Siouxsie and the Banshees vs. Television

Siouxsie and the Banshees vs. Television

Siouxsie and the Banshees were one of the first "goth rock" bands, sporting the confident vocals and theatrics of Siouxsie Sioux and the guitar brilliance of John McGeoch, they went on to inspire the Cure to go in the goth rock direction.


From the New York scene, Television were known for the dazzling guitar work of Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. With their album Marquee Moon, they have continued to inspire guitarists to this day.

what sub-genere?

Edited by Icarium - December 20 2014 at 15:13

I'm just a niouxbie when it comes to Siouxsie. Nothing's really taken hold yet. As for Television I love the Marquee Moon album. Verlaine's solo on the title track is a classic example of how to craft a great solo without a lot of chops. Sometimes when I'm stuck for a solo I think about that song and it sometimes helps me overcome my suckitude.

Edited by HolyMoly - December 20 2014 at 15:16

^Christian Death will have their chance. I didn't place them with Siouxsie mostly because they have more in common with Bauhaus aesthetically than the Banshees. Plus, Banshees vs. CD? The vote would be too easy. Not that there's not a fair share of that in the polls already.

I do really like Television and Marquee Moon.  But, this is Siouxsie and the Banshees we are talking about - originally a punk band that produced one of the first (and best) post punk albums slightly dodgy second album that i adore (ok so not quite as much as the Scream) split up employed one of the best guitarist ever and a thumping drummer.  Then continued to produce ground breaking albums and influenced so many bands.

anyway, you could put them up against just about any band and I wouldn't waver.  Oh and did I say that Siouxsie is a godess?

so my vote goes to the Americans......only joking.

Television is amazing. 

If the Television song Polymorphia posted is indicative of their style, I'm definitely voting for Siouxsie. Surprised the OP didn't post the video for Spellbound by the way.

sisoouxuxuxusie k

The two bands are so different in sound I find it an apples-and-oranges situation, right now I just happen to subjectively prefer S&TB. It's possible that if this poll was posted half a year ago or so I'd be voting for Television instead. Can understand why a lot of people are voting for them anyway.

I know it sounds rather silly, but the two groups' signature styles aspire towards very different creative priorities even if they use some of the same ingredients and techniques. Maybe one of them fulfils their respective goals more successfully if you analyze the music in details, or you could argue that what one is aspiring towards accomplishing either more interesting if not objectively better, but that discussion would require a lot of more abstract aesthetic theorizing I'm not really in the mood for right now.

That's the reason I said earlier in this thread that it'd be much more interesting pitting S&TB against Christian Death. An album like Only Theatre of Pain has the similar over-the-top noisy psychedelic sound and fantastic (or at least kinda cartoonish) horror/sci-fi aesthetic as the Banshees' early records, whereas Television's much closer to "normal" rock music and deal with more realistic themes in their music. The latter might be more serious by most estimations, but it also scratches a rather different itch.


Edited by Toaster Mantis - December 21 2014 at 05:59

Guldbamsen wrote: HolyMoly wrote: I'm just a niouxbie when it comes to Siouxsie. Nothing's really taken hold yet. As for Television I love the Marquee Moon album. Verlaine's solo on the title track is a classic example of how to craft a great solo without a lot of chops. Sometimes when I'm stuck for a solo I think about that song and it sometimes helps me overcome my suckitude. I'm stealing the word 'suckitude' for my future memoires, Steve. You are my inspiration. Oh and I went with Siouxsie Love Marquee Moon though, but it's 1 great album up against 5. No contest.

I use that word all the time when referring to any sports team based in Washington, DC....