Retro Spins: Siouxsie And The Banshees - Kaleidoscope

I mentioned back in March when listening to Siouxsie And The Banshees' Juno, how I got an itch to get all their 80's albums one day, not really knowing much about them beyond their song, Face To Face, from Batman Returns. This post came prior to the recent format I've adopted as of late, where I run through a series of albums from an artist, and not just one. As such, I started off my Banshees' journey already into the era.

Well, today I'm taking a step back to 1980 to pick up with their record, Kaleidoscope. I already did a deep dive on the band in the aforementioned Juno listening session, so I also can't necessarily do a deep dive either. Well, I could, but it would basically just be rinse and repeat of their other post.

So, let's just dive right in, focusing on the album itself.

Right before a show in support of their 1979 album, Join hands, guitarist John McKay, and drummer Kenny Morris unceremoniously left the band. The two fled from the city after an argument with Siouxsie, and manager Nils Stevenson. This prompted the Banshees to regroup, taking their sound in a different direction. While they still featured the post punk rock that gave them their following, they would also incorporate synthesizers and drum machines, stirring a new wave sound into the mix.

Ordered by her doctors to take a one month rest, Siouxsie used this time to learn to play guitar, and start composing her own music. She would use this new skill to continue work on the demoes for what would become Kaleidoscope. To fill the absences of McKay and Morris, the group brought in John McGeoch on guitars, and Budgie (Peter Edward Clarke), on drums.

When the album was released, it peaked at number five on the UK charts, which at the time was the highest the band had achieved. Not only did critics praise the album, but so too did Paul Wellers and Rick Buckler, of The Jam, who called the music innovative with unusual sounds. Kaleidoscope would also be noted as an inspirational recording for bands such as The Cure, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Smiths, and Radiohead.

Listening through it, I definitely caught on to the "unusual" aspect of it. Kaleidoscope is a very unique record for its time, and one which I can understand how and why it would be inspiring to may artists. Everything that makes it different is also what makes it stand out, in a good way.

While I wasn't going to hear, nor expected Top Forty hits here, from start to finish, I found the album to be quite enjoyable. There were some standout tracks from the bunch, Happy House, Christine, Desert Kisses, Red Light, and Paradise Place. However, overall, and as a whole, I can't see listening to this one again without playing it from start to finish. It feels like the whole thing needs to be there to really get the full experience.

I'm excited to keep going through their music. However, I want to do something "fun" in doing so. I'll give a bit more information on that tomorrow, as I'm still working through the final details, but hopefully you'll enjoy it.

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below. 

Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.

THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
July 16, 1983

 

THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
July 16, 1988

Comics Corner: Marvel Team-Up 110

   

Title: Marvel Team-Up
Issue Number: 110
Release Date: October 1981

Highlights

• First appearance of Magma, AKA Jonathan Darque
• Real life mayor Ed Kock makes a cameo appearance
• New York is experiencing odd earthquakes
• Tony Stark calls a press conference, and as Peter Parker arrives, he's answering the question of an unseen reporter he refers to as Ms. Lane...As in Lois? Maybe
• Origin of Magma
• Magma says that he's the reason Mount St. Helens erupted

Low Points

• Villain of the week material at its best

Oddities

• Magma fills the cave with gas to stop our heroes, and despite knocking out enemies wearing gas masks, Spider-Man never takes one and puts it on, successfully succumbing to the gas in the process
• Spider-Man makes a webbing bowling ball, and uses it to bowl over enemies

• Magma has a room in his cave labeled as Quake Command Center - That's some goofiness right there to label rooms in your secret lair

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.

Retro Spins: Rush - Hold Your Fire

 

When Rush's 1987 album, Hold Your Fire was initially released, it was deemed critically disappointing in comparison to prior releases. Despite this, the band stood behind it, stating it was better than prior studio albums. Despite its lukewarm reception, it would ultimately go on to be certified platinum on the MC (Music Canada) charts, gold on the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), and silver on the BPI (British Phonographic Industry).

Say what you will about the album, tracks one and two are among my favorites from the band, Force Ten, and Time Stands Still, the latter featuring backing vocals from Aimee Mann. As I've said a hundred times already, these were two tracks which frequented rotation during my many listening sessions of the 1993 greatest hits, Chronicles.

Having these two back to back, and right out of the starting gate sets a high bar for the remainder of the record. Sadly, it wasn't an aspiration the rest of the album could climb to.

I don't know. Maybe at this point I was feeling Rush fatigue, but Hold Your Fire just didn't impress. It sounded very mediocre, past track two. It also felt long. Songs seemed to go, and go, and go, with most of them being five (plus) minutes. I actually started skipping songs after giving them a fair chance to hook me. At this point, I just didn't want to hear anymore Rush, unless what was coming through was awesome.

So, at the end of the day, I didn't get my perfect album from Rush's 80's era. Oh well, that's okay. I got some new stuff, I heard some of the old stuff that intrigued me to begin with, and I can say that I'm finished with the decade (for them), what with already having reviewed 1989's Presto already. Onward to other things.

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below. 

Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.

THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
July 15, 1989

 

DC Big Flea

My track record with DC Big Flea hasn't been one full of joyful memories. Instead, it's typically been one of disappointment, especially considering the price tag of $10.00 to get in. On the surface, that may not seem like a lot, but when you walk away with nothing most of the time, it's kind of ten dollars wasted. As such, my girl was a little surprised when I said I would go with her.

Pulling up, nothing has changed since my last visit. It's still a tenner each to get in, and there's still the usual fare of vendors which features an eclectic mix of stuff. With that said, things, for the most part, were not priced to sell. It's pretty bad when other vendors are making comments about how, "People selling today need a reality check on their pricing."

As for my purpose, I was on the hunt for some specific items, which I was hoping I would find here, but that would also be reasonable in price. Of course, I was also curious to see what type of nostalgic tidbits were out and about the various tables. This is what I mainly focused my photos on.

When I see bins full of CD's, you know I'm going to stop and take a look. This wasn't what I was here for, and nothing jumped out at me that I necessarily wanted or needed.

The usual guy was there. The one with the cool vintage toys that are all priced five times higher than anyone would ever pay. I mean, come on. When you have a Marvel Legend Retro Hulk, and you're asking $40.00 for it? Get serious. Most people have these priced at $10.00, and they still don't move.

Here's another look at those CD bins I dug through. Like I said, there was nothing in there I needed.

Don't forget to stop by the "Elderly Lost and Found" on the way out. These were literally just a bunch of chairs by the main entrance where...well...the elderly were waiting to be retrieved by their families.

When I finally came across the few vendors selling what I wanted, I dug in. I was on the hunt for vinyl for potential framing, and also wanted to experience some good old fashioned thrill of the hunt.

That's when I came across a Fleetwood Mac Rumors priced at a mere $50.00, which I literally busted out laughing and said, "$50.00?!?!" I got a nasty look from the seller as I locked eyes with him while continuing to laugh before taking the photo, tossing it back in the bin, and walking off. This wasn't an album I was interested in, but it immediately took me back to what the other vendors were saying. Reality check needed indeed. That's a twenty to twenty-five dollar vinyl on a good day.

Look, I get it. You want to sell at a premium collector's price. However, for that, you need to have a premium collector's condition item. Not some browning, 100X listened to, beater copy. Further, you need to be in the right setting for that. People come to flea markets to make deals. They're glorified garage sales. If people wanted to pay ebay prices, they'd go on ebay.

I found another table of vinyl across the hall, and immediately saw some things that intrigued me. However, once again, those prices. I shook my head as I cross referenced everything on Discogs, and then finally said to the kid at the booth, "Look, I'm interested in these, but you've got them priced twice more than what they're worth. I'll give you a hundred bucks." He told me it was his grandma's table, and that he'd have to ask her, but that she was walking around. Ultimately, I left them with him, and said I'd circle back around in a bit while he asked her.

When I returned, the kid was gone, but grandma was there. This is when the hard bargaining began. She was looking over them when I got to the table, and I said, "Hi, I'm the guy that offered you $100.00 for these." She promptly responded, "Yeah, I can't go that low."

She then held up the Guns N' Roses album and said, "This is a first pressing," to which I immediately interjected, "No it's not. The first pressing has a completely different cover that was recalled." She countered, "Yeah, but you won't find that version for less then a couple hundred dollars," to which I replied, "$90.00, actually."

She made a face of clear unamusement with me, but she did return to going through the records again before asking me, "Is there anything else you were still on the fence about?" To which I knew there was, and handed to her from her bin.

We ultimately came to an agreement, but I think it was more so on her part to get rid of me. She wanted to make money, and between annoyance and realizing she didn't have a sucker on her hands, would have to really get it together on her pricing if she was going to sell.

I guess I will be going for that second row on the wall after all. Ugh...now I need to buy more frames! I kid though. I'm happy to have these in my collection. While I would have preferred a first pressing of Appetite For Destruction, I suppose at the end of the day this one is still an iconic cover.

I did see a few other records at another table that I was interested in, but ultimately didn't bother with even asking. The pricing...oh that high, high pricing. I just didn't have it in me to get into it once again with another seller.

I also got a few extra things for the room.

Can you spot the new items?

I picked up these signs to place along the top of the blinds for the purposes of helping to block the incessant sunlight from the top windows which smashes you in the face when it comes through during the day. It's blindingly awful! Hopefully these help. I suppose, if nothing else, they look good.

I picked these up from a seller on ebay who has a ton of classic designs. He sells each one for an incredibly reasonable price, around $25.00 each, and I'm sure if you check out his shop (not an endorsed shoutout), you'll find something to grab for yourself.

Since initially writing this, I also made a few more changes to the wall. First and foremost, I decided to take the Karate Kid albums out from underneath the Star Wars ones, and instead put Superman and Superman II.

I then hung the art pieces of Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson, and Madonna that my girl got me when at a local art show. There is also a Prince one that the guy makes, which is in the works, thus the screw already in place for it under Madonna.

But, the coup de grâce is the second, and final row, of vinyls.

The Karate Kid albums are only placeholders until I get the final two vinyls I'm wanting. Those would be Alice Cooper's Trash, and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. Once I hunt those down, Karate Kid will go back to the record cabinet.

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.