Juju

Fabulous album from start to finish, the bonus tracks were great too. The punk influence was still prominent but the guitar work took it to the next level and you can see how this has been an inspiration to up and coming bands into the 90's and 00's.

Really great, loved this one. Can only see if growing

3.5/5 Really liked Into the Light. A cool goth, new wave band that I'll have to listen more to.

This was quite a boring album sorry

The first couple of tracks are pretty cool, lost interest after that. Decent enough on second listen but not one to revisit. 2.5

Really hard to rank their albums. John McGeoch is one of my favorite guitarists ever and this is some of his best work. The album could've had a stronger ending but that's about my only flaw. Rating: 4.7

> The Beatles Surprisingly good

Not the greatest fan of this specific genre, but the album was still very interesting.

Siouxsie And The Banshees were responsible for an outstanding string of singles, but their album cuts unfortunately don't live up to that same standard. *Juju* is no exception. This album contains two exceptional songs (the magnificent "Spellbound" and the hypnotic-but-lyrically-bizarre "Arabian Knights") but the remaining tracks are fairly generic post-punk that's long on atmosphere but short on hooks.

Very good.

Perfectly average. No notes

Didn't know anything about this so it was an awesome surprise. 5 stars for the insanely outstanding bass and guitar throughout this album.

Couple good tunes but I’m just not Goth enough for Siouxsie.

Really mixed bag for me, and I'm kind of surprised by some of the other reviews here. Some of the songs here are seriously great, some of them I think are fine, and a few are genuinely some of the most painful and tough musical listens I have ever experienced. Like -- what the FUCK is going on with Into The Light?? That legitimately might be the worst song I've ever heard in my life. But, then, Spellbound fucks. So. Yeah. Fave songs: - Spellbound - Monitor - Night Shift

Good overall

This was my first listen to Siouxsie and the Banshees, and I can't believe what I was missing. This album is so ahead of its time and it rules. The guitar on every single track is powerful, unique, and innovative. You can feel it at the heart of what came after: The Smiths, R.E.M., Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, etc. "Monitor" especially stands out with a riff that is a decade too early. Siouxsie's vocals sail over everything and can't be tamed. This just makes me want to be a teenager in 1981 and put on my headphones and my eyeliner and forget how much Reaganism sucks.

I definitely have listened to this before, and it didn't click then. It has now! The guitar sound and patterns are great - this is basically everything I like about Joy Division with a great vocalist

Just listened to this the other day and it has stood up to the test of time

Less annoying than punk, but a hard edge to it. Interesting guitar tones, really trebly. Dark and angry.

This is a very strong 4. 8.5/10.

Cool album. Would listen again.

heard this many times before Spellbound - 5/5 Into The Light - 4/5 Arabian Knights - 5/5 Halloween - 4/5 Monitor - 5/5 Night Shift - 5/5 Sin In My Heart - 4/5 Head Cut - 4/5 Voodoo Dolly - 3/5 (too long for my liking) Average score: 4.3/5 (rounding up) it's damn good, what else can i say? this is essential goth rock listening. since i can't give this a 4.5 star rating, i guess i have no choice but to give it 5

So annoying

Mmy girlfriend and her family, no one of note except her father who was Danny Glover and myself with my oldest daughter as just a toddler were on our way to see The Cure. Apparently this was all a business trip. I was walking around a lot and I kept checking my pockets to see if my medicine was there and if I brought enough with me. I see my girlfriend on a couch and she is being interviewed for a magazine. I plop down next to her and interrupt the interview and tell the writer how great of a cook my girlfriend is and just bragging on her. She tells me not to interrupt and I leave to a crappy hotel banquet room. The food is actually just pictures in a magazine but you could still take a laddie to the picture, dip it and food would come out. In this case potatoes au graten. I'm standing by my girlfriend proud and she looks angry. Sher said she told the interviewer about my dream that I had a present that was poop and picked it up and it was a present again. I angrily respond asking her if she wants to break up. She half heartedly says no and I replied whole heartedly that she does she rolls her eyes face stern and says fine. I angrily walk away. I'm walk the streets which is actually a college hallway and still keep checking my medicine. I pull out a ticket stub that looks used up and think they won't let me into the venue with this. I realize I broke up with my girlfriend and quickly ugly cry then I'm not. From the streets which are actually hallways I look into rooms and see my kids. Then a giant conference room with my girlfriend and her family. I sit far away on the sidelines. In the front is her father Danny Glover. On his right is Pam Grier and on his left my girlfriend. I guess he knew. He was dressed as his character from Royal Tenenbaums. He leans back to talk to my girlfriend and asks her 'does she want to grow up with Julie (Pam Grier) or Rob (me)?' She replies both and he nods in agreement and Says 'Yes, both.'

The first to crop up that I actually have in my collection. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ A solid classic that gets better with age 7/10

Terrible

10/10 Many good tracks. Spellbound is an amazing song. The rhythm is driving and it never fails to give me chills. after listening I bought the album, I had no idea how much of this album I loved 7-1-2025

Whoa, nice discovery here. Really liked this one on first listen. Doesn’t hurt that I know Trent Reznor admired Siouxsie, and NIN’s first tour was supporting them. But I had never heard this album and really dig it.

Much as I always liked Siouxsie, I never LOVED them in the same way I did The Cure or Sisters of Mercy. It was nice to listen to this after so many years though. I still have them down as a goth band but on this listening, I was far more aware of their choppy post-punk sound. I can definitely hear their lasting influence, might have to dig deeper…

Off the cuff remark: A very long time since I have listened to a whole Siouxsie album, a favourite when I was 17/18 and it has been a pleasure. Not much else that sounds like them. Standout track: Spellbound Revisit?: Yes, I think I will be looking through some other albums too..

It took me a minute to really get into it, but it's a solid 80s punk album. Her singing is probably the best part of the album, and while it is really good, it doesn't really elevate the album to elite levels for me. None of the songs felt particularly noteworthy either. The reason I put Spellbound as my favorite is that I went back to it for a little bit before finally putting the album away. Favorite Song(s): Spellbound

Its like punk rock meets hair metal Best Song: Into the Light Rating: 7/10 (Solid) Stars: 4/5

Great atmosphere

This album is ok. Not great. Not horrible. Why can’t the albums of artists with their best known songs be chosen?

I was worried when this was listed as yet another post punk album, but I was pleasantly surprised listening to it. Others have described it as art rock and dark wave and that makes more sense to me. I didn't like the last song at all, but I would absolutely listen to this again.

Interesting listen, a bit dark for a summer afternoon in July. Can definitely see how it influenced things to come.

Despite being perennially present during my youth I didn't get into **Siouxsie and the Banshees** until much later. My goth fix mainly came from **The Sisters of Mercy**, **The Cult**, **Fields of the Nephilim**, **The Cure**, and **The Mission**. Truth be told I think I had a problem with female lead vocalist and it took a while to see past my youthful prejudices. Although I'm still somewhat picky about female lead vocals. Anyway, this album starts strong with “Spellbound,” the opening track, which is one of their most famous songs. It sets a high bar for the rest of the album. “Arabian Knights” follows suit, showcasing that distinct blend of Eastern influences and darkwave sensibilities that the Banshees mastered. However, the album tails off toward the end. After the intensity of the opening tracks, songs like "Head Cut" and “Voodoo Dolly” feel a bit more subdued or repetitive. While they still have that signature atmospheric quality, the energy dips slightly, and the mood becomes a bit too introspective and brooding.

Not bad

Gothy arty post-punk that just has a dark feel but spans a range from dreary depression to creepy to somewhat psychotic. They have a really unique sound (even today) - pounding tribal drums, Siouxsie’s unique and powerful vocals, and guitar that does whatever the hell it wants! Seriously, this is some interesting and original guitar playing - noisy, glistening, disorienting, cutting. The bass adds to the mood and keeps all the other parts together. Interesting listen if you give it the attention.

there’s nothing visibly wrong with them but don’t know why i just can’t enjoy how everything sound together. tried a second listen on spellbound after reading so many great reviews and ok this one is nice

Pretty good. Not really my cup of tea usually.

Somewhat disco punky eighties music. I knew the bands name, but no real memories about their songs. This album is great while working ;)

I’m going to do something very unusual and give an album five stars after a first listen. Being a big fan of The Cure, I should be partial to their “sister band,” but never found a way in. Well, this album might be it! I loved it! The last tracks are more album tracks, but the enthusiasm built up from side one carried me through. I even learnt some of the riffs on guitar. Goth-tastic!

Really enjoyed this, will revisit.

Dark, dynamic, and swirling. Siouxsie and The Banshee's Juju is a goth/post-punk high-water mark. Filled front to back with great songs, Siouxsie's voice is haunting, and every aspect of musicianship and production is great! Highlights: most of the record!

"Juju" is a bold and experimental album. There's quite a lot of catchy prose and Siouxsie has a powerful voice.

Weird in a good way

Original, interesting, captivating, driven, unique, immersive. Sounds like if The Pretenders met The B52s and tripped on DXM. I fuck like that, so it's an easy 5 for me.

I don't usually listen to goth rock, but this was fun! Very sad-angry, "I want to be strong, independent" girl vibe! 👀 Reminded me of the tv-show Wednesday- which I had enjoyed tremendously! 💀 Album rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 62 If Joy Division was fronted by Siouxsie…. The Banshees bring the post to the punk with a glaze of goth 👻 With Juju, the band fully embraced darker themes and a more aggressive sonic landscape, solidifying their legacy in the post-punk and goth scenes. This album marked a key turning point for the group, largely due to the synergy between Siouxsie Sioux’s commanding vocals, Budgie’s tribal drumming, Steven Severin’s hypnotic basslines, and the guitar work of John McGeoch, whose contributions are often singled out as revolutionary. 🎧 Classic Track: Spellbound 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Halloween 🎧 Personal Favorite: Sin In My Heart 🎧 Memorable Standout: Night Shift Juju is both muscular and mysterious, blending eerie atmospheres with sharp-edged punk energy. The guitar textures are haunting, angular, and complex — McGeoch crafts riffs that are melodic yet dissonant, echoing a sense of menace and allure. Lyrically, the album dives into themes of ritual, madness, the macabre, and gender politics. There’s a theatrical quality to the songs, often unsettling but never without a strange allure. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Some nice looking JuJu’s What truly elevates Juju beyond its musical innovations is its lyrical content and aesthetic coherence. Siouxsie Sioux, with her icy, commanding vocal presence, delves into themes of possession, gendered violence, death, and the uncanny. The lyrics are laced with literary and mythological references, evoking everything from occult rituals to gothic Juju is not simply an album but an incantation. It summons shadows, confronts societal taboos, and reimagines the roles of women in rock music and mythology alike. It is a masterclass in how sound can be sculpted into architecture — towering, eerie, and impossible to ignore. Over four decades later, it still sounds urgent, still feels dangerous, and still casts a spell.

I should love this, I don’t.

This is fire. I love it. I never listened at the time and it’s my loss. Siouxsie’s vocals, the guitars, the driving beats, the echo-y production, just great.

This is the last album of the week. "Juju" is a pretty cool album in my opinion. "Arabian Nights" is the best of the nine tracks here. It's a shame "Spellbound" was a poor start for "Juju". Also, I'm getting tired of early 80s post-punk. 3 stars for "Juju".

I was originally going to dismiss this album after the initial listing, but felt pulled to come back to it for another try. After some repeated listens, I enjoyed it more, particularly Sioux’s demanding voice. There’s some fun stuff here to be had with its early alt goth punkish sound. My standouts: Spellbound, Sin in my heart, Halloween, monitor.

Good energy, good vibes. It was hard for me to find fault with this album. Lots of good harmonies and fun uses of dissonance. I don't have a lot of experience with the gothic rock genre, but this was fantastic. Favorite tracks: Spellbound, Monitor

Brings me back to highschool, varied gothy post punk. Fantastic all the way through and might be my favorite album of theirs, though I haven't listened their entire discog. - Mitona “Sin in my Heart” is my pick for favorite track of the album. The progression of instruments with vocal wailing to crescendo is sick. - SpaceCrabs A absolute post punk masterpiece and timeless goth classic. -Germoses

Another album with loud distorted guitar, yipping and yelling vocals, and kinda shitty drum tones. “Voodoo Dolly” was scary.

Instrumentally I love everything about this album, especially those sour guitars drenched in chorus. I wonder if they were a big influence for Dry Cleaning The singing really ruins this album for me. It’s very blondie Esq, not sure if there’s a name for this style but I’m not a fan of it. Very dramatic and annoying. I really really like the instrumentals but I’ve got to give it a three for those vocals, can’t stand them. Fav tracks - Spellbound - Into the light - Arabian Knights - Halloween - Monitor - Sin in my heart - Head cut Worst tracks - Voodoo dolly

This is so far removed from what I would choose to listen to, so much that I have actively avoided Siouxsie & The Banshees material as much as possible. Anyway, this site has taught me to forget my preconceptions and judge music on it's merits, and this was actually better than I was expecting. There were tracks that I found quite jarring/grating but as many tracks (especially the opener) were actually quite good. I think 3 stars is about right for me.

Took a few songs to grow on me but this album was very good

Kind of a electro Gothic vibe with at times almost belligerently repetitive, almost monotonic melodies. Feel like I can hear the seeds of acts as different as The Pretenders and The B-52s.

Is it bad to say I like the sound not the vocals? In 2025, it feels like overly affected.

oh siouxsie you really are the blueprint

Spooky and unconventional. I like it.

It is very unlike me, but this is kind of good? Would listen to again

Arabian Knights has a really great bass tone. Monitor gives me Everlong vibes which is neat

1 good song

Gothic and iconic

Man, is this album a weird one! Still pretty dang cool though. I hadn’t heard of Siouxsie and The Banshees until this album, and I’m glad I got to experience them. Siouxsie Sioux has a very good voice, almost like a female version of Robert Smith from the Cure. Some of the lyrics on this album are wild, and I don’t think that the band could get away with them today, especially on songs like Arabian Knight and Head Cut. John McGeoch’s guitar is very new wave esque, and the album has some great guitar riffs on it that are quintessentially 80s. Steven Severin and Budgie finish off the band, laying down some good Bass and Drum rhythms. Some of the standout tracks are Spellbound, one of the band’s biggest hits, Halloween, which really sounds like 80s horror movie soundtrack material, and the up tempo Sin in My Heart. Some of the songs could drag on for a little too long, but the majority of the album is solid and a good album for anyone looking for deeper new wave cuts.

Goth rock hell yeah

Decent, I enjoyed yeah

Great post punk album.

It was ok

Not my usual type of music. 3 out of 5 still though.

This is so cool and unique. I really haven't heard anything like this before and I love it

felt like going to a show at a dive bar in the sense that it was really fun and sexy for the first few tracks but then started feeling rlly repetitive/one note and i wanted to leave midway through to get a beer and linger at the bar for a few songs to kill time so that by the time i got back it would hopefully be over some fun percussion throughout (vibraslap???? castinets??? hell ya)

A classic

Wasn't really looking forward to listening to this but I was pleasantly surprised.. The first 3 tracks plus nightshift were standouts and was impressed with the variety of ideas (one guitar riff reminded me of RATM).

Whoa really liked this..good timing given my recent nu-goth phase. Thought the 1st 3 songs were good, but the run from Halloween through Head Cut was epic - the drums (from The Slits!) crashed harder, the guitar slashing around like Death's scythe. Monitor (especially) and Head Cut the pick of the bunch, musically and lyrically. Had me throwing shapes in my living room a la Jenny Ortega's Wednesday Adams, so have to go full marks here...

A decent album. Far less punky and aggressive than I was anticipating. Still not one of my prefers genres but I kind of liked it and glad I’ve heard it as I’d never given the band a look in previously.

Quite musical punk. Again it's something I could get into if I were to give it the opportunity. It's just a shame they didn't use the proper spelling of Bain Sidhe. 3 for it's potential.

A decent listen, until ‘Voodoo Dolly, which was a weak end to a good album.

One of my go to albums for a bit of Goth post punk. Juju is one of their best albums. Its got wo great singles and the beast that is 'Monitor', what a song. Not a bad track on this.

Aweful!

Favoriten Arabian knights

I wasn't 'spellbound' by this. The opening half was strong but the last half felt too samey.

Un band que je ne connaissais que de nom (vaguement), mais Éric m’en parle souvent depuis quelques années. Et je dois dire qu’il a raison d’en parler, c’est un bon groupe. Il font de la bonne musique. L’éternelle question demeure : est-ce que c’est pour moi ? Seule le temps le dira.

Siouxsie is an absolute iconic vocalist. I had the 7” of spellbound then bought this album. I wish it was all like Spellbound. I am a big fan of Budgie too. Good stuff. I’m more of a hits person when it comes to the banshees. Deep cuts are always cool but the psych pop stuff is just so good.

No, nada de punk ni neopunk ni nada que se le parezca. Bueno...tienen sus gustos, y yo mis preferencias.

Dark, moody, brilliant

Spellbound is the most interesting song on here but the others really didn’t capture my attention.

Aqui a banda claramente toma forma enquanto uma força coesa dentro do cenário do post-punk britânico em sua forma mais bem acabada no que tange a mistura entre post-punk, experimentalismos, sensibilidade pop e os motifs que vão dar a cara daquilo que virá a ser chamado de goth rock

Juju is the fourth studio album for Siouxsie and the Banshees. While much of their music is influential, Juju is frequently noted as an inspiring work, both for Siouxsie's vocals and for John McGeoch's inventive guitar work. McGeoch was only briefly a member of the band; he only appeared on the band's third and fourth albums. Over time, Juju has become known as one of the defining works of post-punk. Souixsie is iconic - her edgy, angry delivery made her an idol for generations of female vocalists. The Banshee's droning, effects-laden guitars were as influential; they inspired much of the alt-rock of the 80's and 90s.

Meh. Maybe should have paid more attention to be honest. Probably worth trying again

Spellbound 3.7 Into the Light 3.9 Arabian Knights 3.5 Halloween 3.6 Monitor 3.6 Night Shift 3.8 Sin in My Heart 3.4 Head Cut 3.7 Voodoo Dolly 3.1 Score: 3.588888889

371/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Cool

Knallbra skive! Passer bra til sparkling av gipsplater.

Likte denne

I really like this band.

I really dig the sound but the lyrics are a bit too witchy for me. I don't mind the occasional dark song but this is excessive. I won't be listening to their other albums. Still giving it a strong 4 stars though because musically it is great. And I'm trying to be unbiased while going through this list of albums

Fun rock album with a different sound. No song really dragged me in though. Nothing wrong with it, its just not something that I would pick when choosing music.

5/5 for me. Loved it.

Instant 5 for queen Siouxsie, “Arabian Nights” to “Halloween” to “Monitor” is a perfect trio

I dig it. Cast a hex on me Siouxsie!!!!!

First time hearing this album, but I can honestly say that this is a post-punk classic. High energy and depressing sounding at the same time. The guitar playing is great and at moment genius, even though it's not very technically proficient. Souxie is, I have to say, a bad singer.. BUT, luckily this is a post-punk album and vocal proficiency doesn't have to be top notch so it works perfectly. I'll be definitely returning to this album and the song Monitor is going into my playlists. 5/5

Not what I expected, after decades of about hearing how edgy this is, its kinda pedestrian.

Not for me

Kult

Ganske greit, men står isje ut te mg sånn ekstremt

1981. British rock band with clear 80's vibe. More dark and mysterious. Decently enjoyable.

This album is so good!!! Witchy punky gothy, and finally, another female led band

Siouxsie Sioux carries on the exuberances of Patti Smith, approaches the animation of Kate Bush, prefigures the spirit of Joy Division, and betters the one-note gothic axioms of The Cure. 'No more second rate movies / From those people outside'; 'Fuck the others kill the mothers.' Clamorous and haunting, they add layers of loudness to what could've been a drag of depression. Good on them for that, since I'd not want to endure a sluggish burn. But ultimately, Sioux suffers from the same shortcomings as Robert Smith. Except for 'Head Cut,' which features fun, frolicking vocals, each track possesses a monotony that is finally exhausted. Salvaged by hefty drumming, effective distortion, and aesthetic resolve, however, it persists.

Never heard any of this before. Surprised, liked more than expected. Interesting that Spellbound is the single as I find that one of the weaker tracks. Into the light Halloween

The vocals are really reminiscent of fleetwood mac but the overall vibe of the album is giving stranger things season 5.

This has more isntruments than most alt-pop stuff that I am used to from the 80's. That's refreshing. Not for me though - still 80's pop, it could very well have been early 90's too.

Never heard this before except 'Spellbound', which I've always liked, but I thought it was amazing from start to finish. Sounds a lot like The Cure, but with enough vocal disticintion to make it sound like an equal, not a copy. Loved it.

I love this record. I’ve loved this record for a long time. It’s one of those essential post-punk albums that really defined the genre. Dark, moody, all enveloping music that has such a distinct feeling. This is sort of the peak of John McGeochs short tenure with the band, but his guitar playing really took them to the next level. It should be noted that this album was expertly produced by Nigel Gray, who also produced the first three albums by the Police. This is one of those albums that I don’t listen to often, but every so often I remember just how great Siouxsie and the Banshees really were. 5*

This is an album that I had to listen to twice before I could make up my mind about it and I got held up on this review for nearly a week. Upon my first listen I felt it was a bit monotonous and campy and Siouxsie's vocals were a bit overbearing, although the overall sound and atmosphere is very forceful and unique in a way that is very interesting and appealing. But I also felt that I was missing something and it deserved a closer listen. I'm glad I did, because on the second listen I was able to better appreciate the musicianship and especially the guitar work on this album is very cool and impressive and, as far as I know, pretty unique for 1981. Their sound as a whole is remarkably cohesive and polished, as if it exists in its own universe, in a way that impresses me that this album was released in 1981. The first 5-6 tracks of this album are all really strong. They're dark and groovy and kinda funky and very catchy and just have this larger-than-life aura about them that really feels like some kind of magic was bottled in making this record. Unfortunately, I feel it kind of peters out on the last three tracks. By that point it's just a little too much of the same. Perhaps if I keep listening to this album, which I believe I probably will, I will come around to these tracks as well. I hope so, because for what it is this album is near perfect until the last three tracks. Playlist pick: "Spellbound" or "Halloween"

cool

Surprised me

Interesting album- liked it more than I thought I would.

Maybe the 8 incredibly tough to get through albums I had preceding this one lowered my expectations, but this was great! Fun, interesting, a breath of fresh air.

It’s hard to believe this album is from 1981. Did Siouxsie see the future or did the future imitate her? She balances the urgency of the punk that broke 4 years earlier with the gloom and drone that would come to define goth. This album defines goth. It’s a flagplanter record. Still sounds both modern and out of time.

Funny coincidence, was listening to this only yesterday. I think I'm beginning to get into the whole post punk/goth sound. Would I have enjoyed it as much as I did if it weren't for the dark goth imagery surrounding this music? Hmm...debatable. Whatever it is, I enjoyed this more on the second (or third?) listen. Actual rating: 3.5 stars. Would I revisit this: yes.

There are reasons why Siouxsie is a post-punk goddess and they're all apparent here. A classic!

Original, atmospheric, goth!

4.5, rounded down

Nah

Rocky with a touch of folkiness with the vocals and the acoustic layers; some driven guitars and chugging bass, rocky drums; then some acoustic guitar in the background.

All I can say to start is that this is definitely a different sound than I'm used to. Siouxsie's vocal prowess is enchanting and almost hypnotic, which provides an intriguing ritual. What really got me the use of incredibly unique instrumentals and out of the ordinary guitar parts that fascinatingly draw you in. The thing I'm struggling with is that I wish the entirety of the album carried the same energy "Spellbound" hits you with right off the bat. The middle bit of the album just felt a tick too slow in comparison with that kind of introduction. Due to this reason, some of the songs felt similar and repetitive, also due to Siouxsie's vocal inflection not fluctuating much (except for in Head Cut). I think this would have been helped with some sort of backing vocals or harmonies, which I was surprised to hear none of. Regardless, this put me out of my comfort zone and I think I'd listen to it from time to time. 3/5 stars.

Loved it! Spellbound was my Favourite

Lekker album. Beetje garage en punky.

I like some of their stuff, but this wasn't it

Mostly harmless.

Definitely top heavy. They aren't great with sustaining a full album but it's still good.

Very fun alternative band. Great vocals and good rhythms. Definitely reminds me of other indie bands that have since gained notoriety and that I'm a fan of. Good one.

What the capital f !?? I loooooved this álbum Tha guitar's solos and the drums The voice of this woman, i really enjoy it. Thanks.

Punk rock meets New Wave. The guitar playing especially is a standout.

Started off strong with Spellbound, then devolved into a tuneless, caterwauling mess. I appreciate their influence on other bands I like much better, but they are not for me.

Good.

I thought this was just ok. Spellbound was a great opener and I loved the guitars in that song, but everything after failed to catch my attention that much. Mid 3.

This was a delightfully dark and spooky album. No specific notes other than I enjoyed the whole thing. Low 4 for me.

Meh.

That was some neat unique guitar throughout the whole album. Not normally my favorite type of music but something about this album really worked for me. The last song was quite strange, but not enough to knock this out of a 4. A low 4 but still good

Halfway through Spellbound and it reminds me a ton of the Cure. Getting some Television vibes from this as well and honestly really into it. The guitar is fantastic. Highly enjoyable I want more of that.

i LOVED this album, oh my god!! its something i would definitely listen every other day; it has rock but its not too cliché, as well as cool new sounds, plus i loved the singer's voice. my favorite album so far. the songs i enjoyed the most were Spellbound, Halloween and Monitor. dare i say i might have discovered a new band for me....?

This has a lot of interesting songs and some cool riffs. Would be worth another listen

The opening song is a banger, but the rest don't really do anything to stand out. I like the atmosphere of gothic rock and the pleasant vocals, but this album is a bit monotonous and becomes repetitive rather quickly. 7/10

My new Halloween Jam. Been meaning to familiarize myself more with Siouxsie, glad this came up. 80’s post-punk is always welcome in these ears. This album is solid, this band is tight, a little creepy without trying too hard to be shocking and gross. Today I learned that the drummer in this iteration of the Banshees is named Budgie (love it, plus his drumming is great). Also learned that the original Banshees used to include Sid Vicious and a member of Adam and Ants. Siouxsie, Adam Ant, punks with “Mohawk” haircuts, what’s with the Native American pseudo-cultural appropriation? Do these young white kids see themselves as oppressed as victims of genocide? Or are they just ignorant and think, I like the face paint, I want an X in my name, the hair looks cool? But I digress. Here’s the bottom line. Next Halloween, put this on the stereo, don’t dress up as a stereotype of an oppressed minority. We can separate the art from the artist and not feel like liberal hypocrites! Wait, what’s the title of this album again? Juju? Jesus Christ, Siouxsie.

Very nice.

Piekny wokal. Niektóre utwory zbyt eksperymentalne, ale ogólnie zespół, które zostaje w pamięci i jak te szyszymory wkręca się w głowę, gdzieś przyzywa, ma w sobie coś mistycznego. 7.5/10

Great album, really important historically since it sits right at the hinge point where goth emerged from the post-punk scene. 8/10

I’d listen to this again

This was cool, I liked a lot of the drum parts in particular. The songs really blended together for me though

Monitor was the only track I enjoyed. Lacking depth and was eventually a grating listen. Got more distorted, more psychedelic sounding and lost the beat the longer the album went on. Lacking vocal midrange but I guess that’s post punk hallmark…

The Cure vibes bare mere kedeligt. Er ikke imponeret, synes ikke der er noget specielt/originalt over det tbh.

Will definitely check out their other albums but didn't care for this one. It was too brooding and found a lot of their songs outstayed their welcome. I did think 'sin in my heart" was a tune though.

Full disclosure … I’d count myself as a fan but hadn’t heard this before. I liked it 👍

A raw album - it's an early entry to the grunge/garage rock genre that was a predecessor to the bands that came to dominate the rock genre in years to come.

I never realised how much S and the B's have been getting ripped off these days!

I don't have much to say. It was a good album. Solid British rock, but wasn't necessarily my vibe.

Enjoyed that one. Post punk, rock, solid sound

Juju is a masterclass in tightly wound tension and dynamic post-punk songwriting, where atmosphere and precision collide in stunning fashion. The album opens with Spellbound, which immediately sets the tone with Budgie’s frantic tom-heavy drumming driving the track like a heartbeat in panic, while John McGeoch’s guitar is the real scene-stealer. He slices through the rhythm with chiming arpeggios and angular riffs that feel both melodic and aggressive. Siouxsie Sioux’s vocals rise over it all like an incantation, measured and hypnotic, then veering into near-mania at just the right moments. What stands out structurally throughout Juju is how meticulously arranged each track is. The band balances repetition and contrast brilliantly, especially on Arabian Knights, where Middle Eastern-inspired modal guitar lines wind over a taut, circular bassline. The vocals dance between seductive and scathing, and the guitar work refuses to settle into anything predictable. McGeoch often abandons traditional solos in favour of cascading motifs and eerie textures. The rhythm section is mechanical yet expressive, underpinning songs with an almost krautrock-like insistence while still allowing moments of eruption and drama. Then there’s Night Shift, one of the most disturbing and beautifully crafted tracks of their catalogue. It creeps in with ghostly harmonics and slow-building tension, building on drones and a sparse bassline until it erupts in bursts of discord and release. Siouxsie’s delivery here is haunting, edging into theatrical horror without tipping into parody. Across the entire album, there's a remarkable control of dynamic range. Quiet passages feel ominous, not restful, and loud moments hit with full weight. Juju isn’t just stylish goth rock. It’s architecturally sound, emotionally raw, and musically fearless. An absolute peak in their discography and the genre at large.

Meh. Talented, solid. 3/5. Might be worth a revisit at some point.

forgot to rank it but really really liked it

solid. was gonna give this very high marks but it got sleepy in the car and in the music...

First time with this album and I can easily how influential this was and still is. Here is a band that had really figured out their sound.

Brilliant album, I’ll be keeping this in my regular rotation for a while

After riding the punk wave, they finally arrived at post punk’s cleaner, tighter sound and it suits them better. Siouxsie’s voice is about as good as it gets here and the songwriting is mostly good.

Not for me at all.

I wasn't a fan of the lead singer's voice and was disappointed with the instrumentals. A lot of bands during this time sounded similar and Siouxsie and The Banshees failed to stand out or really differentiate themselves (at least in this album.) Very reminiscent of Kate Bush.

The Banshees' drummer sure loves his toms. Siouxsie's vocals are passionate if lacking in range. The most impressive thing about this album is its 1981 release date -- Juju clearly prefigures a lot of the New Wave music that was just around the corner.

point1.

Æ hadde kanskje ikke en klar formening om kordan det her kom til å høres ut, men æ like det relativt godt! Veldig fascinert av omslaget?

Spooky and passionate. A really cool post-punk record that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. Monitor is AMAZING - sometimes the simplest lines (this case, the bass) can be most impactful, and gosh is the guitar great.

I've been a fan for over 40 years. I love this album

Generally lukewarm on this overall style, but this is among the best I’ve heard. 4/5

MadPlanetpilled. Previously listened to 3 songs off of this album (Spellbound; Arabian Knights; Monitor) Siouxsie is a quintessential artist at the alternative dance club I frequent; I've never been super interested in her when stacking her up against her contemporaries, but I'm glad I could finally add her to my musical encyclopedia. While I wasn't entirely compelled by the album as a whole, I'm still intrigued enough to want to explore more of her work Favorite Song: Monitor

I like to say that I like most music and, yeah, I mean this music is all right, but I am not in love with this. I don't really want to keep listening. I don't want to put it on again.

haft svårt att bedöma detta men det får bli en trea. en stark sådan. monitor är en av dom bästa låtarna på länge. men i övrigt är det liite för weird emellanåt.

Found out that I was listening to Spellbound from this album. Eventually that's the only song I've liked from this album...

80% Best: Into The Light; Monitor; Sin In My Heart Must-Hear? Maybe

- I can't summon up a 5 but I look at the year released and I would have thought it was later than 1981 .... it's probably a shortcoming on my part as I was never familiar with this genre at the time so it's hard for me to put the work in context. Easily a solid 4. -

Solid album all the way through. Where goth and post-punk meet with Siouxsie’s ethereal voice. I was thrilled to see this one pop up!

Mixed to positive feelings for this one... musically I like it, but the vocals are a bit to monotone for me. But I might come back to it, it's above meh and below great ^_^...

Very blondie never heard of them before

Loved this album. Siouxsie at her best.

naja, ist halt tlw. punk

Very witchy and has some great hooks. I can definitely vibe with this album if I’m in the right mood.

"Juju" is a further evolution from their debut album "The Scream". While it retains the post-punk and gothic influences, it introduces a pop sensibility and new wave synth elements that enhance its enjoyment and engagement Similar to their debut, the drumming serves as a foundational element that propels the tracks, complemented by unconventional, raw, and occasionally jangly guitars, alongside captivating vocals Another album that evokes a sense of nostalgia for my teenage years in the 1980s.

Overall: 10/10 I can't believe how good this is... I've always heard of this band being important to punk and gothic music while never actually hearing a single song by them. Now that I have, I wonder why their music hasn't made a bigher impact in pop culture in general. Siouxsie has the perfect voice for this brand of post punk awesomeness and the drumming is out of this world, sometimes giving the songs a tribal vibe. The guitar work is as fun as it always is in post punk and the bass holds down the low end very effectively. It's albums like this that keep me coming back to this generator. It's something I've never heard that's sure to become a staple of the next few weeks/months/years of my music journey. Fav Song: Monitor Least Fav Song: Voodoo Dolly

Loved it, particularly when running!

I enjoyed this for a while, but by the end of a full album of it it just kind of sounded like I was underwater. 3.5, probably 4 if only listening to a few at a time.

Angry 80's girl rock! It is full of emotion and is raw and angry. Was it a lot, sure, but in the 80's women had one option, to yell and be mad and talk around things not directly at things. Spellbound was a great start to a rocking good time.

This rocks. I'm totally spellbound.

There's a pretty rockin' good time to be had in this dark world they've created. I've never listened to a Siouxsie album, so this was all new to me. I usually scoff at post punk, but these songs felt more polished and structured than a lot of music in the genre. I love her vocals, and the band sounds really tight. Dug it!

Amazing album. Vibes

RYM: 5.0 | AOTY: 98 | Favorite Track: Spellbound —————— Juju is easily my favorite gothic rock album. The album kicks off with my favorite track "Spellbound" which just a perfect opener for a darkly psychedelic record. Siouxsie Sioux's vocal delivery throughout is beautifully haunting while still bringing that punk energy, especially on tracks like "Monitor". The guitar work from John McGeoch may be some of my favorite on any album — swirling and hypnotic. It pairs perfectly with Budgie's driving tribal drumming creating this really mesmerizing sound. What really stands out to me is just the flow of the album. Each track moves into the next almost seamlessly, especially the three track run of "Arabian Knights", "Halloween", and "Monitor". The only track that loses me just a little is the closer "Voodoo Dolly", but not enough to prevent me from giving this a perfect score. For me, Juju represents gothic rock at its peak and one I regularly bring out to spin.

Certainly ahead of its time. Great album, amazing guitar tone.

That absolutely rocked. Confidently never listened to a track from Siouxsie & The Banshees before. Really fun stuff!

Blind album and artist. Started strong and lost me completely at the end. Imbalanced but unique and dark.

It sounds ahead of its time, but that doesn't necessarily mean I like it all that much. Not bad, but not great.

Siouxsie and the Banshees are the Jefferson Airplane of goth, not just because of an enigmatic female singer but also because their albums have one or two clear classics (Spellbound : White Rabbit) and the rest of the record is not quite at that level.

Siouxsie gets pigeonholed as being goth, and this is indeed probably her darkest album. Juju offers a pervasive sense of danger and menace, such as on the slow-burn screech of "Night Shift" or the spine-tingling guitar cascades of "Voodoo Dolly." I never really think of her as goth — and certainly not in a dismissive or limiting way — simply because she's such a skilled songwriter, with a great ear for distinctive, unusual sounds. Juju is filled with bangers, like the single "Arabian Knights," which could (and certainly did) hold its own on the dancefloor, the motorik chug of "Monitor" and the caustic and urgent pace set by "Halloween." It's a potent witch's brew of tribal drums and percussion (I hear tambourines!), jagged guitars, claustrophobic melodies and Siouxsie's commanding presence.

This is cool but I don't love it. I'm not sure if there's a better Siouxsie record for me, or if I'm just a poseur who only appreciates the hits.

Man this brings back so many baby bat/teen goth memories it is hard to objectively review this. Is this one of the first 50 lps I bought that I still own? Yes. Have I listened to it in the last 20 years? No. Do I know it almost by heart? Yes. So in Siouxsie's own words from Spellbound "yah have nooh choicce" but to rate this 4 or 5.

I can't do better than alex-v-cook's review. So...ditto!

Amazing stuff, I especially loved "Arabian Knights" and "Voodoo Dolly".

I definitely enjoyed this record. Suggest me more of that kind. Finally a female singer - OMG! After all these plain guy (indie) rock shit. And I looove indie rock, but enough is enough. Give me the edgy stuff. Please and thank you!

could NOT connect with these songs. spellbound was the only good one to me. which is actually their most popular from this album. but other songs were weird and creepy and i just did not and could not vibe with it. like i kept waiting for the album to end.

Like you recorded a rock album at the Haunted Mansion, but this time it was actually good

Good start, somewhat monotoneous at the halfway mark

choice bangers and plenty of weaker sound-alikes

Another punk British band - we need more variety!

Spellbound e jævlig bra, men fortsatt ikkje mitt favoritt post punk-band

if you're this cool you can dress as goth as you want and I won't make fun of you promise

Early goth stuff is so goddamn cool. You’d think it would benefit from crossing wires with metal a bit later on, but you’d be wrong. This is a round down. One day I’ll listen to this again and regret not rounding up.

For a band I’d never heard of before, Juju was a great surprise. This album absolutely rocks from start to finish with an atmospheric, goth-infused post-punk sound that’s both edgy and catchy. The vocals at times even evoking a slightly punked-out Geddy Lee vibe. If there’s a downside, it’s that a few tracks tend to blend together, but as a whole, this album delivers a strong, consistent mood that kept me hooked. Definitely glad this is on the list.

A pretty good album, although it definitely peaks with the first track. A few others were definitely worth a listen - Monitor, in particular. Definitely worth a listen, although not as good as I hoped it would be. Strong 3/low 4, just ending up as 4 due to no real bad tracks.

Was kind of interesting at times but I expected to find more in it. Gave it 3 listens but didn't have anything stand out enough.

There is potential here. It is just off of clicking for me. So close. The production isn't doing much for me and the track lengths can be too long.

This is different, I could feel the energy, but also felt I came about 30 years too late to discover this intense record.

I mean it's Siouxsie and The MF Banshees. Definitely a vibe, I like "Spellbound" and "Arabian Nights". I like their voices, I like the lyrics, I like the overall vibes. They are just a fun, cool band.

meh

First listen, punchy, dig it, but repetitive

witches never age

Esta guapo, quizá no tuvimos el dia

Not quite as good as the Scream, but I liked it for similar reasons as that one. Once again the vocals are the most interesting part. Favorite Track: Sin In My Heart

Decent

This is amazing - I hear a lot of The Cure, Joy Division, Magazine etc. in this. The best soup you could serve me

This is one of those albums that transcends genre. Yeah it’s goth rock or whatever but any other rock genre can pull influence from this.

I thought this album was good and influential but I didn’t make it through it all the way. I think that’s a me thing more than the band.

Spellbound is a pleasant, nice opener. Loved the guitar and the vocals, not heard of this band before but an enjoyable listen. Definitely feels ahead of its time across some songs. 7/10.

Okay

Почему это считается чем-то выдающимся?

I’m seeing a lot of high praise for this record, and unfortunately I don’t feel the same way. The vocals are solid, but way too many of the tracks and riffs sound too similar.

It's not bad. I'm kinda surprised I'd not heard of them. It's a decent album but without the nostalgia I'm not excited for it. Some of the tunes I've enjoyed but overall I'm kinda meh on it, I want to listen to it again to be sure. On a second listen I appreciate it more but it's not going to get added to the rotation outside of a song or two. I am suggesting it to a friend though. I think it's more up her alley than mine.

Siouxsie and the Banshees is a band I've always kind of ignored because the few songs I've heard by them were just okay and not very memorable. But I've always thought of them as an early goth rock band. What's funny is that this album, Juju, is considered a really important album in how goth rock developed, but the band was always pushing back on that label and didn't want to be called a goth band. Anyway, this album isn't bad, but it was just average. There was one song that was a little better than the others, but the rest just sound the same.

First off, I love the vocal performance from Siouxsie. She brings an enthralling and commanding tone that can heard throughout the album. It started off great with Spellbound but when it gets past Monitor every song just feels like a rinse and repeat of everything listened to so far. It's not so much that is bad but it's that it's mediocre and disappointing. Overall it was still pretty good. Top 3: Spellbound (Best), Arabian Knights, and Monitor / Honorable Mention: Into The Light Bottom 2: Voodoo Dolly and Head Cut 3.0-3.25/5

I really like this album. I know Siouxsie Sioux's look- I mean, it's iconic for the 80s- but I never took the chance to actually listen to the music behind the icon. It's thoughtful without being annoying, the lyrics and melodies are enjoyable, and it's not stuck sonically in the decade it was made (I prefer that and particularly for the 80's for some reason, because sometimes this decade can be PAINFULLY from it's time more than other eras).

Not for me

Good wee listen

Spellbound was a great opener. Very upbeat and it has a great vocal hook. Arabian Nights has a very enticing baseline and some Phil Collins-esque drumming. The frenetic instrumentation and distinctive vocals make this a very enjoyable record.

7 out of 10

6.5

Killer guitar riffs, great bass lines, and angsty female vocals for the win. I loved the overall feel this album gave off, Goth punk with some serious Doors vibes going on, especially on the last track "Voodoo Dolly." There's a darkness here and I like it. I could easily see myself listening to this again very soon.

This was a darker and heavier album than I was expecting. Much more enjoyable than I would have imagined.

Juju is urgent, frantic. You can hear their influence on bands like Bloc Party and Sleater-Kinney, even Bjork at times. A great post punk album from start to finish. With a pounding rhythm section and blaring guitars 8.3/10

Spellbound and arabian knights are the best songs

Spooky and kooky baby

Siouxsie and the Banshees are just timeless. This album sounds just as good in 2025 as it did the first time I heard it back in 1985. Album came out in 1981, but 1985 was the year I really started paying attention to what we called "alternative" back then. Can't miss tunes: Spellbound Halloween Monitor Head Cut 3.75/5

Spellbound // Into The Light // Night Shift // 3.5/5

Usually I like dark haired brooding chicks signing, but this one, im not really sure about...

Very good

This could almost be a gothic pastiche if it wasn’t so brilliantly done, the lyrics so authentically creepy that you could almost be forgiven for thinking that Siouxsie grew up in the bowels of hell, rather than the Kent suburbs. The album’s masterstroke, though, is in allaying such gloomy, suspense-filled material with the best melodies of their career, and music with so much adventure it seems to fire off in a new direction from one minute to the next. Spellbound – the single that opens the album – is typical, cascading from jangling, psychedelic guitars to galloping tribal drumming, via a headrush of sound, voice, danger and exhilaration.

Love me some Siouxsie Sioux, but just not this complete album all that much.

I like their other stuff more

I may be an unrealized goth. I dug this quite a bit. Drums and bass were cool throughout the whole album. Vocals were a bit wild at times, but it fit well.

I wish the energy of the first few songs stayed through the album

Not bad. Sort of got an 80’s new wave-ish vibe that leans goth. Think Cure/Joy Division/Concrete Blonde. Felt like this could have been the soundtrack to The Craft. Spooky bitches probably ate this shit up.

I liked this one more than I thought I would. Wikipedia has it listed as post-punk before gothic rock, but I'm getting more gothic rock here. Reminds me of those albums we did by The Cure - just a bit more listenable.

Of all the bands that emerged from the UK pink scene of 1976-77, Siouxsie and the Banshees led the way to a posk-punk kind of music. This album is an absolute masterpiece of post-punk soundscapes, featuring the classic line-up with Budgie on drums and the great John McGeoch (ex-Magazine) on guitar. Absolutely great stuff with a psychedelic sheen to it.

It has its moments. Definitely a classic

I like a lot of stuff that's in the Siouxsie orbit (The Cure, Smiths, Joy Division, Ministry) but have never really connected with them before. Looking at their albums, they seem to be one of those acts that put their accessible single as the first track, as they do here with Spellbound. I liked a couple of other tracks but it still wasn't really clicking with me until we got to Monitor and Night Shift, which were eerie and dystopian and more of what I wanted from an album called 'Juju'.

Love the sound! It sounds so ahead of its time

it’s so creative and they’re full of that wild young talent but there’s something sickly decadent at the heart of it, it feels like you took something you wish you hadn’t but it’s too late now

Previous review of the Banshees still applies: atonal and screech noise.

Nothing special

I didn't find it as transformative as many of the other reviewers. It's dark and weird, of course -- but I prefer some of their slightly later material. Still, worth a listen -- and you can really hear their influence in bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who must have mainlined a *ton* of Siouxsie and such.

Weird but nice

3 Stars (8/15)

Spellbound

This shit fucks

I was surprised to see this album was from the early 80’s. I found it to have a lot of elements I hear more in early/mid 90’s grunge/indie rock. Fun album that was ahead of its time.

Heel aardig dat ze de beste drie nummers als laatste zetten. Wel echt goede nummers

honestly, not impressed. Kinda tinny and whiney.

Everyone should listen to more Siouxsie. She is an absolute force of nature, and never moreso than she is here.

Somehow never listened to them. It's more gothy than punk. Powerful vocalist and easy to see their influence on later punk, new wave, and even dream pop stuff.

unnerving

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. I’d just finished a Nirvana marathon. Moody and enjoyable. I liked it. Thought the vocals were a little repetitive, but other than it’s decent.

Some interesting bits but I wasn't totally blown away? Seems unfair for such a revered band.

Did not enjoy at all!

I like this more than their other one on here

Well, yes, this is much better than I expected when I saw another album of this band in my queue. But still, I find the music and the singer's voice quite unappealing, so I doubt I will listen to this again. 2.5/5

Listened to this one already on my other account think I gave it a 3

Don't you just love it when Siouxsie keeps repeating that one phrase while the guitar is ripping. 7.5/10 Fave track: Spellbound

I listened to the original release (nine tracks), not the later release with three extra tracks. Siouxsie has a good singing voice for this genre. The songs are ok, although none of the tracks seemed memorable for me. When this album was released in 1981, punk rock was just becoming popular here, so if you were reviewing the album at that time it may have been fresh and different. But it is 2025 and to me it is dated and mundane.

Siouxsie Sioux! My middle school friend Melissa was very into her, so I learned how to pronounce that name at an early age, but I never actually listened to a single track until now. It's OK. Not really my thing, but I don't hate it. This is like a 2.5, but I'll round up because a lot of my favorite artists (and Moso) seem to like them. Highlight: 'Into the Light'

Hypnotic and neurotic, this is space age dub! Great bass tone, guitar interventions and cavernous drums form the backbone of the engaging production and propel this eerily beautiful album from gothy banger to gothy banger. Favourite tracks: Into The Light, Halloween, Monitor (fk yeah), Night Shift, Head Cut

A delightful journey into the JuJu

I will probably never listen to this again, but I didn't hate it.

Second Siouxie album, second banger. Gothic and spooky, this has an eerie vibe throughout, ending with an absolute rocking song in Voodoo Dolly. By the middle of the track, the blood is pumping full of anxiety and it is a lot of fun. Siouxie kills it throughout this album and is a great vocal lead. The whole album is awesome, with some of my other favorites at Spellbound, Monitor, and Head Cut. Loved it, will probably be back.

**An ok album, many tracks sound alike (same beat, different words)

I have the vinyl, I'm a big fan, this album is a great way to experience Siouxsie and the sorts of flavors and colors she brings to music. That said, I could see someone thinking that there's not enough variety in this record, and they'd be right, there are other albums that show a wider range.

I loved this. I found myself wanting to listen more than once.

Siouxsie and her Banshees bring their A game, along with a heaping helping of floor tom on this album. If you're ready to get on the same wavelength with it, Juju has a lot to offer in the way of goth dance music. The vocals are particularly impressive throughout, even if some of the instrumentation leaves me a bit unfulfilled.

Siouxsie and her Banshees conjure a mesmerizing dark spell of spiraling guitars and tribal rhythms, creating a gothic landmark that continues to influence and enchant.

Mjög mikill og góður flanger á gítarnum, næs og ákveðin beat. Skemmtilegt og töff póstpönk.

Didn't know what to expect. This album was so haunting and fun. I like this band.