Juju

Okay, the first song is already a banger. I would describe the album as "Wicked".

Good old post punk rock, always just as good

The best album that I discovered here so far... I didn't know the band before besides their popular song, Happy House, which I love. After a few listens it's definitely going to be among my favourites.

Dark rock rock lobster

Of course, I have been aware of them since the 80s, but never really listened to them. Perhaps now it is too late for them to grab me - but was OK

I didn't enjoy this album too much. It was fine and there was maybe a couple I liked after Spellbound.

Great album with a lovely early-80's lo-fi sound that compliments airy, melancholy tones while still maintaining an upbeat post-punk feel.

God I hate post-punk

Some of the songs were really good. Leading off with Spellbound made me excited for what this could be. Sadly it wasn’t quite as good the rest of the time.

I enjoyed most of this.

I have a siouxsie album. Peepshow. I enjoyed it more than this.

I am not a huge fan unfortunately. The vocal delivery started to annoy me about halfway through. Great guitar work though.

Some highlights other tracks are garbage. Would go back for more listens

Juju on that beat

3.4

Sonic Youth meets Blondie

Album was pretty good. Shout out Siouxsie. I like her voice

A total 5. One of the most influential artists and a pilar of post punch and goth rock. Juju is a fantastic, flawless album that set the tone of the 80s dark wave music. Before The Cure made this sound, Siouxie already crafted the formula. Love all her phases and the journey she went during the 80s and early 90s. These songs are regular in my playlist.

This album was ok, but nothing really going on. I do like the song monitor as it creates a real loud and exciting feel to this album which is what i expected for the rest of the project.

Amazing album, love it. Saved the first 6 songs, I think the last 3 are bit weaker. But overall siiick

Never a big fan but respect what she/they did

сначала показался интересным но потом всё-таки какая тоска, нет, не для меня

This album is a nice mix of rock and punk bit a dash of emo. Not what I usually listen to, but this was enjoyable and quite original. It has a very specific vibe to it (think goth angry hunted house) that I'm sure will appeal to some.

Me encantó. Aunque el segundo tercio se me hace un poco raro, tampoco está tan mal. Principalmente, me da alivio haberlo encontrado, pues luego de oír Daydream Nation de Sonic Youth, me quedé un poco frustrado, pues siento que no cumplió bien su objetivo, pero este creo que cumple exactamente con lo que el otro no pudo.

Really didn’t like this. Too dark and evil.

niets speciaal, het miste iets

Ja had wel zen toffe muziekskes maar ik ga het hierbij laten denk ik no snelle revisit

Weird, but intriguing

Ah ouais j'ai bien aimé, mais il manquait un petit quelque chose pour que sa mérite un 5

C’est de la bonne bombe, la section rythmique est top notch, c’est genre de la musique Emo avant que ça devienne cringe

Spellbound c’est un fucking banger! Pour l’instant chaque chanson est génial. L’instru est super cool sur chaque chansons, la chanteuse a une voix cool et malgré que certaines chansons se ressemblent, elles reste distinctes. Pour l’instant c’est mon album préféré de ce qu’on écouter (peut-être même tout court, qui sait), je le réécouterai sans problème.

INT

Almost back to back here. Still a lot of noise but there are probably a lot of influential components.

I liked the vocals and the music was good, though not necessarily something I'd seek out again

Meh, nothing really stood out here for me.

Unattractive loud women’s punk/80s group

I really liked it and it's no surprise given how much I like Metric and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Cool to hear their precursor.

I’ve always known about this band by name but this is the second album I’ve come across on this list & they’re a very good band.

This is the reason I'm signed up for this. Love this album and have never heard of the band before this.

What a cracker

This album is a post-punk masterpiece with tinges of goth rock. The album is dark, especially the back half and features some of the best rhythm work in the genre. The guitar work is phenomenal and utilizes drones and arpeggios to create a mood. The use of noise is similarly atmosphere building. Overall, this album is probably one of the best post-punk albums I’ve ever heard.

Loved the vocals. Instrumental bits were fine

Enjoyable, always wished it was a bit heavier

Less an album of songs and more a series of improvisations around the impression of being goth in the early 80's.

a great grooving goth intro ...and then Vooodoo Dolly opened up. superb atmospherics (at once chanelling through time: Ute Lempur, Nirvana, Cure, B52s and some other batshit crazy stuff, but tight ) Sound like Banshees alright, fun loud shrill, and jungle girl sounds... wild woman lyrics, - its impressive for 1981 and i imagine it was influential and the tribal drums very new...I LIKED the propelling transporting beats of Arabian Nights, It is goth, is it punk, is it girl garage band? its empowered, in your face and avant guard. Feels like 1988. Spellbound rang a bell,but pretty sure this is entirely NEW MUSIC for me

Nigel Gray did a lot of fantastic work in the late 70's/early 80's and this is part of that considerable body of work. She's some talent that Siouxsie, if she'd emerged say five years later than that crazy late 70's era I'd think she'd have a greater reputation as both a performer and songwriter. A few things jar a little, the "big" 80's drum sound is probably dated, but then that was one of Nigel's signature moves. Ditto some of McGeoch's Andy Summers style guitar work. But so what, overall it is a fine record. Spellbound never ceases to amaze me, Halloween and Monitor kick, perhaps Voodoo Dolly drags though I'm sure it would have been a great part of their live show.

Enjoyed this more than I thought I might. 3.5 stars

I always thought The Banshees were a good singles band, but I never paid much attention to their albums. Spellbound is a terrific track. But I really found the bulk of this album to be just a bit repetitive. That is, until you get to the closer, Voodoo Dolly a 7-minute epic that highlights just how good the band members were. You get that throughout the album - each musician is outstanding - but the actual songs are less than stellar. Still, worth it for the opening & closing tracks.

It surprises me how quickly Siouxsie and the Banshees evolved from a punk band who couldn't really play their instruments into a polished outfit with a distinct point of view. I This album is really polished and distinct. Some production choices have dated a bit, but it still sounds terrific. I credit John McGeoch as MVP on this record, but it is clearly a team effort. Spellbound is a real stand-out track, but this atmospheric and creepy album has a unified and unique vision. Enjoyed listening to this, but truth be told, if I was going to pull one of their records off the shelf to play, it would the Once Upon A Time singles compilation.

This was ok, definitely a little different, but I did not think it was particularly bad. I think another listen would be good (not that I will).

Oh no. Post Punk/Goth.... Like Joy Division? Fuck. That is exactly what this noise is, except not so depressing, and with a singer who can actually sing. This music sounds like the B-52's if they became depressed goths. It is very dark and brooding. Siouxsie Sioux does have a very good voice, it's just the dark, dank mood that this type of music spins (kind of like Morrissey in that they just need to cheer the fuck up). This is probably good music, it just really did nothing in the way of connecting with me today. This album is definately stacked heavier on the front half. The back half descends into this trashy goth vibe. Voodoo Dolly is literally 7 minutes of fucking noise and nonsense lyrics. Seriously? Favourite songs: Spellbound, Arabian Knights, Halloween Least favourite songs: Voodoo Dolly, Night Shift, Monitor 2/5

interesting guitar work

Decent. Not my favourite from Siouxie but I think the mix of a chocolate melting middle and 6 beers made me think that this had something to say. And it did. It said listen to me because I have something to say.

This is a band that I had heard so much about but never explored their music. I will be going deeper into their discography because it's a great example of early post-punk. Good listen.

Ekassa biisissä tajuttiin.. concept... conceptu album...... Earth shakes... Wrath of pink floyd comes.. The wall... Roger waters 3D hologram circles the bastards... IS THIS TRUE ART.. man shouts... roogeri.. Examining takes place... is good or no good... sanoo: Tää style on nii piru wibe maistuu maistuu sillee ahh menee meneee painelee hyvä peukkoavaankavereille heh pimwydestä kuitenkaan tietämättä.. kaamosta paljoo etelän navanpyörittäjät nähny...... heh... ilosta meininkiä tässä albumissa..

awful and emo

The first Banshees album I bought and it's still great over 40 years later!

Not bad. Used to think they were the worst thing in the world, and now can see them as being better than most of what was around at the time. However, nothing stood out like Happy House, so moving on. 3 stars

P good but nothing too memorable

Enjoyed it. Still think Siouxsie is a singles band and obviously this isn't all the hits, but still great.

Lo escucharia de vuelta, pero no me gusto mucho. La voz es un poco inbancable

Could not get into that at all

Toss these guys into the same bucket as the one holding The Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus. I'm all about the darkness and lyrics but would enjoy this way more with a heavier, distorted sound.

love it

I first heard and was enraptured by Siouxsie And The Banshees a couple of years after this first came out. When working through the back catalogue, this album was initially overshadowed for me by the two albums immediately before and after (Kaleidoscope and A Kiss In The Dreamhouse). But over time it's come to be my favourite. Was delighted when the website selected this for me today, and no question about the score.

What a cool album. This will take a few more listens to really sink in, but love it already. I was vibing to the whole thing while cleaning, but Monitor really stood out in my first listen through!

Highlights: "Head Cut," "Monitor," "Into the Light" This is a big leap from the punk sound of The Scream. You can definitely see how they readily synthesized Eno, Joy Division, Suicide, Einszturzende Neubaten, and Public Image LTD. into their own more entertaining sound. This formative goth album seems like it's *less* dire and depressive than its contemporary influences (Public Image Ltd., Einszturzende Neubaten, Joy Division, Kraftwerk). It seems to pull in more interesting production and harmony from Eno while providing a driving energy that he mostly got from collaboration with other artists. It's impressive that such chromatic and noisy guitarwork is able to stay behind the vocals and just build atmosphere, or that the bass is able to rein that sound into the song structure. So much metal now sounds more like this than any metal per se from the 80s. "Monitor" could have been released any time in the past forty years. This is another album where a sound from the next decade just seems to pop out fully formed. It needed a lot of groundwork from other great acts, but it sounds like a breakthrough in pop.

Good

Pleasantly surprised by this album

Really had me at first but sorta lost me

This is the second Siouxsie album I've listened to in this project and as opposed to The Scream, this is more along the lines of the music I associate with this band and have appreciated. "Spellbound" is a pretty kickass classic tune. I didn't love the whole thing, as I got a little weary on Side B, but this is pretty good stuff. Siouxsie's voice is an extreme, powerful force, whose energy sometimes reminds me of Carol Burnett's Tarzan call. The band's sound is pretty fantastic and the guitar work of John McGeoch is deservedly celebrated.

This was what I was expecting from Siouxsie And The Banshees. Although I don’t recall ever hearing any of these tracks before, there was something VERY familiar about a couple…so perhaps I have a poor memory. I was left a bit torn in that I really loved (I mean really really loved) some moments and for others, I couldn’t wait to move on. So, I don’t think I will ever want to revisit the entire album, but it was a good experience for the day.

Oh! So much better than the last Siouxsie and the Banshees' album we had. I love this one!

Quite a bit of intensity on this album. The cover seems very appropriate. I’ve heard some Siouxsie & The Banshees over the years and have always had mixed feelings. Some of that sentiment remains. Several songs I really liked (Spellbound, Arabian Knights, Halloween, Monitor). I can see myself going back to these. Glad to be revisiting this group. I feel like I can appreciate them more than back in the day.

Pretty fun album, sounds nostalgic

Not unenjoyable.

-3 songs in, very good so far -Night Shift is my favorite so far but Into The Light is pretty good -I have heard good things of Arabian Knights, hopefully it’s as good as they say -It was ok -Very solid album, wouldn’t listen to it regularly but i liked it

A marked improvement from their debut album. This feels more deliberate and constructed, as if they've honed in on their signature sound after some experimentation. I'll certainly be returning to this album soon! Standout tracks were Spellbound, Arabian Knights, and Monitor.

I liked this, I thought it would be more straight ahead punk and there's a lot more sounds to it

Not bad but a bit rowdy for me

Redelijk new wave achtig. Niet zo zeer mijn ding

If Patti Smith was the vocalist for Joy Division with a east coast punk edge. Sick 80s chorusy guitar licks. Anxious, rabid drums.

id already heard most the album before but it was very good 7.5/10

Enjoyed it a bit, but a bit static/amelodic for my taste.

i love this aspect of the 80s. this vibe is such a vibe

2/16- Driving to penn hills

good wave

This wasn't bad, but seemed to drag on after a while. Like many albums I didn't get much time with it and wish I could give it another spin before having to move on. I feel as though I was tiring of Siouxie's voice as the album went on. I don't see this as something I would listen to regularly. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding

This album is like a primal force of nature- deep, dark and disturbing. Stuck between Punk, New-Wave and early Goth. Powerful themes, rhythms, guitar and drums. Siouxsie voice is perfect for this. She is so strong and magnetic.

Like a punkier version of Brit pop

I'm not that familiar with this band, apart from their major hits. However, I loved this from start to finish and will definitely be revisiting it. Love the overall aesthetic, the vocals, and the unusual guitar sounds. This seems to have been really original for the time.

I really enjoyed the guitarwork and vocals on this album. Both were excellent.

Great female punk rock,

Pretty good. Would run it back again

Not really my genre, I guess.

Not a top pick for my tastes. Could only listen once.

Great goth-pop album, would have loved this when I was younger. Spellbound is the highlight

I’d never listened to Siouxsie and the Banshees before this. I was expecting more of a punk sound. This album would sound right at home on “alt-nation” on Sirius XM today. It was kind of fun to listen to but I didn’t think it was anything special one way or another. No particularly interesting songs.

A few standout tracks, but overall not a classic

SIOUXSIE DIOSA

I had some mixed feelings with this, but most of the time quite enjoyable

Great vocals, solid songwriting, and a cool brooding, unheimish mood.

Liked some but found others a bit meh 2.5/5 stars

Did not know this. Has a cool vibe. Spellbound was my favourite but was also a bit of an odd one out. 3.5

Did not know this band, pleasant surprise. Like the vibe, sound & rhythm.

Must be one of the best post-punk albums ever made, and one of my favourite albums all time, and it is just one of the many 5-star Siouxsie & The Banshees albums... (best track: Into the Light)

My best experience in the past with this band was Hyaena, and I even about that album I had mixed feelings. However, Juju today has turned out to be an excellent album and my new favourite. I particularly liked Siouxsie's powerful vocal delivery, the galloping rhythms, and the dark guitar sounds. Everything just worked for me on this album, and makes me want to check out their back catalogue again.

Apart from a few nicely progressing songs like Into the light and Sin in my heart, this record with somewhat off-putting vocals doesn't really appeal to me.

Female post-punk is still pretty much undefeated on this list. This and elastica, while not exactly the same era, both stand out as really solid female rock albums. Monitor was my favorite off of this

Ahead of it's time

Never listened to more than the singles from Siouxsie, I've missed out! Much better than I was expecting, unique sounds, esp the guitar work.

Enjoyable album. I don't have a ton of nostalgia for this in particularly which I think would have maybe bumped it up to a 4.

What can I say, I love post-punk. The guitars here are next level, and Siouxsie's vocals are simply mindblowing. Well deserved to be on this list.

Good enough.

Great punk band. Pretty good punk album.

My favorite Siouxsie And The Banshees album, a band I didn't know I needed so badly before undertaking this project and consulting Dimery's list online (the man should be thanked a thousand times for this, in spite of all the "wrong" albums he or his team singled out). *Juju* is not so much gothic "post-punk" as *pop-punk as it should actually be defined in popular consciousness*. Budgie's drumming is dynamic and powerful, John McGeogh's jagged guitar lines vibrate with an intensity rarely heard in this overall genre, and Siouxsie's voice is haunting. This is, for me, their strongest set of songs. *The Scream* and *Kaleidoscope* also have great moments, but none of those records are as cohesive and impressive as *Juju*. No dud to be found in here: "Arabian Nights", "Monitor", "Spellbound' and "Into the Light", especially, can get stuck in your head for hours after listening to the LP. Have I already used the word "haunting" in this short review? I hope I did, because *Juju* is the perfect illustration of it, in all its many senses. 5 stars, nothing less. Number of albums left to review: 687 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 153 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 71 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 88

Hey this was extremely good! I don't think I could have survived school years if I'd been checked into gothy stuff, but their music continues to be fantastic

It was exactly as expected. Suck. 2/5.

Eh

Surprisingly refreshing!!!

Yes, more rock with female leads please. Honestly there's not enough female-led rock groups in this list, probably because there's not enough popular ones in general. Siouxsie has a tremendous voice that, before today, I'd never heard before. This album was a shocking, pleasant surprise. I'm not super familiar with post punk as a genre, but if this is what it's like, then I clearly need to delve into it some more, because 'Juju' is all kinds of haunting, fantastic, and brilliant.

Yeah, lots of the songs made me feel but only if I was in the mood for a little noise

Shimmery guitars add an extra level of gloss to the goth melancholy.

A Goth hymn book. I love Siouxsie and the Banshees and this album is extra special for how much it pushes the sounds. So layered and chaotic

Interesting, new wave type music, post punk. Lead vocals remind me of Grace Slick from early Jefferson Airplane albums. Overall Interesting mix of styles.

Gothic rock, a post punk group wihch used the gizmo to give the guitar a more synth or classical effect in the songs. The album seemed to have a concept with the songs relating to each other.

This was simply amazing. Anxious, energetic, weird - all you need from goth!

Decent but wouldn’t listen again.

It is wild how some of these acts seemed to spring up almost fully formed. This is punk developed and refined but still sharp edged and biting. Good stuff.

- If I closed my eyes and you told me that Willow Smith was singing some of these songs I’d believe it

I feel like the sound that so many of the other post-punk groups on this list tried for, this album achieved in mastery. Even after getting so bogged down by soooooo manyyyyy of them here, this stood out like a beacon. Mastery of punk image and sound with experimentalism and art feel.

I know they dispute the Goth Rock descriptor, but there is something so good about the sounds here that reminds me of those other Goth Rock acts.

Siouxsie and the Banshees is one of those bands that I've heard about forever, but have never actually knowingly listened to them. In some ways, I'm glad I waited as long as I did because I feel like it gave me a new appreciation for this album because I'm much more well versed in subgenres like post-punk, art-rock, and goth. I wouldn't say that this album sits comfortably in any of those genres, but it certainly influenced each of them after it was released. It's a great album. Apparently it's more electronic than their previous work, but it feels completely natural in this album. This album feels really advanced for 1981. Songs like Monitor remind me of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Overall, a really stellar album that I'm surprised I haven't heard more about. It seems like a titanic achievement for the era in which it was made 5/5

Buen disco de rock con voz femenina. Sin destacar especialmente, está bien construido, aunque no tiene canciones muy recordadas

I wasn’t a huge fan of this album. I’ve been meaning to check out Siouxsie and the Banshees for awhile, and I’m glad I finally did it, but this music wasn’t really rally’s my thing.

Really enjoyed this - I'd never listened to a Siouxsie album and there's no reason why as this is right up my street.

So moody and gloomy. Really enjoyed this, they took what they accomplished on The Scream and came back even better. Awesome stuff, 4 stars

An unexpected gem

This is my second Siouxsie & The Banshees record in this. It's okay, I think I am just not really in to the 80s goth rock scene. It has some great songs, and is enjoyable enough, but overall, not really for me.

This was just okay. Theoretically I should have liked it more but it sounded too repetitive to me. As I was listening, I could understand how it could be influential to modern musicians. I also think I might like it more if I listened to it a few times. I had never listened to this band before so it was nice to give them a chance.

This was alright - nothing really jumped out at me but the vocals and overall sound are great. 6/10.

3.3

Another group that I've always had on my "should listen to someday" list, until now. This record dipped a little in energy for me in the middle for a few tracks, but I really liked the rest. Voodoo Dolly was a nice dark kind of psychedelic spin out at the end. I can hear this group's influence in lots of things I'm into by more recent artists.

Really liked this, and didn't know it already. 4.5/5

I had a bit of a Siouxsie phase back in the day, but haven’t listened to her stuff in a while. It’s good! Almost like if Kate Bush joined Bauhaus. B

Goth rock from the 80’s. Different but not my favorite

An artist that I knew nothing about before, but I feel like I should have. I'm excited to dig into more. 4/5

Jag gillar Into The Light och Sin In My Heart. Användandet av rombs istället för symbolerna ger det en ”gothic”känsla

The opening of Into the Light is so fucking cool. Basically how I feel about this whole album: just so many cool musical ideas and treatments. Kind of a haunted record, almost theatrical in execution. Like Kate Bush meets The Cure. Really enjoyed this listen.

I kind of liked it, though I probably won't revisit. Siouxsie is obv an icon though

Didn’t listen a ton but got a little bit of punk info out of it

Seconds in, I could tell this was my type of music. Spellbound is a great song Into the light: guitar reminds me of the Police. another great song

Love me some Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Eh fine

Just about the perfect post-punk album. Should also appeal to fans of punk, new wave, and of course goth rock.

Dark brooding and frankly a little scary. But recommended

Decent. 2.5/5

Wat een gejengel, je wordt het snel zat.

Slay

i really liked this but not enough for 5 sorry

Ok. I like it but not love it

Great unconventional gloomy post-punk from Siouxsie and her Banshees. Everything on the record is drenching with hopelessness perfectly captured by John McGeoch's theatrical guitar-playing. Even when the guitar is mixed all the way in the background, you can hear him giving it his all. 'Spellbound', 'Halloween' and 'Voodoo Dolly' are highlights.

Finally! An album to convince this website that I don’t hate post-punk; only their shitty choices of the genre so far. I simply can not praise the guitar playing of McGeoch enough. “Spellbound” easily ranks among the best guitar tracks of the 80’s and for the rest of the album there’s never a track where he doesn’t deliver something truly unique and interesting. Siouxsie sounds as great and gloomy as ever and the songs seem as fresh today as they would have done more than 40 years ago. An absolute masterpiece!

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: yeah it’s decent, quite a distinctive style and work of synths mixed with great vocals on a lot of tracks here Favourite song: Track 1 - Spellbound

I like it. The vocals are nice and fit well over the instrumentals. 7/10

Ok

Not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it.

It's not bad with a few really good songs

BITCH, taking me back to my early 20’s

Already knew some of these songs. I can hear some post punk in here, which is cool

Repetitive. Sounds like one long song.

bello, nel mio genere, atmosfera originale

molto bello, un po' troppo omogenee le canzoni. Grandissima cantante.

Just not at all into this sound. It's annoyingly noisy. I want to turn it off.

Post punk is such an amazing genre in my opinion but siouxsie and the banshees is honestly not a band that I really know though so this is going to be fun… Lead single (and biggest hit) spellbound opens up the album with a memorable banger to get the listener hooked! Into the light is cool, her vocals are perfect on this one and those drums are awesome. Arabian knights is what I expected for a post punk song the bass/drum combo on the verses is so brooding. Halloween (or any public holiday) isn’t really a songwriting theme that I would call good but instrumentally the track is cool. Monitor ending side one was a brilliant choice definitely one of my favourites from side one! Side two track one is night shift a bloody incredible track! The guitars on this are so fucking sick! Sin in my heart is also a banger I love the minute long intro only to be cut by some of the most aggressive drums I’ve ever herd. The metallic guitar tones in head cut are brilliant the rest of the song isn’t necessarily one of my favourites on the album but it’s cool. Voodoo dolly is horror music the track is so tense and I love how it bursts into a ball of insanity. This was great might regret later but i’am gonna give it a 5.

Aye, it's a novel and unique sound, but would I listen twice? Nah. Just reminds me of how bland some of the music of the era was

A seminal gothic album. Incredibly polished with a dark mood, with parts being both fun and eery. It's incredibly fast-paced and dense, with plenty of strange sounds that contribute to the horror and sometimes psychedelic feel of the tracks. This is further characterized by the cold distant drums, the lofi compressed guitar, and Siouxsie's shrieks and mystical voice. It's very accessible, with pop and dance tracks put at the beginning to entice new listeners, making this a perfect entry point for the genre. At the same time, it's tense with moments of anxiety and resolution that reward you well. The songs transition well from one to the next, carrying the mood. Second half slows down with a creepier and colder sound that I love. Despite how strange it gets, it never becomes too abrasive to scare listeners away. Personally I think every song is great, and so is the order. Out of all their albums, they really knocked it out of the ballpark with the dark horror approach they were going for in both their sound and lyrical content. As much as I like how varied their discography is, I wish they had a record as consistent in its gothic tones as this one.

10/04/2022 Got this album on my birthday!!! Too bad it wasn’t that great!!! Better than I was expecting, but still not something I would listen to on my own time. — My 23rd birthday was beautiful. I woke up and didnt have class in the morning, so I took myself out for lunch at Croissant Brioche. I got a slice of quiche, a cup of vegetable soup, a cappuccino, an eclair, and a fruit tart. It was all so perfect. I went to school for a little bit, and then I went to central market later in the day to pick up a fruit tart for the little art hangout that I was invited to by Kiyana. I got there around 8, and met a bunch of cool, creative people. We took pictures, sang songs, made art, and all shared some fruit tart. Everyone made me feel so welcome :) After that, Kiyana, Mikey, and I went to anvil and they got me two drinks. We didn’t get home until 3am. It was a perfect day :)

minne om vgs

Ikkje så megafan av Siouxsie og gjengen, men Spellbound e jævlig bra

I Can appreciate this album as being good for what it is but also have a hard time listening to it for very long. Just not my preferred style of music.

Jom ik had hier allerlei dingen ingevuld. Het was niet slecht ofzo, maar precies ook niet zo memorabel? Denk wel dat ik erdoor op de dinge Mephisto Walz & Danse Society ben uitgekomen dus dat maakt het wel weer verdienstelijk.

Their gothest and heaviest album - which is saying something. The perfect balance of pop-rush (Arabian Knights, Spellbound) Banshees and heavy grinders (Monitor and the quite awesome Nightshift which contains one of the best silences on any record). A very slight loss of focus at the end so four. Probably four and a half if halves existed. John McGeoch - the best guitarist that punk/new wave produced - at his absolute peak.

It was ok

I’ve definitely heard of Siouxsie and the Banshees, but I haven’t a clue if I know any songs by them. For some reason, I immediately thought they were a similar band to New York Dolls, but then again I don’t know what they sound like either so that isn’t much help really. Songs I already know: none Favourite after listening: Monitor, Night Shift Overall: 5/10 It seems strange to me that the leading singles from this album were Spellbound and Arabian Knights, as I found both to be quite boring. I think that in general I tended to find the beginning of the album to be somewhat rubbish, but it did get better as the album went on. Based on the first half feeling like 3/10 songs, and then the second half feeling like 7/10 songs, it felt only fair to say 5/10 overall. I highly doubt I’ll be searching out any more songs by them afterwards, and I won’t likely be returning to this album again.

Quintessential goth rock: perfect for the coming All Hallows' Eve. I have a lot of respect for drummer Budgie, who brings a lot of power to this album with intense beats that the rest of the band ride off of. That's not to discredit the other band members, as their contributions make the whole greater than the sum of it's parts. I particularly love John McGeoch's guitar tone on Monitor. And I would be remiss not to mention Siouxie Sioux's iconic vocals, which is the true core of the band's personality. Every aspect of this album is excellent. It's a wonderful post-punk sound mixed with horror aesthetics that bring Juju to life. Worth listening to every second.

This was good, better than expected. A solid 3*

Was hoping for better. It was OK.

0 complaints

dance and chill

Guitar by McGeoch out of this world. What a fantastic album. Siouxsie really finds her voice on this one.

Side One is brilliant! Rest is not so good. I can see Robert Smith's influence (or even what inspired him?). Great sound for half the LP! As such drops down from 4 stars.

I really enjoyed this record. I had never heard of them prior to this, and I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The vocals and guitars were phenomenal and the who record really flows so well. I was really pleased with almost all the songs and I can see why many praise it as a staple of punk music. Favorite Track: Halloween, Spellbound Least Favorite Track: Voodoo Dolly

Average listen.

A bit repetitive with not much grunt

One of mams favourite. I didn't get it...

Singles: -------------------------- Spellbound (#22 UK) Arabian Knights (#32) Standouts: Spellbound, Arabian Knights, Night Shift Others: Monitor, Halloween, Sins In My Heart Rating: 3

Sounds both '80s and early '90s at the same time. Not sure how that happens when it was released in '81. Perhaps that's just the legacy of Siouxsie And The Banshees, having such a rich and diverse sound that endures through the years. Best: Spellbound Worst: Night Shift 3.5 Stars

Not my favorite

Since (post) punk isn't my thing, I guess I shouldn't rate this album...

Surprisingly more in-depth then I was expecting. I knew the name but had another idea of what they sounded like. Dark breading and even angry. A mix of clash, blondie, pretenders,depeche mode

Wel prima, luistert lekker

Not bad. Nothing quite wowed me, and I'd give it a 3.5 if I could.

Loved the sound

Like this, feel it's missing just that little "something". What a pointless review. 3.7

Okay album, wished the songs had a bit more variety to them. Lead singer was fantastic

Absolutely stunning. Featuring some trippy guitar sounds, pounding TomTom drums, exotic scales and melodies topped off by some powerful vocals (reminiscent of Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane). A decade earlier this would have been called psychedelic or raga rock and it's better than a lot of the albums from that era. I'm stunned (I'll be seeking a vinyl copy of this!)

It screamed early 80s at me but was enjoyable

Enjoyable post punk like the heavy use of the chorus pedal

Love this album, all ticks all the post punk goth boxes and does it very well all round

Oh, that was lovely.

I wasn't familiar with Siouxsie and the Banshees at all. This album took me by surprise, enjoyed it very much. Despite not being familiar with it, I couldn't shake that feeling of early 80s nostalgia, the guitars are so otherworldly, feels like you're taking a peak behind the dark curtain, and disliking how the shadowy machinery of that neoliberal Cold War world really worked.

Great album. Was one that I’ve been wanting to listen to for a while.

The guitar work really makes this album. Reminiscent of the guitarists Bowie had in this era

I like the dark, trudging sound and Siouxsie's voice. Johnny Marr is a fan of the guitar work so I guess I am too. My favourites are Spellbound, Arabian Nights and Headcut.

Another reviewer mentioned that if you like the Siouxsie sound you'll love this album, but if not, this album will be grating. I'm totally in the latter camp. In the early 80s when punk was rapidly fading the post-punk/goths bands came out of the woodwork - The Cure, Siouxsie, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy.... etc The only one that caught my attention back then was the Cure. Flash forward 40 years and their vocal stylings, drum and guitar work all sound so dated today, their sound was very trendy at the time, but not made to last, all except for the Cure which sounds surprisingly fresh and listenable today. I wasn't a fan of this band back then and I'm still not a fan today.

2/5 ok 4/5 arabian knights

Prior to this album popping up in my list, I had heard of the band but never really checked them out. Because of my personal music preferences, I'll probably add a few of the tracks to my playlists, but I don't feel that there's anything exceptional here. Some decent punk-ish alt-rock, but that's about it.

5.0 - Listening to "Monitor" I imagine an angry sky of charcoal conjured by the jagged guitars. The brutal crashing of the drums beckon claps of thunder and I see green flashes of lightning brusting from the dark clouds. Then Siouxsie Sioux materializes from this stormy chaos, an oversized Medusa head fixing her glowing red eyes on me as she pronounces impending doom with her forked tongue. I think many contemporaries like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Knife and the Killers (to name a few) have tried to capture the same drama and magic but not many come close to Siouxsie & The Banshees. Side note: I curse Robert Dimery often for recommending records I've found underwhelming (e.g. "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen). But I'm equally thankful for his influence in getting me to listen to records like "Juju" that I may have avoided for stupid reasons (e.g. a weird band name like Siouxsie & The Banshees).

Moody, dramatic goth rock. I didn’t totally dislike it but it didn’t do much for me. Reminded me of seeing an opening act for a show, waiting for the headliner. Afterwards you think, ‘That was kinda cool’ but then you never listen to that band again. “Monitor” is a cool one. Sounds way ahead of its time.

The first track, "Spellbound" is cool. I like how it pretty quickly grabs you and gives you this energetic guitar and percussion driven piece. It's a fun opener track for an album. There isn't much that blows me away though. This album came out in 1981 and the sound is pretty early ~1970's ish. I think the lead singer has a cool, slightly shrieking voice but I don't really think it's anything too amazing. The production really leaves a lot to be desired. In the second song, "Into The Light", there's some great weird synth-like electric guitar parts that come in a little before the 1 minute mark but the production sounds really like flimsy? on these instruments. I listened to the remastered & expanded version of the album and it sounded pretty dull production-wise. Sort of flat and uninspiring. I wonder if the remaster was done only a short time after, maybe a few years? Some remastered albums I hear are done decades after the initial release and end up sounding much more modern than this one did.

Eh, it was OK

Balls

Post punk gothic rock

Iconic band, post punk progressive rock.

Pretty decent this. Monitor has a brilliant bassline, and Arabian Nights is superb. Varied, pretty thumping, solid solid album. Closer to 3.5, but it is definitely worth a listen. Super punky.

Like it. 80s punk with a female vocalist. What more you want

Muy ochentero. Me gusta.

Much better than I was expecting. Most of it was enjoyable, good voice and a nice guitar sound. Solid.

Ok

Some nice, sorta goth, post punk alt rock with female vocals. There was cool dark energy on some of the songs. I liked it more than I expected to. I thought it was just as good or even better than similar contemporary albums, like The Cure’s Pornography.

Perfectly dark and chaotic, no skips.

I actually just listened to this album earlier this past week from a "top post punk albums" list. Spellbound is the most obvious song on this album that I added, but listening again now. I prefer the more new-wave sound vs post punk. "Into The Light" has some killer guitar licks that I must have just glossed over last time I listened. Still like the more new wave style of this era.

Never a big Banshees fan, but liked their music from this period, reminiscent of the Cure and subsequent goth groups (Arabian Nights, Into the Light, Night Shift and liked the psychedelic flavour of many of the songs here - Spellbound, Could do with a little more variation, the songs start to sound a bit samey and most have a similar tempo

I like this band. I like their sound. This was a good listen, but there wasn't anything that jumped out at me.

Haven't been able to get into post punk much and this album was ok. Nothing really grabbed me. A few of the guitar riffs were really cool but overall I'm not coming back to this album.

I was really surprised by this band. Before my first approach to this album, I was expecting a doom and gloom punk, like a more melancholic Sex Pistols (maybe because of Sid Vicious connection)? But apparently those guys know how to play! Interesting and not at all punk-like guitars, plus very nice bass and drum layer. Some of the songs had a very good foundation to be hits, even now. Unfortunately, here comes the caveat - I just couldn't stand listening to Siouxsie vocal.. It was okay for one or two songs, but on a whole album, especially with vocals being so exposed on the tape, it's just unbearable. I might give this album a second chance sometimes, or even check different records from this band, but for now my only choice is to give it an average rating.

Classic

Pretty good alternative gothic vibe. Some great songs, but some fade into the background.

I looooved this one, might just stop the generator for a week to enjoy this. Siouxsie's voice is sooo hypnotizing, the lyrics are super efficient and the melodies are straight up addictive.

Chyba jeden z najlepszych kombekow listowych do tej pory, bo Siouxsie i jej bansze pamietam dobrze, a byl to jeden z pierwszych albumow przesluchanych na liscie, bylo to az tak straszliwe wycie, na jakze trafnie nazwanym krazku scream, natomiast Juju ktory jest czwartym studyjnym albumem zespolu z 81, pokazuje go w duzo lepszym swietle, nadal jest to granie oparte o gitarowym instrumentalu, sklad bandy zmienil sie w polowie, gitare trzyma w lapie John McGeoch, a trzyma ja na tyle umiejetnie, ze sa momenty ktore trzeba przesluchac wiecej niz jeden raz zeby rozczaic sie co tam bylo zrobione, natomiast za drumy odpowiedzialny jest artysta o pseudonimie Budgie, na basie jak na poprzednim krazku Steven Severin, no i na wokalu pani Siouxsie u ktorej slychac niesamowity progres wokalno liryczny, bo dawno nie slyszalem tak dobrego polaczenia mrocznej i wiejacej tajemnicza groza liryki z hipnotycznym wokalem, a nie juz samym wyciem, choc zdarzaja sie takie momenty rowniez na tym krazku, jesli do tego dodac chemie ktora czuc z grania calej bandy dostaje czlowiek cos naprawde unikalnego, wiki klasyfikuje krazek jako post punkowy material, ale rownie dobrze pasuje tutaj okreslenie gotikowego rokowania, bo pasuje to calkiem niezle, bo gdy mysle o gotiku to wlasnie takie motywy uwodzacego mroku i mrazacych krew w zylach makabr opowiadanych przez chartzmatyczna persone sa jak najbardziej na miejscu, kolejnym waznym, a moze najwazniejszym punktem rozniacych oba te picki jest przepasc jaka slychac na produkcji, o ile scream brzmial doslownie jak krzyk z dna basenu na co wskazywala okladka, tak juju na calych 41 minutach posiada jakosciowe i pelne miesa brzmienie, zarowno jesli chodzi o scene instrumentalna jak i wokale na niej osadzone, bo jest to jeden z tych albumow gdzie instrumenty maja robic miejsce do popisu wokalnego gwiazdy zespolu, na tych 41 minutach zmiescilo sie 9 trakow, na plejke dodam openingowego spellbound, ktory zaklina sluchacza na kolejne 41 minut oraz halloweenowy song, moze dlatego, ze pasuje idealnie do piloczlowieka i pewnie bede go slyszal jesli zdarzy sie znowu czytac o kosmicznym diable, teraz juz sam nie wiem czy w przeciagu 500 albumow tak bardzo zmienil mi sie gust, czy naprawde zespol brzmi az o tyle lepiej niz ostatnim razem

Пост панк и пост панк

Started strong but fell off about half way in 2/5

Nikad favoriti ali super solidni singlovi

So much of the music was tuneless, but I liked the eeriness of some of the songs.

Sooo insanely good

Classic Wave album, really enjoyed it, made me play Cocteau Twins, Hula and other dark music again.

So far ahead of its time that I don't think its time has come yet.

Favourite song: Arabian Knights, Monitor

Deed me een beetje aan een iets toegankelijkere variant op PIL denken, best leuk!

Heel erg postpunk eighties. Klonk best oké.

Beetje zwaar op de hand, maar dat kon ik wel hebben.

Leuk maar ook ietwat eentonig.

Cranberries + B-52s vibes! Fun "wailing" rock album

Monitor is a banger 3

Not for me.

Excellent!

Fantastic, every song a highlight

A fantastic album very nearly a 5

very good

Never heard the band before. Solid album, steady away.

I loved this....so moody and goth. While listening, I heard a lot of Willow Smith, I wonder if she is influenced by Siouxsie

Begging to be rediscovered and reevaluated. If Stranger Things had a season set in 1981, the Duffer Brothers could have introduced "Spellbound" to a new generation, and today's youth would turn it into a Top Ten hit just like they're currently doing with "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush. This thing is front loaded, throwing 5 consecutive bangers right out of the gate. I hear everything from the B-52's to Polly Jean Harvey in those 5 gems. And then it takes you on a journey, ending with a daring 7 minute track that will alienate the masses. It's in the running for best album of 1981, and it might also be the best B-52's album.

Classic Siouxsie. Great if you like the sound, grates a bit if you’re not totally into it.

garbanzo

Gros coup de coeur sur cet album. La face A est excellente d'un bout à l'autre. La face B moins accrocheuse reste intéressante dans ses arrangements. Ce n'est pas les meilleurs musiciens, mais sur cet album, ils arrivent tout de même à livrer de bonnes idées sans que la performance n'affecte négativement la pièce et la voix de Siouxsie est plus juste que sur l'album The Scream. Le riff à 2:00 dans Arabian Knights aurait pu être entendu sur un album alternatif des années 90 et Monitor est loin de sonner comme une pièce d'un album sortie en 1981. Je dois me procurer cet album. Pièces préférées: Monitor, Arabian Knights, Spellbound

4.25

The muscular riffs and angsty vocals saved this goth rock album from being a cheesy fad that's only listenable during Halloween. It's compelling and the fun never wears off as one goes deeper into the gothic mansion. Perhaps one of the best things that came out of post-punk, as well as the best ones that came out of the '80s music scene.

This is cracking. A real taste of my adolescence - Goth 101. Great tunes, great atmosphere.

It only occasionally gets above average. Occasionally

Cada vez mais necessário escutar pela combinação do instrumental e vocal.

Neither then nor now am I able to connect to this music. I don’t know exactly why, but it always made my think of saws.

5/15/2022 - ALBUM #109 Today's Album: "Juju" by Siouxsie and the Banshees - This album is really sort of just okay to me. I really like the general style of it, the vocals work well for what they're trying to do, the production feels decent for a group like this, and the songwriting overall is pretty decent. However, it just does not really catch my attention very much outside of having a pretty cool 80s psychedelia aesthetic to it. The highlights on this record really do show how talented the group is and are quite enjoyable, but there are some really stinky tracks on here filling out the track list like the fairly awful Halloween and the generally boring Head Cut. Overall, the vibe of this record doesn't really fit well into a casual listening scene and it doesn't give me enough to enjoy an in depth listen either, so it just feels like this kind of stale experience that's trying to be more than it is. Maybe just give the highlights of this album a listen because the most of it rubbed me the wrong way and the highlights just barely made it worth giving it a play at all. Highlights: Arabian Knights, Monitor Score: 5.5/10 2 good tracks and a lot of hazy and uninteresting garbage

Longtime Siouxsie fan

Couldn’t get into it. Too avant-grade try hard and inaccessible. Meh.

I gave the other album a 4 but I'm leaning towards 5 for this one so let's do that. Enjoyable from start to finish, wonderfully atmospheric.'' Faves: Spellbound, Arabian Nights

Fun fact that S&TB included Sid Vicious, Robert Smith and Slits drummer Budgie in their lineup over the years. Never listened to Siouxsie and the Banshees and now I know why. I didn't have the patience for Siouxsie's voice. The self-aggrandizing dramatic crooning always bugs me... Today however, I was able to push through it, mainly because I couldn't reach the 'skip' button on my phone. I'm glad I did. The first listen was okay, but over the course of the second I was able to appreciate and even enjoy her voice. Let me be clear, the music underneath is wiry, uniquely drone-y and catchy at the same time. Love the less-than-perfect and dirty production of this album. Will def. listen to this more.

I think the punk and post-punk of the late 70s and early 80s has been my favorite part of exploring the 1001, because I've discovered some great stuff I didn't know before. And some less than great stuff, but even those were certainly interesting. With still more to come as we continue the journey. Of that period and genre, I think I like Siouxsie and the Banshees the best. It feels very unique, but not too odd or alienating. It sounds like they may have gone through some stylistic evolutions during their career, but "Juju" is terrific. I love the sharp, piercing guitar work and the understated percussion, and while it took me a few songs to get into Siouxsie's voice, I wound up liking it on most songs. It's too bad they left the punk behind and seem to have become a pretty typical 80s band, with a few decent songs and maybe more than a few annoying ones. I'll put some tracks from "Juju" in regular rotation though.

The music is interesting. I don’t care for Siouxsie’s voice, especially affects she uses. I disliked her voice less on a second skim through the album though still not much.

Well, that was incredible. I knew other Siouxsie albums and really liked them, but I had never really heard this one before. This has to be her best album, great goth/post-punk with menacing riffs and of course haunting vocals. This one goes in my wantlist.

A classic Post-punk/Goth album. The vibe in this one is quite unmatched and is always a pleasure to return to.

Huge fan of the old post-punk / gotic rock. It has been a while since I listen to this one, felt so good listening to it. I need this in vinyl. Pleas more gotic rock in this list.

Shame on me, I had never taken the time to listen to this band until today. What a wonderful discovery! I really like post-punk, but I really love the "goth rock" style, so I was delighted. Unique vocals and powerful percussion alongside all you need in great gothic and dark 80s music. I will certainly buy this record and listen to it over and over again.

Enjoyed it, although some tracks had the peculiar problem of a ripping bass line and a great rhythm, but let down by the melody. Four.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Spellbound, Into the light, Sin in my heart

Starts strong with an excellent Side A but Side B gets lost and it fizzles out. Good band average album.

pretty sure naboo in the mighty boosh talks about bad juju. This was surprisingly meaty. goff is usually a bit flimsy.

Screaming like a banshee, my mother fell to her death. She had been drinking tequila shots out of an ashtray for six hours and was performing Shakespeare on the balcony of a Premier Inn. A rhino burst through the door and heckled her performance. It knocked her confidence and she began to cry and eat dog food. The rhino's work was done, so it left. My mother ate dog food for three days, crying her heart out. On the morning of the fourth day, she would reluctantly agree to pose for Playboy. She packed her suitcase and headed for Leeds/Bradford Airport. En route she encountered Kate Winslet, who told her she reminded her of an old fridge magnet she once owned. This put a spring in my mother's step. She climbed to the top of a post office and threw herself 14 feet to the ground, impaling herself on the penis of a ghost.

Nothing to piss your pants about, but fine.

You call this Goth do you Siouxsie? Not even close. Get back to me when you have successfully invaded and sacked Rome then we'll talk.

Goths ruined the ozone layer with their hairspray

Ever since I started getting deeper into music listening, I've noticed that I tend to find the Post-Punk genre (and some extent Gothic Rock) to be a mixed-bag. Some bands I can dig, but frequently I'll find particurally acclaimed bands that I can't really get behind all too well. With bands like Joy Division, Wire, and The Cure, I'll find myself enjoying them from time to time, but I never find enough in them to really stick with me for long. With this in mind, Juju was a great surprise to me. Nearly all of the tracks are crafted incredibly well in its dark, yet somehow inviting atmosphere with just the right kind of production. If there's one thing here that stands out the most though, it would be Siouxsie's vocal work across this record. Such a perfect voice for this style of music in my opinion. Fantastic Album. Would recommend. Favourites: "Spellbound", "Into The Light", "Monitor", "Night Shift"

A stellar album. A Goth classic. John McGeoch helps brings the Banshees to new heights through his creativity. If you can find the demos with just drums and bass and Siouxsie's vocals, you can see what I mean.

solid album, not groundbreaking to me.

1 I hate Susans voice

Has its moments but gets bogged down in noise in a way that, say, The Cure never does.

First time listening to Siouxise and the Banshees, loved this album ,really starts with a bang, dark and melodic with great female vocals gives it a right badass feel. Been swaying between and 4 and a 5 all day, but this really is an album I’ll listen to a lot now, so due to personal taste this gets 5 stars.

Rockin!!

Jangly, spooky post-punk. A successful fusion of different musical elements into one cohesive sound

Pih! Wha....