Progarchives.com has always (since 2002) relied on banners ads to cover web hosting fees and all. Please consider supporting us by giving monthly PayPal donations and help keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.
Joined: November 06 2012
Location: here
Status: Offline
Points: 8856
Topic: Siouxsie and the Banshees vs. Television Posted: December 20 2014 at 14:38
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.
Joined: March 24 2006
Location: flyover country
Status: Offline
Points: 2822
Posted: December 20 2014 at 15:09
Hmm, tough call. I think I'll go with Siouxsie, because how many other people can you say singlehandedly invented both a musical subgenre and a fashion statement?
"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken
Joined: April 01 2009
Location: Atlanta
Status: Offline
Points: 26133
Posted: December 20 2014 at 15:15
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
My other avatar is a Porsche
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.
Joined: April 12 2008
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 5898
Posted: December 20 2014 at 15:15
Whoa, I'm listening to The Scream right now so I'm surprised to see S&TB come up. For the record the US band I'd compare them to the most would probably be early Christian Death. (as fronted by the late Rozz Williams)
"The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook
Joined: November 06 2012
Location: here
Status: Offline
Points: 8856
Posted: December 20 2014 at 15:27
^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.
Joined: April 12 2008
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 5898
Posted: December 20 2014 at 15:32
Yeah, CD only have two really good albums whereas S&TB have a pretty consistent discography despite the drastic changes in style.
"The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook
Joined: May 16 2009
Location: Blighty
Status: Offline
Points: 6797
Posted: December 20 2014 at 17:41
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.
Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24391
Posted: December 20 2014 at 17:48
Siouxsie and the Banshees are one of my favourite non-prog bands (and have been for quite a long time). I also love Siouxsie's voice, so distinctive and different from the hordes of indistinguishable, saccharine-sweet sopranos that many prog fans seem to prefer.
Joined: April 12 2008
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 5898
Posted: December 21 2014 at 03:48
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.
"The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook
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.
I don't follow. The Television song posted was See No Evil?
Edited by ExittheLemming - December 21 2014 at 05:46
Joined: April 12 2008
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 5898
Posted: December 21 2014 at 05:50
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
"The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook
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.
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24391
Posted: December 21 2014 at 06:43
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....
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
This page was generated in 0.345 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.