1986 Geffen Records
Thanks to my friend Mac Haik for introducing me to this disc back in 1986. I first heard of Siouxsie & the Banshees by accident while in a record (yeah…VINYL, baybeeeeee!) store that had Siouxsie’s live CD Nocturne playing. The song playing was Night Shift, which is to this day one of my Siouxsie faves, and I remember thinking that her voice sounded like (lol) Robert Plant!
I wound up buying the CD and then bought Tinderbox after Mac played the album for me. This was a sound unlike anything I’d ever heard before…dark, mysterious, inherently romantic in its sound, and intelligent. Side one (that’s old-tyme vinyl LP talk for all you youngin’s) is, in my opinion, one of the best sides of music ever recorded, the first 4 tracks showing a diversity of rhythms and a colorful palette of sounds.
Candyman kicks things off in style with raucous uptempo snare snaps, then there is The Sweetest Chill, which is the highlight of the disc for me. Just the most darkly beautiful song I’ve ever heard. The song title says it all, as does the title of the next song This Unrest, which is both hypnotic and unsettling while being an enjoyable listen.
Cities in Dust is probably the best known track here, while the remainder of the songs impressively fill out what is a truly amazing and atmospheric album, expertly walking the fine line between underground credibility and smart pop sensibility. Of the remaining tracks, Cannons and Party’s Fall are my faves, accentuating the diversity and experimentation of this unique band.
I dunno…this is one of those discs that sounds fresh now 23 years after the fact.
Extra props for really colorful and creative guitar sounds all over these songs.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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