[StincPriene]

Hadn't thought of that but I think that's pretty true, especially "Peek-a-Boo" and Peepshow (how amazing is her voice on this record? I'm still getting to know this album and other later ones because I was holding off in hope for remasters which may still yet happen.)

Am also considering investing in the At the BBC box set.

[attishina]

I always forget about the BBC Box Set... I don't listen to it much but it basically introduced me to the song Something Blue which is now one of my favorites. There are two versions there, neither of which have that hideous vibraphone (or whatever it is) from the studio b-side version. I love the short acoustic version from the Janice Long session.

If you already have the Peel Sessions album you'll be disappointed to see all of them included here as well. I believe this is the third time the 1977 Peel sessions have been reissued! Oh well, it's nice to have a complete set, and there's plenty more to love - like the 2 live shows, which have interesting sets. They play the most amazing version of Bring Me the Head of the Preacher Man, I love it way more than the studio.

And this is kind of lame but my favorite moment on the whole box set is during the 1988 concert, after someone shouts out a request, Siouxsie says "SHUT UP AND ENJOY WHAT WE'RE GIVING YOU". She sounds so bitchy! I love her.

[lXvtm0ox]

Oh man.. now I really want that box set. I had actually forgotten about it. I have to say, I want it mostly for the DVD.

Edit.. Ooooooh. I just remembered that I have a $20 credit on my amazon.com account... so I can get it for less than 30 bucks and free shipping!! I'm seriously considering placing an order right now..

[StincPriene]

Thanks for that info Jim, I'm really tempted. Of the Peel sessions, I've only got the bonus tracks on the two-disc The Scream remaster so there seems to be a lot in the BBC box set I've never heard.

[StincPriene]

Siouxsie last month

[StincPriene]

So I ordered the BBC box set (got a good price!) and last weekend picked up Juju and A Kiss in the Dreamhouse on vinyl. They had some good stuff, some 12" singles, The Scream, and The Thorn EP, but I was on a budget. Maybe next time.

What do people think of Hyaena? I rarely hear people talk much about this album. I think it has some of their absolute best work but also some weaker material. I count "Swimming Horses" firmly in the former camp and I also love "Dazzle" and "Take Me Back."

Here's an interview with Siouxsie from around that time in 1984. I love when she goes "shut up you bloody schoolkids!"

[ArraryTauTDew]

I like Hyaena, but I don't think it holds together as well as, say, Juju or Tinderbox or Dreamhouse do.

[Nigeopire]

I just grabbed the remastered Dreamhouse and dear god the remastered "Fireworks" is HEAVENLY. Easily my favorite Banshees song.

[BadbarmrapBef]

I'm on a major Siouxsie kick right now . I love most of their material but I just discovered Through the Looking Glass .
Always had it but i think i just listned to This Town ... But it's actually really good ! I LOVE Hall of Mirrors and Trust In Me

[StincPriene]

I like Hyaena, but I don't think it holds together as well as, say, Juju or Tinderbox or Dreamhouse do.

Same here. A few of the songs I thought were weaker are growing on me but overall, although it has some of their absolute finest, I think it's a little inconsistent. But my god, "Swimming Horses" is just amazing.

I just grabbed the remastered Dreamhouse and dear god the remastered "Fireworks" is HEAVENLY. Easily my favorite Banshees song.

I do like "Fireworks." The first version I heard was the Nigel Gray one which is on the Juju remaster; both are exquisite. I was listening to A Kiss in the Dreamhouse yesterday and I think that album moved their sound on so much. I feel like Kaleidoscope was quite experimental because it had to be, given they'd just lost two key members of the band. But by Dreamhouse they had their band in place and were experimenting because they wanted to. I don't necessarily think all of it works all of the time, but it's a treasure trove of high points.

I'm on a major Siouxsie kick right now . I love most of their material but I just discovered Through the Looking Glass .
Always had it but i think i just listned to This Town ... But it's actually really good ! I LOVE Hall of Mirrors and Trust In Me

I recently heard this record for the first time and was pleasantly surprised! I'm also getting back into the b-sides, was listening to some of the Downside Up box set last night.

[attishina]

I love Hyaena but it really doesn't hold together as an album. Dazzle and Swimming Horses are two of their best songs, the rest of the songs are either good or ok, with only Belladonna being crap. The bonus tracks on the remastered version are pretty disappointing, with that Dazzle remix that sounds like a CD skipping during a couple parts (they should have fixed that) and Baby Piano 1 & 2 which are just lame.

[StincPriene]

Am listening to Hyaena now and am enjoying it more than I ever have. Interesting things going on in the mix (am listening on headphones) and Siouxsie's voice is great on it. What she said about "Swimming Horses":

"This is based on a programme I saw about a female version of Amnesty, called ‘Les Sentinelle’. "They rescue women who are trapped in certain religious climates in the Middle East, religions that view any kind of pre-marital sexual aspersion as punishable by death - either by the hand of the eldest brother in the family, or by public stoning. And there was this instance of a woman whose daughter had developed a tumour, and, of course, gossip abounded that she was pregnant. The doctor who removed the tumour allowed her to take it back to the village to prove that, no, it wasn’t a baby - but they wouldn’t believe her. The woman knew her daughter would have to be stoned to death so she poisoned her, out of kindness, to save her from a worse fate. So the song starts, ‘Kinder than with poison...’ I also used the imagery of, ‘He gives birth to swimming horses’, from the fact that male sea horses give birth to the children, so they’re the only species that have a maternal feel for the young. It was, I suppose, an abstract way of linking it all together without being sensationalist. I remember just being really moved by that programme, and wanting to get the sorrow out of me." And apparently "Running Town" is about how she hates Sydney!

[Siliespiriulk]

the rest of the songs are either good or ok, with only Belladonna being crap.

ahem... Pointing Bone.

[StincPriene]

Listened to Kaleidoscope today after a while of not really listening to the Banshees. I feel another S&TB phase coming on...

[ringsarcle]

I haven't been out of my SATB phase in 10 years! I always go back to their music, even if I start getting into a new artist or band. Their music is truly timeless and it's weird comparing them to other bands of that era. Their look, their sound, their lyrics, it really was ahead of it's time.

[lXvtm0ox]

I'm still really sad we never got a remastered Peepshow.

[attishina]

I was in the mood for Peepshow the other day. I believe it's my favorite SATB album, if not then definitely #2 behind Kiss in the Dreamhouse. I've actually just been in the mood for dark lady singers in general. I also tried going back to Switchblade Symphony and Miranda Sex Garden, but they sound dated and phony, and were obviously emulating (unsuccessfully) albums like Peepshow and Juju.

Scarecrow is my current favorite song. It's a dark fairy tale about an affair with a scarecrow. I think there's also a Rumplestiltskin reference in there. Not many singers could pull this one off without being corny.

[StincPriene]

I'm still really sad we never got a remastered Peepshow.

I thought the remaining remasters were totally dead in the water, but I went onto the Banshees and Other Creatures forum today and found this message from November from a poster, John The Flower Man, there:

First things first: I apologise in advance if everyone already knows this “news” – I sure as heck didn’t!

Last Sunday evening as I strolled the streets of darkest Birmingham in the company of the splendid Mr. Severin I posed a key question: The remaining Banshees remasters – is there any light at the end of the tunnel? The Sev’s response? “Well, there’s a tunnel”.

He went on to inform me that, certainly contrary to what I had thought, the remaining remasters ARE going to be released at some point. When is another matter, unfortunately, due to red tape involving a certain record company – nevertheless things are most definitely in hand.

What’s more, there are two further exceedingly delectable projects in the pipeline:-

The release of some, if not all, of The Banshees albums on 180 gram vinyl

The release of a definitive CD box set of ALL of The Banshees recordings, for which Mr. S is going to be trawling his archives in search of further unreleased goodies – here’s hoping the cupboard isn’t bare! Apparently Universal are quite keen on this. Could this perhaps be where the double disc version of ‘Nocturne’ that we all yearned for will finally see the light of day? We can but live in hope!

I don’t know about anybody else but I am downright moist with anticipation! !!

[lXvtm0ox]

Thanks for posting that menju! I'd get that box set in a heartbeat. Mmmmmm

[ringsarcle]

I won't be satisfied until we get that rumored Typhoid Mary song. It's been a while since I heard that rumor, but I believe it's a lost song from the Peepshow era. Definitely would be a treat if that was true!