| Revision as of 16:03, 8 July 2013 editCarliertwo (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users15,801 edits This author lacks of notoriety & this source is not a wp:reliable source like a famous music paper. Simon Reynolds is a good source← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:59, 8 July 2013 edit undoCarliertwo (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users15,801 edits wp:undue. As it is also seen as post-punk and art-rock by several critics, this has to be mentionned tooNext edit → | ||
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| In their retrospective review, ] wrote, "The upfront intensity of ''Juju'' probably isn't matched anywhere else in the catalog of Siouxsie and the Banshees. Thanks to its killer singles, unrelenting force and invigorating dynamics, ''Juju'' is a ] classic."<ref name="AllMusic"/> | In their retrospective review, ] wrote, "The upfront intensity of ''Juju'' probably isn't matched anywhere else in the catalog of Siouxsie and the Banshees. Thanks to its killer singles, unrelenting force and invigorating dynamics, ''Juju'' is a ] classic."<ref name="AllMusic"/> | ||
| In 2007, '']'' placed ''Juju'' on its "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list, writing, "Perennial masters of brooding suspense, the Banshees honed their trademark aloof art-rock to its hardest and darkest pitch on ''Juju''."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/nov/21/1000tohearbeforeyoudie5 |title=Artists Beginning with S <nowiki>| Music |</nowiki> guardian.co.uk |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=21 November 2007 |work=] |accessdate=11 March 2013}}</ref> It was featured in the book '']''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dimery |first=Robert |year=2005 |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |publisher=]}}</ref> | In 2007, '']'' placed ''Juju'' on its "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list, writing, "Perennial masters of brooding suspense, the Banshees honed their trademark aloof art-rock to its hardest and darkest pitch on ''Juju''."<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/nov/21/1000tohearbeforeyoudie5 |title=Artists Beginning with S <nowiki>| Music |</nowiki> guardian.co.uk |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=21 November 2007 |work=] |accessdate=11 March 2013}}</ref> It was featured in the book '']''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dimery |first=Robert |year=2005 |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |publisher=]}}</ref> | ||
| == Legacy == | == Legacy == | ||
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| == Musical style == | == Musical style == | ||
| ''Juju'' is a post-punk album. Retrospectively, it was only recognized under this term by Allmusic.<ref name="AllMusic"/> ''The Guardian'' only qualified it as "]", stating that the two singles were "pop marvels".<ref name="Guardian"/> | |||
| ⚫ | ''Juju'' has been cited by critics as a ] album,<ref>{{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |authorlink=Simon Reynolds |year=2005 |title=] |publisher=] |quote=''Juju'', from 1981, is the Banshees' most perfect statement: every song feels like a chip off the same darkly lustrous block. Combine '']'' and ''Juju'' and you have roughly 70 per cent of goth's sound and lyrical themes. |isbn=0571252273}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Blackmore |first=Neil |editor-last=Buckley |editor-first=Peter |year=2003 |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |publisher=Rough Guides |
||
| ⚫ | However, ''Juju'' has also been cited by certain critics as a ] album,<ref>{{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |authorlink=Simon Reynolds |year=2005 |title=] |publisher=] |quote=''Juju'', from 1981, is the Banshees' most perfect statement: every song feels like a chip off the same darkly lustrous block. Combine '']'' and ''Juju'' and you have roughly 70 per cent of goth's sound and lyrical themes. |isbn=0571252273}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Blackmore |first=Neil |editor-last=Buckley |editor-first=Peter |year=2003 |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |publisher=Rough Guides |url=http://books.google.com.au/books?id=7ctjc6UWCm4C&pg=PT948&dq=the+rough+guide+to+rock+siouxsie&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fefaUf32A4SR7Aa604GwBA&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA |accessdate=14 June 2013 |isbn=1843531054 |pages=941-942 |quote=''Juju'' (1981; Polydor/Geffen). ], ], ] owe their careers to this goth classic.}}</ref> though the band dispute such categorisation.{{sfn|Paytress|2003|p=106}} Siouxsie commented: "Gothic in its purest sense is actually a very powerful, twisted genre, but the way it was being used by journalists—"goff" with a double "f"—always seemed to me to be about tacky harum scarum horror, and I find that anything but scary. That wasn't what we were about at all."{{sfn|Paytress|2003|p=106}} | ||
| == Track listing == | == Track listing == | ||
Revision as of 16:59, 8 July 2013
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Juju is the fourth studio album by English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was recorded at Surrey Sound studio with Nigel Gray as co-producer, and was released on 6 June 1981 by record label Polydor. Two singles were released from Juju: "Spellbound" and "Arabian Knights".
The album was commercially successful in the UK. It was also acclaimed by critics upon its release, with praise given particularly to John McGeoch's unconventional guitar-playing and Siouxsie's vocal performances. It remains a critical favourite to this day, and is seen as a landmark album of post-punk.
Background
After the slightly electronic bent of their previous album, 1980's Kaleidoscope, the Banshees returned to a guitar-based sound for Juju, due to the presence of now-official guitarist John McGeoch. The album also prominently featured the intricate percussion work of band member Budgie.
According to Steven Severin:
Juju was the first time we'd made a "concept" album that drew on darker elements. It wasn't pre-planned, but, as we were writing, we saw a definite thread running through the songs; almost a narrative to the album as a whole.
The album was recorded at Nigel Gray's Surrey Sound studio with Gray as co-producer.
The sleeve reproduced a picture of an African statue that they found at the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill.
Release
Juju reached No. 7 in the UK Albums Chart, remaining in the chart for 17 weeks.
The album was remastered and re-issued in May 2006.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Sounds |  |
Sounds hailed the album at its release, observing that Siouxsie's voice "seems to have acquired a new fullness of melody" with "a rich, dark smoothness". Musically, writer Betty Page noted: "the way this unit operates is impressively cohesive, like one brain the inventive musical talents of McGeoch, Budgie and Severin mesh perfectly with Siouxsie". She also praised McGeoch as being "the only man who can make an acoustic guitar sound foreboding".
In their retrospective review, AllMusic wrote, "The upfront intensity of Juju probably isn't matched anywhere else in the catalog of Siouxsie and the Banshees. Thanks to its killer singles, unrelenting force and invigorating dynamics, Juju is a post-punk classic."
In 2007, The Guardian placed Juju on its "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list, writing, "Perennial masters of brooding suspense, the Banshees honed their trademark aloof art-rock to its hardest and darkest pitch on Juju." It was featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Legacy
In 1995, Melody Maker writer Cathi Unsworth described Juju as "one of the most influential British albums ever".
John McGeoch's guitar playing in particular was singled out for praise. Mojo honoured him in 2006 by placing him in their list of the 100 greatest guitarists ever for his work on "Spellbound". Johnny Marr of The Smiths said on BBC Radio 2 in February 2008 that he also rated McGeoch highly for his work on "Spellbound". Marr qualified it as "clever", with a "really good picky thing going on which is very un-rock'n'roll". In Uncut, Marr also rated McGeoch at his 10th favourite guitarist for his work on Juju and Real Life by Magazine.
Another member of The Smiths, singer Morrissey, commented on "Spellbound" during an interview for the US KROQ-FM radio station in 1997:
another great single. A hit in England. Certainly not here, I don't think. But they were one of the great groups of the late '70s, early '80s, and very underrated, I think. Siouxsie and the Banshees were excellent "
Morrissey later cited Juju as an influence in an interview with GQ in 2005.
Musical style
Juju is a post-punk album. Retrospectively, it was only recognized under this term by Allmusic. The Guardian only qualified it as "art-rock", stating that the two singles were "pop marvels".
However, Juju has also been cited by certain critics as a gothic rock album, though the band dispute such categorisation. Siouxsie commented: "Gothic in its purest sense is actually a very powerful, twisted genre, but the way it was being used by journalists—"goff" with a double "f"—always seemed to me to be about tacky harum scarum horror, and I find that anything but scary. That wasn't what we were about at all."
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Siouxsie Sioux, except as noted; all music is composed by Siouxsie and the Banshees (Sioux, Steven Severin, Budgie and John McGeoch)
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Spellbound" | Severin | 3:20 |
| 2. | "Into the Light" | 4:15 | |
| 3. | "Arabian Knights" | 3:23 | |
| 4. | "Halloween" | Severin | 3:37 |
| 5. | "Monitor" | 5:33 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Night Shift" | 6:06 |
| 2. | "Sin in My Heart" | 3:37 |
| 3. | "Head Cut" | 4:22 |
| 4. | "Voodoo Dolly" | 7:04 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Spellbound (12" Extended Mix)" | Severin | 4:41 |
| 11. | "Arabian Knights (12" Vocoder Mix)" | 3:09 | |
| 12. | "Fireworks (Nigel Gray Unreleased Version)" | Severin | 4:13 |
Personnel
- Siouxsie and the Banshees
- Siouxsie Sioux – vocals, guitar on "Sin in My Heart"
- Steven Severin – bass guitar
- Budgie – drums, percussion
- John McGeoch – guitar
- Technical
- Nigel Gray – production
- Rob O'Connor – sleeve design
- Joe Lyons – sleeve photography
References
- ^ Paytress 2003, p. 106.
- "Siouxsie & the Banshees | Artist | Official Charts". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ DiGravina, Tim. "Ju Ju – Siouxsie and the Banshees : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. AllRovi. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ^ Page, Betty (27 June 1981). "Siouxsie & The Banshees: Juju ****1/2". Sounds. Rock's Backpages. Retrieved 5 June 2013. (subscription required)
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (21 November 2007). "Artists Beginning with S | Music | guardian.co.uk". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- Dimery, Robert (2005). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Cassell Illustrated.
- Unsworth, Cathi (14 January 1995). "Baby, Come Back". Melody Maker.
- "Rocklist.net...Mojo Lists..." rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- Mitchell, Pete (first broadcast February 2008). "Spellbound: The Story of John McGeoch (4/6)". BBC Radio 2. YouTube. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Marr, Johnny (November 2004). "Top Ten Guitarists". Uncut.
- "Morrissey – KROQ Interview, 7-6-97 (pt. 4/4)". morrissey-solo.com. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- Deevoy, Adrian (October 2005). "Men of the Year". GQ. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- Reynolds, Simon (2005). Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984. Faber and Faber. ISBN 0571252273.
Juju, from 1981, is the Banshees' most perfect statement: every song feels like a chip off the same darkly lustrous block. Combine Join Hands and Juju and you have roughly 70 per cent of goth's sound and lyrical themes.
- Blackmore, Neil (2003). Buckley, Peter (ed.). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. pp. 941–942. ISBN 1843531054. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
Juju (1981; Polydor/Geffen). The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, Cocteau Twins owe their careers to this goth classic.
Sources
- Paytress, Mark (2003). Siouxsie & the Banshees – The Authorised Biography. Sanctuary Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-86074-375-7.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)
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