Digital Background Blog

Hey, they're copying the Cure! Hee...just kidding. :) I'm excited about this too. I bet the packaging is going to be really nice.

I don't care who they copy, as long as they are doing it!!! :) I hope the packaging is awesome, I want lots of nice glossy photos!

We just recently rediscovered the beauty of The Cure and can't stop listening to it on long car rides out to CT. Very weird band. Just like Siouxsie...

Am I finally growing into BOTH The Cure and Siouxsie? I always think of them together and I've always sort of liked them both. I scrounged around for a Siouxsie CD, but it appears we have none! I thought since I was digging on the Cure, I'd dig on some Siouxsie.

But, with Siouxsie especially, I always kind of had this feeling in the back my head like, "what the hell is this music about?" That really applies to both bands because I don't get the whole "goth" thing. The music is anything but scary or evil or whatever...

Swans mademore sense, but can be excruciating. Residents make sense. Everything fits...

Can someone explain to me the Egyptian goth of Siouxsie and the messy ragdoll goth look of the Cure and how it -- oh nevermind. For fux sake, I'm so use to their images, when I try to imagine them any other way that makes "more sense" I'm utterly at a loss.

Well, I will try to explain a little if you don't mind. I can say a lot about Siouxsie, but maybe Anna will chime in with some info on the Cure, she is more of an expert there! Siouxsie & the Banshees actually always wanted to be a "popular band", and Siouxsie still bristles at the "Goth" label. I just finished their authorized biography by Mark Paytress, and found it not only an interesting read on the band, but an interesting window into the music bizz as well. The Banshees always wanted to be a big name band- Siouxsie has said she doesn't understand why people want to dress up like her, she thinks it's boring. I think through mismanagement, some poor choices, and their diverse song subject matter the huge, huge success never happened, bu I still think they were successful nonetheless. A lot of people think their songs are about death, but Siouxsie and Severin's big influences are mostly literature and old films. Songs like "Peepshow" deal with the whole Berlin Cabaret image, while "Kiss Them For Me" is about Jayne Mansfield. They had some dark themed albums, but some lighter ones as well, and "O Baby" from The Rapture is quit ironic. Siousxie herself has had almost as many image changes as Madonna, yet for some reason people are mostly transixed by her early look rather than any of her recent ones. If you like Siouxsie & the Banshees, you should check out The Creatures, the band she has with her husband who is also the Banshees drummer Budgie. The yare different, but very good and share some of the unique qualities. I hope this makes sense.

Hm. I guess every time I see her in my mind's eye, I just see crazy Egyptian makeup, tight leather clothing and fierce expressions, teeth and talons set to happy music with a horn section.

Well, that is a pretty cool description of them!

Nate...forget about the "goth" label, it's absurd in the case of either band. If you listen and you like, that's all there is to it. And that's how I feel about ALL music, no matter what hair products are involved. :)

Yeah, I don't care. I just don't get it is all I was saying. I think both bands are incredibly original and musical, which is why I wonder "where the hell is this coming from?"

When I say "weird" all I mean "totally original," not like, "ewwweee, you're such a weirdo!" Same way I felt about Talking Heads when I reintroduced myself to them a few years ago.

Weird is good.

If you mean "where in the hell is this coming from?" in terms of them being called goth, I have no idea, except that I think people label them in terms of a look they may have or some "dark" lyrics. I don't feel there music is "scary" or "evil" either. I agree with you that both bands are terribly creative and original, and I think that scares a lot of people, because they have to think, and I know that you are never afraid to think about things, so I'm not surprised that you like them. Other people though, well, let's just say they like their thinking done for them.

Aha! I finally figured out a good way to say it:

"out of left field" (rather than "weird").

The music isn't really traceable, like, "Oh yeah, you can tell they were influenced by so-and-so and such-and-such. And then the image isn't really representative of the music. And then both bands essentially stayed the same (to these ears), unlike most bands who break up, reform, "sell out," go solo, etc.

I see, that is a better explanation, although I'm not sure to say they "stayed the same" is exactly correct, although I know what you mean (please don't think I'm being snotty). I guess you could say there were subtle evolutions, but no drastic re-working of their sound.

Anyhoo, I might pick something up of hers since it appears we have nothing in the house (which seems hard to believe). Is there a decent 'best of' or should I stick with a couple specific albums?

Oh, and regarding Banshees comps, Twice Upon a Time is quite a good representation. My personal favorite album overall is Juju, though.

Eh, I actually understand what you mean. It's not like they released the same album over and over. But it wouldn't be too hard to slap together a compilation and have all the songs "fit".

Try that with Swans, Residents, Judas Priest, Metallica, Motorhead, Pixies, Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers (keep in mind I don't actually like all these bands), Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, Ministry and countless other bands and you'll fail miserably.

To me, even The Creatures and The Glove sound like Siouxsie and The Cure. Like concept albums or something.

Do I make the incredible smart sense NOW?!?! ;)

Wait, I have more bands to list! Beach Boys, Beatles, Captain Beefheart, Pink Floyd.... ha, ha, I will go ruin someone else blog now (namely my own!)

signed,
the spazz

You're not ruining anyone's blog! And I know what you mean. I would say "Twice Upon A Time" or the recently released "The Best Of Siouxsie & the Banshees" (which is all remastered - get the 2 disc version with the re-mixes) are two excellent ones to start with- send me your address and I can burn you some stuff too.

I did it, I did it! Checkum mailbox.

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