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Product Description
Review
Tinderbox was Siouxsie and the Banshees' seventh studio album; and by the time of its release in April 1986, the band had become unwilling and unwitting figureheads of the now well-defined Goth movement in the UK. Recorded at the same studios in Berlin where David Bowie had recorded "Heroes", Tinderbox arrived as many of their original peers had either long splintered or resorted to parody.
Sioux and Severin were being asked about their longevity and that, as being ten years in to their career, should they not be pushed aside like the prog dinosaurs had been a decade previously. Siouxsie was having none of it and told Sounds curtly that "We haven't replaced Genesis or Yes by any means." And she's right - this was not a band resting on their laurels. It was a band pushing forward, seizing the moment.
Producer Hugh Jones allows the Banshees to put together an effective mix of icy dramatics on the first studio album with ex-Clock DVA guitarist, John Valentine Carruthers. The album was trailed by the single Cities In Dust, one of Siouxsie's best vocal performances. The last days of Pompeii vibe seemed to chime perfectly with the times as the excess of the 80s was spiralling out of control.
Tinderbox is a rollicking, demanding listen. Carruthers, aware of being the fourth guitarist in the band, dives head-first into the melee. It's fairly unrelenting listing. By now, they had perfected the overlaying of acoustic guitars on their work - hear Cannons, the album's finest track. The galloping attack of Budgie's drums compliments the slippery liquidity of Carruthers' guitar on Party's Fall.
The 2009 remaster of Tinderbox with its bonus material and suitably florid notes from Paul Morley make it another exemplary addition to Banshees' reissue series. It demonstrates the regard in which they continue to hold their audience. --Daryl Easlea
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CD Description
The classic Banshees album from 1986 has been digitally remastered and now boasts four bonus tracks including the Extended Version of "Cities In Dust" and three previously unreleased tracks, the Chris Kimsey version of "Sweetest Chill" and the "JVC" versions of "Starcrossed Lovers" and "Song From The Edge of the World". This CD re-issue is housed in a digi-pak with sleeve notes by Paul Morley.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Clumsey
Format:Audio CD
This really is the Banshees at their enigmatic best. Though the bonus tracks are 'interesting' for my mind this superb album is best remembered as 8 songs long, ending as it was intended to with the remarkable 'Lands End.' Tinderbox gives a hard sound that competes well with Siouxsie's unmistakable, punishing vocal delivery. If not already a fan, hear this and you'll really see what puts this band well ahead of their so called contemporaries.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I always preferred the Banshees when they explored and stretched the limits of the conventional voice/guitar/bass/drums set up, rather than over-decorating their sound with strings, accordians and keyboard overkill. Although keyboards DO feature on this stunning, weather-themed album, they're used more sparingly than on earlier releases like A KISS IN THE DREAMHOUSE and HYAENA. TINDERBOX follows in the footsteps of JUJU, diverting the metallic thrust and parry of THE SCREAM in a more melodic, exotic direction. There's plenty here to match the high standard set by the fabulously intense pop of accompanying 45 "Cities in Dust". John Valentine Carruthers was sadly - and very unfairly - the least appreciated of the Banshees' guitarists, but his work here easily outshines any contributions made by the preceding Robert Smith or subsequent Jon Klein: the chiming chords of "Candyman", the delicate cascades on "The Sweetest Chill", the evocative soundscapes of "Lands End" and the extraordinary effects-pedal work of bonus track "Umbrella" being particularly effective. The rest of the band are on top form too, with Severin's basswork and Budgie's percussion providing a rock solid foundation underneath the beautifully textured arrangements and Siouxsie's atmospheric vocals. Criminally underrated at the time of its release, TINDERBOX ranks alongside THE SCREAM, JOIN HANDS and KALEIDOSCOPE as one of the very best Banshees albums. Further proof that Siouxsie and the boys are the ones who really deserve the praise that's so routinely heaped on their more run-of-the-mill contemporaries.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Johnny442
Format:Audio CD
I've been dying for this reissue for so long now and at last it's finally here. This was always a great album but over the years it has matured into one of the Banshees' finest. Alongside two of their best single moments "Candyman" and "Cities in Dust" are the eerie "The Sweetest Chill" (Siouxsie's shivering vocals accompanied by tingling guitar and piano) and the brooding and slightly unnerving "This Unrest" and "92 Degrees". "Canons" and "Party's Fall" are two of the Banshees lighter sounding moments. Both songs are strongly melodic and it's a surprise that neither were chosen for single release at the time.
Unlike some of the other remasters, three of the four bonus tracks are well worth the purchase. There is an unavailable 12" version of "The Sweetest Chill" and a JVC version of "Song from the edge of the world" which has never been on CD before (a shame the original single version isn't available but I understand the band were never happy with the final cut.) The real gem is the previously unreleased demo recorded at the time of the album, "Starcrossed". Again, it's a beautiful tune laced with Siouxsie's haunting vocals and I'm amazed it was never issued as as single. The fourth extra track is the 12" version of "Cities in Dust" which was released on the original CD. One minor grumble - they could have included the original bonus tracks "Umbrella", "Lullaby" and "Quaterdrawing of the dog", but these can be found on the fantastic b-sides collection, "Downside up".
If you're new to the Banshees, this would be a fine introduction!
Unlike some of the other remasters, three of the four bonus tracks are well worth the purchase. There is an unavailable 12" version of "The Sweetest Chill" and a JVC version of "Song from the edge of the world" which has never been on CD before (a shame the original single version isn't available but I understand the band were never happy with the final cut.) The real gem is the previously unreleased demo recorded at the time of the album, "Starcrossed". Again, it's a beautiful tune laced with Siouxsie's haunting vocals and I'm amazed it was never issued as as single. The fourth extra track is the 12" version of "Cities in Dust" which was released on the original CD. One minor grumble - they could have included the original bonus tracks "Umbrella", "Lullaby" and "Quaterdrawing of the dog", but these can be found on the fantastic b-sides collection, "Downside up".
If you're new to the Banshees, this would be a fine introduction!
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Spectacular Album!
Many people call this the start of the Banshees 'sell out' into commercial pop. However, the Banshees have always had a perchant for pop tunes as early as their first single,... Read more
Published 11 months ago by JJKelsall
4.0 out of 5 stars
Shining Beacon in a Storm Battered Sea
Not their best, something composite about it as the sound appears uneven, written at a time, more diverse streams had run past them. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
4.0 out of 5 stars
great
I had the vinyl of this as school boy and the cities in dust was doing well in the charts,but really the gems were sweetest chill,candyman which the newby guitarist played... Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2009 by B. J. Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strike a light
One of the Banshees underrated yet great albums..
Choc full of great tracks like 92 degrees, Party's Fall, Sweetest Chill, This Unrest, Cannons etc (all of which would have made... Read more
Published on 27 April 2005 by Paul Hunt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Their best work
With the Banshees back on the road (briefly anyway) now's a good time to share my thoughts on this great album. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
From a time when we were still graced with The Banshees
I spent so many hours listening to this wonderful multi textured album when it was first released I never thought I would have the chance to share my thoughts with the world at... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2002 by G. Hurst
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