The Scream

I thought this would be better than it was..

Dark, driving bass and high-pitched, emotionally detached vocals - what's not to like? The riffing gets the job done, more focused on rhythm than melody. It's mostly pretty depressing stuff but there's some catchy moments if you're patient. Nicotine Stain is one of these, letting the guitars loose a bit. The last official track Switch is also strong, a slow builder. The last two tracks from the CD release appear to be non album singles and are a bit of a different vibe - not rating these.

Realizing that post-punk just isn't my genre. Cool name tho. 3/5

Love this band but they made far better records real quickly after this, but I can’t deny that there’d be no Joy Division without The Scream.

Good one

***An ok album

Like a lot of the post punk, proto punk, Brit punk etc on the list, this one is full of great songs. The guitar is full of great ideas. But can’t take the singer’s voice. Glad I heard it. Don’t need to hear again

Kind of makes me think of being crammed in a basement with far too many.people and listening to music far too.loud.

Innovative and original, but ultimately a little annoying to my ears.

Better than I remembered.

Couple of classics, but maybe just a bit too messy.

A very enjoyable listen with a sound that is way ahead of its time. No tracks really grabbed me as stand out and the vocals are a little grating but would listen again.

It's a solid debut but I'm not as keen on this as I was on Juju and I'm not sure if it merits inclusion here.

My rating 2.8

Love the guitar/drum/bass on this, such a clean sound, so driving, fantastic energy. But then there's those punk vocals, what I think of as shout style. I don't necessarily hate shout singing - love it from Devo - but Siouxsie and a lot of other punks shouted as a fuck off, and it works. 4 for the band, 1 for the vocals.

Kind of like Magazin, decent arty punk but nothing spectacular

Like a worse Jefferson Airplane

decent

Invented Post-Punk before Punk had really gotten started.

2.5 - Just not mad about her voice

Not my favorite I much prefer their other album but not terrible by any means. Just not as hooky as the other record

Rather enjoyed this! Always love their cover of helter skelter. And this album cover is gorgeous.

Mid. Not as good as later stuff.

The Scream by Siouxsie and the Banshees is a striking and thrilling debut that I genuinely enjoyed. It’s an album that still feels sharp-edged and alive, full of jagged guitars, icy atmospheres, and Siouxsie Sioux’s commanding presence. There’s an intensity running through the whole record that pulls you in straight away dark, dramatic, and completely self-assured. What stands out most is how fresh it still sounds. For a late-70s release, it feels wildly forward-thinking, carving out a bold space between punk, post-punk, and something uniquely theirs. The basslines are hypnotic, the guitars angular, and the rhythms relentless, creating a kind of controlled chaos that is utterly compelling. It’s easy to see why this album is considered such an influential cornerstone. Even with its raw edges, the album is cohesive and atmospheric, and I found myself really immersed in its world. It’s intense but never alienating, experimental but still accessible a balance few debuts manage so well. Favourite track: I really like the cover of Helter Skelter and Nicotine Stain is also an excellent song Least favourite track: Everything on the album was worth a listen Album artwork: Dark album cover

Decent - distinctive sound - enjoyed - struggled between 3 and 4

Like the Banshees, Siouxsie not so much.

Much prefer Juju to this one.

Pretty good post punk type noise, but one song just kind of blends into the other.

I do quite like Hong Kong Garden. The rest I don't really vibe with as much as I think I would. Generally I find I really like singles from Siouxsie And The Banshees... but albums not as much. Interesting

Influental, not fully realised sound. I prefer their later albums. Still cool though. 6/10

Okay

solid

Tough to rate because I appreciate the creativity, but can’t say that I actually enjoy listening to most of it.

Not bad. Not my cup of tea. Worthy of a there. Would come back to it.

GREAT ALBUM.

Solid album, nothing wow tho for me and there is a cover of helter skeltzr in there which is not bad.

I remember Siouxsie And The Banshees from the time when I was into gothic and dark wave. I listened to them once. It was okay, but I wasn't thrilled. The same goes for this album. Okay but not thrilling. I don't like Siouxsie's voice. It's a bit too shrill for me. I won't be listening to it again anytime soon. 3/5

Немного, что называется, "уан ноут", но атмосферно, и плюс главный хит. Лучшая песня - Hong Kong Garden.

I've heard Juju already, and I gave that one a 2, mainly for having an inaccessible sound, bad vocals, and bad guitarwork. The Scream improves greatly on the guitars (and all-round instrumentation), but the vocals could still use some work. Still, I liked the majority of tracks here, so I can't justifiably give this a low rating too. I feel the Helter Skelter cover kind of misses the point of the original Beatles version. The texture doesn't vary at all, while the original shines because of its ups and downs. Actually, a lot of songs on The Scream suffer from lack of "flow" in song structure. The verse-chorus model, while cliché, is insanely popular and dominant in the mainstream for a reason: it's a great model. (Punky artists tend to reject a lot of music convention for the sake of it, rather than because it sounds good. But I digress.) The Staircase (Mystery) does well in this department, however. I do like the tense build-up in the opener, Pure, and how it pays off with the explosive Jigsaw Feeling. Siouxsie's singing is still pretty terrible, though, and at this point I doubt that'll ever change. I feel that her timbre is more suited to balladesque pieces rather than punk rock, which typically requires shouting. Her shouting voice is just... not good. Nor are most people's, to be fair. It's one of many reasons why punk hasn't aged well as a genre. (Yelling about feelings and political leanings is, more often than not, way more grating than singing them well – and it makes you subconsciously reject the artist's message.) Siouxsie is also frequently out of tune – she's slightly flat for the entirety of Overground and Carcass, and most of Suburban Relapse – and the mixed self-harmonising doesn't disguise it. It sounds terrible. Which is a shame, because the guitars are really solid in Overground. 3/5 Key tracks: Jigsaw Feeling, Metal Postcard (Mittageisen), Hong Kong Garden

It kind of just kept going. One or two songs of it would have been okay, but after a while it was a little grating. I like the last song a lot but often had a hard time understanding her. Overall, not bad but nothing grabbed a hold and made me love it.

This album has a lot of spunk. It’s just not my vibe. I’ve got zero complaints to what they are presenting. Their art is pushing the boundaries of the time, but it’s just not hitting for me. I definitely respect it though.

I wanted to really like this. I like Siouxsie's vocals, and apparently the sounds they created here were quite innovative and influential so that's cool. The instrumentation was pretty rockin' too. That said though, there was nothing on here I loved. I didn't add even one song to a playlist, and it's not something I'd return to. It could use a little polish and shine. Appreciate the vibes and the pioneering they did though!

I like the sound, but nothing in particular stood out to me. Feels like a very foundational album upon which others built.

Would have been better with a different singer

Apparently this has a ton of influence in the early punk scene. I'm guessing that is why it's included because I just didn't get anything groundbreaking, unique or really even enjoyable from this. Vocals were awful, akin to a yelping injured dog.

Insane.

2,75

Into it. Her voice has had such a lasting influence but it takes a beat to get into.

The cover of Helter Skelter is pretty good - the rest is all about the same.

Not really my thing, but I guess it's important as their first album.

Enjoyable

I knew none of these songs going in. My wife loves Florence + The Machine and I feel so much of Siouxsie's influence in future artists like her. Good, not great album

Just the right vibe for a very chaotic day.

I liked this one better than the previous album we listened to by Siouxsie and The Banshees, but it still feels a little overly performative, like the musical theatre version of punk. The cover is fun and visually interesting, that is a 4/5 for me.

No es un álbum que me haya gustado o que desearía escuchar de nuevo, pero puedo apreciar algunos aspectos. Por un lado la cohesión del álbum, me pareció que la selección y el orden de temas que conforman la obra está muy bien dispuesta. El álbum anterior, "The Yes Album" de Yes tenía el problema de no tener mucha cohesión a pesar de que los temas en sí tuviesen una gran musicalidad, lo cual es interesante, porque prefiero mayor cohesión a una interpretación virtuosa. Por otro lado pienso que también es adecuada la duración del álbum. Además en varios momentos me sorprendió con los sonidos más experimentales que buscaron en los temas. Sin embargo el álbum no es lo suficientemente experimental como para ser sobresaliente. Tal vez en su época fue más relevante, pero en este momento hay demasiadas bandas que han hecho este estilo mucho mejor.

Kinda mid Enjoyed a few songs

Truly seminal and great to remember how pioneering Siouxsie was. My younger self loved this. I felt a bit disconnected from it today but I appreciate how powerful it was.

I had a best of album of Siouxsie & the Banshees on vinyl long ago, and a couple of tunes from that are here. Really like those tracks, and I'm a fan, but this didn't rise above a 3-star for me as a whole.

This really grew on me as I mad my way through the album. Great Beatles cover!

Not my cup of tea, but I did kind of enjoy it

I see where the Yeah Yeah yeahs drew their influence.

Definitely some good tunes and a worthy entry for post punk, but there's also a lot of extended riff and wailing

Cheerful

Decent

Influential yes, pretty boring yes

pure - 4,5/5⭐️ jigsaw feeling - 2/5⭐️ carcass - 2,5/5 ⭐️ overground - 3/5 ⭐️ metal postcard - 4/5⭐️ nicotine stain - 3,5/5 ⭐️ helter skelter - 4/5 ⭐️ mirage - 4/5 ⭐️ suburban relapse - 4/5 ⭐️ switch - 3,5/5 ⭐️ hong kong garden - 2,5/5 ⭐️ the staircase - 4,5/5 ⭐️ overall: 3,5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

It was OK.

Excellent stuff, maybe a bit same-y same-y throughout but all the songs are strong.

Best Song: Helter Skelter. A good cover of an already great song. Worst Song: Nicotine Stain. The lilting wasn't particularly working for me. Overall: Everything has that kind of dull, 70s-rock feel to it. The vocals are great, but they sometimes have a vocal phrasing that reminded me of the B-52s in a bad way. I'm sure it was fun at the time, but not really that interesting to me now.

It was good. It was uh, what the tin said. I got spooked by the first track “Pure” at 3am alone in my apartment. “Carcass” and “Helter Skelter” I liked the best. Definitely felt like prototypical punk.

First time I ever heard Siouxsie And The Banshees was on the Batman Returns sdtk. Lol. Anyway, this album is fine. It may not deserve 3 stars but it gets 3 because Siouxsie Sioux will always be cool as hell.

Ihan jees post-punk! Aika samanlainen laulusoundi ku seksihullujen Sirpalla. 3/5

Olin kuvauksen perusteella innoissani mut ei sytyttänyt. 3/5

In a very similar vein to Juju (reviewed earlier), Scream has some absolute crackers on it (Jigsaw Feeling, Metal Postcard) and some tracks that drag on a little too long (Carcass, Switch). For mid-punk’ the playing and production is better than I expected and Siouxsie’s voice is unique. I’m torn between a 3 and a 4. If I’m honest then I’d like a playlist of the best of both albums. So probably a 3 then.

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🤽🤽‍♂️🤽‍♀️ Production: 🥁💩🤷 Music: 👻🌪️📣 Rating: 💧💧💧/5

I was surprised to find Siouxsie come up so soon again on this project but listening to a tight, atmospheric 45mins of her is, weirdly, not a hardship for me. I wasn’t as engaged with this album as I was with Juju, but it was still a fairly good listen.

I seem to be building up quite the list of albums I'd love if you replaced the lead singer whilst also recognising the lead singer is kinda the point of the album. And the vocals really aren't *too* far away from artists I do like, like the B52s, but there's just something about the rhythm of the delivery that I find irritating over a full album. The music, however, I really enjoyed (especially all the tom tom percussion) so that leaves marking this quite tricky. I'm going for a 3 because the music is probably a 4 and the vocals a 2. 3/5

Ran through this and felt just ok about it, but after reading through some of the global reviews it seems like this was pretty influential in the British post-punk space. For that and considering the time period it was made, I'll bump it into the 3 tier.

Pure is a weird album opener. Just sort of atmospheric mood setting -- makes for a mildly ominous and curious prelude. On the first proper track, Jigsaw Feeling, this takes on a distinctly post-punk wall of sound sort of tone. For what it is, I enjoy it. I rather like this messy take on Helter Skelter. Metal Postcard reminds me of another song, but I can't put my finger on it. The Staircase sounds vaguely like a Rush song circa Passage to Bangkok. This one was fine enough, but sort of forgettable imo. Doubt I'll be back any time soon, but I did enjoy the listen this morning. Solid 3.

I really love some of the hecticness of this album. Suburban Relapse is a standout, but the rest is a mixture of meh songs and some interesting instrumentation. Meh 3.

Its not exactly my taste but the helter skelter cover and hong kong garden are pretty good songs

Second album du groupe proposé par le générateur après 'Juju' qui m’avait fait découvrir le groupe et que j'avais beaucoup apprécié (noté 4/5). Ce second album est un avant goût de ce que sera Juju, mais n’est pas encore au niveau. Quelques morceaux sont très réussis et laissent présager ce que deviendra le groupe, mais il manque un petit quelque chose. Je l’écouterai probablement de nouveau, mais il ne rejoindra pas ma collection. =>3.5/5

2.5/5

Pretty good

wtf is this cover art. Anyway this was alright, didn’t like the vocalist tho

I think I wanted to enjoy this more than I actually did. May try and listen to another few tracks to see if I missed something. Generally enjoy the Siouxsie stuff I know. Overall, still dig the vibes, especially approaching the best holiday that exists; HALLOWEEN!!

Fun girl punk

My brother met her when she first appeared. Fan love. Decent album.

Decent

This album had some alright moments - not necessarily my thing. I would give it a 3.5, however (if possible).

I really wanted to love this record, just because of the great elements that were at play throughout. There was a fun guitar sound, which blended Beatlemania and early grunge masterfully. There was a commanding vocal performance from Siouxsie Sioux, which blended Robert Plant with Ann Wilson - and even elements of contemporary artists like 070 Shake. There was some classic punk-style instrumentation and songwriting, with really cool licks and riffs throughout. And yet, something was missing to me. The drumming was kind of plain, the music verged on just noise at times (perhaps an intentional stylistic choice, but one which I struggle to call enjoyable), and there was a general unfinished quality to a lot of the songs that just felt as though they were unready for release in their present state. I have a hard time with wanting to judge these records by the standards of modern production, and especially to judge them by the standards of their descendants. This is unfair, to some degree - "The Scream" is clearly a foundational record with so much importance to the modern sound of punk, post-punk, noise metal, and other alternative genres. And yet, I can't help but yearn for the slicker stuff, the better songwriting, and the more complete thoughts formed by bands that walk in Siouxsie and the Banshees' footsteps. Regardless, however, I can recognize and respect the album's historical import. I just find myself unwilling to return to many of the songs here. I enjoyed my time with "The Scream," but I couldn't help but want something more all the same.

I think this album needs a remaster or something. I listened to it 4 times and never fully heard it, i just forgot that it was on. Also i really wanted to like it, but it just wasn't that good or unique with an exception of Hong Kong Garden. Hong Kong Garden was lit 🔥

3.2 2x grew on me

Scream at those Banshees cause you are hearing some bliss.

I love the thundering drums and unique vocals on this album Highlights: - Carcass - Jigsaw Feeling - Nicotine Stain

I think I heard Hong Kong Garden but didn't know the rest. I can see a throughline from this album to more recent stuff that I like, e.g. Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It's a similar energy, but doesn't have the same level of melodies/hooks. Most of the tracks are fine, with only some exceptions (e.g. Helter Skelter).

Good album, enjoyed it

Through this challenge I've already listened to Juju and that was a masterpiece. This one can't be compared. The signs of what was to come later were definitely hear, but unfortunately The Scream is a little boring with generic post-punk songs that blend with one another. The Switch is a kick-ass song! 3/5

Este album me ha gustado pero me lo esperaba mejor. Esto se debe a que leí que la fecha de lanzamiento de este album era de "1987" en vez de "1978". Entonces iba con la idea de que sería un album más maduro y trabajado de esta banda y al final resultó ser su álbum debut. Independientemente de esto, me ha gustado. Me gusta el Post-Punk, y me gusta el sonido más guitarrero de Siouxsie and The Banshees. Me quedo con las canciones "Mirage" y " Honk Kong Garden" como las que más me gustaron. Good shit 👍

Can definitely hear the influence of this album on 80s punk and on. Slow paced and methodical. Listened to this twice. Great use of reverb and unique drum patterns

Some flashes of what was to come but largely underwhelming

Not really what I’m used to or the right soundtrack go the day but interesting nonetheless!

The first one I've got as a recommendation to listen to. As a new listener, I'm still finding it hard accepting ANY music just like it is and not being critical to it through my personal feelings. And, speaking of this album, I found the singer's voice too high and too unpleasant to hear. So, the first thought that crossed my mind was: — If you don't like the singing, just listen to the instrumental behind it. Nice thing. But still not for me.

Gutes Post-Punk album. Gesang ist etwas leise abgemischt aber passt zum rohen Sound. Leider gibt es nicht viel Abwechslung sodass es gerade in der Mitte ein riesiger Brei ist. 3/5

3/5

Didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. Definitely ahead of its time and highly influential.

This review of albums keeps doing the same thing over and over in my opinion. It tries so hard to make a point that sometimes it misses the best music a band has put out. S&tB we’re still figuring things out in this album. It has great energy and still feels like punk, not post-punk. They moved on from here to get better and better. I love Siouxsie’s vocals, but not on this album. There’s so much better work to come for them. I’m giving one of my favorites a 3, because this is in last place in my listening pleasure out of all their work. Quit trying so hard to “teach” us something and put great albums on the list!

I liked Juju more but this was pretty good. A tad raw but and a little uneven but a decent listen.

A unique sound, can get too much sometimes :p VERY british punk, definitely listen to again at some point without doing something different during it lmao

ok. liked the second half better 3.5

2.5/5

Favorites: Jigsaw Feeling, Overground, Switch The debut of the one of the coolest bands of all time. I'm serious, I think this band's vibe itself is so fucking cool. It's reflected a bit in their debut record, but I found that this album lacks a lot of the punch that their 80s output would prove to have. Still worth checking out, but as a whole... Not for me.

I knew their cover of Dear Prudence but didn’t know they covered Helter Skelter too - were they working through The White Album? That was one of the tracks that stood out - a lot of the others ran together.

Little more punk than I expected didn’t do a whole lot for me. I gotta assume they were inspirational to some gonna guess Florence and the machine and the yeah yeah yeahs off the top of my head. Also assuming there is some longevity with them but nothing I’d give a second listen to.

Highly influential to one of my favorite genres, and I can see why. However, I feel it doesn’t hold up as well as some others. Feels very dated and less timeless in 2025. Enjoyed it, but not one that will stick with me for the long haul.

Veers between punk and post punk. I like the sound but at times this album feels bare - like a band still coming to terms with themselves. Mirage and switch are lovely, the best elements are definitely where they lean into the reverb MBV style.

Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Juju or this is too punk and not enough post punk for me because of the timing, great debut though, a high 3

Blind album, know the artist from other albums on the project. Another good listen to try new stuff just not for me.

394/1001

2,7/5

It’s hard to rate genres that aren’t my usual because I don’t think I’ll ever listen to this again, but I didn’t have a bad time listening to it.

So three stars for me means I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either. I started out not caring for this album, but as it went on, it started to grow on me. Gives me Pixies vibes, a band I love. I think I would be a hippopotacrite if I hated on this and then went and listened to "Doolittle."

I enjoyed this. I hadn’t really specifically listened to them intentionally in the past.

Falls into fine territory because it is fine.

Man...I liked this album but the first 2 songs did nothing for me. And still I think this album/band is like nothing else I actually really like. I have most of their stuff (MP3s) yet I don't think I've listened to most of them. Something grating or rhythmically to weird. I'm perplexed so 3 stars it is....

First half is a bit rough but I like the 2nd half a lot more. This band is kinda sick like they literally influenced every alt band under the sun. And in every song you can hear all the bits and pieces that were eventually taken to build the sound of bands like the cure Cocteau twins MBV it's kinda sick. But it does feel like those groups developed that sound a bit better so on retrospect this album doesn't feel as groundbreaking but it's still a cool listen imo. Fav: switch

Pretty good. Some vocals are grating. Very cutting edge for 1978

Absolutt lyttbart, men har ikkje savna da dei siste årene siden sist eg hørte da heller

Dark yet spunky post punk rock thats not afraid to try and please the establishment with a kickass cover of "Helter Skelter"...

I think the album wasn't a very big hit for me. I think it felt bland and rather slow yet once some of the songs warmed up the guitars sounded pretty good. I think this group could be very good but this album wasn't a seller.

Punk, good

Pretty good. Not really my style. But the musicianship is excellent and there are some very good songs. 3.5 stars

I liked the general sound but there were no hooks for me.

This one was a ripper! Tons of attitude, sweet riffs, what more could you want?

Read up on this one and was excited. After listening to it twice through, I did like it but didn't love it. Little disappointed. 3.25/5

Don't have anything negative to say but I also don't think id listen to this much.

This was alright. I feel like it had a lot of potential - the way a lot of the songs started had me excited, but they all ended up sounding like the same basic ass post punk stuff. Looking forward to their other album on this list

Overall it’s a good album. I don’t like the vocal style. It feels too monotonic for me.

This was a decent album especially when it comes to early Post Punk. It was much darker than I expected. I’ve only listened to Siouxsie and the Banchees when they pop up on playlist and compilations, and to be honest I really wasn’t too impressed so that’s why I never checked out any of their albums. But over all it a 3.5 in my book. Better than a 3 but falls short of being a 4.

I can certainly see why this album is on the list. Feels like a decisive step in using rock instrumentals as an atmospheric tool, rather than showing casing individual talent. The intro track was incredible at establishing the tone. Even though I can appreciate the innovation, it quickly became musically monotone. The “whooping” vocals felt very unsatisfying and borderline obnoxious. By the end of the album, I felt relieved it was over.

Influential. Not totally worth returning to.

The debut album from Siouxsie and the Banshees is undoubtedly significant. It was a major influence on Joy Division and what would become early goth music, particularly the stripped down and bleak performances. Impressive as it is, it doesn't quite click with me the way their later work does. "Juju" is an incredible album, but "Scream" definitely laid important groundwork to make it possible.

The sound of this album was beautifully executed -- the punk/rock/gothic sound echoed throughout. Looking up pictures of the band solidifies their commitment to the aesthetic and movement. Knowing that this album was influential as it was does not surprise me in the slightest. That being said, this album didn't stand out to me. I enjoyed my listen very much, but there wasn't any song that I LOVED, thus, my rating of 3/5.

They're Dying To Switch 1001 Albums Generator 41 (05/29/2025) Siouxsie And The Banshees were a legendary, highly influential post-punk band that came onto the scene extremely early. Their tentacles of influence stretch far, from more contemporary artists like Joy Division and The Cure to even later artists like Slint, with their angular guitar work. The Scream is their debut album and features dark, gothic vibes paired with unmistakably punk rock energy. I had never listened to this band before, although I was aware of them and I know that their most popular album is Juju, from slightly later in their career. Going into The Scream, I didn't have much in the way of expectations, since Joy Division isn't really my thing and I know Siouxsie was inspirational for them. The first half of the album is by far my favorite. After the strange, almost ambient intro of Pure, we get perhaps the best song on the album, Jigsaw Feeling. This is high octane, artsy punk that is an encapsulation of the sound of the album. From the angular guitars to the industrial edge on the drum sound, this song features the best elements of Siouxsie And The Banshees. From here, we get Overground, which occupies a special place in my heart for having the 5/4 clave rhythm in a context that is just beautiful and unique. They took the most common odd meter rhythm and engrained it into a post punk timbre that rocks and sounds way ahead of its time. The closing track, Switch, is the longest song and features many different parts. The guitar arpeggios that open the song are interesting and the song builds from there with some parts of the song even reminding me of new wave. The song eventually cuts to this psychedelic delayed guitar playing these strange chords with no obvious tonal center. It's really weird and certainly earns its 7 minute run time. Doing a Beatles cover is always a brave move since chances are there are probably already a million covers of the song out there. With that said, Siouxsie And The Banshees' cover of Helter Skelter manages to maintain the energy of the original but channels it in a completely different, cursed way. My favorite moment is in the chorus when Siouxsie sings the famous guitar riff after the titular line. However, her signature yelping can come to be a bit much, such as in Meal Postcard, which has some really annoying vocals in the end. The following track, Nicotine Stain, has some cool guitar parts and even a solo, but her vocals sound out of key at a few points, which just really takes me out of the song. I also, just as a matter of personal preference, find the sound of The Scream to be a bit repetitive for my tastes. This flavor of post punk nearly always fails to stand out to me, but this is just my preference. The Scream is not a bad album. It features some great songs and I can hear all of the influences on bands that I love. It's incredible that this album came out in 1978 and it features such an original sound for the time. However, the vocals and songwriting aren't as strong as I would like. 3.5/5 rounded down to 3. Favs: Jigsaw Feeling Overground Switch Least Fav: Nicotine Stain

Wasn’t bad. Wasn’t great. The voice annoyed me after a bit. Really didn’t care for their take on “Helter Skelter”

Hører Espen Omdal

I've heard better stuff from Siouxsie pretty solid though

Solid debut effort. Classic punk vibes.

A lot of varied tunes. No real flow

I really like the music. Odd structures, great, driving bass, sharp guitar lines. Post-punk avant la lettre. The voice is what sometimes becomes too much for me, the theatricality doesn't always work for me.

Liked this a lot. Honestly, the Helter Skelter cover was among my favorite tracks.

Solid vocals, nice lyrics.

This is a good post punk record. Better than many unjustified choices on this list.

Accidentally listened to this on shuffle, but I don’t think it affects my opinion of the album too much. I like this sound, but the whole album is too alike. There’s minimal changes in pace and tone, and I’m just not sure there’s enough happening here to call it a great album. It’s good, but not as a whole.

Didn't get to listen to the whole album but what I did was good

банши инишерина

This list sure does make post-punk seem like the most important genre on the planet even though it really isn't, doesn't it? Siouxsie and the Banshees are definitely an important and iconic enough band to be included on this list for sure. But we already have Juju on the list. Adding the band's debut album, The Scream, feels kind of redundant. There's not much that The Scream does that other albums on this list don't already do. Obviously, Juju does the stuff this album does but better seeing as that is generally considered to be the band's best album. But even outside of Siouxsie, there's not much this album does that you can't also find on something from a band like Sonic Youth, Joy Division, or the Cure. Admittedly, this is one of the earlier albums in the genre, so it does help establish things that became common place in the genre. But I still think this album is just pretty good and that's it. This is obviously not a bad album. The instrumentation has a solid vibe. Siouxsie's vocals are interesting in a good way. The writing is kind of vague. The songs are good. There's an interesting Beatles cover in here. The Scream is a good first showing, but I wouldn't really call this an essential listen. It's still good though. High 3/5.

I liked this more than I thought I would - not what I would usually listen to but would listen to again

What a fine debut for Siouxsie and the Banshees, a full formed sound and edgy guitar work with decent beats and rhythms. I may have overlooked this album, since I'm not too fond of the band and though I don't love her voice, it's powerful and appropriate for this style of music.. The music itself doesn't thrill me either, but it was better than I was expecting and it is a rather important release and influential for alternative music in the 80's.

Decent British Rock by a group of talented women. Favorite Track: "Helter Skelter".

Nothing remarkable, tbh.

cool cover of helter skelter

Some duds but overall very enjoyable and some true bangers on there. Kinda Jefferson Airplane meets Sinead O’connor meets early punk vibes.

Solid moody rock. A bit same-y. I feel like this could have really imprinted into my mind if I’d encountered it when I was younger, but for now it’s just a solid three-star album.

Was not into the monotone off key vocals today....Sorry Siouxsie...

I don’t love punk rock, but this was alright.

So I wasnt familiar with Sioxsie and The Banshees outside of one song I had saved to my phone (“Monitor” off Juju). But I always thought that song was super ahead of its time. And that applies to their debut album as it turns out as well. It’s not a no skip album, in fact a lot of the songs sonically sound very similar to each other. But the songs on this album that do stand out feel like they could’ve been written last year. They legitimately sound like modern alt-rock, which is wildly impressive. I feel like this is an incredible debut album but not a perfect album. This album is a great jumping off point though cause now I want to go listen to their other albums in full. Definitely check this band and album out totally worth your time.

OK but a bit disappointing

Siouxsie and the Banshees are essential, just not this album. Yes, this is the record that cemented their place in post-punk history, and it is a very consistent, yet distinct collection of songs, but their songwriting hasn't yet progressed where they're writing the ear-worms that would elevate them beyond just another post-punk band. Solid debut, but they can and do get better.

The band that reminds me I'm not as alt as I'd like to be.

Grew on me - or rather I grew into it - as it went on, sort of, but still never grabbed me in any meaningful way.

Perfectly fine post-punk. Well made and pleasant to listen to. Siouxsie and the Banshees never really clicked for me for some reason, even though it should be right up my alley. I liked listening to it but I can't really recall any moments from the album.

Iconic and undoubtedly interesting, but I did struggle a bit with eating a whole one. There’s some great tracks on here though; Hong Kong Garden on its own would undoubtedly be a 5.

Interesante debut, pero no llegan a grandes

I have tried this band a few times and while I kind of like them it hasn't grabbed me. Ib did mostly enjoy this though and I get the influence on other music I really like.

The debut album by Siouxsie And The Banshees, "The Scream," is a pioneering example of the post-punk movement that paved the way for the emergence of new wave and alternative music from the British music scene in the late 70s and early 80s. Laced with poetically twisted lyrics, set against a backdrop heavy guitar sounds, thumping drums, and even the occasional saxophone, the album conveys an apocalyptic atmosphere. Their rendition of "Helter Skelter" is somewhat insane, likely the point, while tracks like "Jigsaw Feeling" and "Carcass" stand out as some of the album's highlights. This is another example of an album that has a lot of disjointed sonic complexities, which likely does not make it accessible to a broader audience. Nonetheless, I can appreciate the raw artistic ambition of this album.

I liked this more than I expected to. But why is British post-punk so full of spooky vampire music?

szerintem nem olyan jó mint a másik album ami volt már, de lehet hogy hallgatom még

Solid Standout songs: Suburban Relapse Overground Metal Postcard

one of the best intros I've heard in a while but was sorta disappointed in the rest :/

Nothing too special. I liked the singing and vocal harmonies, as well as the pulse and groove of the band. Favorite Track: Helter Skelter

Both hugely influential whilst simultaneously passing me right by. 17yr old me listened to this a lot more than boring current me does.

I just did not vibe with this style of singing. There were times I’d be reading along with the lyrics and be like oh I almost like this stuff and then the way it’s sung just kind of ruined it for me. But also I think whether you like someone’s voice/how they sing is really just taste so it doesn’t lose it a ton of points for me it just isn’t something I’ll choose to go back to.

I just cannot stand this style of vocals. Like in all truthfulness this is not the worst thing I’ve ever heard and in fact many parts of it are quite good, just that darn voice has to pierce through the entire frickin album.

Enjoyed this

Lots of screaming alright. Not all bad.

I prefer Kaleidoscope and Juju, but this is still a cool debut album! 3.5

3.4

I dont mind this music, this has some good tunes that raise it above just punk for punks sake. Im not a fan of her voice but its the better end of this particular spectrum

Pretty good. Nice darkness to the sound. Nothing too memorable on here though.

I really liked 'Pure', 'Overground' and the closing track, 'Switch', but the rest of it kind of bled together for me. I could really hear the future direction of the genre in their music, though. They definitely influenced many bands that followed them. 3 stars

Mysterious, sporadic, and weird. It just doesn't feel like it's going anywhere half of the time. There are tracks on here that are really fun and interesting, like Jigsaw Feeling/Carcass/Nicotine Stain, but it makes the rest feel like bloat. I really appreciate the post-punk vibe on a lot of these, I've just known the genre to be done so much better that this falls short. 7/10

It’s OK

Not their best

Solid. I can see why and how this would mean a ton to certain people. Just didn’t do it for me on a deeper level. But there’s nothing wrong with it!

Very cool! A band I’m surprised I’ve never gotten into before because they align so closely with a lot of those I love so I’ll be checking out more of their albums now for sure. Favourite tracks were Overground, Carcass and the extra fun little Hong Kong Garden. (3.5 stars)

Solid proto-post-punk. More important than many records of that era

God dammit, I went into this album super excited, and when "Jigsaw Feeling" finished I was so hyped. Then the rest of the album is just....a bit underwhelming :/

3.5/5

Generally a good album but it didn’t jump out at me in any way

Not as terrible as some other Post-Punk albums; I even liked a couple of the tracks

This was alright but I can't see myself listening to it again.

Reminded me a little of jefferson airplane’s white rabbit. Not my vibe but some good beats

Good album. Really like the songs. Not for my playlist tho

🤘

I find the singing style annoying and the music is really uninspiring (and the Helter Skelter cover is just cringe) but somehow these elements work better together than they have any right to. It helps that that particular band was one of MTV's darlings when that station still was focusing on music, and so I might have become a little numb. I wouldn't come back to this, but I can bear it better than I would have expected. 2.5/5

Great female led punk. Loved the helter skelter cover

I liked it but it did feel a bit repetitive.

Cool! Det er noget rigtig larm, føles som om det er en inspiration for en del af 80er-støjrockscenen

Crazy energy. Would love to attend a show with them in 78!

Rough around the edges, but has a very cool, dark sound

This was a solid album, and I generally give some benefit to debuts in their time. What may have been groundbreaking in the 70s may not be super exciting today almost 50 years later. Not a lot of high or low points on the album for me so that makes it one of the most solid 3s I've had in a while. I see the Switch song has the most plays, so I'm not sure if that was the single or maybe in a movie or something,but I liked the mystery of The Staircase more. I'm not sure if they have gone more into that somewhat spooky style but I'd be into a full concept album like that with some more theatrics. Favorite track "The Staircase" 3/5

3.5

Was ok, but wouldn't go back to it. Liked Helter Skelter the most

Siouxsie Sioux has a great voice and delivery, but this album does become a bit samey as it goes on. It’s not bad, but it’s not as good as some of their later stuff such as ‘Juju’.

Not really my thing. This is the side of new wave I don’t really jive with.

Not terrible. Some of the songs were fun!

I appreciate that this was from 1978

Only knew Hong Long Garden before listening to this and enjoyed the rest…

This band is more of a presence than a band. I don't really like most of the songs but it was still a valuable listen.

I liked the lively tracks more than the more somber ones but hey, it's the scream. Can't be all sunshine and rainbows, can it.

Slow rock/psych

Sounds angry, kinda samey throughout, at least its consistent. Carcass caught my ear pretty well though. Not bad, maybe no repeat listens though.

Ενδιαφερουσα παραγωγη και αρκετα influential αλμπουμ της post punk σκηνης. Παρ'ολ'αυτα δεν θα μπορουσα να ακουσα μουσικη με τα vocals του αλμπουμ. Απλα δεν ειναι για μενα. Παντως σαν δισκος επαγεται στην ποιοτικη πλευρα της μουσικης. Rating: B+

Quite innovative arrangement with the trebly-guitar and tom-tom driven beats. As punk singers are want to, the vocals are a bit shout-y and lacks dynamic range, which gets a bit much at times.

It seems like I hear more about Siouxsie and The Banshees more than I have ever heard there work. It is raw, edgy, provocative, etc., but gets lost in the transition from Post Punk/New Wave to alternative. I kind of like what's going on here, but I have trouble reconciling the raves.

I really like the guitar work on this album. I also do like an album that is innovative and pushes music forward, as the drumming does for this album. Musically, it's fine. I don't think it's particularly special other than what I said above. Contextually, it's an important album, and I'm guessing a lot of albums today can trace influences back to this one. With that in mind, it's good, but still not really great. Favorite Song(s): Helter Skelter, Hong Kong Garden

Was alright, not as good as the previous album

You can't overstate the influence SATB had on the music world. This is a pretty radical album for '78 but they got so much better. So much more dynamic. So much more themselves. Unless there are at least 2 other Siouxsie albums on the list not sure why you would include this. It's a moment in time but their best song of this era - Hong Kong Garden - isn't even on the album.

The music is very good but I get what some people say about the singing but that’s just Sioxsie! An excellent debut album to be fair.

nice listen instrumental wise but overall kinda boring and vocals get annoying after a while 3/5

I like, but not love. Voice not my favourite.

this had some okay songs overall, didn’t blow me away though

I like the the latter stuff better but still a fun listen from time to time

Das Debütalbum der britischen Rockband erschien im November 1978 und gilt als ein wegweisendes Werk des Post-Punk, dass zwar einige beeindruckende Momente bietet, aber nicht überdurchschnittlich ist. Positiv ist der Innovativer Sound durch seine experimentelle Herangehensweise. Einflussreiche Songs wie “Jigsaw Feeling” und “Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)” zeigen die Fähigkeit der Band, düstere und eindringliche Atmosphären zu schaffen. Leider ist es auch über längere Phasen zu viel des Guten an Experimenten. Hier hätte dem Album sicher ein Hauch von Wave gutgetan.

Great early goth with great range of aesthetic approaches.

Love Hung King garden

If Edvard Munch had a Spotify account, this would be his top-played album.

fínt. þarf aðra. 3,5.

It was OK, but I was expecting more I think. They were a band I had overlooked, and thought this might be a revelation, but didn't really do that much for me.

Meah

Don't think I'd revisit but it was perfectly fine

I give them credit for being pioneers but nothing too catchy for a punk album.

I mean it's ok

13/10/24 An average listen.

I feel I should like this more than I do.

Punky

A couple of classics I love anchor the back half of this album. I didnt find the front half to be as engaging, maybe too harshly mixed? Solid album though. 3.5

I like the style but this particular album does not strike me as one of their best

While this doesn't sound super terrible, it wasn't the best either.

Interresting. To die for ????

This is actually a little disappointing. I was expecting to like it much more than I did. Just seems to miss the mark a little bit - not quite as certain as their later stuff, but for sure it's an opening salvo.

Not as good as X, but struck me similarly.

About time we got some proper goth representation up in here.

Middle of the road punk music. Helter Skelter was sick tho

Their later stuff is better but you can hear what's to come here and it's promising.

Decent, of its time, not my favourite signing

Pretty good. Some I loved and some I found annoying. Her voice is amazing though I absolutely love it

We hebben al heel vaak iets onder de noemer post-punk moeten aanhoren en het wisselde van slecht tot heel slecht. Ik moet zeggen dat hier nog wel aardig een lijn in zit, en er is nog wel iets van punk in te horen. Het zijn vaak 3 of 4 akkoorden zonder al te veel poespas, rechttoe rechtaan. Er is wel degelijk melodie in te herkennen. De zangeres is zeurschreeuwerig en soort van expres vals, maar het past wel bij de quasi Velvet Underground meets the Stooges waar ze zelf waarschijnlijk inspiratie uit haalden. Het is blijkbaar van grote invloed geweest op bands, die wel goed waren in muziek maken. Een grondlegger. En we weten allemaal wat we hier doorgaans van grondleggers vinden. Op de schaal van slecht tot heel slecht, zit dit aan de slechte kant van het spectrum. Maar meer ook niet. Een 2,5

I liked the later half of this album. Switch and Staircase were my fave

I was conflicted when this album came up. On one hand, I really do like Siouxsie and the Banshees, but on the other hand, knowing that this was their first album had me contemplating if their debut really was a must listen. At this stage, Siouxsie and the Banshees are definitely more punk and post-punk and haven't leaned as much into their goth sound yet. Siouxsie has an unmistakable voice either way, but it's just better paired with their goth era. They were never exactly a band that preferred a "polished" sound, but they eventually got more melodic, something that this album lacks. An okay album that will get a good rating from me, but again, I already like Siouxsie and the Banshees. I don't think this is all that great of an inclusion on this project, and if this was my first exposure to Siouxsie, I wouldn't probably be giving it as good of a rating.

A bit disjointed, but I can see the appeal.

Good band but not my thing.

This album is apparently their debut album. It has Helter Skelter on it..... That Beatles song Charles Manson thought had hidden prophesies in it .... So that's creepy as fuck. This version is dark as hell. I'm not a huge Siouxsie fan, but this album isn't bad. It isn't great, but I can see how it was a turning point in post punk/goth rock which influenced a shit ton of bands to follow. This one is better than the other one I had (Juju). Favourite songs: Carcass, Metal Postcard (Mittageisen), Nicotine Stain Least favourite songs: Pure (just random moaning) 3/5

I didn't enjoy this as much as I expected. It has a great punk vibe, Siouxsie brings the energy and the attitude, and I can hear the influence on Bat for Lashes, PJ Harvey, Sleater-Kinney et al. But something about the actual song selection left me cold? I don't know. I hated the Helter Skelter cover, everything else was fine but lacking anything truly memorable on first listen.

Scream it all out, Siouxsie! Just scream it all out.

I've heard of this band, but I didn't know they started this early. Second album in a row I'll compare unfavorably to The Slits album, though it's perfectly OK girl punk. I listened to the 12-track version with Hong Kong Garden which gave the album a bit more variety. Favorite track: Nicotine Stain

I wasn’t expecting to hear a connection between Siouxsie and the Banshees and The B-52s but they have a similar exuberance in their performances, particularly in the vocals. (And anyway, B-52s are more punk than people give them credit for.) I liked when this album had that bouncy, get up and move energy. The vocals were the main draw for me. I don’t think I’m gonna become a big fan anytime soon but I see the appeal and I enjoyed this.

Want sure I liked it, but I couldn't stop listening either. Pretty alright.

I think I like the music that this inspired better than this actual music. Love to see a deranged woman (said affectionately) screeching into a mic and just going nuts but it wasn't actually that pleasant to listen to. Alas! The Helter Skelter cover was pretty cool, though.

oof... another album that i understand the importance and impact of, but just really isn't what i want to spend my time listening to. the tracks here are moody and evocative, but just don't have a hook to really pull you in beyond that. anything interesting kind of just gets muddled into a brooding and repetitive whole. i will say the ending of metal postcard was fun. i liked the part where siouxsie yipped like a dog. also hong kong garden is definitely the standout track here, but it reeeeally hasn't aged well. the helter skelter cover is interesting, but not a must-hear. favorites: jigsaw feeling, helter skelter, hong kong garden

Sometimes maybe good. Sometimes maybe shit.

I get why this album is important and you can clearly hear other bands who were influenced by them so kudos to them. I now wanna put on eye liner and punk out but it’s also not great to me. Helter skelter really is a jam though wow

could i write poetry to this? y

What a way to start a band's discography. Really gloomy, with dark subject and outstanding performance. Although I'm not a fan of post-punk genre, I can see the glimpse of Joy Division and others here. Great opening and ending, it's definition of rage on terms of using guitar (maybe Greenwood took an inspiration from it) and vocal which transforms into a special effect (like 'metal! Metal! METAL'). The middle is sagging, though, and, again, not my genre. It's great anyway.

Punky

I hear they're popular. I think a 3 for me. Not a bad album but olivia rodrigo came on after, and it was so much more my thing, though I'm sure she owes such a debt to Souxie.

🎧Pretty neutral on this. Nicotine Stain and Hong Kong Garden are cool

This is an album that is focused on sonic exploration and I like that about it. Definitely striking, but I personally wasn't grabbed by it in the way I thought I would. I'm led to believe Siouxsie would go on to release stronger material but not as shocking as this. Maybe I need to give Scream some more time.

I really miss John McGeoch’s sublime guitar in this debut record. It’s the thing that made Siouxsie And the Banshees truly shine on their masterpiece, Juju. The Scream is just fine - and that’s not quite enough coming from such an influential group.

Yeah she sure screamed

Good debut, but they would do so much better in the future.

A great starter for Siouxsie and the Banshees and the best was only yet to come. Love that band.

Its not something i listen to for the sake of it. I like this list giving me albums i wouldnt listen to or never would have discovered. Im not a big goth fan or post punk or punk at all, its something i never listen to. While this is a very influential album that apparently influenced Sonic Youth which is one of my favorite bands that also influenced some of my other favorite bands, I feel neutral about this. I dont like it, but I dont dislike it either?

I just imagine a bunch of hippies singing these, not bad just funny. 2.7

Love to listen to an album that pioneered a particular sound. Very solid album.

Favorite Track: Jigsaw Feeling

Jagged, buzzing guitars. Punchy bass lines. Vocals somehow both droning and passionate. A dark brooding sonic template. Both noisy and airy/spacious. Certainly influential, a lot of this was key to the formula of post-punk and gothic rock moving forward. No doubt it’s a good record, but I question if it’s a great one. I enjoy it while I’m listening, but it’s not something i see myself coming back to much (with evidence: I’ve known of this band and been into post-punk for over a decade, but have only heard this album a few times). Perhaps it was more vital at the time, but now it feels like other bands have warped and molded this sound into other music that I prefer.

This was fine, but didn't have any standout tracks.

Early Siouxsie, raw and punkish

Given how revered and influential this band is (this is my first time listening to them) I was expecting more. I guess for late 70s it sounded amazing but definitely a formula that was iterated on by the numerous bands that were influenced them later. 3.5/5

Teori om detta band! Siouxsie Sioux är så cool att ingen märker att musiken inte är så spännande

Getting this immediately after Joy Division was interesting as I'm pretty sure it was a major influence on them and the two flow quite nicely into each other. Dark and angry but some great riffs and tunes and they really lean on quality basslines, which you can miss if you rush it.

Interesting

I'd never listened to Siouxsie and The Banshees until I reviewed Juju some time last year. I was completely blown away by Juju, so I had really high expectations going into this album. I thought The Scream was pretty good. I didn't enjoy it as much as I did Juju, but it was still enjoyable to listen to. The first three songs were a bit of a chore to get through for me, but I really loved "Carcass." The tone of the guitar and the driving rhythms were absolutely fantastic; this song had a really great punk feel to it, but it still had the S&TB sound. The band's cover of "Helter Skelter" was great too. The Beatles' version is not something I've listened to a lot, so I didn't enjoy it by comparison, but just on its own merits. The opening bass tones were perfect, and I really liked how the song took off from there, with a manic pace and booming drums. I really enjoyed the guitar on "Mirage" as well, and the haunting "Switch" was a great closing track. This album had some great guitar playing, and I love Siouxsie Sue's vocals. The biggest thing holding this album back for me is that a lot of the songs sound the same, and there are some stretches of the album where there's not a lot of variation. I can look past that if there's a better overall theme or atmosphere, but I felt like that was missing here. This album is an important moment in popular music, and it's incredibly influential, but there are other post-punk works that I'd gravitate towards first. I'd listen to this album again, but just because I've really grown to love this band.

2,5

Refreshing simple rock!

Totally get the influence on punk and post punk and golf, especially hearing strains of the Smiths, the Cult and others. But overall pretty ordinary. Her extraordinary voice is drowned out by the guitars, and I never heard a track that really kind of grabbed me, with no clear melodies or choruses.

Not bad. Kind of a early punk rock feel to it. 3/5

El primer disco de Siouxsie muy punk. Diferente del rock más refinado al que nos acostumbró con trabajos posteriores. No es malo, pero no me encantó.