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Juju is the fourth studio album by English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was recorded at Surrey Sounds studio with Nigel Gray as co-producer, and was released on 6 June 1981 by Polydor. Two singles were released from Juju: "Spellbound" and "Arabian Knights".

The album was acclaimed by critics. Praise centred on John McGeoch's unconventionnal guitar-playing and Siouxsie's lyrical performances. The record is often considered one of the best Siouxsie and the Banshees releases.

Background

After a slightly electronic bent made on a few tracks of their previous album, 1980's Kaleidoscope, the Banshees returned to a guitar-based sound for Juju, due to the now-official guitarist John McGeoch. The album also featured prominently the intricate percussion work of band member Budgie.

According to Steven Severin:

Juju was the first time we'd made a "concept" album that drew on darker elements. It wasn't pre-planned, but, as we were writing, we saw a definite thread running through the songs; almost a narrative to the album as a whole.

The sleeve reproduced a picture of an African statue that they found at the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill.

Releases

Juju reached No. 7 in the UK Albums Chart, remaining in the chart for seventeen weeks.

The album was remastered and re-issued in May 2006.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Sounds

Sounds hailed the album at its release, observing that Siouxsie's "voice seems to have acquired a new fullness of melody" with "a rich, dark smoothness". Musically, writer Betty Page noted: "the way this unit operates is impressively cohesive, like one brain the inventive musical talents of McGeoch, Budgie and Severin mesh perfectly with Siouxsie". She also praised McGeoch as being "the only man who can make an acoustic guitar sound foreboding".

In their retrospective review, AllMusic wrote, "The upfront intensity of Juju probably isn't matched anywhere else in the catalog of Siouxsie and the Banshees. Thanks to its killer singles, unrelenting force and invigorating dynamics, Juju is a post-punk classic."

Since its release, Juju has received a number of accolades from the music press. In 2007, The Guardian placed Juju on its "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list, writing, "Perennial masters of brooding suspense, the Banshees honed their trademark aloof art-rock to its hardest and darkest pitch on Juju." It was featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Legacy

In 1995, Melody Maker writer Cathi Unsworth described Juju as "one of the most influential British albums ever".

John McGeoch's guitar playing in particular was singled out for praise. Mojo honoured him in 2006 by placing him in their list of the 100 greatest guitarists ever for his work on "Spellbound". Johnny Marr of The Smiths said on BBC Radio 2 in February 2008 that he also rated McGeoch highly for his work on "Spellbound". Marr qualified it as "clever", with a "really good picky thing going on which is very un-rock'n'roll". In Uncut, Marr also rated McGeoch at his tenth favourite guitarist for his work on Juju and Real Life by Magazine.

Another member of The Smiths, singer Morrissey, commented on "Spellbound" during an interview for the US KROQ-FM radio station in 1997:

another great single. A hit in England. Certainly not here, I don't think. But they were one of the great groups of the late '70s, early '80s, and very underrated, I think. Siouxsie and the Banshees were excellent "

Morrissey later cited Juju as an influence in an interview with GQ in 2005.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Siouxsie Sioux, except as noted; all music is composed by Siouxsie and the Banshees (Sioux, Steven Severin, Budgie and John McGeoch)

Personnel

Siouxsie and the Banshees

• Siouxsie Sioux – vocals, guitar on "Sin in My Heart"
• Steven Severin – bass guitar
• Budgie – drums, percussion
• John McGeoch – guitar

Technical

• Nigel Gray – production

References

1. ^ Paytress 2003, p. 106.
2. "Siouxsie & the Banshees | Artist | Official Charts". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
3. ^ DiGravina, Tim. "Ju Ju – Siouxsie and the Banshees : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
4. ^ Page, Betty (27 June 1981). "Siouxsie & The Banshees: Juju review". Sounds. Rock's Backpages (subscription required). Retrieved 3 May 2013.
5. Petridis, Alexis (21 November 2007). "Artists Beginning with S | Music | guardian.co.uk". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
6. Dimery, Robert (2005). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Cassell Illustrated.
7. Unsworth, Cathi (14 January 1995). "Baby, Come Back". Melody Maker.
8. "Rocklist.net...Mojo Lists..." rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
9. "Spellbound: The Story of John McGeoch (4/6) – YouTube". YouTube. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
10. Marr, Johnny (November 2004). "Top Ten Guitarists". Uncut.
11. "Morrissey – KROQ Interview, 7-6-97 (pt. 4/4)". morrissey-solo.com. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
12. Deevoy, Adrian (October 2005). "Men of the Year". GQ. Retrieved 11 March 2013.

Sources

• Paytress, Mark (2003). Siouxsie & the Banshees – The Authorised Biography. Sanctuary Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-86074-375-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

• Pages with empty short description
• Siouxsie and the Banshees albums
• 1981 albums
• Polydor Records albums
• Albums produced by Nigel Gray
• Post-punk albums
• Gothic rock albums