Song of the Day: Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Into The Light”
Released: 1981
Album: Juju
Overshadowed by Joy Division and The Cure, Siouxsie & The Banshees have never quite gotten the credit they deserve as one of the most groundbreaking and influential bands of the post-punk/new wave era. It’s possible that this has something to do with the fact that they don’t have that singular album that music critics point to in the way that their peers The Cure have Disintegration or Echo & The Bunnymen have Ocean Rain. This isn’t to say that Siouxsie & The Banshees don’t have an album that’s comparable, but more so that within their extensive discography, there isn’t the same level of mutually agreed upon peak.
I think there’s a case to be made that Juju is the quintessential Siouxsie & The Banshees record. Released in 1981, it’s arguably the moment where everything came together for the band. Their 1978 debut, The Scream, was an undeniably fresh statement that helped mark a monumental shift in the history of rock music, but it was also the band in its infancy. Following the sophomore slump of Join Hands, personnel changes would fundamentally alter the band. Released in 1980, Kaleidoscope was a transitional record, ushering in a new era of The Banshees. With the arrival of Budgie (The Slits) on drums and John McGeoch (Magazine) on guitar, the band began exploring a wider range of ideas, and Siouxie’s abilities as a songwriter and vocalist really began to take shape.
On their 2nd album with this lineup, the impact of Budgie and especially McGeoch became even more noticeable. Where Kaleidoscope was pretty synth heavy, the sound of Juju was shaped heavily by McGeoch’s inventive guitar playing. And it’s without a doubt that McGeoch’s playing on Juju would have a monumental impact on the next couple of decades of “alternative” music. Though he’s beloved by his peers, is is not a name you hear much in discussions of greatest rock guitarists. Listening to Juju closely for the first time in many years gave me new perspective. Cited as an influence by Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Jonny Greenwood & Ed O’Brien (Radiohead), the Edge (U2), John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Steve Albini (Shellac), Duane Denison (Jesus Lizard) and Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction), it’s impossible to overstate the impact John McGeoch’s playing on Juju would have. He made an acoustic guitar sound menacing, and brought in new atmospheric and textural elements. Listening to “Spellbound” and “Into The Light” (with McGeoch’s use of the Gizmotron), you can hear shoegaze, dream pop, and the alternative rock lurking around the corner.
It’s not just that McGeoch’s playing on Juju was so influential. It’s also probably the best batch of songs of Siouxsie’s career. And the rhythm section of Budgie and bassist Steven Severin were as good as ever, putting down the darkest tribal grooves. As wonderful as their discography is, Juju is as perfect a collection of songs as The Banshees ever released.
Lyrics
Into the line I see it fine
Into the line our hearts entwine
Remember when, your time again
Remember when, your time again
Standing in the light, always sitting on the line
Never on a side, always wanting to be right
Standing in the light I never wanted to be right
Now I’m attracted by the light and blinded by the sight
Into the light, into the light
Into the light, into the light
Into the light I see it fight
Into the light a new horizon
Bleached into white, kept out of sight
Bleached into white, kept out of sight
Standing in the light, always sitting on the line
Never on a side, pushing out the light
Standing in the light I never wanted to be right
Now I’m attracted by the light and blinded by the sight
Remember when, your time again
Remember when, your time again
Into the line, I see it fine
Into the line our hearts entwine
Remember when, your time again
Remember when, your time again
Dead ahead in the night burning in the light
And knowing that it’s right, driving in the night
Dead ahead in the night burning in the light
And knowing that it’s right driving in the night
Remember when, your time again
Remember when, your time again
Into the light, into the light
Into the light, into the light
Into the light, into the light
Into the light, into the light
Into the light, into the light