Tinderbox is a genre-bending piece of work, and like too many such works, will probably go unrecognized as such by... those who "recognize" this kind of thing. Sure, if you like spooky content, it's all there: death, deals with death, unconditional death, and worse-than-death represent in force. But what makes me check in with this disc again and again -- and it has been a regular, unpredictable guest in my playlist since 1986 -- is that thing about certain albums/discs/recordings that haunt, tease and compel you to keep listening, or to throw it on in the background during those anti-social times when you need something unique to keep you on your toes.

What I can say is that this album has, pound for pound, some of the best and most original guitar-playing on it that I have heard; that the disc is incredibly consistent and sustains a black, silky mood from beginning to end; and yet it is because of the blackness that it is, in the end, so compelling and fulfilling. How much more black could this be? None. None more black (-Nigel Tufnel).


A fantastic entry in the Banshee discography   April 29, 2002
 13 out of 16 found this review helpful

Like many, my favourite release from the Banshees is probably "Juju." But "Tinderbox" is my runner-up. With some of the most catchy yet unquestionably dark material the band has ever released, I never grow tired of listening to this album.

"Candyman" kicks things off, very fast and peppy. A lot of my friends sort of dismiss this one, and it is admittedly 'sickly sweet' to an extent, but I always loved the instrumental breakdown toward the middle of the song. "The Sweetest Chill" is one of the most beautiful and melodic songs the Banshees have ever done. It has a very melancholic, yet uplifting vibe to it. It is here that you will really begin to take note of the richly expressive guitar work on the album, as well as Siouxsie Sioux's heartfelt and powerful voice. "This Unrest" is a manic, Gothic masterpiece - a slinky, dark rhythm gives the song an added sense of the exotic and then climaxes to a chaotic, frantic chorus. This album probably illustrates some of Budgee's most fantastic drumming with the Banshees, and it is heard on this track, the claustrophobia of "92 Degrees" and the foreboding, epic "Land's End" that appears later in the disc.

Of course, the overplayed and overrated college radio hit "Cities In Dust" appears on this release. As a Gothic DJ, I am just worn out on this song. In some ways I suppose I take it for granted that so many people like it. So its presence on this disc is surely noteworthy. I just always skip over it for the more progressive and atmospheric numbers.

Overall, I recommend this disc wholeheartedly. Initially, pick up the two singles collections to see if the Banshees are for you. If you like what you hear, then start buying the rest of the albums and seek this one out right away. Some of the Banshees greatest songs are non-single tracks and at least 4 of them are on this release.


Tinderbox...all a flame   July 30, 1998
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

Siouxsie & The Banshees' most "listenably" album, TINDERBOX is filled with uncharacteristically melodic tunes. From "Candyman" to "Cities In Dust" the group seems to be at it's musical peak, creating a variety of beautiful melodies most impressively with "Cannons" and "Party's Fall." These tracks and the rest of the album has a sort of "larger than life" symphonic quality that had eluded them in the past.

Siouxsie Sioux's vocals are also at their all time best, and used to full effect. It's wonderful to actually hear her soft side and in certain moments on "Party's Fall" one can hear shades of a marvellously rich falsetto that she has never used so expertly.

The most inquisitive thing about this album is that although the melodies are light and often hummable, the thematic choices are very much dark and ominous. From the lava-burned victims of "Cities in Dust" to the terriyingly "hot" "92 Degrees"...the themes chosen by the band seem to disturb rather than uplift (but then again, this is a Gothic band, not The Go-Go's)and this contrast actually compliments, adding a depth to their work that was previously not there.

Most importantly, TINDERBOX has a clarity, precision and smoothness that had previously escaped the band and has ever since. A later album,SUPERSTITION had good moments, but was overall an uneven effort pushed ahead by a succesful single ("Kiss Them For Me"), and an earlier album, HYAENA suffered greatly from a sort of manic-depression, one moment they were burning a house down, the next they were swimming with horses.

TINDERBOX lies inbetween, and seems to reflect a stable, strong band that has a definite edge, but still knows how to create an entire album without floundering.

Overall their best work to date.


The dream swan spins   November 5, 2004
 9 out of 13 found this review helpful

Originally released in 1986, this album would mark the end of the Banshees' days as a traditional four-piece rock band. Not that there was ever anything traditional about their music; the group continued to mine curious phenomena and weird historical events for its dark themes. Dressed in a spectacular vintage photo of a tornado, much of the album's content deals with the cruelty (or indifference) of nature, either directly or as an environment. "Cities in Dust," the popular single, was inspired by a trip to Pompeii. "Cannons" depicts a town beset by unrelenting heat; in desperate hopes of bringing a respite, cannons are fired into the clouds. "92" refers to the fact that more murders are committed at that temperature than at any other. Alas, it's one of the weaker tracks; while some of the lyrics are inventive, others feel strained. Also not quite up to par is the album's other single and opening track "Candyman." Somehow a drug song just seems too mundane, or at least too obvious. "This Unrest" and "Lands End," the closing track of the album proper, are longer songs with tons of atmosphere.

The CD reissue of this album includes the tracks from the singles. The b-sides are all gems. "An Execution" is a horrific account of just that, delivered in chilling spoken word after a tense musical introduction, and followed by an unlikely, gentle piano epilogue. "The Quarterdrawing of the Dog" is - perhaps thankfully! - an instrumental. "Lullaby" is a dreamlike piece of melancholy and "Umbrella" a strange poetic fragment backed by typically excellent musical composition. The disc finishes with the extended version of "Cities in Dust" (also known as the "Extended Eruption Mix"), though being simply extended and not much remixed it isn't particularly interesting. It outstays its welcome, but is nice to have for completeness' sake.

The booklet contains full lyrics, including the bonus tracks, and band photos, though they lack the color tinting that the LP sleeve had.

If you're new to the Banshees' music, this isn't a bad place to start. It's a wholly accessible collection that still gives a good taste of the kind of subject matter they usually concern themselves with.


More dreamy, gothic wonderlands to explore . . .   October 18, 2004
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

On TINDERBOX, surely one of S&B's finest records, Siouxsie and co. continue to mine their dark, lush soundscapes with poetic verve. While far from the post-punk bite of their earliest days, TINDERBOX has a hard-edge to match its sophisticated beauty, thanks in no small way to new member John Valentine Carruthers, yet another talented guitarist whose days as a Banshee were all too brief.

Every song here is top-drawer Siouxsie. Sioux's trademark gothic creepiness pervades on cuts like "92degrees" and the blistering "This Unrest," while the gorgeous "Party's Fall" (one of my favorites) and "Cities In Dust" prove to be irresistibly catchy, the later becoming an unlikly underground dance-club hit at the time. The last cut on the original album, "Land's End," features mind-blowingly hypnotic drum patterns from the amazingly talented Budgie which perfectly compliment the eerie guitars and ominous vocals. It's a strong contender for one of S&B's all-time best songs.

5 additional tracks have been added, probably because 8 songs makes for a pretty short album by today's standards. While "The Quarterdrawing of the Dog" is enjoyable if clearly B-quality material, "An Execution," "Lullaby," and "Umbrella" are unusual and reveal S&B's boundless creativity along with some intriguing percussion from Budgie. The extended "Cities In Dust" dissects and expands on the original without really adding much, but it's quite useful for the fan who just can't get enough.

This is the first Banshees album I ever heard, way back in the day when it was first released. It is quintessential S&B and I would recommend it to anyone just starting to get into the group.