The Giant Panther

In 1987 The Sisters of Mercy released Floodland and I was instantly smitten. I had no clue about so called Goth(ic) Rock, but who knew a deep voice and a well oiled drum machine could get me going? Some day I'm going to divide my collection by English/European Rock bands and United States Rock bands and see what the percentage is. The British Invasion still has a huge effect on my taste in rock music. The Beatles (anyone else listen to those new re-masters end to end? Finally!), The Rolling Stones and The Kinks basically changed the world of rock music forever beginning in the early 60's. Not that I ever gave much thought to where the music originated, but I find it interesting that I love so many English/Scottish/Irish bands. A band like The Sisters of Mercy are but a blip on the radar, but I was very excited about them back in the 80's. A couple of days ago "Lucretia My Reflection" popped onto my Sony iPod like device at the gym and I instinctively stepped up the pace of my workout. I still love it 20 plus years later and that says something no? Hey! Be nice...

I was reading the reviews at Amazon.com and one of the headlines screamed "Best Goth Record Ever!" I have to be honest, I do like Goth Rock, but I am not the foremost authority on the stuff. I know I have written about it in the past, but I don't feel qualified to agree with this reviewer. I can tell you I saw them perform twice; once at Great Woods in Mansfield, MA in the late 80's and once in the early 90's when they warmed up The B-52's at Citi Club (or Avalon I can't remember...today it's a House of Blues). Local radio station WFNX-FM used to play "This Corrosion" regularly back then (just try listening for that one nowadays), but unless there is a satellite station (and I'm sure there is) catering to Goth Rock you won't be hearing any of these songs anytime soon. Still, Floodland reached #9 in UK and sold very well in the United States as well. I know all of my friends had it at the time.

On their web site The Sisters describe themselves as a Rock & Roll Band, a Pop Band and (this is key) an Industrial Groove Machine. Industrial Groove Machine. I like that. They definitely have the grooves. The songs on Floodland were on the long side and many of the best ones had extended mixes designed for the dance floor. I think I have mentioned that I'm not much of a dancer in the past, but bands like The Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division, New Order and the like can and have enticed my white boy shuffle out on the dance floor. It's embarrassing, sure, but at least the music is cool. I just can't get psyched for stuff like the late Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." No offense to anyone who thinks that song is dance floor heaven. The funny thing about this record and its 1990 follow up CD Vision Thing is that there are terrific cuts on them. Vision Thing was jammed with great songs like "Detonation Boulevard, More and I Was Wrong." I'd buy it again today I swear. Their first release, First and Last and Always was also pretty good. Unfortunately, that's basically their entire catalogue. Three studio albums. Still, I have no problem telling folks I love these guys.

I find it hilarious that I love a voice and a drum machine (Doktor Avalanche is what the drum machine is affectionately known as...it even has its own column on their web site) and endlessly repetitive grooves and lyrics. I don't care. The Sisters rock. Either you settle into the groove right away or you whine about technology taking over the skill of a great musician. Us non-musician types really only care about the finished product. I don't care who votes Democrat or who's gay; all I want is something I can tap my foot to. This provides that in spades. The Sisters are still kicking around somewhere as their web site will tell you, but I'll always remember them fondly from the 1985-1990 period where they widened my musical palette. Thank you Sisters.

The Sisters of Mercy - Lucretia My Reflection.mp3

The Sisters of Mercy - Lucretia My Reflection.mp3 YSI

www.the-sisters-of-mercy.com