Siouxsie and the Banshees - Once Upon a Time: The Singles
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Free Music Notes for Once Upon a Time: The Singles
Free Music Review: Some of Their Best Singles (And Songs)
Hit: 5 Stars
"Once Upon a Time: The Singles" is proof that Siouxsie and the Banshees' early singles were the best (Though "Slowdive" and "Melt!" are on Twice Upon a Time). Much of their stuff after this until "Peepshow" wasn't quite as spirited (except for classics like "Dazzle" and "Cities in Dust"). "Hong Kong Garden" is always going to be one of the band's all time classics, and I'll never get tired of it. "Mirage" wasn't released as a single (It came from "The Scream"), but it's a pretty wild goth/punk song. "The Staircase (Mystery)" is one of the band's weaker singles, but seeing how it came after "Hong Kong Garden", which was a monster hit, they still did pretty good. The excellent "Playground Twist" foreshadows more ornate later singles like "Swimming Horses" and "The Last Beat of my Heart". I will never understand why other fans hold "Love in a Void" in such high regard when the band has definetly done better; It's the weakest song on here. In sharp contrast, "Happy House", with newly added guitarist and drummer John McGeoch and Budgie, is one of their classic singles and is my second favorite Banshees song after "Melt!". "Christine" is a very pretty song with a flanging acoustic guitar and psychedelic touches very reminiscent of their biggest hit "Dear Prudence". "Israel" is a thundering gothic rock track with McGeoch's very kooky guitar and Budgie's rolling drums. Another classic is "Spellbound", a song that makes concert audiences scream in delight when the band plays it. Finally, there's "Arabian Knights", the only song that I know of that uses the word "orifices". "Once Upon a Time" is proof that Siouxsie and the Banshees were at their very best during their early 80's period and is a must have for both fanatics and first-timers.Free Music Review: Obsolete
Hit: 3 Stars
This disc is really obsolete. It was good when the last single from the group was Arabian Knights, back in 1981, although it doesn't include the European single Mittageisen (from The Scream) but does include the non-single Mirage. Since there are so many album tracks that are superior to the singles (like Into The Light, which is better than Arabian Knights and should have been a single), it annoys me that Mirage got special treatment.
Since 1981, there have been a lot of singles, most of them found on the incomplete set Twice Upon a Time. That set is missing the following:
Every single prior to it, available here (except for Mittageisen)
Song From the Edge of the World
The Last Beat of My Heart (studio)
Fear of the Unknown (normal single/album version)
O Baby
Stargazer
New Skin* (not really a single, but was on the Showgirls soundtrack)
Musically, the disc is a pretty good, albeit brief, collection, although as I've mentioned, many of the album tracks are just as strong as the singles, sometimes more so. For instance, despite its popularity, I don't consider Christine one of the best songs on Kaleidoscope. It starts out strongly, but goes flat mid-way through, and some lines are delivered in a way that doesn't satisfy me. The album Join Hands is under-represented here as well. Even though there was only one single, it's like an important facet of the band's sound is missing. Listeners will get a poppier impression of the band with Once Upon a Time than if they listen to the albums. I highly suggest doing that and making your own compilation. You'll need to pick up The Staircase on this set, because it's probably not anywhere else. There really needs to be a complete singles set released.
Siouxsie and the Banshees are a great group and this collection, although good, doesn't really represent the band's early output fully. Album tracks like Jigsaw Feeling, Placebo Effect, Desert Kisses, Into the Light, and others shouldn't be missed. 5 star screamers will shout this review down with comments like "this isn't your personal favorites collection", ignoring the points I made. Yes, consensus is impossible with art, but if one looks at the reviews for the album Superstition, the same songs are cited over and over as the best examples of the period, and most of them, like Little Sister, were not singles.
Free Music Review: Spectacular
Hit: 5 Stars
This is fantastic music. It's too bad most punk doesn't sound this good. Basically, this is melodious punk. My only complaint about Siouxsie is the name of the songs are repeated soooo many times each song. No big deal though. I guess I just don't like their lyrical style.Free Music Review: A great collection for the early years.
Hit: 5 Stars
This was the 2nd album I had bought from Siouxsie and the Banshees. The first was their 2nd installment, Twice Upon A Time. Sometimes, so called "best of" or collection albums can spell out meaningless attempts at cashing in a band. But others, like this one, can turn an unknown listener into a full fledge fan. Once Upon A Time almost would have been that meaningless album, it was supposed to be called "In The Beginning" with a caricature of Siouxsie Sioux as a baby on the cover. How many people would have taken that seriously? Thankfully, it was released as more of a singles collection, containing various stills from the music videos, and in the booklet some scary beheaded dolls.
It starts off with their first single Hong Kong Garden. A bit too poppy an upbeat, their b-side was the droning and unnerving Voices (On The Air). There wasn't an official single release from their first album, The Scream, so we get the great voyeuristic song Mirage put on there for good measure. Another one of their great non album singles, The Staircase (Mystery) takes its cue from Hitchcock movies, adding strange out of tune piano at the end. their best single from that era, Playground Twist, goes for another horror movie like quality, with a creepy sax bridge and children screaming at the end. We get one of the double A side single songs, Love in A Void, but not the original release of it. This one is more subdued, but still reminds us of their energetic early punk tunes. Happy House marches in their more experimental sounds that would resonate throughout their career. It's mad hatter party music and gleeful lyrics make it a bizarre song. Christine also goes into strange territory lyrically, yet is strangely sweet. Israel marks a new turn for the Banshees, with Budgie's tribal drumming making it infectious. Supposedly it's a Christmas song, Banshees style. Two cuts from their amazing Juju album mark the end of the collection. The fast paced, heartracing energy of Spellbound will have you jumping up and dancing a "rag doll dance". Arabian Knights is the last song, and creates a dizzy atmosphere, steeped in traditional middle eastern cymbals and sitar-esque guitar riffs. The lyrics demystify the illusion of Arabia, much like they did with Hong Kong Garden. One of their best tunes. This is definitely a must have for any Banshee fan, casual one or longtime fan.
Free Music Review: Great Band's Early Period
Hit: 5 Stars
Siouxsie and the Banshees started out as a primitive, arty punk band with a raw yet streamlined sound. This little punk rocker of a collection is a great intro to this band.
1. Hong Kong Garden- For a band whose first ambition was to get booed off stage, this poppy little first single is very strange for them. This classic is a punk song with an unconventional touch: It has a faux-Asian melody complete with chimes and lyrics that reflect it.
2. Mirage- This track is off the Banshees' first album "The Scream". It is a great song about how negativley television is affecting our lives. The song is very urgent sounding and menacing.
3. The Staircase (Mystery)- A kooky, crazy second single for the band with metallic guitars and percussion that reminds me very much of a merry-go-round. Siouxsie vocals were far from the gorgeous restraint that she would sing with later in her career , but they suit the song very well.
4. Playground Twist- The only single off "Join Hands", this song is very underrated. It always gives me the creeps, with its menacing guitars and its odd time signature. The chimes and saxophones are a nice touch too.
5. Love in a Void- Many fans hold this song in such high regard, but I can't see why. Siouxsie's singing is awful in this song, and I think that the Banshees were great because they did things that many bands did not do. This song sounds like the same old stuff to me.
6. Happy House- After a couple years as an all-out punk band, the Banshees went for a change of pace. This song is still punky, but with great touches of synths. Siouxsie's singing shows a massive amount of improvement in this song.
7. Christine- This song is the centerpiece of the Banshees' foray into New Wave-esque music. With acoustic guitar, flecks of synths and keyboards, and Siouxsie's singing showing even more improvement.
8. Israel- After fiddling around with New Wave, the Banshees returned to a more guitar-based sound, but with lots of changes. For one thing, Sioux was now a great singer, and new drummer Budgie added a much-needed kick to their music. This song is a prime example of their reinvigoration, with squealing guitars courtesy of the late John McGeoch, and tribal drums courtesy of Budgie.
9. Spellbound- This is a sacrificial dance of a song, with pounding percussion, wailing guitars, and Siouxsie Sioux ranting and chanting her way through it. A true classic.
10. Arabian Knights- What I love about Siouxsie and the Banshees is how big an influence Eastern music and culture has on them (Their first single was called "Hong Kong Garden"). These influences are in full force on "Arabian Knights", with Budgie's walloping drums, Siouxsie's bizarre howlings, and John McGeoch's piecering guitar. Oh, and the lyrics too.
This is a key introduction to this band.