Juju

I remember listening to a little bit of Siouxsie and the Banshees a year or so ago and thinking it was utter trash. Now, I think this is peak. WTF happened a year ago??? This is sick!!

I will not include the 2006 reissue bonus tracks for this review.

After enjoying Siouxsie and the Banshees' debut, The Scream, I figured I would get more of a kick out of a later release of theirs. After all, I already love opening single "Spellbound", which made a recent appearance in the fourth season of Stranger Things and was sampled this year in Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra". Plus, I've heard deep cut "Monitor" before on the radio, and dug that track as well. How does the rest of Juju stack up?

I would say that this album can be distilled into one word, and that's "hypnotic". Not only are all the great elements of the band's early raw work still present in the sound, with Siouxsie Sioux's vibrato, John McKay's crunchy riffs, Kenny Morris's tom-tom-focused percussive beats, and Steven Severin's supple bass, but the songwriting has greatly improved to incorporate tighter melodic compositions. Not a moment felt wasted as the band effortlessly played with dark twists and turns, yet maintaining some pop sensibilities. Combine that with a myriad of subject matter ranging from meditations on death, domestic abuse, serial killers, and perverted magic, and the result is a classic goth record.

I can see why Juju is considered a fan favorite in the band's discography. It was well worth checking out.

super gótico e bem atmosférico! post punk do TOP
as guitarrada eh um absurdo demais e esse vocal da siouxsie é DELICINHA!!!!!!

eh uma banda que eu nunca tinha escutado um album inteiro e esse aqui me convenceu demais pqp. ficarei obcecado!!!!

Never really listened to any Siouxsie Soux other than occasional songs on compilations etc, so cant say they’re an artist that necessarily appeals to me.

I quite like the music but there is just something about the vocals or maybe more specifically the style of delivery that just doesn’t quite sit with me

I knew Spellbound which I've never held much opinion on - it's fine - but nothing else on this album. Now I've heard everything else, I think "it's fine" might be my position on the whole album. Post-punk has never been my thing.

2/5

Absolutely superb.

It gets your attention with the brilliant opener Spellbound and doesn't really deviate away from brilliance throughout.

And I thought AC/DC was simplistic. I really liked a few tracks but not a huge fan. I bet their live show was great.

A spooky post-punk masterpiece that’s way funkier than it’s generally given credit for being.

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

I should love this, I don’t.

Great post punk album.

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.

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

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

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

4/5

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

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'

Started strong but tapered off. I really enjoyed that start though.

Good album. Monitor & Head Cut great. Voodoo Dolly poor. Definitely more good than bad.
Solid 3½. Wife hated it so 4.

I was once criticised for playing bass like a lobotomised Peter Hook. This was inaccurate. I was playing bass like a lobotomised Steve Severin. I think he is so underrated.