However, once I got over myself (as i hope some other reviewers here will one day) I realised that 'Susperstition' when viwed objectively rather than in context of The Banshees wide catologue holds very good ground of its own right. While Stephen Hague's production gets a little over zealous at times (the layered synth work does get somewhat cluttering) and the lyrics are somewhat unfocused ('Cry' appears to be addressing two issues here, and as for 'Little Sister' and 'Silver Waterfalls, well they just don't make sense) there are many strong tracks on here that are either catchy or will eventually grow on you.

Siouxsie has always being provocative, and on several count here doesn't fail. 'Kiss Them For Me' is subjected around Jayne Mansfield's tragic crashing incident and 'The Ghost In You' reflects the Tinnamen Square massacre. And how can you forget 'Fear (Of The Unknown)' where Siouxsie asks us what it would be like to jump off a tall building? However the overall mood of the album is melancholic rather than gothic or scary as is the Banshee trademark, the songs being slices of brooding music to dance to rather than have nightmares over. Siouxsie's voice also is somewhat more subduded and she proves here she is capable of singing.

Favorite cuts are 'Kiss Them For Me' (despite being WAY overproduced) 'Drifter' 'Little Sister' 'Silver Waterfalls' and 'The Ghost In You' (with its new age synths here sounds like Siouxsie meets Enigma.)'Cry' and 'Shadowtime' while I love both these songs to bits, are perhaps a litle TOO early nineties FM pop fare. I can't say I like 'Fear(Of The Unknown)' altho its highly danceable its just SOOO monotone (the melody is almost one note throughout the whole song!!) Softly is great at first but is too long at 6 minutes, esp. since its so repititious.

Don't be fooled by other reviews that tell you this album is just fluffy pop. It is so way beyond that. Just be prepared to be shocked if you own other SATB albums. There are good songs behind the overly zealous production.


Super.   December 16, 2003
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I'll admit, the earlier years of this band were great, but I do like this album quite alot as well. No punk to be found here, just lush melodies, and alot of catchy goth-pop. A number of tracks do seem to be ready for the mainstream, but there's a few which are dark and spooky too. Included is possibly their biggest hit "Kiss Them For Me", "Shadowtime", and "Fear (of the unknown)". But the beauty of this album lies in the tracks "Drifter", "Little Sister", "Silver Waterfalls", and the gorgeous "The Ghost In You". All of those are excellent. I'm not sure how anyone couldn't like this album. Any "Siouxsie" fan should, or at least any fan of "Peep Show".


Mostly melodic and dreamy with eccentric flourishes   July 20, 2003
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

When Siouxsie Sioux gets going, her music can scare cats and little children away for miles. In the more-staid early '90's, she's a bit more melodic and dreamy, and "Superstition" reveals different shades of her musical personality. "Shadowtime" and "The Ghost In You" are hauntingly lovely, "Kiss Them For Me" really cooks, and "Silly Thing" is playfully snazzy. I didn't care for the single "Fear(of the Unknown)" or the harder-edged "Cry", but die-hards will probably like those more and the ballads less. It's a touch too slick, but still too eccentric to be labeled 'corporate pop'..and thank God for that!


Take it from a true hard-core fan . . .   June 22, 2004
 8 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is by far S&B's worst album. Overproduced and loaded with cheesy synths, it's slick and gooey. Released in '91, it's nevertheless plagued by some of the worst plasticky elements the 80's had to offer (which they ironically managed to avoid DURING the 80's). The "Kiss Them For Me" single was a pretty big hit for them and much of SUPERSTITION sounds like an attempt to garner more mainstream success. The attempt failed, although it largely succeeded in alienating their original fan base. Sadly, this album detracts from the Banshees earlier work which truly deserved more recognition than it got.

The breakdown:

"Kiss Them For Me" - This song clearly stands above everything else on SUPERSTITION. An infectious, worthy single with intriguing East Indian touches courtesy of Talvin Singh. Too bad that infectious percussion sound was ripped off from Public Image LTD.'s "The Body" (and who knows where PIL got it). I have to take away a point for that. ***1/2

"Fear (Of The Unknown)" - synth/dance dreck. *

"Cry" - sounds like a second-rate Berlin song. *1/2

"Drifter" - This one, at least, doesn't offend the ears. Its sound is more compatable with classic Siouxsie and resembles "Rhapsody" from PEEPSHOW in certain ways. Not the strongest song, though. ***

"Little Sister" - soft and dreamy, this song is good. Plenty of synthesisers that soothe without any offending overt commerciality. Sioux hits some pretty high notes - in fact her vocal quality is in excellent form on the whole album. ****

"Shadowtime" - slick and commercial, yet benignly appealing. Still, fans of their darker, edgier music (not to mention flat-out better songwriting) were sorely disillusioned. ***

"Silly Thing" - This one should've been given to Mariah Carey or someone like that. Cringe-worthy. *

"Got To Get Up" - a slightly more driving pop beat can't compensate for this lackluster motivational piece. *1/2

"Silver Waterfalls" - I really don't want to knock S&B for attempting to make happy music, but these efforts sound so cheesy. On this song the guitars help, but it still makes me want to throw on THE SCREAM or KALEIDOSCOPE. **

"Softly" - the mellowest cut on SUPERSTITION. Devoid of percussion, the atmosphere is stately but nearly static. While not exactly meant to be engaging, it still meanders about a bit too aimlessly. **1/2

"The Ghost In You" - This song sports the same characteristics on this album that I've been criticizing, but it's still a decent song with a vaguely haunted quality. The synths manage to avoid being too cheesy. ***1/2

I must admit I listened to this album a fair amount during the year after it came out, but I'm a fan. Sadly, it sounds worse today. This is the last Siouxsie album anyone should get and, really, only if you're a fan.


Don't believe the bad hype...   September 15, 2003
 5 out of 7 found this review helpful

Purists slagged this album, mostly due to its (and I agree with this) overproduction. But what they neglected to admit was that some of the band's best writing and melodiousnous came through with flying colours.

Hell, Siouxsie/The Banshees was nothing if not a singles band. Disagree? Pick up both "Once Upon A Time/Twice Upon A Time" titles, and disregard most of the albums the singles came from. "Little Sister", "The Ghost In You", "Shadowtime", "Kiss Them For Me", and "Cry" need take no truck from earlier brilliant singles such as "Christine", "Slowdive", "Cities In Dust", etc.

It's overproduced, and "Softly" just goes on far too long after its expiration date. Other than that, it's well worth owning in conjunction with those earlier singles compilations I mentioned.