Horror album 101

I'm not going to say Juju is the Banshees best album (even if I do give it five stars), nor do I agree with the 'goth' tag it usually gets. This is a horror record, plain and simple. And it's one of the darkest and scariest things I've ever heard (though Outside really gives it a run for its money).

Spellbound just about equals Happy House as a brilliant opening number. Great pummeling drums and metallic guitars. It's invigorating to hear.

But Into the Light is what gives you the real introduction to Juju's sound. The lyric is quite normal, but the way it's done makes it sound a trifle claustrophobic and sordid.

Spellbound was a great single. But Arabian Knights is even better. Beautiful melody that's easy to remember, and ominous tribal drumming. It's the last breather you'll get on this record, so savor it. Everything is insane from here out.

Halloween has Siouxsie return to her flat singing style on a melody that doesn't...quite...work. The guitars have a certain manic quality to them.

Then there's Monitor, with a super cool beginning. It has a really thick and claustrophobic quality to it, especially when the backup vocals start repeating different parts of the song at the same time. It's also got a merciless quality to it: when Siouxsie says "sit back and enjoy the real McCoy" it sounds like an order/threat.

Next is Night Shift. Am I the only one who gets visions of Jack the Ripper? Anyway, it's a really creepy, slow-moving, distasteful song. Six minutes long with a few accents on squealing guitar feedback.

Sin in my Heart is a hidden gem on this record. The music is great, and almost jaunty. The lyric is simple, but Siouxsie's voice is astounding. It's full of energy and makes her come across as a werewolf. Very good track.

That one sounds pleasant compared to Head Cut, my least favorite track. By this point, the album is starting to come across as distinctly unhealthy, and it's no longer just a coincidence that all these songs are showing up here. Head Cut pushes the envelope too far and just doesn't hold up musically to what came before.

Last is Voodoo Dolly. Totally creepy, start to finish. It's 7:00 minutes of horror, as the music twists around and speeds up, building and ebbing. Of course, Sioux is busy setting up this final bout of morbid madness and reminding you to listen.

This CD brings out the worst in peoples imaginations. I love it on a musical and technical level, but it's not my favorite Banshee album. I infinitely prefer the ones that bookend it.