The Scream

I've always felt like I should like Siouxsie And The Banshees more than I do, in part from the great band name, and because they have an interesting style, and one that apparently had a deep and widespread impact. But something about them prevents me from getting into their sound; it may just be Siouxsie's voice and style, which doesn't seem to fit as well as it might with the Banshees' sound (but maybe that's the point). I *did* enjoy a number of the songs on this album, though--"Overground", "Helter Skelter", and "Metal Postcard" in particular--and the album as a whole is an interesting experience, especially the interplay of the guitar and drums, especially in the first half of the album. It's also quite a contrast to their later work--I had no idea that they'd made an album like this early in their career. (And what an incredible contrast to something like "Peek-a-Boo" or their cover of "Dear Prudence"....) I'll also admit that I had no idea they'd appeared on the scene in the late 1970s; it's impressive how long they played (although they definitely followed a different direction than this album's byt he time I became aware of them). And I give them 4 stars largely for how seminal this album was for the music scene and music critics. It's worth reading the Wikipedia article on this album just for all the homages from bands after them, like The Cure, Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Jesus and Mary Chain, even Tracey Thorn.

I've never been a fan of them --I listened a bit when their song "Spellbound" was big and they just didn't appeal to me and still don't. When I listen to them, I feel like a woman is yelling at me while a bunch of people mess with instruments.

Am I in a bad mood or does this kinda suck?

Not for me, some Beatles covers

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.

Everything about Siouxsie says I should like her/the band, but I just hate the sum of the parts.

nothing really noteworthy

If there is one thing I adore about music, it is finding what is seemingly an artist you love out of nowhere. It happened with me and Sparks, my now favorite band, and while there could be a world where I still hadn't discovered them, I'm extremely happy that my music journey led me to them. So, getting that feeling again is always great, and that seems to be the case with me and Siouxsie and the Banshees. I mean, I could assume I would like them just because of my general enjoyment of post-punk and, to a lesser extent, gothic rock, but to find out they may be one of my favorites of the genre and era is an extremely nice surprise. Siouxsie's vocals are unique and emotionally strained without being difficult to listen to, and their instrumentation on this album is amazing, with tons of riffs and hooks that are surprisingly catchy for such a dissonant album. This should be an album where you stare into space and overthink every thing that has ever happened to you, but you can't help but rock out a little while you do it. Siouxsie and the Banshees seem to love their unique covers, and this features a fascinating Helter Skelter cover that towers over other Beatles covers for actually doing something different whilst not removing the ton of the original, and the whole album is just haunting. The album cover is perfect, just being something relatively normal, but distorting it to a point of being terrifying, and while perhaps by modern standards this album could come off a little cheesy, by 1978 standards this feels like a nightmare, albeit a lesser one. This debut just feels like something sinister is afoot, and while their later, more rock oriented releases are amazing in their own right, this take is something I just really enjoy, being exactly what I go to post-punk for. That pure anxious energy that few others can balance with purely great songwriting so well. It is a treat, and I look forward to diving into their discography more in my own time.

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

Cheeks

Early Siouxsie, raw and punkish

I enjoyed this album, once it got going. Favorite track: "Overground," although I also quite liked "Suburban Relapse."

It pains me to give this score. This was very influential for lots of bands I love and styles of music I love. Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy this while listening. Too goth, awful singing, not melodic, boring instrumentation. Bummer.

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

Did I NEED to hear one SATB album? Probably not. Did I need to hear a second SATB album? DEFINITELY not.

Post-punk esssential! Musically unique with it’s angular guitars and tom centric drums, nonetheless retaining the simple attitude central to punk. Also love the DEVO style cover of Helter Skelter, where the lyrics are the only part retained from the original.

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

Someone wrote about this as claustrophobic, and I can see why - it's a bit jagged and off-beat to me.

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.

Gran primer trabajo de tremenda banda, ideal para afrontar el frío y bailarlo. Música que genera atmósferas hermosamente oscuras, amplificadas por la bellísima voz de Siouxsie y toda su estética, precursora del post-punk y de toda la movida gótica.

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

I'm sure this was very interesting in the late 70s, but this sounds more like screaming to me than singing.

How have I never listened to this post punk masterpiece before?

jigsaw feeling helter skelter mirage suburban relapse switch

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.

Forgot to write. Listened to it twice. A fun album with a lot of yelling. Standouts: Jigsaw Feeling, Overground, Mirage, Switch, Hong Kong Garden, and The Staircase (Mystery).

3.9 decent this

Never knew Siouxsie was English, thought the band was from the southwest. Always liked their sound. Best song is Hong Kong Garden due to the unique xylophone arrangement. Album is a worthy freshman effort (3.1*s)

I can see that this likely had some influence on a lot of post-punk sounds but the way she sings is a bit frustrating. It's like she's trying too hard to not care (bc caring would be uncool); it lacks emotion, fire, and comes off a bit flat. Overall, lackluster album for me. Some sounds and the compelling beat were decent but then some parts sounded like a jam session at my house (see piano interlude on last few minutes of "Staircase"). I liked the weird percussion opening on "Hong Kong Garden" but anytime you say "chicken chow mein" as a lyric you completely lose me.

I'm partly in on this. I like a good dark-punky girl (I think I'm dating one) band and Siouxsie has all the makings for it. It's a little dull though. I wanted some more fire from it. She just wasn't pissed off enough or something. Still peaks my interest on the bands direction...2.4

It's a fine album I guess but it didn't do much for me. There's a couple of OK songs and some decent post-punk sounds worth checking out but overall pretty forgettable once it was finished. I've heard of Siouxsie influence over the years so it must have been a big deal when it released. I imagine Siouxsie is an icon for female punk rockers. I'm glad I finally gave them a listen but don't need to go back to the well on them. I've never really liked Helter Skelter as a Beatles song and the Banshee cover doesn't do anything to help that. 2.11 stars

still not a fan of punk...despite like 50% of the albums on here being punk albums...

Not my all-time favorite Siouxsie & The Banshees songs selections, but a salad out nonetheless.

Bueno

Tubeless shouting over angular guitars. One song after another, after another after a Beatles cover in the style of tuneless shouting over angular guitars. Gets very tiresome very quickly for me.

Back in the day, I was a fan of Adam And The Ants. As they often toured with Siouxsie And The Banshees, I knew of them, too. The band is aptly named and their music was one of a kind then. But there's a reason I was fan of Adam Ant and not Siouxsie. Still, I liked them on occasion.

Not as enjoyable as anything else I’ll be listening to today. Didn’t like her droning voice or any of the melodramatic material. It is for some, but not me. 3/5

Do not enjoy this music. Not something I'd ever want to listen to again. Credit for its influences.

I don't think that I have heard this until today. Not bad but I'm guessing it is some of their earlier work maybe. I think that I prefer some of their older albums. They certainly have a unique style.

4/5. Loud and excessive, there is a uniqueness to it that doesn't feel old and has aged well. There is clear guitar rhythms in the background but the vocals really shine over everything else with a sense of passion mixed with "F*** it" attitude. The lyrics for some of the songs definitely are lost on me, not sure what they are about but I do see the Talking Heads vibe where they are not really about anything. This is a vibe album, gotta be in the right mood for it but it is epic nonetheless. Best Song: Carcass, Metal Postcard, Switch

I actually kinda dig this. Opening track is really weird and cool. I like a lot of what they were going for.

Fine. Siouxse and the Banshees have never been my thing, and listening to an entire album of theirs has confirmed this to my satisfaction.

I've seen countless photos of Siouxsie with other icons if the era. She was really groundbreaking and influential. I'm glad to have this album in the 1001, although not my favourite it deserves it's place in the top shelf.

I was pleasantly surprised by how tuneful and enjoyable this was.

Hmm. I didn’t like this quite as much as I thought I would. Frustratingly, there are so many elements I like here, but something about it fell a little flat for me, and I can’t put my finger on what exactly that is… maybe just a case of this being an early example of its sound that was later developed into something more familiar and cohesive. I’m going with a 3.5 rounded up, though I wish it were a more solid 4.

This album is an essential post-punk record. It is brooding and dark and features great song development. It reminds me quite a bit of Joy Division/New Order. I can also hear this sound in later bands as well. As a debut, this is fantastic.

What an awesome band this is. I just love the way that punk bands play their instruments...so much power and connected rhythms. I could listen to both this and Juju on repeat forever. Favorite track: Switch

+- tambem

Yeah, quite droll and boring. 2 stars

Ive decided that I don’t care much for punk. I tend to take music at face value, because why the hell would I choose to look past untamed yelling and battling instruments towards the influential aspect of the album. It’s not enough for me sometimes, especially not this time.

Rating: 8.5/10 Great album overall. The band's spin on punk rock is very unique, this album is so dark in tone while still having the driving tempo and instrumentation of punk. What really separates this from other punk bands is the drumming, it feels very tribal in nature and complements the instrumentation perfectly. The atmosphere that is created on here is special since I hear how influential this was to many other bands, but some of the songs, especially on the second, half feel a bit redundant. Favorite songs: Pure, Jigsaw Feeling, Overground, Carcass, Mirage, Metal Postcard, Switch, Hong Kong Garden, The Staircase. Worst song: Helter Skelter.

You can tell why this was so influential. Though none of the songs really grabbed me, and the vocal was intentionally discordant, this whole record is like a blue print for punk. It is a little monotonous as all the instruments are played with the exact same gain, levels, and style throughout. Which does sort of hurt it some.

Great to hear Siouxsie Sioux in full flow - lots of great moments.

didn’t think i was gonna like it at all after the first song but it grew on 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.

Está medio choto, safan algunos temas. Es como un Jefferson Airoplane más dark y lento.

Not for me.

Right off the bat I’m adding a star to my rating just because it’s awesome. Not completely my style and doesn’t really evolve but I can see it. I’d probably add a song to a playlist but not listening to the album again

Man I just can't get into this band! I like their later, more polished albums like Tinderbox a bit better. That's actually all I've heard of the band, that and this. I should like this more. I like Carcass and really like the Helter Skelter cover. There are other moments I really don't like, like Hong Kong Garden. Feels like an important album but there are others from this era and scene I would turn to first.

It just worked for me! I loved the leads, loved the energy, just thought it was the perfect blend of raw and musical at the same time. Really kept me engaged. Helter Skelter cover was very good, good example of what a cover can do to bring you into a new band's world. Well executed and kind of awesome! I enjoyed running to this. I listen to a podcast where the three Gen X hosts routinely segue from their normal stable of (non-music) topics to obsess about post punk bands from the late 70s and 80s. Siouxsie And The Banshees they have 100% played before in the outtro credits. I think this is the reason I'm so primed to like it, a level of wild and sweaty and Helter Skelter rawness whose entry point for me had to be my older cooler friends liking it first. 4/5

The Scream is proto-post-punk, proto-goth, proto-alternative-dance. The vibe is heavy and Siouxsie's vocal performance is perfect. The only thing I find lacking is strong songs. These aren't the Sex Pistols twisted pop songs. Nor are they The Cure's dark ballads.

Not the worst thing I've ever heard, but I was glad when it was over.

I read this was an important album in creating the sound of this kind of punk, but it just isn't a genre I've really liked yet. Female led, early punk. Maybe I'll give it another go someday

I made the scream face with the Beatles cover out of nowhere. In general I was entertained but didn’t love anything (2.5/5)

Gotta love Siouxsie!

Good rhythms and a distinctive vocal.

The title says it all…

An album that on a personal level evokes so many emotive memories, with Switch, Staircase and Mirage being the standout tracks. Angular rasping guitars and Siouxsie's distinctive delivery not only paved the way for many bands to follow as a gateway to post-punk, but also provided a soundtrack to my formative years musically.

Ooo I enjoyed it! I love the overall sound and that Helter Skelter cover is amazing!!! But I must admit and say this isn't something I would revist...

A wail of a good time. From the opening instrumental. To the Beatles cover there’s so much to like here. Siouxsie Sioux is full voiced going off! A great intro to what lies around the corner in the decade to come!

Siouxie is a legend. Great band. Good album.

I will probably be repeating myself form the last album by 'Siouxsie And The Bansheest's rocking, and she has a uniquely muscular voice. Plenty of thundering drums and grinding guitar. Great music to get ready for something. Warlike, determined, and gets the blood going doesn't it? Some great songs, not brilliant or as fun as the first S and the B album I heard. (I read they are more a single band than an album band- makes sense)

They were a singles band for me. I’d never heard this album before. There were no singles released from this album. The only track I’d heard before was the cover of Helter Skelter, which is good. It’s on some cd of Beatles covers I own. They must have liked the White Album, because I also have their cover of Dear Prudence on a 7” single. They’ve covered Dylan, Velvet Underground & Iggy, all worthy covers. Musically this album is interesting enough, but the compositions are less than thrilling for me.

This album is surprisingly confident from a band that, not long before, reportedly didn't know how to play at all. Not just confident, but a groundbreaking album that established the blueprint and sound of post-punk. Maybe not to everyone's taste, but important and influential and great. The band is tight and powerful, and the songs are atmospheric and distinctive. Even the cover of Helter Skelter sounds like a Siouxsie song. But the real star here is Siouxsie herself; she is a powerful presence, with a million-watt charisma that carries the album. Truth be told, the Siouxsie albums I play most are the singles compilations, which are awesome. It is a shame that the singles Hong Kong Garden and The Staircase (Mystery) are not on the original vinyl version of the album (but on the CD/spotify versions). The inclusion of the singles lifts this to a four star album.

I love Siouxsie in the Banshees but this album is kinda boring for me. some good slappers on there tho.

Glad to get another Siouxsie record, and for it to be another good one. Highlights: Pure, Jigsaw Feeling, Carcass, Nicotine Stain, The Staircase (Mystery)

I really loved the first Siouxsie And The Banshees album I got on the project, but this one doesn't hold up to the same level. It's good, but not as revolutionary. 3/5

Tunnistettavaa Siouxsieta, mutta tällä levyllä mikään biisi ei nouse niin muiden yläpuolelle kuin muilla levyillä ehkä tuntuu (mutuilen). Ennemmin äänimattoa? Mutta toimiva meininki.

Ikävä sanoa, mutta odotin tämän loppumista: artistin leikittely harmonisuuden ja harmoniattomuuden rajalla (puhumattakaan pyrkimyksestä kieltää rytmi) johtaa juuri siihen, mitä hän tilaa. Ja sitten, outoa kyllä, levy herää eloon kahden viimeisen biisin aikana, mikä pelastaa jotakin.

I didn't enjoy listening to this album that much, there were some really great tracks but then some that I found kinda rough. But I could hear the influences this had on so much of the music I really love, so I had to rate it higher for that

Sin más.

Pensé que me gustaría más, la verdad.

I get how pivotal this album was, but it's not easy to listen to.

Not bad but largely forgotten by next morning

I want to like it more than I actually do like it because I respect it and Siouxsie so much. But it's pretty rough.

Interesting enough

Vocals are not my jam, just too much drone on the same note.

Was gonna be unbiased for this album, but they ruined "Helter Skelter," so I gotta give them 1 star out of principle. Album Score: 4/10

love this band. Hong Kong Garden is fire.

Some potential. Not enough potential. I wasn't as into this album as the previous Siouxsie on the list.

Some of the time the music was a 4. Most of the time singing was a 1.

Not bad)

This is our second record with Siouxsie. I like this one slightly more better.

Favourite tracks: switch; jigsaw feeling; helter skelter

Hong Kong garden represent

Didn’t really enjoy this

At first I thought it was going to be not that great but fell into the groove. Seems ahead of its time

This was better than some of the other uk post punk ones on this list. I get a little tired of the exaggerated UK accent on these albums. Everything other than that was pretty good. Will I listen to again: 50%

Will need another listen but overall, pretty good album

Best album so far top 5 punk of all time. Experimental, progressive, industrial post punk. Nothing you have heard sound like this. Now its probably in my top 50 ever best albums. Grace Slick meets sex pistols, with the ramones in the trunk on a car full of the runaways. Simply a masterpiece with punk rockers who are actually great musicians. Clean as punk can get.

Real crap

41 albums into the project and Siouxsie and the Banshees is the first repeat artist I have received. While this album is not as refined as Juju, the influence that this will have on early 80s post-punk music is undeniable. The guitar and drum combination on this is very raw and unlike anything before it. It works well complementing Siouxsies' rhythmic, screeching vocals. Good listen.

Raw but good.

Not good.

‘‘Twas alright.

First listen to post punk album that influenced many alternative rock bands I grew up with. “Jigsaw Feeling”, “Carcass”, “Helter Skelter” and “Hong Kong Garden” all stood out.

Awesome!

Clearly influential. Not for me!

I like this.

I guess this is mostly included because it was influential. It has some catchy parts, but mostly doesn't really stand out to me.

C+ Pure 2 Jigsaw Feeling 3 Overground 3 Carcass 3 Helter Skelter 3 Mirage 3 Metal Postcard (Mittageissen) 3 Nicotine Stain 3 Suburban Relapse 3 Switch 3 I don't understand how some of these are in here.

Indeed sounds very new. Not my cup of tea though

11th album is my favorite thus far. So tempting to give this a five and I think from Carcass on, it is. But a slightly slow start and the fact that I can think of at least a handful of post-punk albums I prefer to this, I've gotta go with a 4.4/5 Loved it though! Favorite tracks : Carcass, Mirage, Hong Kong Garden

Fine. Not grabbing me as much as I thought it would and the Helter Skelter cover sucks

Very raw material. Not much else to say...

Not a big punk fan. This didn't change my mind

A bit one dimensional and moany for me.

Not for me. But it was okay.

Didn’t listen to it all. Kinda just seemed like a rock album :( it was fine I guess. I didn’t dislike any songs but I didn’t like any.

6/10 Initially might have called it boring, but it grew on me as it went on Consistent in style & vibe Music ok, vocals excellent Best: Hong Kong Garden

Probably great but not for me

Siouxsie does have some great songs. I don't think this was it

Siouxsie being Siouxsie! Not my fave but it’s tolerable pretty progressive surprisingly popular pop for 78! Hong Kong garden is the saving grace of this album for me.

I could understand why it is well liked just not by me

I'm not getting in it as I should yk? Not really my vibe

Debut from S&B. Lots of scratchy guitar and surprising mature. Good production too. Her voice is a bit Marmite and the sings are not that memorable.

Not quite as electrifying as *Juju*, but rock solid

This one rocks hard!! A bit overstated but it’s a good sound

Favorite song Pure, it was all good, still a bit out of my taste preferences

J’imagine qu’elle chante suffisamment mal pour qu’on classe ça dans la catégorie punk. Un groupe qui en a influencé beaucoup d’autres, mais ça n’en fait pas quelque chose d’agréable à écouter. Très pénible reprise de “Helter Skelter”. Quelques trucs sympas d’un point de vue basse/guitare (les ponts de “The Staircase (Mystery)”, par exemple) mais ça reste assez crispant et merci mais je n’y reviendrais certainement pas.

Mhm a bit droning at times but ok I guess

While I recognize the influence and respect it, this one doesn't really hit for me. Overlong crooning mostly, and while some of the music is interesting, it's pretty basic and repetitive. Not awful, but not great in any standout way to me. Fav tracks: Hong Kong Garden, Mirage

Off-key yelling over only occasionally decent guitar. I was going to say the band woud be better without the singer, but as I listen to it more, not even that could save it. Not redeeming song yet. It just kind of blends together into a shouting, droning mess.

10:15 on a saturday night

Post punk. Never was a punk fan. Post punk isn’t any better. Can’t do it.

Strange. 3.5

Well lemme tell ya what, if you don’t love punk, you’re really not going to live post-punk! The only thing catching my interest are the covers.

Not my jam

Enjoyed it. Dark, brooding, and punchy. Good post-punk, or something close to it.

This isn’t bad in any obvious objective way, I just don’t really care for the Atonally Hollering Over Music school of vocals and that makes it harder for me to enjoy the pretty good music going on behind the vocals.

Like all great jazz, Mingus puts us inside a Time Capsule that’s inside a Time Machine. We’re right there listening to art created in the spot and we’re also confronted by music that no genre or era has caught up with. It’s not for everyone but it’s meant for everybody, and it rewards repeated listens like the most timeless music always does.

To start, I am VERY picky when it comes to 5 star music. This album had me HOOKED. I've known of & listened to Siouxsie and the Banshees before (I love spellbound) so I had high hopes, and safe to say my hopes were met. If you like goth music, this album is DEFINITELY worth a listen.

Pretenders and Sonic Youth had a baby

Not my favourite Banshees but a good, enjoyable and important one in the history of Punk rock. Is this the first post-punk album? Maybe, though I might argue Chairs Missing has that honour, but I digress. Lots of good tracks on this album. Hong Kong Garden is the classic track but by no means the only worthy track. Jigsaw Feeling, Overground, Mirage, Switch are all worthy and help show off Siouxsie commanding presence. 4 stars

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

Primal, frantic. The Scream is the forebarer of all good post-punk/indie. Siouxsie Sioux drives the album from start to finish Jigsaw Feeling and Helter Skelter are incredible but nothing stands out, front to back it’s a great album 8.5/10

A pivotal album which influenced the post punk scene, it has some innovative use of effects and guitar. There are some bright spots in the album, but I generally found it lackluster and uninteresting compared to later efforts in the genre

Didn't get enough time to give this my full attention, though I did listen to it. I'm not versed in enough punk music to understand what they did which was avant-garde or influential, though many of the sounds seemed familiar to me via more contemporary punky bands.

Never heard of this band… Was gonna say this had a Roxy music influence vibe and I see they met at a roxy music concert lol This is so good I find it hard to believe I haven’t heard of these cats. Either a 4 or a 5 second listen will tell. Amazing either way Literally on the border but we’re gonna say 4 cuz of Hong Kong Garden

This just didn’t really appeal to me sonically. It sounded messy and unenjoyable. Probably wouldn’t listen to it again.

That was pretty decent

Great album if you are into that unrefined early punk sound.

Yeah this album rocks… how have I never heard this? Sounds completely modern despite being over 40 years old

Liked this way more than JuJu, love how upbeat it is and I like her vocals on this. Can absolutely see how it was hugely influential to post punk. Would put this on of my own volition for sure

Decent album I enjoyed it

"The Scream" is the debut album by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It is considered "a landmark recording with an innovative combination of angular and serrated guitars with bass-led rhythms and machine-like drums" and "a pioneering work of the post-punk genre." I really can't add much more to that. The bandmembers included Siouxsie Sioux (vocals), Steven Severin (bass), John McKay (guitar) and Kenny Morris (drums). The album reached #12 in the UK and had wide-spread critical acclaim. The first song "Pure" is mostly an instrumental but we get a sense what the band is: angular, high-pitched guitar, heavy bass and Siouxsie howling. This leads into "Jigsaw Feeling." Thumping bass, pounding tom-tom drums and that same guitar sound which does sound like a jigsaw. The pace picks up. Oh, yeah, this is post-punk. "Overground" has Siousie screaming about sacrificing yourself for normal people. No one in this group seems normal. Nice starting and stopping by the bass and drums. Of course, there's a song named "Carcass." Of course, it's about a butcher falling in love with raw meat. By far, their most normal sounding rock and roll song. I like the dichotomy. "Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)" is very mechanical sounding. Guitar scratching which goes into some sort of eerie guitar chord progression. A tom-tom drum beat. About waking up and finding you're under the rule of a totalitarian mastermind. The album closes with "Switch" which may be guitarist McKay's finest moment. More eerie guitar strings; he dominates going all over the place with echoes. The pace keeps picking up. Siouxsie screaming about the hypocrisy of everything. This is quite the album and is one of the best debut albums that I've heard and along with Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures," defines post punk. The music and lyrics create a foreboding and eerie atmosphere. McKay's serrated and angular guitar is unique and just spectacular. I hear this guitar sound in PIL. The Pretenders, Sonic Youth, U2 and I'm sure a lot more I'm not thinking of right now. Although muttled, Siouxsie's vocals are haunting and appropriate for thr music; she would become much more in the forefront in the future. The bass and drums are also great. I thotoughly agree with the landmark label.

Im embarrassed to learn this is from the 70s, my time as a teen. This is trash. If I could rate a zero, I’d do it.

Top tier post punk!

decrease my brain power

1.23.24

Her voice makes any song interesting

Interesting from a historical point of view. The stand-out song ‘Mirage’ is excellent. Overground isn’t half bad. A lot of the guitar-playing is exceptional and unique. But the vocals are generally hideous. Shrieking, shouty pseudo-punk without the genuine bile. This is primarily of interest as an illustration of where punk/new wave was in 1978. Good effort. Dreadful singing makes it almost unlistenable.

Not my favourite album in the world. Totally understand it's meant to sound like this, but some of the tracks are just hard to listen to, sore ears and that. Appreciate the artist and the post punk sound but just not for me.

Encore un album qui porte bien son nom

Eh

That's funny Autumn just mentioned these guys the other day! oh wow! It has been cited as a key influence on a number of succeeding post-punk, noise rock and alternative rock acts, including Joy Division, Killing Joke, the Cure, Big Black, Sonic Youth, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Faith No More and Massive Attack. That's crazy. Just for that it deserves 5 stars

Staccato guitar solos and screaming vocals, fits well within the 70s punk-rock genre. Nothing distinctive or notable compared to the numerous other bands with a similar sound from that era.

Post punk thumping toms but ultimately not quite there yet as a band. Hong Kong garden, not on the album but on the re-release, shows they were starting to write songs but the rest is a bit unsatisfactory.

Not… great….

Didn’t really inspire me although it’s probably a great band at that time

pretty goth but not as goth as you’d think

This genre is not for me but I can understand why it was chosen.

Proper post-punk

This was a great album from Siouxsie and the Banshees! The music was so dark, gritty, and punky (which I absolutely love!). I highly recommend this one! I liked almost every track and will definitely save for future listens. Favorite Song(s): "Hong Kong Garden", "Nicotine Strain", "Overground", "Carcass", "Mirage"

Never was a huge fan even though I loved the genre but this first album actually appeals to me. Way more punk than her later music. Lots of seeds of the British post punk movement in there as well. Heard some early Cure sounds. 3.0

Good punkin

This is a cool record. Really an innovative sound to get the whole british alternative punk scene going. Though not so divorced from the British punk sound that you couldn't say have a Clash Banshees bill, which would be sick.

This is good... I can see the punk -> post-punk action happening. I like her vocals, and I like the experimental aspect of it. The drumming really works too. Production is appropriate. Rounding up to a 4 here.

Kraftmikið og rífur aðeins í sálina.

The start of something magic

goths undead

Pretty cool post punk feeling female fronted band. I remember hearing them for the first time in this cool bar called the cuevita in highland park with a cool bartender who was playing them who was super nice. Very joy division.

real pure \"post punk/wave\" album - no way you listen too this for the first time and realize it is 1978, such an influential album. I enjoyed. Classic Beatles cover!!!!

Also not

I've always been a little confused by the "post-punk" genre. I mean, how do you define a genre just based on the fact that it came after another genre? But I used the opportunity today to read a bit more about it, and I think I get it a little better now. Still a dumb name for a genre, but I see sort of the type of music that fits into it, and I definitely give credit to Siouxsie and the Banshees for being pioneers in expanding beyond traditional punk boundaries. 4 stars.

3,5/5

siusiu u babci

Là jsuis déçu, j'pensais que ça allait être une bombe comme l'autre qu'on avait écouté, mais non, encore de l'insupportable criage. Mais tsé, c'était annoncé dans le titre, j'aurais dû le voir arriver

тут все-таки важнее контекст, я бы 3.5 поставил, будь такая возможность

Первая половина альбома 2, вторая 4+ в сумме 3+

насколько мне нравится гитары на этом альбоме, на столько х2 мне не нравится вокал

This was just a bit insufferable for me. I understand the post punk influence, and I can certainly hear it. But man, I was begging for this album to be done when the Helter Skelter cover played. Virtually every band who was inspired by this album ended up doing it way better than Siouxie and the Banshees on their first time out.

I’ve a lot of love in my heart for post-punk, and this band’s debut helped write the book.

nice

With a shriek and a yell, Siouxsie and the Banshees began their incomparable run amongst the post-punk/indie throng. A commanding presence, Siouxsie dominates The Scream (improbably the band's debut album) in a manner only she and the group could carry, approaching one peak after another like the noticeable Helter Skelter cover, Jigsaw Feeling and Hong Kong Garden. A really rather good start. Favorites: Jigsaw Feeling, Overground, Carcass, Helter Skelter, Suburban Relapse, Switch, Hong Kong Garden.

I really loved their other album but this one didn't quite do it for me in the same way. I found it a bit more repetitive and indistinct

Pretty good but nothing amazing. I do like Siouxsie and the Banshees but they aren't a band that I choose to listen to that often, just the odd song that comes up.

I’m trying to decide if it’s these so-called “pre-punk” bands I dislike, or just the British ones. It’s listenable, and some of the tracks aren’t bad at all, but I don’t get the leap from this to some of the great punk bands. Found myself getting annoyed the further into the album I got.

less pop and more menace than the last Banshees (Juju), but much of what I'd liked in their performances is also present in this debut. Catchy bass. Theatrical vocals. sp00kiness. HL: "Carcass", "Helter Skelter", "Switch", "Jigsaw Feeling", "Hong Kong Garden" (bonus track technically) November 20th, 2023

Decent album. Always liked a lot of SATB stuff, but never really a full album.

I’ve come across some Siouxise sporadically (a “Dear Prudence” here, a “Cities in Dust” there) and even own Hyena on vinyl. But I haven’t dug too deep into their catalogue. “Hong Kong Garden” is the only track on this album that I recognized. I like a lot of music of this style and era like Joy Division, The Cure (Robert Smith actually played guitar with the Banshees for a while), Cocteau Twins and so on. But I found this album a little opaque from time to time. Interestingly, Siouxsie’s recognizable songs often don’t sound too much like the rest of what’s on an album. I suppose that’s not too uncommon - but you get a lot of art rock here when I might have enjoyed some stuff that was a little more accessible. Still, I’m always fascinated by how much rock music changed during the 70s. Abbey Road and Let It Be had been released fewer than 10 years before this album came out. Imagine how people’s minds must have been blown when they heard the opening track on this album. And just as a cultural force, Siouxsie and the Banshees have clearly had a significant impact. Think of that character from G.L.O.W. who dressed like a wolf. All Siouxsie and the Banshees. I’m glad I live in a world where this band has made an impact. For its faults it’s still a fun listen. I’ll give it a 4 but closer to a 3.5.

Entertainment.

Fakka med det men hørte ikke så nøye på

Looking forward to this one!! You can hear the influence they had on some of my favourite bands like Radiohead, the cure and joy division. Cutting edge stuff for the late 70s.

This album was really cool - very cool to think what a big impact this sound had on heaps of other bands I love! Fave track: Hong kong garden

3.5/5

2.5

Enjoyed most of this, but not as much as Juju, which I got last year. Some great songs, others forgettable. The cover of Helter Skelter is weird, I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

The music is great but I really, REALLY do not like the singing and for that reason I have to give it a low rating. I appreciate the influence this band has brought to others though. Listens: 3 Fave Track: The Staircase (Mystery) Rating: 2

Grew on me, will probably revisit this one

👎👎👎👎👎

British rock that has a punk flavor to it. Noise rock would probably be the best way to describe it. I didn't mind it, but I'm not risking it to buy it.

I never really listed to Siouxsie and the Banshees. Interesting to realize there are echoes of Siouxsie in many bands that came after her: the Cure, Joy Division, Sonic Youth, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol… not something I’ll Listen to again but I’m glad I listened today!

Semmed alright

I didn't like the singer very much.

Infectious POP, Good LP, But not Great, though the Energy is off the Charts

A real avant-garde record. I still can't believe this was released in 1978. I really appreciate how the album bucks all the norms and takes directions that you don't expect for it to take, especially for the 1970s. Siouxsie's vocals are truly unique. The way her voice almost cracks on the high notes is unlike anything I've heard. Very quirky and weird, but a breath of fresh air after hearing so many boomer blues/rock albums on this list.

first listen i didn't expect to like this but actually the guitar was very nice

love her

Ben wel een beetje klaar met de 70s rock bandjes Wel oké maar ben er wel ff klaar mee

Opzich wel leuke muziek, maar kwam gewoon op een moment dat ik er geen zin in had. Goed album maar verkeerd moment voor mij

Good nothing inspiring

Great Halloween album

This is, and I don't say this lightly, an absolute fucking masterpiece. For me it's the ground zero of post-punk. Every track is superb, and let's not forget this is a debut album. There are few bands that close their debut with a near seven minute song, but Switch is the standout track on The Scream.

Rounding up to 5 stars out of fear that this is the only Siouxsie album on this list. Production is a bit tinny, and her voice isn’t featured as much as later albums. However, Switch is a sign of things to come. Hope Juju is amongst these albums, when she is at the peak of her powers.

fine. no big winners. 3 stars

Waffle between three and four. It's complex and interesting, but it doesn't all sound good to me. I might need to listen to it a few more times to know for sure whether it's just noise or whether it works for me. There's so much going on in the background, I couldn't digest the lyrics without intentionally digging into them. So far, I like the idea of Siouxsie and the Banshees more than the execution, but we're giving an extra star for their cultural impact.

Standouts: Helter Skelter Others: Mirage, Mental Postcards (Mittegeisen), Jigsaw Feeling, Switch, Overground, Carcass, Suburban Relapse.

I can hear their influence in a lot of later punk bands, but not a lot of songs on this album that will stick with me.

twas not for me

2.5 Rounding down bc it annoyed me more than it didn’t.

This album rules. I can hear this band’s influence all over the place. It has a cool feel throughout. I will definitely continue to explore this band’s music.

A good post punk album had some cool song on the album that i saved.

I have enough goth friends that I knew of Siouxsie and the Banshees but had never done a deep dive. What a hell of a debut album. Some of it sounds a bit dated to me but looking at the date it really defined a genre for years. 5/5. Great album.

A bit slow but well performed, this is probably dope live. woah 'Switch' is soooooooo good, its the same formula as their other tracks but something about it just comes together so right. PLUS THE SAX??

Post-punk. Ni fu ni fa.

Not really my thing

The music would be good, until the singer starts on all these tracks. I get why it's an important album. I'm literally never listening to it again.

I can see this as the foundation of a genre, but I don't love it. Extra points for female lead in rock and for the history

Amazing debut album.

As gothic post punk masterpiece. I love the guitar.

One of those artists that I've always heard the name, but never took the time to listen to. Really liked this. 3.75/5

Punk

Enjoyed this, very punk, very goth. A bit repetitive perhaps and no stand-out "wow" moments for me.

Ace.

This grew on me a lot as it went on. Thought the first few tracks sounded great until the vocals - couldnt get away with them at first but as the album went on I got right on board. I quite like this brand of punk - less stereotypical and more interesting. Already added a few tracks to a playlist (Metal Postcard being the best) and will return.

This was brilliant, I didn't mind the last Siouxsie album we had but this was so much better. Must be hugely influential on a particular sort of rough 00s indie, reminds me loads of be your own pet in particular. I struggle with the singing style a bit, I think it would have been a 5 otherwise but I can't say it's a complete winner because of it.

Been over a year since the first Siouxsie and the Banshees album. I was reading on Wikipedia that this album influenced Massive Attack - which I get, I found myself humming some Teardrop during one of this album's songs. Still, just a bit OK for me, wouldn't necessarily choose to listen again, like with Juju. It is better though, but not an additional star better. 2.7 for Juju, 3.4 for The Scream.

I didn't think this was as good as Juju, which feels like a lifetime ago. It was alright but I wouldn't go back for another listen. Highlights: Carcass Metal Postcard Hong Kong Garden

I enjoyed the last Siouxie and the banshees album we had, seems like a long time ago! I don't think I enjoyed this one quite as much, but still liked the sound. The cover of helter-skelter was arguably better than the original. Highlights Carcass Hong Kong garden 3.5 as I gave the other one a 4

typical Siouxsie

"The Scream" by Siouxsie and the Banshees is a groundbreaking masterpiece that continues to captivate listeners with its hauntingly innovative sound. Released in 1978, this debut album effortlessly blends punk energy with a dark, atmospheric quality that sets it apart from its contemporaries. Siouxsie Sioux's mesmerizing vocals, often veering from eerie whispers to powerful howls, are the album's driving force. Tracks like "Metal Postcard" and "Jigsaw Feeling" showcase her commanding presence. The band's sonic experimentation is evident throughout, with unconventional percussion and John McKay's screeching guitar work on "Pure" adding an extra layer of intensity. The album's lyrical themes explore alienation and disillusionment, creating a sense of unease that perfectly complements the music's edginess. "The Scream" is a timeless classic that remains a testament to Siouxsie and the Banshees' enduring influence on post-punk and gothic rock, making it an essential addition to any music collection.

Siouxsie Diosa

Boy you hear the seeds of Sleater Kinney on this record! I was immediately excited by what I was hearing, but it started to wear on me as it went on. I’ll love this one in spurts!

wtf is a souxsie

Another reasonable but not amazing album in the collection. Enjoyable but unlikely to revisit.

PJ Harvey sprung out fully formed from a Siouxsie album

I wanted to like it but it is repetitive, simplistic and irritating.

This is a really solid debut album. Siouxsie and The Banshees have always been a weird blind spot for me, I've always heard they were good but had just never really listened to them. They have a great sound and were really on the forefront of post rock. I was thinking how much they remind me of Joy Division before realizing this album came out a year before Unknown Pleasures. The only thing I'd say is that this album starts to feel a bit repetitive towards the end due to the production but this was my first couple of times listening to it, so that could change as I become more familiar with the specific songs. Standout Tracks: Jigsaw Feeling, Carcass, Helter Skelter, Metal Postcard (Mittageisen), Switch, Hong Kong Garden

I just wanted this lady to stop yelling at me

Good

S&tB debut album - it is their noisiest album and in my top 3 of S&tB albums. (Two days ago we had the Teardropes Explodes debut, a more psychedelic version of post-punk which I also like, but Scream is of a different level.)

Pretty good, but a bit too much dissonance and sharp edges for me. In my memory I preferred Hyena, but haven't listened to that in a long while.

Unfortunately the vocals keep this otherwise quite attractive album from a higher score.

I liked this, but I'm not sure I'll ever choose to listen to it again. I'm not sure why.

Schreeuwerige rockmuziek. Op zich prima muziek. Met deze zangeres doet het me denken aan de bands Hole en B52s. Leuk voor een keertje. ***

I understand its significance to the zeitgeist, but I didn’t enjoy the listen. It has a laid back punk sound/vibe that I couldn’t connect with.

The use of strings is brilliant, approaching diagetic as nearly as one can in lyric music. Maintaining persistent doubts about the, let's say, range of such music, I thrill at the anger of washing dishes, persistent monotone basslines. If Siouxsie's band teeters somewhere, it has teetered there for 45 years. Coin it: post-punk stable.

I prefer the other Siouxsie and the Banshees album that was on this list to this one. This is a nice debut album and has significance in terms of the sound it helped to create. Overall though, I think they have stronger albums.

Very good, will need to listen again

It's good

Great guitars and drums but the vocals were a bit too shouty for me.

Bit waily. Liked the Helter Skelter cover

Punk, post-punk, goth - pretty much everything and the best debut to come out of the first punk wave. It's five stars even without Hong Kong Garden and Staircase mystery - both singles but not on the original album. John McKay on this album is as good a guitarist as John McGeogh - very different, and a lot harsher, but as good.

it's fine, another one of those post-punk gothic albums that don't do anything for me. it's at least more listenable than most of them though.

skoda ze nejde davat neco mezi 3 a 4

Enjoyed this a lot. Sometimes Siouxsie can be just background wallpaper and it's just perfect.

love

This was their debut album? Amazing! The highlight for me is "Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)", but I also liked "Jigsaw Feeling" and their cover of the Lennon-McCartney song"Helter Skelter".

I enjoyed this from start to finish. I was actually a little surprised that I hadn't heard a single track from this album before (I'm not counting Helter Skelter for obvious reasons, and Hong Kong Garden wasn't originally on the album, although I do love it for both the music and the imagery of a busy Chinese takeaway). It definitely deserves another listen, but it's not quite a 5-star album. There's a couple of tracks that felt like filler, like the song about smoking which made me feel a little ill. But even then there was something interesting to keep my attention.

3.5

Ok

Boring Banshees more like

A bit rubbish

thought this would be just my cup of tea and i did like some of it but it wasn't quite my cup of tea

Really didn't like this

Still sounds great after nearly 45 years! What a debut album and highly influential.

4/5

4.0

Good but not very good. When it's on form it's punky, edgy, angry and with hammering guitars and drums, but it strays a bit away from it at times and that doesn't impress me. 3, solid enough.

This is better than I expected - does get a bit screechy in places (although with a backing band called the Banshees, should really expect that), but in the most part it's punk with a bit more musical depth and tunefulness to it. Didn't like the Helter Skelter cover really, took a load of the energy out of it (which is unusual given how full of energy the rest of this album is). Solid album, not quite a 4 but pretty close.

Overground // Carcass // Helter Skelter // Switch // 2-2.5/5

Hard to listen to. Not a great debut from Siouxsie.

Better than I expected. I gave that one quite a few rotations.

One of those bands I had missed due to age and never looked at. Really enjoyed this album. It's funny how every generation thinks they invent new music when it's just a rehash of the old. Indie and grunge can thank these guys.