Reviews (page 4 of 8)
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
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.
Didn't really stand out and I'm not into punk
It was OK.
painful listen until Hong Kong Garden
Excellent stuff, maybe a bit same-y same-y throughout but all the songs are strong.
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!
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.
Not my favorite by Siouxsie. A bit too raw with glimmers of greatness.
The Scream is a groundbreaking debut that defined post-punk’s darker edge. With jagged guitars, pounding rhythms, and Siouxsie’s commanding vocals, the album creates an atmosphere that’s both unsettling and hypnotic. Over forty years later, it still feels fresh, daring, and utterly essential.
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.
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.
Another one that’s not my thing.
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.
Avoid "Helter Skelter" at all costs. You'll be glad you did. Look, I like some of Siouxie's later works, but this debut album - perhaps save "Hong Kong Garden" is essentially screamy talking to bad music.
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.
2 songs in right now. One of the worst, most abrasive things I’ve ever listened to. I can’t believe there’s 40 more minutes of this. Who funded this? I’d rather watch the Charlie Kirk video than listen to this again. 1 star.
I liked this album less than I thought I would, being familiar with a handful of tracks from the band. I enjoyed the energy and the chaotic punk vibe, but not something I'll listen to frequently
It had some moments but i won’t be going back any time soon…I like the energy and the songs that are actual songs, but not the noisy bits…”Mirage” has traces of proto-Nirvana. This feels like one of those albums that’s “important” or influential but people don’t actually enjoy listening to it, and it feels like it influenced people to play out of tune Jazzmasters. The “Helter Skelter” cover was bad. Probably would have liked it more or found it interesting when it came out but now it’s been copied to death, not Siouxsie’s fault.
I usually like them I’m sorry but I was cooking while listening and cracked a rotten egg and my whole place smelled weird and this music was compounding the strangeness and I felt like I was in an ad for a punk horror movie and it was so weird and I’m so sorry Siouxsie
Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🤽🤽♂️🤽♀️ Production: 🥁💩🤷 Music: 👻🌪️📣 Rating: 💧💧💧/5
i was not super into this album upon first listen a few years ago, but nah i was wrong, this is great
I thought i might like this despite not particularly be drawn in by the stuff i’ve heard by Siouxsie and the Banshee’s in the past. I was wrong, i cant past the vocals and their version of Helter Skelter is an abomination. Hong Kong Garden is the best track but that’s not saying much
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
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.
shit poop
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.
Siouxsie is quite the tragadeigh Punk is bad. Water is wet. Cowboys suck.
Pretty brutal listen. Really all I can say about it
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
Really nice guitar tone. Especially on Carcass, Helter Skelter, and Mirage. Some songs vocally reminded me of Patti Smith and sleater- Kinney.
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
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.
Pretty good
wtf is this cover art. Anyway this was alright, didn’t like the vocalist tho
That was great. I've added album in my collection.
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
A lottttt of screeching
Further evidence that Motley Crue covers Helter Skelter best
3/5
My brother met her when she first appeared. Fan love. Decent album.
Decent
YES
5/5 for the banshees. 2/5 for Siouxsie Sioux singing like a banshee.
Early punk style, with Florence and the Machine's vocals. Was not a fan.
Debut album, late 70s. Post-punk. Edgy and rough, noisy at times. Great but not for me.
This album had some alright moments - not necessarily my thing. I would give it a 3.5, however (if possible).
Really not something I enjoy
Muy intenso. Creo que esa es la definición correcta de cómo se sintió. Visceral pero en un buen sentido. Se siente orgánico y genuino. Definitivamente va a mi lista de favoritos.
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.
This album is Pure. Like a Metal Postcard of a Hong Kong Garden.
I know that my dad will be disappointed in me, but this was a hard listen.
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 🔥
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.
9/10, these guys sure know how to do everything right haha
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.
3.2 2x grew on me
I'm still not inspired after my second offering from Siouxsie. It's okay and I can imagine of it's time it was groundbreaking. Probably doesn't help that it's not my go to sound anyway.
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
Gotta remember to give this one another try. I listened to about half and liked it, but ran out of time
70s ladies punk. Can't stand it honestly. Her voice is grating, the pace is grating. 0 stars
Excellent.
Good post-punk album and I learned that there's a difference between punk and post punk
Quite and interesting listening, it is a little experimental for my taste 2/5
Not my style
A great voice over good punk music
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).
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.
Good album, enjoyed it
5/5 - Atmospheric punk/post-punk - There is an elegance in the urgency. - Unrestrained at times but in total control - Groovy even through it's darker tones - You love to hear these banshees scream. An impressive debut.
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 👍
No Standouts - Really can't stand her voice
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
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
Not a huge fan. Don’t really gel with the style or her voice. Would be good as a live music at a pub I think
# 544 : The Scream by Siouxe And The Banshees The Scream – Post-Punk’s Polite Yawn Better than expected? Sure. Memorable? Not even slightly. The Scream is the kind of album that politely enters the room, makes no eye contact, and quietly leaves before dessert. It’s listenable, in the same way that beige wallpaper is lookable. For a genre known for its jagged edges and emotional intensity, this debut feels oddly tame—like post-punk with its shoes off and a cup of herbal tea. Nothing here offends, but nothing inspires either. It’s the musical equivalent of nodding along to a conversation you’re not really following. If this album taught me anything, it’s that maybe there aren’t 1,001 albums you must hear before you die. Some you can just wave at from a distance and move on with your life. Verdict: Meh with a capital “M.” File under “respectable but skippable.”
Decent
Some flashes of what was to come but largely underwhelming
Pretty good! 3.5/5
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.
Pretty alright. it had a theme troughout the entire album, trademarked with a lot of disharnonious guitar. Sadly none of the songs made it to my favorite playlist, and its not something i would normally listen to personally, even though it might have historic importance. That means i will be a bit harsh with my rating
Love itttt. Love that the debut album of the said group is great
Hard for me to move beyond those horrible vocals and that horrible remake of Helter Skelter…
Very good and so influential for so many bands/artists I love. Loses points bc Hong Kong garden aged like milk.
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
Such a great album that helped start the Goth sound of the Post-Punk era
Music is interesting, vocals are annoying. A lot of reviews are stating how obviously this album influenced other bands, but I have to admit I struggle to hear that.
3/5
Every song starts off like it’s gonna be so good and then the vocals come in with some of the weirdest writing ive heard in a minute with very weird timing and cadence. I really try to like this one.
Didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. Definitely ahead of its time and highly influential.
Not really good music at all honestly
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!
the name of the album speaks for itself. but I don't like noisy stuff
*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
Frauengeschrei
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
Good abrasive post punk I can hear how influential this was but for me I will probably not listen again
2.5/5
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.
Not horrible but I can never decide if they're being serious or not. Better in small amounts.
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.
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.
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.
Sioixsie not hitting the spot (yet) on her debut album.
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.
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
That song about the Chinese buffet was alright. Other than that, I like some of what the banshees did when they played with dissonance. As for Siouxsie, she ruined every song with her singing that sounds like a whale dying.
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.
2,7/5
Sounds flat footed and monotone no real excitement or buzz about it all.
I liked the earlier one better.
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.
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.
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."
okay girl go off…. Somewhere else because this is too chaotic for me. I can see a time and place for this to just rage and listen to this but I guess I wasn’t in that time and place.
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.
Yeah this album was not it for me - too messy (which I kinda get it’s the style) and nothing really flowed… great guitars tho
Whilst I can appreciate the significance of the album through the music that came out of this and the band being women. I’m not a fan of this post punk and it felt like it didn’t go anywhere. Not horrible just not my thing.
Niet helemaal mijn smaar. Andere albums van haar zijn beter
I want to like this way more than I do (bass-led rhythm? bongo percussion? sign me up!) but the vocals really kill it for me
I enjoyed this. I hadn’t really specifically listened to them intentionally in the past.
Never felt it got going.
♫ 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.
I thought I would give it a higher rating for nostalgia purposes, but some albums didn’t age well.
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....
This is #day322 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... when I was just getting into post-punk around 10 years ago, this was one of the first records I picked up, and that memory still lingers. I can't say it's my favorite album by the band, but I appreciate its impact, rawness, and minimalism. It's not quite goth yet (though the signs are pretty much on display), but it's already stepped beyond punk. The Scream transmits the detached and mechanical cool of coldwave, signifying post-punk in its infancy. Songs like "Jigsaw Feeling," "Metal Postcard," "Nicotine Stain," and "Hong Kong Garden" are what I love most about it. What a time that was for music. Can't wait to revisit more stepping stones from this era. This is a 5 out of 5 without a doubt. Looking forward to #day323.
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
Not my genre. I liked 2 songs. The rest was not my type of music and I won’t relisten.
Very raw. Very garage rock. Very bad though. Could've lived without listening to it
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
i'm a huge fan of their post-punky sound, but siouxsie's voice takes me out of it, somehow.
Nope.
Took some time for me to hit the rhythm. Very much in the being of the Slits and Patti Smith. Helter Skelter cover was a huge highlight for me. The whole thing was cool.
Pretty good. Some vocals are grating. Very cutting edge for 1978
p422. 1978. 2 stars. 70's Goth/punk template. Influential, but let down by too much filler and dreadful production - it sounds like it was recorded in a mud bath. And no-one needs 6+ minute tracks.
Good fun, and clearly influential to a lot of my favourite music.
We have Sonic Youth at home ahh
The pronunciation is as obnoxious as the music. Carcass had a promising introduction with the thick power chords, but then I heard her voice. No thanks.
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
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 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.
The Scream is raw and visceral. Haunting and soothing. Alien & oddly familiar. More punk than post punk even if it sounds nothing like what was happening in the punk scene just a couple years back in fact is sounds like nothing that had been released in the 20th century up to late 1978 when The Scream was released. It's loud, messy, frightening, beautiful, chaotic one minute & heavenly the next it ends way too fast and leaves your head spinning not certain of exactly what you heard but endlessly happy that you did. One of the most important debut albums of all time. It would influence almost as many bands as the Velvet Underground inspired a decade or so earlier. Scream for me Steve Lillywhite?
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.
A hall of fame entry in the "influential but not actually good" cannon to me. There wasn't a song in here that I connected with, but I'm glad that so many musicians had this as inspiration. Thanks for your work, will likely skip it if it comes on a mix in the future.
Punk, good
Not my thing
Just really not my thing.
Pretty good. Not really my style. But the musicianship is excellent and there are some very good songs. 3.5 stars
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
I liked the general sound but there were no hooks for me.
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
This one was a ripper! Tons of attitude, sweet riffs, what more could you want?
Another good Siouxsie and the Banshees record. I really need to listen to this group more.
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
Ya this was dope
Music historian Simon Goddard described the music on The Scream as a "claustrophobic abyss of angst and angularity". YEAH BUT THATS NOT GOOD IS IT????!!!!! I don’t want a claustrophobic abyss of angst and angularity. I want good music that sounds good and that I enjoy. Like for physical sensations, I want a warm relaxing bath, not to be kicked in the balls repeatedly by a Hells Angel wearing steel toed boots. Are post punk fans musical BDSM people? What are you doing to yourselves? And why are you also doing it to me?
Don't have anything negative to say but I also don't think id listen to this much.
3/10 - she’s just kind of annoying. Banshees is a valid band name bc of the wailing
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.
An enjoyable listen.
ok'ish
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.
Instrumentals are ok, but the voice is horrible
Унылые завывания женщины :(
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
Post-punk is so cool!
just a bit better than a 3 I think.
Gets quite annoying after a while
Very good
Carcass and Mirage keep this from getting one star. If we had decimals it would be a 1.6, so a very generous 2.
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.
I've heard better stuff from Siouxsie pretty solid though
Not for me. 1/5
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
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.
post punk, 1978 -> 2
freaky goth music. i approve
Liked this a lot. Honestly, the Helter Skelter cover was among my favorite tracks.
I really don’t get the appeal of a chic yelling random words. I tried to be supportive but this one is obnoxious.
1978. Female vocalist with a heavier rock yelling vibe. Pretty good kind of jam for doing construction/cleaning.
Solid vocals, nice lyrics.
This is a good post punk record. Better than many unjustified choices on this list.
Might have been their breakthrough album but to me it is the least relevant album in their discography. There are only four of their albums I would consider including on a list like this and those are KALEIDISCOPE and JUJU, which are on this list; and PEEPSHOW and SUPERSTITON, which are not on this list. The rest are mostly irrelevant.
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.
Siouxsie is amazing!
its ok. I liked helter skelter
Didn't get to listen to the whole album but what I did was good
банши инишерина
Love the idea, not something id listen to all the time, but good post-punk
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 a lot, though maybe not quite as much as Juju. Hong Kong Garden possibly the standout.
Influential but never imitated, because it’s impossible to imitate the way they naturally blend early punk with proto-post-punk and proto-goth. This is literally the byproduct of just being there and experimenting first. And it sounds as innovative and mind-melting as ever, even almost 50 years later. When even your intro song with just eerie guitars slides and brooding drum hits is great, you know you have a great record, but everything that follows is proof. Sure, this can start to sound a bit predictable at times once you figure out the band’s style and vibe, but as soon as that starts to happen, either the song ends or the vibe picks up or slows down dramatically, which keeps it engaging. You even get an insanely cool, stylistically-different cover of “Helter Skelter,” which shows how ahead of their time Siouxsie and the Banshees were, even amongst their peers. Honestly I’m blown away. August is a horrible time to be introduced to this record, and yet, I’m still floored. When October rolls around, I except to only fall more in love with this.
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⭐️
Fantastic! Siouxsie is so heavily underrated. Switch and Hong Kong Garden are amazing.
Ondergewaardeerd. Hier staan echt veel goeie nummers op. Wijze cover van Helter Skelter ook. 3.5
Opzich priem rock
Vrhunski 🔥
gori! odlično! ian curtis može da ga duva
Again with the semi punk sound. Too much discord for my liking.
I liked this more than I thought I would - not what I would usually listen to but would listen to again
Liked the first few songs but it was a bit too much after like 3
Really enjoyed this. The influence it had is obvious.
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.
Tää sivu ei oo väärässä kun tää sanoo, että post punk on mun vähemmäb suosimia genrejä. Soinnut on hirveitä. Laulu on hirveää. Lisäksi sivuhuomiona, se on vissiin kanssa tän genren juttu että kappaleet soitetaan enimmäkseen tomeilla ja virvelillä. Parhaat: The Staircase
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.
I didn’t get this and I don’t like her voice.
This is cool. Rawer and less developed than their later work. It doesn’t grab me quite as much.
I appreciate its influence on later bands but I don’t like her voice or singing style. It ruins the whole album in my opinion.
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.
Was not into the monotone off key vocals today....Sorry Siouxsie...
hyvä aloitus, mood setter, mood setter.. sitten tulee kauraa.. tylsää kuivaa kauraa ja sitten tulee helter skelter koveri ja en tykkää näin sanoa mutta miten beatlessia voi näin huonosti coveroida toki tässä se ongelma että implikaatio että alkuperäinen biisi on hyvä ja häpeillen sanon että on. sen jälkeen jatkuu kauran lapioiminen suuhun täältä tulee lentokone prrrr ja kuivaa kauraa vauvan suuhun Kaura eli peltokaura on itsepölytteinen eli kleistogaami heinäkasvien heimoon kuuluva viljelykasvi ja viljalaji. näin pure
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
I don’t love punk rock, but this was alright.
I’d not like the flow of the beats.
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.
I honestly just really hated the vocals so so much. Listened through and there were some interesting vocal parts, but nothing spectacular.
OK but a bit disappointing
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.
One of the few albums I've listened to while doing this that I put on a second time immediately after. This was great.
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.
Wow. What a load of shit. And the worst Beatles cover you'll ever hear. My poor ears
The band that reminds me I'm not as alt as I'd like to be.
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.
A perfect example of Post Punk! This has everything I like about music.
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.
Crap.
even being a wellspring for so much afterwards (predating unknown pleasures by a whole year), im Still not sure ive ever heard anything like this, or comparable to this vibe...more uncanny and scary than depressive, angular to the point of abrasiveness yet punkier than most post punk, frontwoman who can sound like an evil creature or a diva. seems to completely separate itself from human emotion, which achieves its own emotional quality. i appreciate the aesthetic singularity most of all, but the extremely textured and distinct musicianship (including the aforementioned frontwoman's singing) is what holds everything in place. embarrassingly my first exposure to this band lol but certainly wont be the last
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.
Hmm... Don't get punk, so only fitting that I also don't get post-punk...
2.5 - a little too dissonant for me and also had the worst cover of helter skelter I’ve heard
I really liked the JuJu album but I didn't care much for this. The vocals were annoying in places and the tracks were tedious in the build up.
Enjoyed this