Another unexpected gem of a find. Never expected to like this as much as I did.
What a nice surprise. I thought this would be some trashy punk, but no, the girl can sing and totally hold the album. It’s really quite intriguing that there’s a lot of deliberate, almost anti feminine tones, and then she’ll switch with ease and power. The guitar and drums have a nice pushing drive to the songs. You can see how this had a big goth influence as well, in the slightly theatrical nature of it. Shame about the Hong Kong song though, seemed an unnecessary gimmick and didn’t really fit. Anyway, I really enjoyed it.
Always have been a fan of Siouxsie's voice, it takes what might be a mediocre album to fantastic.
early new-wavey punk rock music. i seem to be attracted whenever there's female leads in punk; compared to the more common male-centered space there's a certain energy that the dudes lack. this album is abrasive and a little loud, constant like a wailing police siren. siouxsie has a KILLER voice and i bet it would sound even better live. it's rough and sometimes scattered, but that's really a lot of albums that came out around this time... it stands out quite a bit and i think it's a real hidden gem.
3.5/5
post-punk is kind of hit or miss for me, this is pretty good, i can see how it ended up being so influential
7/10
Raw. Straight-ahead. Post-Punk. You can hear the beginnings of what would eventually become the Riot Grrl movement of the 90s. What took me by surprise (considering that Siouxsie And The Banshees emerged from of the 70s punk scene in the UK) is how each song is so carefully, thoughtfully constructed.
I've never been a huge Siouxsie fan like some people I've known but it is really good.
This was really cool!!!
Very cool album! It did kind of blend into itself as a "sound" more than individual songs, but... wow, and must have been crazily unique when it came out and all of that! :) I'll definitely re-listen!
The guitar licks really stand out on this album. Liked it a lot. 4/5
Very nice. Not the best Siouxsie album but still damn good.
Good tunes and new to me, thx!
It was pretty good I suppose
Punk but with a lot of reverb and chorus. That Helter Skelter cover was sick.
Every once in a while, I get around to a record that I "missed". In this case, I'm really glad I did. This is a great record that deserves the accolades and attention that it's gotten over the years.
Lijed Juju better but still good
Fun and energetic.
4/5 i like this dark little goth psychodelic rock, kind of punk and vocal reminds me of band "X" and music with "Sisters of mercy" or "The cure" but singer is a woman not a man
I like Siouxsie & the Banshees. We had JuJu back in May and it was a 5 for me. My favorite thing about this album is the guitars but her vocals are great too and really unique. noisy, chaotic, punk rock at it's most artistic. Sometimes they have a really raw, kinetic energy that reminds me of Pixies. Other times a dark brooding groove with hammering dissonance that reminds me of Bauhaus. I think I'm going to have to listen to ALL of this bands albums after the project is over. It's pretty awesome but not all the songs are their best. U2 stole Helter Skelter from Charles Mason and Siouxsie is stealing it back tonight. I didn't especially care for their version but props for doing it in their style. My favorites are scattered all over the album: Jigsaw Feeling, Carcass, Mirage, Suburban Relapse, The Staircase.
One of the best name for a band and a good name for this band’s album. A very somewhat familiar sounding album for some reason.
Surprisingly good recommendation.
Plötzlich sehe ich mich wieder vor dem Radio sitzen, Sender: BFBS, Sendung: John Peels Music. Eintauchen in ein komplett anderes Musikuniversum als ich gewohnt war. Und das BFBS TV: Black Adder und Spitting Image... ähm, ich schweife ein wenig ab. So ist das wenn Opa vom Krieg erzählt.
Raw, early punk joy.
Really good.
Such a cool and modern sounding album for 1978. I love the attitude and mood. Seems like a continuation of Jefferson Airplanes coolest side.
Cool
This album starts a little weak to me but ends real strong. The longer I listen the more I enjoyed it. Listen to while making a third eye cats. Very appropriate IMO.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. It's weird in a way I love.
Another day where I had to listen while on the go, so I didn't get to give it 100% of my attention. Overall, I thought this was pretty solid. I can see how influential this was. I didn't love the Helter Skelter cover, but the rest ranged from solid to killer.
Early Souxsie? Yes please!
Unique for the time, but you can hear where it influenced things later. Not sure I'm a fan of Siouxsie's singing, but not bad.
Love this album - raw and passionate.
Abrasive and relentless spooky punk with high drama operatic vocals, chugging dissonant riffs, burning intensity and a loose shaggy style.
I've listened to some other S&TB stuff. Sounds like a heck of a debut record, pretty raw and unpolished compared to much else I've heard, but quite an entertaining listen. Definitely some good stuff on the album. The cover of Helter Skelter is interesting.
This band has been one of my favorite recent discoveries from the list, so imagine my excitement when I saw another album of theirs pop up today. And it did not disappoint! Ready for a Banshee binge!
sorprendentemente me ha gustado
Now this is how you maintain intensity without staying in one gear the whole album. I'm looking at you, AC/DC.
A very good initial effort by Siouxsie and her band. This LP was a groundbreaking at its time for their post punk sound and a woman lead singer of the band. Although their were others before her it was rare. Nice cover of the Beatles Helter Skelter and as time went on they got better n better. Big smash in England but not so much in America.
i was not super into this album upon first listen a few years ago, but nah i was wrong, this is great
No expectations heading into this one and it was a really refreshing listen. This album is a happy marriage between The Go-Gos and The Sex Pistols. Great heavy bass lines and Siouxsie Sioux is a fabulous front woman. Pretty fun little journey and hey maybe I'll listen to a few more albums (when I'm done listing to my remaining 900ish albums)
1978, du? Forut for sin tid. Kult.
This is great. I was aware of them before but never really listened to anything other than the hits. Her voice is a bit strident for me at times. So influential though. A solid 4
I’ve listened to some of Siouxsie’s singles before but the full length album is just as good. A pretty underrated band
Ótimo álbum! Muito legal essa experiência de rock gótico. QoA Adonis New.
Really nice guitar tone. Especially on Carcass, Helter Skelter, and Mirage. Some songs vocally reminded me of Patti Smith and sleater- Kinney.
The speed at which punk moved was truly astounding. From the formal progenitors like Ramones releasing in '76, to the class of '77 establishing the scene in ... '77, to true-blue post-punk less than a year later in '78. The Scream by Siouxsie And The Banshees is one such album. Most impressive to me is how fully realized this is for how early into it's niche it released. Like, in the broader sense of post-punk, this is an amazing album. When I put this on I thought it would be a The Cure situation where their first had yet to catch up with the scene they helped establish. But no, "the sound" is all there, and frankly the atmosphere is pretty suffocating even with reference to later albums in the genre. Even more amazingly, these are *killer* songs. I think the draws of the songwriting here are best displayed by closer The Switch, which manages to be tense and compelling for a full 7 minutes. And honestly, just about everything else here keeps up. Even the *surprisingly* good and very inspired cover of Helter Skelter is pretty awesome. I'm not gonna call it a 5 yet, but it's one of the best post-punk albums I've discovered in a hot minute, and I'll be revisiting it.
This album is Pure. Like a Metal Postcard of a Hong Kong Garden.
Pretty good, but Siouxsie sings like a banshee on this one. Still solid rocker chick music.
Why didn’t I listen to The Scream sooner? Glad I found out I love McKay’s guitar—so sharp and clear, every chord note distinct, perfectly balanced with the vocals.
Pleasant surprise, great songs, and a memorable vibe through the whole album. That Helter Skelter cover... *chef's kiss
I'm a huge sucker for post-punk guitars but I'd never checked out the first Siouxsie album until now. She sounds especially raw on this one, sometimes effectively and sometimes to the detriment of the songs. A lot of "post-punk" is more post than punk but this record makes it clear why the genre ever had the term "punk" associated with it in the first place. Overground and Suburban Relapse are my faves.
I love the energy of this album. It's minimalistic and yet it gives out a wall of sound. I feel like this band must've influenced a lot of bands that I like such as PJ Harvey, Radiohead and others. I praise the pure emotion, simplicity and the expressiveness but, being honest, the album itself felt a bit repetitive for me. I liked the "Switch" most but the cover on "Helter Skelter" was also awesome.
Gotta remember to give this one another try. I listened to about half and liked it, but ran out of time
Good post-punk album and I learned that there's a difference between punk and post punk
A great voice over good punk music
Despite knowing of Siouxsie and The Banshees, I have never explored their discography because I feel like people who are into them are *really* into them. So, I thank this challenge for making finally give them a listen. Their music is pretty great and you can see the blast radius of bands they influenced (Joy Division, Interpol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, B-52s and a ton more). High 4.
I can remember being fascinated by Siouxsie Sioux in the late 80s when 'Kiss Them For Me' ended up on MTV but have never taken the time to dig in to their back catalog. I'm unsurprised to enjoy this given it feels of a piece with the Joy Division/Bauhaus post-punk sound I like - while also being an obvious antecedent to folks like PJ Harvey and Sleater Kinney. Feels like an accurate inclusion on the list for once.
I might have to get some additional context regarding this album but dug Overground, Mirage, and the cover of Helter Skelter. This is an album that needs to be listened to LOUD.
yay i didnt take notes but i liked it
Decent
Pretty good! 3.5/5
Very good and so influential for so many bands/artists I love. Loses points bc Hong Kong garden aged like milk.
*excited goth noises* First I’ll repeat what everyone else have said before: Siouxsie is literally the queen of the genre. And I generally have a lower expectation toward debut albums so let’s wait and see. but anyway i think i should establish a template of debut album review s from now on. it will borrow some of the reviews that i have wrote before. the formal review: it's (of course) not as good as Juju and Tinderbox, but since it is their debut, it's alright. but its still a 3 for me cause these two albums mentioned before impressed me too much and this album didn't impress me much apart from the cover of helter skelter, although i know debut albums are always weaker than later works. 3.5/5
Good abrasive post punk I can hear how influential this was but for me I will probably not listen again
Dark, edgy, and moody post-punk - a defining album in the genre, one that grew on me over the course of the album. Siouxsie Sioux's lead vox are confident and in-your-face (in a fun way) and the tom-heavy drumming from Kenny Moris is the icing on the edgy post-punk cake.
Det hørtes akkurat ut som det forrige Siouxie and the Banshees-albumet æ hørte på, men for all del, det e jo gøy nok det.
Really enjoyed this. It felt that the vocals were always with the band, in the same room, rather than clear over the rest, which was a nice difference. I did partly think "the next album is going to be even stronger!"
Love this, looking forward to hearing where this goes next! Solid punk, then veers into new romantic—loads of negative space between elements, like the playing with pitch and pace. Great vocalisations.
A debut album which instantly establishes Siouxsie and the Banshees’ iconic sound. Once you’ve heard this, you’d recognise anything they’ve done. It also goes some way to defining what post-punk is and what differentiates it from its immediate predecessor. The gothic tinges and pure terror in Siouxsie’s voice at times has a spine tingling effect. The band bettered this record several times as they moved into more melodic spaces, but there’s something to be said for the chaotic and rough catharsis of this album. Oddly enough it’s the final two tracks that come out on top for me.
4 The.nucleus of ideas that will become Post-Punk. Recorded while Punk was still rearing its head, Siouxsie and The Banshees 1.0 manage to make uncomfortable music that entices you to stay longer underwater with them thanks to cavernous toms (no cymbals!,) shards of guitar, diving bass and hint of the lonely sax that will soon dominate the Eighties. Over it all, Siouxsie dominates like a Method actor turning the Beatles into a battle cry, and her own songs of mystery that still drive various interpretations. Bonus points for the single being added.
I found myself bopping my head to this on my whole drive to work. I don’t usually listen to this kind of music but I really enjoyed the album.
Pre-listen: I dig this band name. Post-listen: I can’t tell if I want to give this a 2 or a 4. It is certainly not an average album but I will likely never be in the mood to listen to it again.
♫ Listening to "Helter Skelter" by Siouxsie & The Banshees (The Scream, 1978) ♫
I understand how influential this group is, and I could definitely immediately recognize some artists I’ve listened to in the 90s that took this style for their own music. Overall though I found the album interesting, and enjoyed the music. I would say this is around a 3.5 for me though.
Souxsie's singing takes a bit to get used to. But after the first few songs, I realize that she works quite well with the guitar strums. How was I supposed to know that I have always loved punk? 4/5
Good fun, and clearly influential to a lot of my favourite music.
Aqui está uma banda na qual sou particularmente familiarizado, e na qual eu já explorei toda sua discografia e a avaliei. Em meu ranking, este álbum se encontra na sétima posição, um pouco abaixo do ponto central da discografia. Isso nos diz que eu acredito que os álbuns que o sucederam foram bem mais alegres em suas composições. Reouvindo o disco hoje, percebo o porquê do posicionamento dele em minha avaliação pessoal. É um disco bom, ótimo as vezes, o mais legal dele é a sua consistência. Ele não perde o ritmo, mantém o seu pacing de capa a capa. Consistência é uma grande virtude, claro, mas ela nos mostra que faltam nesse disco os picos que caracterizam os próximos álbuns da banda. Não se engane, há nesse disco faixas destaques como Switch, Hong Kong Garden e o fantástico cover de Helter Skelter. Mas no geral, o álbum se mantém em um nível semelhante durante toda sua duração. Um nível bom, mas não estrelar. O que dizer sobre a banda? Foram os pioneiros desse subgênero e dezenas de bandas devem todo seu sucesso à eles. É de se aplaudir o ritmo quase marechal dessas faixas, com a percussão que demanda atenção e ordem, as guitarras retorcidas que criam voz, o baixo pulsante e infectante que formou a base de todo o post-punk sucessor, e não existem adjetivos suficientes na língua portuguesa para descrever Siouxsie Sioux, a vocalista dessa incrível banda. Até aqui, na estréia da banda, ela paira sobre os instrumentais com sua voz única e inconfundível, demonstrando um lamento penetrante pouco encontrado em outras vocalistas. No geral, uma estréia magistral que formou a fundação de um subgênero riquíssimo. Com certeza deve-se ouvir esse álbum, e não só ele, mas sim todo o trabalho dessa banda. Como eu havia dito, é um disco consistente, mas os seus sucessores atingiram picos maiores. 4/5
I typically have mixed feelings about bands that lean on exoticism or orientalism in their songwriting. Hong Kong Garden is no exception in that regard. And so, here we are with that song as the lead single on the debut from Siouxsie and the Banshees. But she don't care. And frankly, neither do my ears. It's a good song, and in my opinion, it's not even the best on the record (I prefer the darker, starker cuts like Suburban Relapse). I don't hear the album as the landmark it's described as (I guess I would've had to have been there), and I've always been more of a Siouxsie song-sampler even when at my most goth. Still, it's a fitting start to such a storied career.
A blistering and totally unique punk debut.
Pure 3 Jigsaw Feeling 3.6 Overground 3.7 Carcass 3.5 Helter Skelter 3.8 Mirage 3.6 Metal Postcard (Mittageisen) 3.7 Nicotine Stain 3.8 Suburban Relapse 3.6 Switch 3.5 Score: 3.58
a band that I have never really got into, or had a desire to listen to. it was a decent album and a good introduction to them. I think i could definitely give it another listen. Some good tracks. Maybe not intriguing enough for me that I want to explore their back catalogue though. 3.5 stars upgraded to 4
Another good Siouxsie and the Banshees record. I really need to listen to this group more.
Ya this was dope
An enjoyable listen.
just a bit better than a 3 I think.
Very good
Siouxsie and The Banshees were one of the freshest voices to emerge during the Punk and New Wave explosion of the late Seventies. The Scream, their debut, is an excellent opening platter, but they would go on to even higher peaks in subsequent LPs. The Scream does suffer from the "let's try to be different" syndrom that affected many new artists, and other than Hong Kong Garden (and Staircase Mystery), the tracks are just OK. Together, the whole album is clearly a band finding their feet.
Highlights: Mirage, Helter Skelter, Suburban Relapse. In a nutshell: inspiring goths and post-punk bands since 1978. Siouxsie’s staccato and droning vocal affectations took a few tracks to warm up to. Once I reached Carcass, I was in. The drum beats and riffs hold my attention, kinda Wire inspired(?). I can see why people were entranced by S&TB - enigmatic allure of Siouxsie Sioux, you can tap your feet or bop your head to the music. What a debut. Overall: 7/10
New and compelling. 4.25
freaky goth music. i approve
Siouxsie is amazing!
Love the idea, not something id listen to all the time, but good post-punk
I liked this a lot, though maybe not quite as much as Juju. Hong Kong Garden possibly the standout.
This is one of the first post punk albums ever. Siouxsie has always been a legend, even in her debut album. This work is gothic, aggressive, exciting, and explosive. 4⭐️
Ondergewaardeerd. Hier staan echt veel goeie nummers op. Wijze cover van Helter Skelter ook. 3.5
Really enjoyed this. The influence it had is obvious.
This is cool. Rawer and less developed than their later work. It doesn’t grab me quite as much.
I know to rate it a 4, I just can’t explain why. Siouxsie just grabs your attention from the get-go and like a demon-possessed she won’t stop until the record’s over.
Never listened to this, and really enjoyed. Early, influential, discordant post punk.
Siouxie and the banshees, this is a band I really need to listen to more! I had to relisten to juju (which I fave a 5 after this) 4/5
Love the rawness in this album, both in performance and production. Post punk but with many punk ascetics. Great album.
It’s pretty mind blowing that this came out in 1978. Post punk while punk was very much still happening and incorporates the essence of punk rock while moving toward a new sound. Great record.
An interesting post punk album I enjoyed as a whole.
Really influential! So many elements that defined the music in the future! much love and respect for siouxsie and the banshees. Few songs i like a lot. Album def will get some listens this year.
This has a cool sound. The cover of Helter Skelter was much better than I expected. This feels very influential and the style is a bit hypnotic. Interesting one.
Cool album cover. I like this opening track. It sounds like post punk inspired by Ennio Morricone. I really like the sound of this album. I enjoy the vocals and the cadence of them. The tempo is a little repetitive feeling at times. Kind of curious to hear what else they have done.
A very enjoyable album with a unique and engaging sound. Go Sioxsie
Seminal post punk band, this is awesome! It still blows me away that it came from 1978.
A pretty incredible debut and all my favourite things about post punk and a great follow up after just finishing The Damned. Fave: Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)
Music brings people together, and sometimes people bring music together. I’ve learned that many times over, and this album is no exception to that rule. With that in mind, I’m so thankful for my lovely wife Emma and her strong conviction to bringing my ears to women-led hands like this, and to the catharsis Siouxse and the Banshees provided her and so many others. Not only is there a great deal of catharsis to be experienced in the topics this record covers, but it’s performed so well - especially for the late 70’s. The last minute or so of “Carcass” has a super catchy clap rhythm section that must’ve been especially fun to hear in concert. Immediately after is one of the coolest covers of all time, “Helter Skelter” with an eerie, silence-ridden intro. It’s a cover that has so many cool tricks and production elements in it, I don’t want to spoil any more by further talking about it. The high-pitcher vocal intonations towards the end of “Metal Postcard” and the beginning of “Nicotine Stain” give everything all the more character. Please forgive my ignorance, but whatever that now famous punk/postpunk drum pattern is that’s done on “Switch” here is maybe the best example of it ever performed. The only crime here is not one to do with the music or the band, but on American audiences not giving this album aa much widespread love aa it deserves.
I'm gonna give this a 4, I think this was a very good album all the way through. They reminded me of the Pixies and this was in 78'! People said the Pixies were early to the scene and this was ten years before them. Good shtuff.
A classic album that I loved in my youth. As I've aged, I can still remember how this made me feel, but I also hear it grating a bit on my sensibilities with it's rougher edges.
More of this kind of stuff would be welcome….
Not my favorite Banshees album, but still a really good one. This debut is definitely early Siouxsie and the Banshees, when they were still weird art punks figuring out what the band was. It's also before guitarist John McGeoch and drummer Budgie joined and took their sound to the next level. The album opens with a weird, atmospheric mood piece set to the tune of Three Blind Mice. The rest of the album alternates between aggressive, discordant rock where Siouxsie often does more yelling than singing (including an f-bomb laden cover of The Beatles "Helter Skelter") and more upbeat, danceable tracks complete with handclap beats. There's another curve ball towards the end of the album with "Hong Kong Garden" — the album's sole single — a bright, poppy tune protesting the skinheads who would harass the staff at a popular Chinese takeaway frequented by the Banshees. It's arguably one of the first post-punk songs, and is a bop (though you could be forgiven for thinking it hasn't aged terribly well with its stereotypical "Chinese"-sounding keys). I'm not sure if I'd recommend this as an intro to Siouxsie and the Banshees to most people since it's a little less accessible than some of their other albums (Tinderbox or Through the Looking Glass might be better starting points), nor is it the peak of their quality (Juju, A Kiss in the Dreamhouse, and Hyaena for that). But it's still a really good album that's essential to the Banshees' catalogue and post-punk history. 4/5
Simply a fantastic debut. This is a band that rarely missed, especial thru evolving thier sound throught the 80s. The debut here really sets a high standard for the raw power and emotion exhibited in their full discography
Prettty badass
Really enjoyed this. She had a great voice and it was far more melodic than some other post-punk stuff that we’ve had. Simpsons: No
Really liked this. The cover of Helter Skelter was fun, definitely put their own twist on it which was nice.
I liked it a lot more than I though I would.
This lot were maturer sooner than but were ultimately surpassed by Cure. Still, this is good, if slow starrting. It gets better – and more dynamic and fluid – as it goes along. Indeed last few cuts are best. This was a powerful group that perhaps didn't quite ever come to full fruition. Remains serious and substantive and stylish, too.
I hate to give this a 4, because it's not as a good as Brothers in Arms (one of my other 4s) but it was more enjoyable than some of my most recent 3s. I've never heard of Siouxsie before, but I actually was digging this album, and from what I've read, was instrumental in ushering in post-punk. Sometimes they had groovy rhythms, with a ton of bass and drums, other times it felt like Siouxsie was just screaming like a member of the Runaways...of course, it is "The Scream" after all. I wound up listening to their songs "Cities and Dust" from their 1986 album Tinderbox, and actually enjoyed that sound of there's a lot more. So credit to this as their debut album, I'm curious to hear more of their discography from the 80s. A fun pick-up for me though.
The Scream is the debut album from Siouxsie and the Banshees, a British punk rock band. The bandmembers were all part of a group of avid Sex Pistols fans, known as the Bromley Contingent. The bands sound evolved considerably in the course of their career; their debut is primitive, abrasive art-punk. These songs feature distorted, aggressive guitar riffs, and driven rhythms from an intentionally limited drum kit, adding to a minimalist sense to the band's work. The defining element of theirs songs is Siouxsie's raw, angst-ridden vocals. This album - and the rest of the band's catalog - were incredibly influential across a range of genres.
Excellent album rock, touche d'exotisme malheureuse dans Hong Kong Garden, puissante reprise de Helter Skelter.
Listened Before? N Hell yeah! Raw and post-punky, this album has a lot to love. I will revisit this again. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Hong Kong Garden
Enjoyed this, probably a 3.5 but rounded up as it’s been a while where I’ve been stuck in 2-3s
3.5
Farligt tæt på en 5'er. Virkelig fedt album. Da jeg var yngre syntes jeg, at deres Helter Skelter cover var dårligt, men det var tydeligvis fordi jeg var et BARN! Det er virkelig fedt!!
About a year before they went gothic rock but this is an excellent post-punk debut. Feels like a gold standard for sweet and simple post-punk of the day.
I was under the impression this was all Goth-y sadness and never thought there'd be anything I would like with this band. Super happy to have listened to this. Siouxsie reminds me of Grace Slick... But the music backing her up is incredible. Mostly heavy, but the melodic stretches in some tracks are unexpected.
Our second Siouxsie album, and it’s just as good as “Juju.” This being their debut, it must have really been a breakthrough, and the influence can be heard for decades after. Their “Helter Skelter” cover is fantastic, woven seamlessly into a string of songs that ooze attitude and intensity. “Metal Postcard” was the only misstep, with too much yelping. Without that, it’s a 5.
When we had Juju I wrote that I liked the music but not Siouxsie’s vocals.The Scream is a worthy achievement in post-punk. I like the music and the vocals. So of course I had to go back and listen to Juju. I don’t know what I was hearing. The vocals are nearly as good for Juju as The Scream. I may need to use the new edit functionality and correct Juju’s undeserving 2.
a menacing set of songs which, as far as I can tell, sort of set the template for the first wave of post-punk and gothic rock! Siouxsie's voice isn't the most in-tune, but it's among the most evocative and intriguing voices I've heard in front of rock instrumentation. the guitar work definitely earns them the "Banshees" moniker; it's jagged, often noisy, and almost always angular. all of this is grounded by some excellent basslines and some pounding drums with a ton of delay and reverb. you can tell how many eighties bands had checked this album out, along with Joy Division's work from around the same time. pretty great Beatles cover! decent 8/10.
I wonder how I'd feel about this if I'd heard it before Juju. I've listened to Juju so many times since generating it, and this didn't hit quite the same, but I'm sure it has the potential to grow on me more. It's still an incredible debut and would have blown my mind hearing it for the first time in 1978. I think Siouxsie Sioux is a treasure.
Really enjoying this. Love the vocals and the urgency of the music. I love covers of Helter Skelter, but my favorites from this album are Jigsaw Feeling and Metal Postcard.
Solidno ko većina njihovih albuma fali mi nešto za zakucavanje.
Love me a bit of Siouxsie
I think this is a 4. Or a 3. Or even a 2. It's hard to tell. I think I'm very relieved to be away from Elton John and listening to stuff that's more my interest. There's a weird unemotional delivery to Siouxsie Sioux's vocals and the music generally. It's sort of industrial punk minimalism. Or something. I think I like it. I think it's a 3.5 with a note to investigate further. "Hong Kong Garden" is great though.
Really good, raw sound
For this review, I will not include the bonus tracks "Hong Kong Garden" and "The Staircase (Mystery)" from the 2006 reissue. I've heard of Siouxsie and the Banshees as an influential band in the post-punk and alternative genres. I certainly respect that the Banshees' debut album The Scream is considered the genesis of several later acts. After giving the album a couple of listens, I like it albeit with some caveats. Let's start with the positives. I genuinely enjoy the melodrama in Siouxise Sioux's vibrato vocal delivery, where she commanded attention with near-operatic wails. She's backed up well by John McKay's crunchy guitar riffs, Kenny Morris's pounding tom-tom-focused percussion, and Steven Severin's elegant bass. Songs like "Jigsaw Feeling", "Carcass", and "Mirage" pop off well early on in the album given how synchronized the band was in their unorthodox mannerisms. That said, not every song on The Scream is great. It took two minutes for this album to get going with the intro track "Pure" taking a while to crescendo. Halfway through, "Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)" kills the pacing starts. I understand if they were going for a more mechanical-sounding presentation for a track about the metal aesthetic, but I find it a slog. By the time that song is over, the album has difficulty getting its momentum back, even with fun tracks like "Nicotine Stain" and the seven-minute closer "The Switch". Overall, I enjoyed The Scream and what Siouxsie and the Banshees brought to their table with their sound. It can be a difficult listen, but one that is worth the effort.
Pretty one note spooky witchy rock music. It kicks ass but it all sort of slurs together. That cover of shelter Skelton though!!!!
Furious and wild!
Post-Punk with driving basses, eerie textures and at times unconventional, yet intriguing melodies. Amazing lead vocals Standout Tracks: Overground, Metal Postcard (Mittageisen), Suburban Relapse
chicken chow mein and chop suey
Some really cool 80's punk sounds
Very avant-guard post punk. Siouxsie's vocals are some how both awesome and grating but no matter your tastes, they work here. Not sure how often I'll revisit this album, but it did send me down the Siouxsie and the Banshees rabbit hole which is full of wonderful music. I'd give this a 3, but since it resparked my joy for the rest of the catalog, it gets bumped to a 4
Pretty decent album. Interesting punk influences 3.9
Great album!
siouxsie is such a badass. i love hong kong garden, if you’re lucky you’ll hear it at the king soopers on colorado/yale
This was a very solid debut album for a very solid band. Banshees is a good way to describe the style of them. Also, I love Siouxsie Sioux. She is my goth queen.
It's an excellent debut album, and shockingly close to the sound they would have once the band fully came into its own. That being said, it suffers from a slow pace, its runtime clocks in at only 45 minutes, but it feels significantly longer.
Sioux's vocals are so raw and intense. This is a wild debut album that really shows where they would go. The Beatles cover is an interesting inclusion, but I really like their take on it.
Wichtig, ein Zeitdokument.
I have always favored Siouxsie and the Banshees. So it is not mystery that I would like this album. However I have growing insight as I review albums nearly every day. I think I not only like her voice, somewhat shouting rather than singing, but I look forward to hearing it in the next song -- quite the oposite of getting tired of someone after a few songs. And then there is in how this is truly genre defining post-punk. A bit cleaner, a bit more rock directed, less noisy. Just listen I sometimes say. And again, if you want to "understand" what post-punk is, than ... just listen!
quite fun and nervy. absolutely cracked guitar work - divinely jagged and noisy. album really *feels* like the work of a bunch of 21 year olds which is one of the most beautiful things about it
7/10. Not consistent for me but some good ones that made the playlist and had good creativity.
Expectation: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! Reality: ооооооооооооооооооооооонннн...
So awesome. Never heard of this album and or group however it rings true to me and my inner angst. I hear a multitude of Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, and Sex Pistols in all of the instrumentation and song structure. However its own unique twist on it. Well worth the time to listen to it.