Downside Up - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
55 tracks on 4 CDs, featuring 34 tracks on CD for the first time, including The Thorn EP. 76-page booklet with an introduction by Siouxsie and full track annotation by all 3 band members plus full lyrics for all B-sides, printed for the first time. Sleevenotes by Mark Paytress. 2004.

Album Details
Includes 55 Tracks, 34 on CD for the First Time, a 76 Page Booklet with an Introduction by Siouxsie plus a Track Annotation by all Three Band Members.

Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

AT LAST AT LAST December 27, 2004
30 out of 36 found this review helpful

This is the box set we all started hearing about back in '96. It's finally out. YES it is the holy grail of siouxsie & the banshees...Yes disc 4 only has the thorn EP on it (i own the record, and these 19 minutes were only EVER available on record until now) IF you are a siouxsie fan and you have never heard the Thorn Ep this is worth the price alone. These "19.whatever" minutes are the turning point in the banshees career, from punk to what you want to call them now. Be warned you won't forget red over white. This collection earns its place next to the collections once & twice upon a time as the best siouxsie EVER. If you ever heard the name in passing, if you were ever even a casual fan you MUST hear this. It's the B-sides that really tell the story of a band that seems so forgotten, yet has influenced every band that has come out since. Finally one of the best bands ever will have its downside face the world up... Buy it now you need it. I can't say enough, this is the REAL siouxsie and the banshees unrestrained let loose on an unsuspecting world. We owe them everything.

4 out of 5 stars

The long awaited boxed set - Treasures covered in dirt August 27, 2006
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

The title of my review should become clear after reading it. 'Downside Up', the tremendously in-demand boxed set of Banshees B sides, finally came into existence in late 2004. For those who do not like a meticulously nit-picky review, please move on. For those who want to know all of the good and the bad, then I'm your unrestrained reviewer.

Since the beginning of the decade, it seems the in-thing to do is to put out a boxed set of B sides and unreleased tracks by many of the great, true Alternative artists of the 80's. Both Echo and the Bunnymen and The Cure put out gorgeous sets in a nice book-style package, each containing excellent books which included picture sleeves, rare photos, etc. The sound quality on both sets is excellent throughout.

FINALLY, the news came of the Banshees box, and fans began to get excited since this was something that has been mentioned for almost two decades. Steven Severin kept fans up to date on the progress of the set through his website, first mentioning he was not going to do the book style like The Cure or Bunnymen sets.

Upon first look of 'Downside Up', it would appear the packaging was just as detailed and beautiful as most Banshees album and single sleeves, though once you slide the set out of the slipcase, it's a different story. The actual fold out digipack is quite flimsy and does not hold up well with regular usage. The artwork on the digipack is quite unremarkable. It's nothing more than a white background with the title and a selection of the red flowers displayed on the slipcase. The artwork on the CD's is also unremarkably white. The removable booklet inside, which is housed in the right flap of the digipack, is equally uninspired. It does contain a nice Foreward by Siouxsie, as well as some adequate sleeve notes. The book includes the lyrics to most songs and select band comments on each track. Though they did include a good selection of the picture sleeves, many differed from 7" to 12", though not all are represented. Also, the picture sleeves are itty-bitty squares cramped in the corner of each page. There's a load of unnecessary white space which could have been taken up by photos and larger sleeve shots. The whole thing looks uninspired and rushed - but the really important content is supposed to be on the CD's, so let's get to that.

Well, here's the bad news. Something I will dread from now to eternity will be the credit; "Digitally remastered by Gary Moore". This sentence guarantees a C- mastering job. This guy's a hack with virtually no skill, and here's why:

CD 1: It sounds like someone decided to try a little re-equalizing of some of the early tracks, resulting in thuddy bass that distorts more than pleases. Thankfully, those attempts seem to stop after a thumpy "Drop Dead/Celebration". Various songs have a very high tape hiss, which is not present on the original vinyl. "Red over white" and "Follow the sun" are the worst. This could easily be removed with careful skill, though considering who's behind the mastering desk, it's best he not try. Also, some songs fade quite sharply, cutting the last second or two of the song. "Drop Dead/Celebration" and "Red over white" also get that treatment as well.
One of the biggest flaws is on "Coal Mind". The song falsely ends cold, then picks up with a guitar riff until fade out. Mr. Moore, in his infinite brilliance, started the fade after the false stop, thus making the guitar come on as the song is already fading - really good, pal. "We fall" has much lower fidelity than on the original 12" single, making it sound dull and out of place. I don't think they even used a computer with this project. It all seems to be done the old fashioned way. If the songs were simply ran into a pc, they could simply view the .wav files and see where the songs actually fade, then apply a smooth and proper fade.

CD 2: Fans were pointing out the biggest flaw on this set before I even got my hands on it. "Tattoo" and "There's a planet in my kitchen" sound like garbage! Severin stated the masters for these songs could not be found in the Polydor UK archive, but copies eventually turned up in the German division. Regardless, they sound awful. There is so much hiss in the songs that you can barely hear the music. There is also a very noticeable, and easily repairable cut right at the beginning of "Tattoo". Again, a problem simply solved with a click of a mouse. "The quarterdrawing of the dog" is the same version that appeared on the Tinderbox CD, and not the full length version that was on the vinyl, which included a proper intro and outro to the song. Lastly, there is a brief bit of sound cut at the start of "The whole price of blood", but it's not that big of a deal. The majority of the rest of this CD is pretty decent quality, though I would most certainly NOT use the term "Digitally Remastered". Nothing has been remastered, as that term usually means enhancements and improvements.

CD 3: "False Face" is missing a guitar bit at the beginning of the song, and there seems to be an extra "Smiling, beguiling" as well. "Sunless" is BLASTING in volume - like 10 decibals louder than anything else on the CD. Was someone in a rush to get this botch job completed? And last, both "Hang me high" and "Black sun" are different versions/mixes than were on the "Stargazer" CD single. "Hang me high" is missing the first drum beat, and is a definitely different mix. "Black sun" is also a different mix, even including some extra music towards the end.

CD 4: This is the classic ep 'The Thorn'. It sounds typically unremastered, and "Placebo effect" suffers from the heavy hiss that appeared on some of the tracks on CD 1. Did someone forget to turn the Noise Reduction on?

OK, now to comment on the music. Many artists will use the B side of a single to throw a studio doodle or bland instrumental, which I often find frustrating and a waste of money. The Banshees, along with The Cure, put some of their best material on their B sides; most of them being essential parts of the bands colorful history.

CD 1: "Voices" is a great contrast to the excellent poppy A side "Hong Kong garden". Depending on the listener, it can be viewed as brilliant or irritating. The cover of "20th century boy" was a real treat. Though it's not their own song, they make it sound as such by giving it the Banshees circa 1979 touch. Even though Siouxsie didn't yet sing, as opposed to shout, the song is a classic. I've always loved "Pulled to bits" on Nocturne, though when I first got the "Playground twist" single, I was disappointed to hear the original. Though I prefer the song with the acoustic guitar and drums, which were added for the live version, this one has its own charm. I always thought this would have made a great fifth track for 'The Thorn'. With the opposite affect, "Eve White/Eve Black" was more disturbing in this original studio version. Siouxsie's quite terrifying! "Slap dash snap" is a very experimental bit of electronic oddness that I find stunning. Thankfully, the version on this set is a remix that was on the U.S. "Arabian Knights" 12" single, and not the original, less interesting mix from the UK "Spellbound" 12". I had mentioned the superior nature of the U.S. mix to Severin at the start of the project. Whether or not that assisted in its inclusion here, I'm just happy to have it clean and clear. "Supernatural thing" is a remake of an old soul song, and probably one of the worst things the Banshees ever released. Ack! "Coal mind" has a classic hook and overall great sound. It could have been an A side. "Obsession II" was a minor disappointment. I was hoping for a remix or alternate lyrics, though it's nothing more than instrumental.

CD 2: Many fans hold "Tattoo" in a very high regard. I have always found it passable background music, but nothing more. "Let go" is a beautiful piano and drum piece that perfectly compliments its A side, "Swimming Horses". "I Promise" is another that fans love, but I find both the singing and music quite grating. "Lullaby" is a stunningly beautiful and moody song. Siouxsie sounds great, and in a perfect world this song would have been a number 1 hit. My absolute favorite Banshees song is the 1987 B side "Shooting Sun". I get chills every time I hear it. The music has a beautiful, subtle oriental feel and Siouxsie sings it to perfection - pure heaven. "She's cuckoo" is a fun bit of lunacy, with lyrics surprisingly written by Budgie. "Something blue" is another keyboard experimental track. It's a mellow piece that has some more of Siouxsie's beautiful singing; this was back when she could actually hit those high notes without cracking. "The whole price of blood" is a disturbing bit of industrial, while "Mechanical eyes" is just a noisy mess.

CD 3: Though the first half of this CD is all generally good, it doesn't get to great until the rocking "Spiral Twist". That's followed by the somber and attractive "Sea of light". The final Banshees B sides "Hang me high" and "Black sun" are both winners, containing the signature Banshees sound. Though I like a good portion of their final album, 'The Rapture', it would have been stronger had these songs been included in place of the weaker songs.

CD 4: Many fans, myself included, feel 'The Thorn' ep was the Banshees finest hour. Siouxsie's voice had really developed into a gorgeous instrument, and Severin and Budgie were solid, skilled musicians. Adding strings to these classic Banshees songs is a striking combination. I wish it was a full length album.

Despite my feelings of contempt for the inadequate mastering skills of Gary Moore, and the fact that he's already begun botching the catalog album reissues, the sound quality is about 75% satisfying. I wish the project was handled like The Cure's box, both in appearance and sound quality, because I am a MUCH bigger Banshees fan.

3 out of 5 stars

Space versus Substance December 24, 2004
11 out of 15 found this review helpful

Like everybody else, I have been waiting years and years for this box set to finally come out. While I am ecstatic to finally have digitally remastered b-side songs from all of their older singles, I do feel this box set fell just a little short of what it could have been.

This box set is almost identical to the Joy Division: Heart and Soul box set. It has a tri-fold case, two of which hold 2 cd's respectively and the other is a slip case that holds the booklet.

The booklet itself is a stark and simple thing which includes a foreword (written by Siouxsie), a summarized historical slant, all the lyrics for the included songs and pictures of the singles and the band. My first complaint is here with the booklet. There is a lot of blank wasted space in it that could have been used far more efficiently with more pix of the band, individual members or larger singles covers. Which brings up my other issue, the singles pictures. They are very small thumbnail pictures, hardly worth looking at since most of them are only 1" by 1" in size. The sad thing is, on most of the pages that these are on, there is roughly a 4" by 4" blank spot on the same page or enough space on the following page to accommodate larger pictures.

The cd's themselves provide great sounding digital remasters of all the b-side songs from Hong Kong Garden: 1978 to Stargazer: 1995. That brings me up to the issue of the 12" and 7" remixes of the a-side songs. Where are they? I'm sure The Banshees will include them along with all of their digitally remastered back catalogue of albums that they promise to release in the future. But why should I have to repurchase albums I already have to get what should have been included here? Surely there is enough space because unfortunately, none of the discs come close to being full. Disc 1 falls far short at only 64.57, Disc 2 at 71.44, Disc 3 at 73.55 and here's the kicker, Disc 4 at a mere 19.42. Remember that cd's today can hold ~80 minutes of music. So if you count the differences, there's ~89 minutes of wasted space. Thats more than one cd of music missing! Surely you would be able to include some remixes or even a full live concert for all of that space. While I am sure they managed these discs the way they did for some type of continuity, I just feel a little cheated by the seclusion of the singles other counterparts, the a-side remixes.

With all of that said, it's still a must have item for the Banshee fan that has it all and craves for more. I do agree with the one reviewer that commented on only liking the older material on disc 1. I myself can do without disc 3 as I quit listening/purchasing any Banshees material after Tinderbox. But all in all, this is still a purchase I am content with.

5 out of 5 stars

Worth the 20-year Wait December 17, 2004
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Since 1976, Siouxsie & The Banshees have provided a constant source of the most experimental post-punk pop on the market. The ephemeral singles from these albums - at least 2 per album with accompanying 12" versions - slipped through most fingers as quickly as they came. Along with the singles and 12" singles went the b-sides, uniquely devised non-album tracks which empowered Siouxsie and her band with full artistic control... all gone, some feared forever, until now! These 51 unique, experimental, poetic, mystical, mind bending, heart stopping b-sides are all reissued in this beautiful "Downside Up" package. Also included is a perfect little 76-page book of pictures, cover art, and LYRICS which we've all been making up along the way. The set is wrapped up with the ultra-rare 4-song "Thorn" EP - Siouxsie & The Banshees' heavenly re-worked versions of 4 favorites, accompanied by full orchestral score. It is hard to put into coherent words that which Siouxsie has infused into these songs vocally, lyrically, and supernaturally. This digital archive of 55 of the most original haunting songs of our generation is a slice of music history and a work of art you can own and experience in amazing remastered clarity. Sure to offer many years of listening pleasure to any fan of Siouxsie or any frustrated music lover in need of more than what's being offered by the industry today!

4 out of 5 stars

Even If You Already Have Every Siouxsie Album. . . November 9, 2005
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

. . . you only have half of the story. The Banshees were nothing if not prolific, recording heaps of additional material along with each album. This collection shows that additional material to be on par with the albums themselves. Combined with beautiful packaging and in-depth liner notes, "Downside Up" is a highly recommended set for any fan of the original alterna-Goth music scene.

Just as their sound drastically evolved throughout the years, so do the tracks in the set. No one's ever going to confuse the material from the "Ju Ju" and "Superstition" eras, for example. While this makes the set difficult to listen to start-to-finish, it also provides an interesting timeline for the band's sound across the years. It's also a good way to compare all of the different guitarists who've been members of the Banshees, including Cure frontman Robert Smith, ex-Magazine member John McGeouch and John Valentine Carruthers of Clock DVA.

The material from the "Tinderbox" and "Peek-a-Boo" sessions is the real gem of the collection. Once only available on the import pressing, the "Tinderbox" b-sides have since been added as bonus tracks to that CD, so this box set unfortunately doesn't provide the value of true rarities in that case. However, the "Peek-a-Boo" material is still only available on import singles, including the extremely hard-to-find "El Dia de los Muertos", a devilish rhumba that evokes the whole Cirque du Soleil feel of those sessions. The rare "Thorn" EP is also included here in its entirety for the first time on CD (its majestic single "Overground" was included on a greatest hits collection).

The set comes with a beautiful book of liner notes which includes quotes from band members about each track. It reads like an episode of "Behind the Music", i.e. it's a very informative chat with the band. Ever wonder how a track as great as "Lullabye" was left off of "Tinderbox"? Severin couldn't finish the lyrics in time. Why the "Thorn" limited to just an EP? The principal band members wanted to see if Carruthers could cut it as the new guitarist. There are lots of interesting insights such as these throughout the book.

One disappointment is that not all of the content from the singles is included here - specifically, the remixes. So, true completists will still be scouring online auctions looking for every last non-album track.

But this drawback is minor compared to the very big upside of "Downside Up". It is a fantastic collection of material, both on the discs and in the accompanying book.

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