Siouxsie and the Banshees – Juju
Born from the punk revolution of the 70s, Siouxsie and the Banshees became leaders in the emerging goth rock scene of the 80s. Along with contemporaries Bauhaus and (despite what Robert says) The Cure, Siouxsie brought a dark edge to music and helped create a lasting genre. Their fourth album, Juju, was released in 1981 and really sees the band truly gel, landing on a sound that would carry them to great success. After experimenting with a more electronic sound on their third album, the group enlisted a full-time guitarist (John McGeoch) who rekindled the fiery edge in their music. Besides amazing guitar work, Souxsie’s refined vocal delivery adds a hint of menace that pairs nicely with the Budgie’s dark, plodding drums that trudge throughout Juju’s nine tracks. It’s a stellar album and a perfect jumping on point for anyone getting into this band or 80s goth rock in general.
Even though Juju is probably the best intro album to Siouxsie and the Banshees, it wasn’t my first album of theirs. No, Peepshow (another amazing SatB album) was my first real taste of Siouxsie and the group’s brand of goth rock. However, while I love that album, Juju is the one I come back to the most. Its distinct guitar work, vocals, songwriting… Well, EVERYTHING, makes it an album that is well worth frequent listens, as each time I hear it I find something else to love. It’s one of the best albums of the 80s and a must for any record collection.
