Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yes, there are better songs to choose from, but....., October 10, 2003
I don't argue with the fact that there are better, more fascinating and perhaps even more representative songs in the Banshees' backcatalogue which would have made a more compelling set of discs. But, because every die-hard fan claims to be an aficionado, someone would inevitably complain with whatever set of more obscure songs were chosen. One must remember that this is, first and foremost, a "Hits" package--and for that purpose the selection of songs is right on the mark. A listener experiences the commercially successful side of the Banshees, which, while not the most intriguing or satisfying facet of an incredible band, is heaps better than 99.9% of everything else being produced today.....commercial or otherwise.
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16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great songs that improve with age, February 17, 2004
This collection is ideal for the casual listener or those who wish to investigate the work of Siouxsie And the Banshees based on what they have heard on the radio. As such, it is a more than satisfying collection that offers the greatest hits from 1978's Hong Kong Garden up to 1991's Kiss Them For Me and 1995's Stargazer. It includes two cover versions: The Beatles' Dear Prudence and Julie Driscoll's hit This Wheel's On Fire, both competent if not brilliant interpretations.Of course the 1980s was their most fruitful period with UK hits like Happy House, Israel, Christine, Spellbound and Arabian Knights. Most of these are atmospheric numbers with just a hint of The Banshees' proto-goth dark side shining through. Their debut album The Scream still remains one of the most psychotic statements in rock but is not a piece of music that lends itself to hits compilations. Well, perhaps Helter Skelter should have been considered ... My favorites include their first hit, Hong Kong Garden, a powerful punk number with absolutely blistering guitar work and an exotic touch, Kiss Them For Me, their lilting, swaying 1991 hit about a doomed actress, Peek-A-Boo from the 1988 Peep Show album and Stargazer from their last, under-appreciated album The Rapture. Great songs and an innovative edge lend a timeless quality to the music. Those who want more of this great band are advised to investigate the compilations Once Upon A Time (1981) and Twice Upon A Time (1992).
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It Does What It Has To do, February 16, 2007
Every song on this best-of collection is a single, and every one of them was a huge hit in the U.K., and they all deserved it. There's even a great bonus song that the band never realeased. Here's the breakdown:
1. Dear Prudence- Their biggest ever hit, this one's pretty good. It's a Beatles cover that the band manages to sound like their own, with a spacious, atmospheric sound and even touches of a harp. Siouxsie Sioux's vocals, accentuated by an expansive echo effect, give it an almost angelic feel.
2. Hong Kong Garden- The band's very first single release is one of their best songs. The guitar playing is brilliant and the Asian chimes are just adorable. Recently, the song was featured on the soundtrack to the film "Marie Antoinette" in a masked ball scene. That version featured a gorgeous orchestral introduction that suited the song well.
3. Cities in Dust- A really big hit from the band and their break-through single in the U.S., I'm still kind of sick of it. The lyrics aren't very deep or meaningful, and Sioux's vocals are grating. However, there are some very catchy synths, and the guitar and bass work are excellent.
4. Peek-a-Boo- The Banshees's first single to ever get on the Billboard Hot 100 is one of their most recognizable and catchy. It's also one of their oddest, considering that the instruments are all being recorded backwards and it features a sea-shanty accordion. This one's a must-hear.
5. Happy House- This song is one of my all-time favorite singles from Siouxsie. It's also the first song to ever feature the tribal drumwork from Budgie, and that makes one their most important songs.
6. Kiss Them for Me- I love this song! It's their biggest single in the U.S. and their second number one hit on the U.S. Modern Rock Chart (It stayed on there for five weeks!). Sioux's vocals are refreshingly gentle, and the East Indian instrumentation from Talvin Singh is dazzling.
7. Face to Face- A firm fan favorite, it was featured on the soundtrack to the 1992 film Batman Returns and played during a crucial moment in the movie. It's obviously a ballad, with strings and light percussion. Bits of Danny Elfman's movie score are in it as well.
8. Dizzy- The unreleased bonus track on this record. It's actually quite mellow, and judging from some of the synths used, it probably came from around the time the band's final album "The Rapture" came out. It's a very pretty song.
9. Israel- Although I think it's one of their more overrated singles, this classic gothic rock song gets a deserved place in the collection. It featured classic early 80's Banshees sounds: ominous bass, high-pitched guitars, Budgie's thunderous drumming, and Sioux's spooky voice.
10. Christine- Possibly my favorite Banshees single. It's a very psychedelic song, with a farsifa organ and an acoustic guitar that flangs at the end. Sioux's vocals are a lot softer, considering that people at the time were used to her high-pitched punk wailing.
11. Spellbound- Well, it wouldn't be a Banshees best-of collection if this song wasn't on here, now would it? It just bristles with storming energy and, as ususal, Budgie pounds the living daylights out of his drums.
12. Stargazer- I will never get why this song was featured on here. It might be because it was the Banshee's last single before calling it a day in 1996. I'm not very fond of it, though the acoustic guitar hook is just brilliant.
13. Arabian Knights- A concert favorite, this is one of the Banshee's classic singles, even though it faetures a lots of old riffs. It's also the best known song to use the word "orifices".
14. The Killing Jar- This shiny goth-pop song is perfect for people who are just getting into the band. It's very catchy and is pretty pop-oriented and features a cello.
15. This Wheel's On Fire- Another cover from the band, this time of a song written by Bob Dylan and performed by Julie Driscoll. It's very shiny and has strings that remind me very much of the Orient. Very good cover.
Overall, this collection is suitable for people who are just getting into this band. Die-hard fans should stick to "Once Upon a Time" and "Twice Upon a Time".
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by Siouxsie and The Banshees 
