Join Hands
Siouxsie and the Banshees · 1979
42 min · 8 tracks · alternative rock
A swirling blend of post-punk energy and gothic allure that explores themes of mortality and societal decay.
Top tracks — play these first
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Poppy Day Start here — This track confronts the somber realities of war and remembrance with stark imagery, encapsulating the album's dark themes and socio-political commentary.
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Icon — Combining haunting vocals with driving rhythms, 'Icon' serves as a critique of celebrity culture while echoing the band's signature gothic sound.
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The Lord’s Prayer — This lengthy track juxtaposes sacred text with unsettling sonic textures, creating an immersive experience that challenges listeners' perceptions of faith and existence.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's blend of post-punk energy and gothic themes creates a distinctive sound, though it may not have widespread recognition.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a driving rhythm on 'Poppy Day', which features layered guitars and a prominent bass line that sets a dark tone.
- The final track, 'The Lord’s Prayer', concludes the album with a haunting atmosphere, employing minimalist instrumentation that contrasts sharply with earlier tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dark, atmospheric listening sessions
- gradual builds and payoffs
- haunting vocal explorations
- immersive emotional landscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Follow-up to their debut, it solidified their growing popularity and thematic depth.
- Themes
- war-torn landscapes· innocence lost· post-punk experimentation
- Career context
- Join Hands is the second studio album from Siouxsie and the Banshees, released on September 7, 1979, following their successful debut, The Scream. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their identity within the post-punk scene, expanding their sound with darker themes and more complex arrangements.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Cure· Bauhaus· Joy Division
Tracklist
- 1 Poppy Day Start here 2:02
- 2 Regal Zone 3:47
- 3 Placebo Effect 4:37
- 4 Icon 5:27
- 5 Premature Burial 5:58
- 6 Playground Twist 2:59
- 7 Mother / Oh mein Papa 3:22
- 8 The Lord’s Prayer 14:08
What to play next
Kaleidoscope
1980
Continues the post-punk energy while introducing more diverse sounds and textures.
The Scream
1978
Sets the stage with a similar gothic vibe and raw energy that leads into Join Hands.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Shares a similar dark ambiance and introspective themes, blending post-punk with gothic elements.
In the Flat Field
Bauhaus
Combines haunting vocals with a raw post-punk aesthetic, exploring themes of darkness and alienation.
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
Features atmospheric soundscapes and lyrical depth, echoing the emotional weight of 'Join Hands'.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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