Classic Album Selection

Let me just say that for the price it is not a bad deal. But for those expecting something new and exciting, guess again. Only the first 4 albums have been newly remastered. The problem is that they’ve been remastered by Kevin Metcalfe, so he now has the honor of destroying the entire Banshees back catalog. What is it with this guy?? He seems to absolutely hate the high end of music. The treble on ALL of his “remasters” always falls way short, though he has hit a peak of disappointment with this latest hackwork.Before I received my box set, I read reviews on the Banshees Facebook page about some audible shortcomings. No surprise there. After all, it is Kevin Metcalfe. But what I didn’t expect to hear was how absolutely atrocious Kaleidoscope was going to sound. It seems that with each CD release of this album, it gets worse and worse. The reel of tape used for the side 2 tracks is destroyed. It starts out a bit muted but by the time of ‘Paradise Place’ and especially ‘Skin’, it sounds like an old worn out cassette tape. Even the dreadful 2006 remaster is better than this.Now, on to Juju. All of the tape fluctuations and dropouts from the 2006 remaster have carried over. But the added bonus now is that you have the songs with the treble dulled down and the dynamics squashed. Again, by far the worst CD version of this album. The other two “remastered” albums are not as bad but have been compressed with poor high end detail. Dreamhouse and Nocturne are the same 2009 remasters. Dreamhouse is awful, and my review from the time still stands. Nocturne is surprisingly tolerable. I never thought I’d say this, but I miss Gary Moore (i.e. the guy who did the 2002-2006 Banshees remastering). Attached are a couple of screenshots to display the dynamics. The first is 'Icon' from Join Hands, the other is 'Voodoo Dolly' from Juju.The highlight of the box is…, well, the box itself. I do like the artwork. I also like the mini-sleeve reproductions and the gatefolds with the band photos. But we couldn’t have a Banshees release without a fault in the first pressing, right? I mean, that would just be blasphemy. Our screw up this time around, other than the aforementioned remastering, is the gold layer on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse was forgotten, so the band name and some of the symbols on the sleeve have gone missing. Good ole’ Severin posted an acknowledgement of this and quickly minimized it as no big deal, while the cyberdrones gleefully boasted about how the fault makes this is another great collector’s item. I’m just breathless at the nonsensical way people justify being screwed over, especially when they know a band member is reading their ignorant fawnings. And in typical fashion, Severin announced that the sleeve is being corrected on the next pressing, as well as some missing credits on the box itself, so you can buy another copy and keep your “collector’s item” hidden away for safe keeping. Lucky you!The soon to be released part II of this box set series will contain no new remastering, just the previous 2009 and 2014 Metcalfe remasters. It’s probably for the best considering what happened with the new remasters in this set. I just can’t wait to see what screw up will make the first pressing of that set a “collector’s item”.

This box set covers the first 6 stupendous albums from the Banshees. This covers their classic debut and their enforced evolution after half the band left. Each album is different but they all have the same genius gene pool.There is a lot here and it all follows the original running order which stands up to repeat listening. Some singles and all 'B-sides' are missing but a 'Best of' and the fabulous (but expensive) box set 'Downside-Up' are essential companions.Unfortunately I can't give the CDs a good workout as my hi-fi has broken (fragile Cyrus). However the first few CDs sound good on a midi-system.I understand that the albums from 'The Scream' up to 'Ju-Ju' are newly remastered with the others being the 2009 versions. After ripping 'Spellbound' I see the file size has increased from 22.8 MB in the 2006 remaster to 23.4MB which I take as a good sign for the sound quality.The cover print looks improved, though minimalist see example attached which compares this box-set with the 2006 version.However I am VERY GLAD that I ignored my reservations and followed my instinct to buy this box set. Maybe the Banshees will get the box-set that they deserve for their 40th anniversary - just look at the prices that 'Downside-Up' now commands...P.S. Re. 'Kiss In the Dreamhouse' it looks like all the gold print has been missed off the cover which includes the band logo. A sad oversight which may be corrected sometime.Shame that the case is not a clamshell case like the Skids.

I had forgotten about Siouxsie and The Banshees. Unforgivable I know but reintroduced myself with the best if albums Once / Twice Upon A Time. Well these albums rekindled my passion for the band so had to have this box set along with the second box set that accompanies this set.So glad that I purchased these sets as have been quietly reminiscing ever since. I purchased the first two albums as a young punk in 78 and 79 and played them both to death. Knew about Siouxsie due to her involvement with the Sex Pistols as she was one of the Bromley Contingent a moniker she disliked as well as her appearance on the Grundy show way back.Siouxsie and her band really are under appreciated, she set her own style and had such a unique voice but rarely features on any lists of best female vocalists which is a shame. Her song writing has always been superb full of imagery and intelligent. Glad to have her back in my life and now on the hunt for an affordable copy of Downside Up as her B sides are just as important and if you are a completing like me you just gotta have it all

I was eager to buy this as it is the remastering work of Kevin Metcalfe- his Spellbound compilation sounded amazing! I couldn't wait to hear the first six albums remastered in their entirety.The first thing I noticed about the box set was the packaging- it is lush! All of the albums come in gatefold sleeves each with pictures of the band in the middle. These are beautiful- a bit like the Japanese import remasters but at a much lower price. So much care had been put into these. A lot contain the artwork on the back but without the typography and so you get to see more detail and savour the actual artwork more.How do the albums sound? AMAZING!!! Listening to the albums remastered by Metcalfe gave me goosebumps. Listening to Join Hands made me have flashbacks to first hearing the album on vinyl all those years ago. The albums have never sounded better.So there is something here for the diehard Banshees fan and also the casual listener. All of this for £12.99. I eagerly await Volume 2.