Best Banshees

So, my friend today bought up the fact that she didn't know that ole Big Wet Baby himself, Robert Smith was in Siouxsie And The Banshees.
Always one to chat about all things Banshees, it got me thinking - how do I rank their albums? what are my faves? considering they prob didn't really make a "bad" album, i thought i'd scratch my head and write a list:

1. JUJU (1981) - prob my fave, due to the inclusion of "Spellbound" and "Arabian Knights". however theres lots to be said about John McGeoghs playing on this album. what IS he doing with that guitar? "Into The Light" is a great example of where he was at around this time.

2. THE SCREAM (1978) - cos it starts here. incredible debut record. Juju pips it cos I like tunes. this is hard to listen to, but its killer. "Switch" is my fave.

3. KISS IN THE DREAMHOUSE (1982) - another McGeogh one. This is the Banshees moving slightly away from the goth darkness of Juju, and embracing pop and psychedelia. Lush.

4. HYAENA (1984) - ok, this is the Bob album. What he does on this is insane, his guitar playing is bonkers. Its a real varied record, lots going on here, and think its majorly underrated. See the Banshees performance on "The Tube" round this time to see what i mean. "Running Town" and "Blow The House Down" are highlights for me.

5. JOIN HANDS (1979) - proper abrasive post punk. its hard to rate the top 5 cos they all mean a lot to me and all have elements that make them as good as the next record. this is a hard listen, but has inklings of whats to come with things like "Icon". Listen to "Mother" on headphones and shit your pants.

6.  KALEIDOSCOPE (1980) - bit of a mixed bag this one, but the addition of Budgie and the fact the music is so varied puts this up there with the top 5. think "Christine" is on this? that first chord kills me.

7. PEEPSHOW (1988) - they really up their game with this one. another line up change, and means The Banshees up their game to try something new. Its all wonky drum beats and samples, sounding totally mad and totally modern at the same time. Still holds up. "Killing Jar" is one of their best pop songs, and "Last Beat Of My Heart" remains one of the best gig-openers i've ever witnessed. 

8. TINDERBOX (1986) - John Valentine Carruthers joins the line up for this one. Very light and poppy in places, prob too many guitar overdubs, great album cover. "Cities In Dust" and "Lands End" are my faves on this. I was totally into Carruthers as a guitarist, as he was the fella i saw live with The Banshees first. But - hes a shadow of what came before him.

9. THE RAPTURE (1995) - i don't own this record, so have only heard it a few times. I think i liked it more than "Superstition" but i can't really remember. I have good memories about what I remember hearing though. Or maybe its the memory of how much my friend loved this album instead. Needs a revisit.

10. THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS (1987) - the covers album. great selection of tracks, and remembering the singles doing well at the time. Can't say theres much that grabs me really though, more of a curio than anything. Covering "Trust In Me" from The Jungle Book was a stroke of genius.

11. SUPERSTITION (1991) - prob the only Banshees record I could live without. Think it all falls a bit flat, with nothing that memorable on it, apart from the singles. Maybe more to do with the production than anything. One of these had to go last, so sorry "Supersition".