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"She Sells Sanctuary" by the Cult....in actuality the BEST SONG EVER.

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Heh. Bet you thought I would've nominated "Eighties" by Killing Joke, right? Well, that is my favorite song, but it's barred from being the best song ever due to its titular limitation (i.e. the 80's are over).

But really....there's no beating "She Sells Sanctuary". It's got everything. Great, amazing riff. Ominous, sitarish beginning, Satisfying twelve-string CA-CHING-CHING, great hoary, soaring vocals, tantalizingly oblique lyrics, endless moments of chiming guitar splendor. It's the best.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I played this when I DJed at a bar last night. It's made many a day for me.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Whenever I'm listening to it, I feel the exact same way.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:08 (twenty-one years ago)

the video is fun too. while watching it for the first time on VH1 Classic me and my then girlfriend were trying to do Ian Astbury's little hopping dance.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Remembering how wow'd I was seeing him play it live as a saucer-eyed Canuck tyke, for a minute I would agree this song is IT. Then I'd dither and and veer off somewhere else.

― Thea (Thea), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Totally remember their Saturday Night Live performance of this, which came after the Dream Acadamy's performance of "Life in a Northern Town". What a great night.

― frankE (frankE), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:11 (twenty-one years ago)

And not that it matters, but great video too! Ian Astbury's endearingly ridiculous microphone dancing, those hairstyles, those guitar up-shots (camera looking skyward from Billy Duffy's fretboard), Big Country's Mark Bryzwyki (sp?) inexplicably on drums and looking very much like not a member of the band, Jamie Stewart's inability to stop grinning. BRILLIANT

X-post. Anthony and I agree!!!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I love this song enough that I'm gonna wait a respectful period of time (possibly weeks) before making my own best song ever thread.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:17 (twenty-one years ago)

some times I like "Rain" better though.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

A great song too, yes, but....I don't know, it doesn't have the sheer euphoric lift of "Sanctuary".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:19 (twenty-one years ago)

"Fire Woman" occasionally is my fave Cult track cuz it's so over-the-top ("c'MAWN little honey!"), though the beat-stopping break is a bit long for my tastes. I'll give "Sanctuary" the nod.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:21 (twenty-one years ago)

My second fave Cult track is a toss-up between "Spiritwaker" and "Wild Flower", but neither can really touch "Sanctuary" either.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Cult love gurgles forth from the crusty crit crust. Hallelujah.

Suddenly I'm suspicious.

― Thea (Thea), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Cult love

ehhh only so much Cult love from me

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

"She Sells Sanctuary" love, though, is effusive

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

"Fire Woman" occasionally is my fave Cult track cuz it's so over-the-top ("c'MAWN little honey!"), though the beat-stopping break is a bit long for my tastes. I'll give "Sanctuary" the nod.
"Fire Woman" is such a "She Sells Sanctuary" ripoff, though! The opening riff, the bridge in the middle, etc. Good song, but I prefer the original.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:29 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not "Tower of Strength" or "Homesick" or "Alphabet Street" or "Strange Relationship" or "Sweet & Tender Hooligan" or "Nemesis" or "Cannons" or "Candyman" or "Night Shift" or "Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa" or "Let's Go All The Way" or "Buffalo Stance" or "I Zimbra" or "Dead" or "De-Luxe" or "Bushfire" or "Kiss" or "Mountains" or "Sometimes It Snows In April" or "Tambourine" or "When Doves Cry" or "World War" or "The Day The Whole World Went Away" or "Sin" or "The Wretched" or "Closer" or "Days Of Swine And Roses" or "Don't Blow Your Top" or "Weekend" or "DJs Take Control" or "Euphoria" or "Close Your Eyes" or "Android" or "Everybody In The Place" or "Your Love" or "Rhythm Of Life" or "Fly Life" or "Flash" or "I Only Have Eyes For You" or "Randy Scouse Git" or "Pleasant Valley Sunday" or "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" or "Getting Closer" or "Join In The Chant" or "Kashmir" or "The Immigrant Song" or "Land Of Confusion" or "Debaser" or "La La Love You" or "Curiosity" or "Rent" or "Why Don't We Live Together?" or "King's Cross" or "2 Divided By 0" or "The Nature Of Love" or "Never Let Me Down Again" or "A Question Of Time" or "Useless" or "Vexed And Glorious" or "Lucretia My Reflection" or "Ribbons" or "The 180" or "Good Morning" or "Jay" or "Glasses" or "Excursions" or "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo" or "Can I Kick It" or "Butter" or "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" or "She's A Bitch" or "For My People" or "Work It" or "Tragedy (For You)" or "Wailing Wall" or "M" or "Metal Postcard" or "Safe From Harm" or "Unfinished Sympathy" or "Sly" or "Teardrop" or "Home" or "Roads" or "Lusty" or "Softly" or "Gorecki" or "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" or "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" or "Bigmouth Strikes Again" or "Flashback" or "Thieves" or "N. F. L. (Efilnikufesen)" or "Aces High" or "Southern Hospitality" or "I Love You" or "Jump 'N Shout" or "Brutal-8-E" or "Mindcontroller" or "Anesthesia" or "Dog Star Man/Helter Skelter" or "Psychosexual" or "Euthenasia" or "Remind" or "Adnan's" or "Strange But True" or "The Box" or "Funny Break" or "Satan" or "Choice" or "Go" or "Music For Da People" or "Nobody Move" or "Dance For Me" or "Smothered Hope" or "The Choke" or "Tormentor" or "Tin Omen" or "1963" or "True Faith" or "Sunrise" or "Guilty Partner" or "Dream Attack" or "Crystal" or "ICB" or "The Him" or "And This Is What The Devil Does" or "Alice" or "The Porpoise Song" or "Vibrate" or "Prototype" or "Hey Ya!" or "Happy Valentine's Day" or "Rosa Parks" or "B.O.B" or "The Whole World" or "Ghettomusick" or "The Rooster" or "Ms Jackson" or "The Art Of Storytelling" or "Humble Mumble" or "On and On" or "Next Lifetime" or "Bag Lady" or "The Lost Ones" or "Doo Wop (That Thing)" or "Ready Or Not" or "Been Around The World" or "Son Of A Preacher Man" or "Atomic Dog".

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:29 (twenty-one years ago)

There's was no Cure in that list.
The Cult > The Cure, it's official (according to Dan)!!! :)

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:31 (twenty-one years ago)

"Pleasant Valley Sunday"

I CALL BULLSHIT.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan you need to check out the Kinks its like that song plus a brain.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh man, I really hope you whipped up a script or something to do that...

xpost

― chopher, Friday, 10 September 2004 01:33 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not "Tower of Strength" or "Homesick" or "Alphabet Street" or "Strange Relationship" or "Sweet & Tender Hooligan" or "Nemesis" or "Cannons" or "Candyman" or "Night Shift" or "Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa" or "Let's Go All The Way" or "Buffalo Stance" or "I Zimbra" or "Dead" or "De-Luxe" or "Bushfire" or "Kiss" or "Mountains" or "Sometimes It Snows In April" or "Tambourine" or "When Doves Cry" or "World War" or "The Day The Whole World Went Away" or "Sin" or "The Wretched" or "Closer" or "Days Of Swine And Roses" or "Don't Blow Your Top" or "Weekend" or "DJs Take Control" or "Euphoria" or "Close Your Eyes" or "Android" or "Everybody In The Place" or "Your Love" or "Rhythm Of Life" or "Fly Life" or "Flash" or "I Only Have Eyes For You" or "Randy Scouse Git" or "Pleasant Valley Sunday" or "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" or "Getting Closer" or "Join In The Chant" or "Kashmir" or "The Immigrant Song" or "Land Of Confusion" or "Debaser" or "La La Love You" or "Curiosity" or "Rent" or "Why Don't We Live Together?" or "King's Cross" or "2 Divided By 0" or "The Nature Of Love" or "Never Let Me Down Again" or "A Question Of Time" or "Useless" or "Vexed And Glorious" or "Lucretia My Reflection" or "Ribbons" or "The 180" or "Good Morning" or "Jay" or "Glasses" or "Excursions" or "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo" or "Can I Kick It" or "Butter" or "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" or "She's A Bitch" or "For My People" or "Work It" or "Tragedy (For You)" or "Wailing Wall" or "M" or "Metal Postcard" or "Safe From Harm" or "Unfinished Sympathy" or "Sly" or "Teardrop" or "Home" or "Roads" or "Lusty" or "Softly" or "Gorecki" or "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" or "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" or "Bigmouth Strikes Again" or "Flashback" or "Thieves" or "N. F. L. (Efilnikufesen)" or "Aces High" or "Southern Hospitality" or "I Love You" or "Jump 'N Shout" or "Brutal-8-E" or "Mindcontroller" or "Anesthesia" or "Dog Star Man/Helter Skelter" or "Psychosexual" or "Euthenasia" or "Remind" or "Adnan's" or "Strange But True" or "The Box" or "Funny Break" or "Satan" or "Choice" or "Go" or "Music For Da People" or "Nobody Move" or "Dance For Me" or "Smothered Hope" or "The Choke" or "Tormentor" or "Tin Omen" or "1963" or "True Faith" or "Sunrise" or "Guilty Partner" or "Dream Attack" or "Crystal" or "ICB" or "The Him" or "And This Is What The Devil Does" or "Alice" or "The Porpoise Song" or "Vibrate" or "Prototype" or "Hey Ya!" or "Happy Valentine's Day" or "Rosa Parks" or "B.O.B" or "The Whole World" or "Ghettomusick" or "The Rooster" or "Ms Jackson" or "The Art Of Storytelling" or "Humble Mumble" or "On and On" or "Next Lifetime" or "Bag Lady" or "The Lost Ones" or "Doo Wop (That Thing)" or "Ready Or Not" or "Been Around The World" or "Son Of A Preacher Man" or "Atomic Dog".

You're right. It's not those songs. It's BETTER than those songs. Glad we agree.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Since when did "Homesick", "M", "Wailing Wall" and "World War" stop being Cure songs?

("Siamese Twins" is supposed to be on this list, too.)

(xpost No, I did actually type that out. That's why I forgot "The Kiss", "A Japanese Dream", "To The Sky", "2 Late", "A Man Inside My Mouth", "Lament", "New Day", "Stop Dead", "A Strange Day", "Plastic Passion", "The Snakepit", "Like Cockatoos", "The Same Deep Water As You", "Play", "Open", "Apart", "End", "Going Nowhere", "Labyrinth", "Before Three", "The Loudest Sound", "Bananafishbones", "All I Want", "Faith", "The Drowning Man", "The Hanging Garden", "Doubt", "Other Voices", "How Beautiful You Are...", "Out Of This World", "Treasure", "Jupiter Crash", "The 13th", "Want", "High", "Piggy In The Mirror", "Kyoto Song", "Screw", "Six Different Ways" and "Close To Me".

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:40 (twenty-one years ago)

(xpost Alex you stinker, you know very well that every song on that list uses The Cult as toilet paper.)

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I am downloading this now. I had previously just thought it a pleasant little brit-ditty, but I wasn't really thinking to hard, I admit.

― artdamages (artdamages), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, I thought I was the only one who thought "She Sells Sanctuary" was the best song ever. It's been my secret for years!

CA-CHING-CHING!

― snazz, Friday, 10 September 2004 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

(artdamages OTM; I have never understood Cult-mania)

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

now I am dling all dan's songs...

― artdamages (artdamages), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha see you in November!

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan, the Cure certainly are a fine little band who've released many fine little singles. But "She Sells Sanctuary" is perfection. I'm not saying everything the Cult did was brilliant. They certainly made more than their share of missteps. I'm just talking about this one solitary song.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:47 (twenty-one years ago)

It's like Unforgettable Fire-era U2 with a giant codpiece

*runs away*

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:48 (twenty-one years ago)

It's much beefier than Unforgettable Fire-era U2.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Since when did "Homesick", "M", "Wailing Wall" and "World War" stop being Cure songs?
Ack!!! In my defense, they weren't listed together like with all of the other bands.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:51 (twenty-one years ago)

THAT REMINDS ME:

The following U2 songs are better: "Pride", "Gloria", "I Will Follow", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Seconds", "Bullet THe Blue Sky", "With Or Without You", "Trip Through Your Wires", "Desire", "The Fly", "Even Better Than The Real Thing", "I Threw A Brick Through A Window", "Until The End Of The World", "Ultraviolet", "Numb", "Zoo Station", "Elevation", "Beautiful Day" and the second track on Boy.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Not in a squadrillion years, Dan. Have another bonghit.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Killing Joke Songs That Are Better Than "She Sells Sanctuary":

Eighties, Requiem, Unspeakable, Love Like Blood, You'll Never Get To Me

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:55 (twenty-one years ago)

(xpost) Two can play the unreasonable blowhard card, my friend. Do not dance with the king unless you brought your best tap shoes.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:55 (twenty-one years ago)

(Only the king is going to bed now, so just mentally fill in strenuous disagreement with any posts you make disputing my position this evening, ok thx)

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan are there any foxy-attempting long-hairs from the '80s you DO like? Anthrax so don't count.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 01:58 (twenty-one years ago)

This wouldn't come anywhere near my "favourite songs of all time" list, but all the same it's classic, and an excellent choice. It's actually been far too long now since I've heard it. I was a big fan of the "Love" album. I remember how funny it was in the end-of-the-year NME/MM polls...I mean people literally either went apeshit over that album or they wanted to smash the vinyl over their knee. No inbetween.
The album also reminds me the way the 60's were so in vogue in my high school. Not that anyone else in my school was listening to The Cult, of course, but the Love album was the first time I realized there were these things called hippies and that style of paisley and such.

I don't understand why, though, out of all the songs on "Love", the one that still returns to my head sometimes is "Brother Wolf, Sister Moon". It's not like it was ever my favourite or anything. Music is weird in retrospect that way.

See now I'm going to have to pull that album out, and it's all your fault, Alex. It seems to me I did eventually get the b-sides to the Revolution 12", too...argh. Don't send me down this road! I've got plenty of other things to listen to I assure you!

Also I hate to say it but I agree with Barry...some of those KJ songs are better than She Sells Sanctuary.

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:02 (twenty-one years ago)


Killing Joke Songs That Are Better Than "She Sells Sanctuary":

Eighties, Requiem, Unspeakable, Love Like Blood, You'll Never Get To Me

You had me waivering until you cited "You'll Never Get to Me," which clearly indicates that you don't have the foggiest idea of what you're talking about. As far as I'm concerned, "She Sells Sanctuary"'s only real rival is "Eighties". "Requiem" and "Unspeakable" are both uniquely sublim, but "Sanctuary" still trumps them. "Love Like Blood" is great, but it's become Killing Joke's "Whip It". It's the song that, basically, steered them down some rum roads. For that, it is disqualified from the running.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I can understand your disqualification of "Eighties".

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, yeah. I mean, like "1969" by the Stooges, it's still a great song, but it's quite literally "DATED", which somewhat tempers its timelessness. It will always be my favorite, though, despite this flaw.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Do not dance with the king unless you brought your best tap shoes.

This is a great, great line.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

You had me waivering until you cited "You'll Never Get to Me,"
Certainly the worst song on the list, but I wanted something newer on there, and that's the best I've heard from them in a while.

Pardon me for daring to suggest that KJ have done something in the Upper Pantheon of Classic during the last 20 years.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:13 (twenty-one years ago)

but I wanted something newer on there, and that's the best I've heard from them in a while.

What? "Blood On Your Hands" didn't do it for you? What about "Seeing Red" or "Implant"? What about "The Death a& Resurrection Show"? All those tracks take giant dumps on "You'll Never Get To Me," which -- though still better than "Loose Cannon" -- is far from the best part of that album.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:18 (twenty-one years ago)

All good songs ... it's the anthemic chorus in "You'll Never Get To Me" that, er, gets to me.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Agreed that "Love Like Blood" is KJ's "Whip It", but unfortunately, I'd say "She Sells Sanctuary" is the Cult's "Whip It", so I'm not sure that argument holds.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:22 (twenty-one years ago)

(that argument = the argument for disqualifying the song from consideration here)

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd say "She Sells Sanctuary" transcends that stigma, though.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:24 (twenty-one years ago)

the Cure certainly are a fine little band

You're fired.

"She Sells Sanctuary" is so utterly ridiculously good that it defies description, and so I shall not describe it.

*checks*

Oh wait, I did.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Sed Naid:

If the Cult has to be remembered for one song and one song only, then there's no question which it is — if Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy whipped up more powerful and explosive numbers later thanks to judicious selection of producers, the sheer energy, drive, and liveliness of "She Sells Sanctuary" remains untouchable. Duffy's liquid, quasi- psychedelic guitar intro over a buzz of flanged feedback suddenly rips into a triumphant, driving lead melody that's jaw-dropping, finding a synthesis between U2, Big Country, and Simple Minds that arguably trumps them all hands down. The addition of a quick acoustic strum as a counterpart doesn't hurt either, while the rhythm section keeps up a relentless drive that's at once solid and notably danceable, something most loud rock acts couldn't manage without remix therapy. All that's needed is for Astbury to top it off with a hell of a performance, and he delivers in spades, his voice strong and commanding, his just-evocative enough imagery of an overwhelming, passionate attraction coming across as celebratory invocation. Right down to his last call of "Sanctuary!" and a slow fadeout on Duffy's original guitar line, it's an early-'80s rock monster that stands the test of time.

DAMN well said, man.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually really did suddenly remember that review as I was typing out that message, but I wasn't sure until I went into the database.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I would've nominated "Love Removal Machine' as the best song ever written.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Friday, 10 September 2004 02:58 (twenty-one years ago)

THIS SONG INVENTED GREBO!

(Great song!)

― Grebo Guru, Friday, 10 September 2004 04:09 (twenty-one years ago)

"Brother Wolf and Sister Moon/Your time has come/and the wind will blow my fears away/will dry my tears away/and dry my tears away (who never said they borrowed a smidgeon from Led Zeppelin?)

Embrace the wind with both arms
stop clouds dead in the sky
hang your head no more
and beg no more

Brother Wolf, AAAAAAAAAAAND Sister Moon.....
your time has come.....

And the wind/will blow my fears away/will dry my tears away/and
blow my fears away/and dry my tears away

{killer guitar solo}

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 10 September 2004 04:34 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.brasil2000fm.com.br/imagens/Ian-Astbury.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 04:36 (twenty-one years ago)

For God's sake, people, this song is SO GOTHIC! There's even the sound of THUNDER at the end of the song! Can you get more gothic than the sound of thunder at the end of your song called fucking "Brother Wolf, Sister Moon".

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 10 September 2004 04:37 (twenty-one years ago)

BIMBLE YOU MISSPELLED GREBO AGAIN. ROOSSEY, WHAT DEED YOU DOO DEES TIME?

― Grebo Guru, Friday, 10 September 2004 04:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Alex, did you have any particular feeling about the title track of the album "Love"? A guitar wank to some perhaps, but it resonated with me for many years.

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 10 September 2004 04:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I did not misspell Grebo. The problem is it was only a pretend phenomenon made up by the press. And in any case there are no "grebo" bands today.

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 10 September 2004 04:46 (twenty-one years ago)

HO HO HO YOU ARE WRONG MY FRIEND

― Grebo Guru, Friday, 10 September 2004 04:50 (twenty-one years ago)

You are a jolly sort.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 10 September 2004 04:50 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.azcentral.com/rep/gifs3/0530andrew.jpg

HOW WOUJOU LIKE SOME ANDROO DOUBLE JOO KAY IN JO HEEEEAAAAD!!!

― Grebo Guru, Friday, 10 September 2004 04:51 (twenty-one years ago)

The title track is okay. Apart from "Sanctuary", I think my favorite tracks on that record are "Nirvana", "Phoenix" and "Hollow Man". I always thought the intro riff to "Big Neon Glitter" was a bit of a "Pretty Vacant' swipe.

Least favorite was "Revolution," which is just too hippy dippy silly shitty for my taste.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 04:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't heard the 21st Century Doors yet! I'm a big fan of the original but is the Astbury group EVEN BETTER?

― dave q, Friday, 10 September 2004 05:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha ha that's pretty funny.

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 10 September 2004 05:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Incidentally, the long version of "She Sells Sanctuary" is the preferred rendition.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 05:12 (twenty-one years ago)

"The Wolfchild had a bathroom problem...he couldn't make it in time!" - Ian Astbury

― mute nostril agony, Friday, 10 September 2004 05:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I would've nominated "Love Removal Machine' as the best song ever written.
-- the music mole

OTM, it's all about "LRM". Listen to them back to back.

― wetmink (wetmink), Friday, 10 September 2004 05:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I love "Love Removal Machine," but c'mon....it's simply a Stones/Zep pastiche, whereas "She Sells Sanctuary" is a much more graceful beast entirely.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 06:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe it's a weird opinion to hold, but I like just about every song on the first side of Electric more than "LRM."

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 10 September 2004 06:39 (twenty-one years ago)

http://img.muzikus.cz/clanky/002453_02.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 06:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, certainly the best CULT song ever, anyways. Shimmering flanged guitars as distinctive as any jangles that the Byrds or Television or Fleetwood Mac ever cooked up. Yeah, it's fucking great, down to the title, even: A true classic and one of the best remembered (and 'best') songs from that particular time/place.

But I gotta say that generally, I was mostly unmoved by most of the music made by most of the English bands of that era. (That era being roughly '84-present, and presumably to infinity.)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 10 September 2004 09:28 (twenty-one years ago)

SSS is great, but I have to side with "Rain" on this one.

(I am so ashamed, but that whole album is just such a time such a time and a place and a person (a trailer in upstate NY, loads of drugs and my "sister") that it's just enshrined in greatness for me.)

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Friday, 10 September 2004 09:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Dan's lengthy list is scuppered by the pole position he gives to "Tower Of Strength."

Unless of course he means the Bacharach and David classic as interpreted variously by Gene McDaniels and Frankie Vaughan, as opposed to that terrible "Kashmir" rip-off perpetrated by the Mission.

― Donnie Smith The Quiz Kid, Friday, 10 September 2004 09:37 (twenty-one years ago)

It might be the best Cult song (although I'd say no, there are more than a handful of others on Dreamtime, Electric and even Sonic Temple that I prefer), but every single song on the Death Cult ep pounds it into the ground.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 10 September 2004 09:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Which in itself is pounded into the ground by "Fatman" by the Southern Death Cult.

― Donnie Smith The Quiz Kid, Friday, 10 September 2004 09:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes.

In fact, the Cult are a great example of a band that got progressively worse with every record, from Day One.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 10 September 2004 09:52 (twenty-one years ago)

and that's saying something because they were fucking rubbish to begin with

― stelfox, Friday, 10 September 2004 09:55 (twenty-one years ago)

IIRC "She Sells Sanctuary" actually represents the precise moment after which everything The Cult released suddenly stopped being fantastic and became shit (my memory's telling me that it came out after "Go West", "Spiritwalker", The Dreamtime and Dreamtime Live At The Lyceum albums (I was at the gig when they recorded that!) and "Resurrection Joe" but before "Rain").

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 10 September 2004 10:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Stuart, your timeline is correct.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 10 September 2004 10:22 (twenty-one years ago)

"She Sells Sanctuary" was Peter Powell's Record Of The Week on Radio 1!

― Donnie Smith The Quiz Kid, Friday, 10 September 2004 10:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Ooops, Stewart, obv.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 10 September 2004 10:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan are there any foxy-attempting long-hairs from the '80s you DO like? Anthrax so don't count.

1. I don't have to like anything, you know.
2. I've explained why I am predisposed against hair metal before.
3. I actually DO like The Cult, I just don't think they're OH MY GOD amazing.
4. I do like Extreme, Cinderella, Scorpions, Motley Crue, selected songs by Skid Row and Bon Jovi. I also like Rush, Pink Floyd, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, early Metallica, Megadeth, Aerosmith, Led Zepplin and The Doors.
5. OFF OF MY DICK, SON.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Friday, 10 September 2004 11:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember being mesmerized by this song and the video in a Georgetown D.C. gothic club - oh, some time in the 80's (pretty much for the same reasons Alex in NYC states)

I downloaded the song a few months back hoping to tingle that ol' familiar feeling.

No such luck.

I dunno, the tempo didn't seem to be as brisk. The song just seemed to lumber along, which actually made the "great soaring vocals" sound like stupid 80's metal histrionics to me.

though hopefully, this thread will provide the proper attitude adjustment for my next listen.

― pheNAM (pheNAM), Friday, 10 September 2004 13:46 (twenty-one years ago)

pheNAM, your lack of enthusiasm makes my back, makes my back bu-hurn.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 14:04 (twenty-one years ago)

YEAH-HEAHHHHH

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 10 September 2004 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I do like Extreme

ok, I'll get off your dick now. I'll point and laugh from a distance.

(total disclosure: did like both their acoustic hits in elementary school and was shocked to discover that they were a hated metal band back in my psycho-REM-fan youth when somebody bought me Pornograffiti).

Get the funk out!

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

and in a non-point'n'laugh context, I'm glad you like Cinderella. Tom Kiefer's voice is a marvel.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 10 September 2004 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Please don't sully this thread with discussions about Extreme and Cinderella.

Thanks very much.

― The Management (vassifer), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I would just like to add how utterly surreal it is to hear "Nirvana" knowing that the last time I remember hearing this song was before Nirvana the band even existed. A whole world without Nirvana existing! Those were great days...

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 11 September 2004 06:17 (twenty-one years ago)

A whole world without Nirvana existing! Those were great days...

YAY!!!!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 11 September 2004 06:18 (twenty-one years ago)

5 songs better than SHE SELLS SANCTUARY:

Psycho Chicken
Eat It
Dust in the WInd
99 Luft Balloons
Lucky Number

― alice donut, Saturday, 11 September 2004 06:30 (twenty-one years ago)

As great as "Lucky Number" is (if you mean the Lene Lovich track), it's still not as great as "She Sells Sanctuary". And the rest of those songs lick big, huge, vast mountains of ass, so you're obviously not in full command of your senses.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 11 September 2004 06:52 (twenty-one years ago)

apparently billy duffy is my gf's fashion hero

― big chaki (chaki), Saturday, 11 September 2004 08:27 (twenty-one years ago)

And the rest of those songs lick big, huge, vast mountains of ass, so you're obviously not in full command of your senses.

I will totally defend "99 Luft Balloons" as a premiere piece of early 80s euro-new wave - it's up there with "Kids Of America".

SSS is a great great song

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Saturday, 11 September 2004 08:45 (twenty-one years ago)

it's up there with "Kids Of America".

"Kids IN America".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 11 September 2004 09:28 (twenty-one years ago)

(sorry, there should be a :) there )

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 11 September 2004 09:29 (twenty-one years ago)

"Nirvana" vs "Soul Asylum"

― dave q, Saturday, 11 September 2004 13:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Dave, you are my HERO.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Saturday, 11 September 2004 13:18 (twenty-one years ago)

My god, why didn't I think of that earlier. *bows*

"WHO...
WOULD BREAK...
A BUTTERFLY ON A WHEEL..."

*Kashmir riff continues building*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 11 September 2004 14:12 (twenty-one years ago)

NO NO NO...

The greatest song ever as officially quoted in the Guiness book of records is Teenage Kicks by The Undertones.

No debate.. Only flat earth'ist may be fool enough to disagree

― Steve Wilson-Copp, Saturday, 11 September 2004 16:35 (twenty-one years ago)

How ya doin', Mr Peel.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 11 September 2004 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Am I that transparent?

Its just that luckily despite championing Can and other prog rock groups in the mid seventie's Mr Peel saved his reputation forever, by embracing Punk, new wave ETC.

― Steve WC, Saturday, 11 September 2004 17:01 (twenty-one years ago)

"Teenage Kicks" just ummmm....well, I don't know. It's a good song, but it just doesn't go anywhere.

My fave Undertones track, now and forever = "Mars Bar".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 11 September 2004 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the "CA-CHING CHING" part is too loud in the mix. I don't mind it being in the arrangement, but as a rhythmic accent, especially given the obviousness of the resolution, it sounds pretty lame being that prominent - a spindly mouse climbing out to the shoulder of a giant house-stomping robot to shake its fist at rubble. I'm with Alex in NYC in preferring the long version. I think the "regular" version sounds like an edit (for example, the "aaaaahh" vocal part at the end of the middle section sounds as if a singer wouldn't have had time to work up to doing something like that. It sounds stuck over top, whereas in the long version, the "aaaaahh" is the end of a longer phrase). I think "Rain", while being pretty much the same idea (different key, I guess), is a more interesting song (it's got a decent bridge and and a better guitar line). Unfortunately, I think "Rain" plods a bit rhythmically and the vocal lines don't work as well. I think the best part of "She Sells Sanctuary" is the vocals. I think the weakes part is the lack of any interesting instrumental harmony - that flanged (phased? can't remember) guitar line (beginning, mid-section, end) sounds to me like someone simply running through how the chord progression works, without even alluding to any possible tensions. The later Butch Vig remix with the redone middle section and solo is much more satisfying to me, because that original guitar part got old fast. I used to feel that they should have combined the guitar lines of "She Sells Sanctuary" with those from "Rain" and just made one song out of both.

― Trouble Hand, Saturday, 11 September 2004 18:49 (twenty-one years ago)

a spindly mouse climbing out to the shoulder of a giant house-stomping robot to shake its fist at rubble

I sorta see it as the Cult aiming for something they never really could do -- subtlety -- and actually making it work as such.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 11 September 2004 18:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it would be a reasonable sutble touch if it weren't put so up-front.

― Trouble Hand, Saturday, 11 September 2004 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

*bows* Subtle for them.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 11 September 2004 19:11 (twenty-one years ago)

note to djs: segue from "she sells sanctuary" into harry nilsson's "jump into the fire." you can thank me later.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Saturday, 11 September 2004 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...
(I think this thread contains the most frightening posts I've made to this board.)

― Dan (Holy List Obsession) Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 6 April 2006 04:07 (twenty years ago)

The tap dancing line redeems it all.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 6 April 2006 04:13 (twenty years ago)

Dan Perry, you are mad as a bike.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 6 April 2006 04:24 (twenty years ago)

Hahahaha hasn't it already been established that in musical matters we are practically matter/antimatter, Snrub?

― Dan (World Still In Alignment) Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 6 April 2006 12:19 (twenty years ago)

These guys just performed on The Late Late Show last week; played "Love Removal Machine" - dude, they killed! ...even at 20 years hence.

Love -vs- The Head on the Door??? I don't care, but damn if this isn't an example of seminal 80s music.

― christoff (christoff), Thursday, 6 April 2006 12:56 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

Gotta love the Eddie Cochran-inspired acoustic "cha-ching-ching" guitar riff in this song that, for whatever original song meaning there was, always conjured up feelings, for me at least, of hedonism and near comic debauchery.

― Cunga, Saturday, 18 April 2009 02:07 (seventeen years ago)

the Eddie Cochran-inspired acoustic "cha-ching-ching" guitar riff

This is the part about the song I love most.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 18 April 2009 02:23 (seventeen years ago)

Oh yeah it's ALL about that thing.

― Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Saturday, 18 April 2009 03:37 (seventeen years ago)

G is a good chord.

― butt-rock miyagi (rogermexico.), Saturday, 18 April 2009 03:39 (seventeen years ago)

Great song, no doubt.

― Mark, Saturday, 18 April 2009 03:52 (seventeen years ago)

It's like Unforgettable Fire-era U2 with a giant codpiece

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, September 9, 2004

hence BEST SONG EVER QED

My second fave Cult track is a toss-up between "Spiritwaker" and "Wild Flower"...

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, September 9, 2004

Since you're dead on about LRM as Stones/Zep pastiche, I'll assume you're familiar with a little AC/DC number goes by "Rock'n'Roll Singer"? If you like "Wild Flower" you'll like that one too.

― butt-rock miyagi (rogermexico.), Saturday, 18 April 2009 06:28 (seventeen years ago)

oh man sorry but this song sucks balls.

― I will destroy you all, starting with your tiny ridiculous bathtubs (jjjusten), Saturday, 18 April 2009 06:51 (seventeen years ago)

Go listen to Prince

― Alex in NYC, Saturday, 18 April 2009 11:18 (seventeen years ago)

this is essentially a prince song anyway

― Just one thing I was thinking about as I was getting on the copter (J0hn D.), Saturday, 18 April 2009 12:13 (seventeen years ago)

I'm going to pretend you never said that.

― Alex in NYC, Saturday, 18 April 2009 12:14 (seventeen years ago)

it sounds like an Around the World in a Day track!

― Just one thing I was thinking about as I was getting on the copter (J0hn D.), Saturday, 18 April 2009 12:19 (seventeen years ago)

JOhn. you know I love ya, man, but I'm afraid you're now DEAD. TO. ME.

― Alex in NYC, Saturday, 18 April 2009 12:20 (seventeen years ago)

mind you this is totally one of the best tracks ever, although I burned out on it back then by playing it too much & especially by hearing the long mix too many times

― Just one thing I was thinking about as I was getting on the copter (J0hn D.), Saturday, 18 April 2009 12:21 (seventeen years ago)

and also, it's wrong to be this way I know, but the embarrassment of the Edie Sedgwick song a couple of years later kinda put a patina of ewww on the Cult and fucked up their music for me pretty bad

― Just one thing I was thinking about as I was getting on the copter (J0hn D.), Saturday, 18 April 2009 12:22 (seventeen years ago)

I don't know if this is the best song ever but Ian Ashbury is definitely the best dancer ever

― I'm the head soul brother in the US. Where to now? (bernard snowy), Saturday, 18 April 2009 12:28 (seventeen years ago)

and also, it's wrong to be this way I know, but the embarrassment of the Edie Sedgwick song a couple of years later kinda put a patina of ewww on the Cult and fucked up their music for me pretty bad

it is really embarrassing but also an awesome "Fade To Black" crib!

― butt-rock miyagi (rogermexico.), Saturday, 18 April 2009 13:28 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

You better fucking believe it, bitches.
If it says "embedding disabled by request" just double click it.
Look at that man's threads! He is fucking styling. No doubt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joHcumCAkCM

― Definitely More Goth Than You (Bimble), Monday, 8 June 2009 04:30 (seventeen years ago)

ah! I screwed up again damnit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuQXS-AP_to

― Definitely More Goth Than You (Bimble), Monday, 8 June 2009 04:31 (seventeen years ago)

This is what I need, bitch. This is what I need.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn9hNQu5SoU

― Definitely More Goth Than You (Bimble), Monday, 8 June 2009 04:32 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

jesus christ @ me in this thread

― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 21:53 (fifteen years ago)

Do not dance with the king unless you brought your best tap shoes.

Put this on a t-shirt and make a mint.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 21:56 (fifteen years ago)

I'm tempted to go back and list bands for each of those songs but I can't remember if I meant that to be "Dead" by The Pixies or something else

― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Wednesday, 16 March 2011 22:00 (fifteen years ago)

one year passes...

YEAH-HEAHHHHH

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 13 October 2012 23:42 (thirteen years ago)

Dan's list would make an amazing Spotify playlist imo

― skeevy wonder (Drugs A. Money), Sunday, 14 October 2012 01:49 (thirteen years ago)

Everytime I hear She Sells Sanctuary I keep waiting for the "Love Removal Machine" chorus, and then am mildly disappointed.

― sarahell, Sunday, 14 October 2012 06:38 (thirteen years ago)

YEAH-HEAHHHHH

― Ned Raggett

agree

― the late great, Sunday, 14 October 2012 08:27 (thirteen years ago)

I remember when this was the very essence of indie-gone-wrong. I think purely because Ian Astbury once turned up at a Stone Roses gig in a leather coat.

I've seen him fronting The Doors, as it happens. It's one strange existence - he actually does inspire a degree of fervour, only it's from middle-aged men holding cameraphones, in comfortable auditoriums.

― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 14 October 2012 10:19 (thirteen years ago)

I started one but gave up half way through, if anyone wants to finish it off.... It is amazing fwiw.

http://open.spotify.com/user/unterwasser/playlist/3Hkocs6acSuTDAoMiFB69V

― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Sunday, 14 October 2012 15:54 (thirteen years ago)

twelve years pass...

Per the excellent WAFR (aka What a Fucking Record) account run by UK writer Ian Wade: happy fortieth anniversary to this all time banger.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 13 May 2025 14:24 (one year ago)

Even by the standards of that album, a longtime fave of mine, that song jumps out.

Funny, pure coincidence, but I almost bought a Cult "Love" t-shirt just this morning! Of course I'd prefer to buy an official shirt, but it was $35, and around $50 with tax and shipping, so no thanks, Cult. It's not like they are being made in-house by some bespoke team, so I don't know how bad I would feel spending a fraction of that on a knockoff.

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 13 May 2025 15:49 (one year ago)

She Sells Sanctuary was my mum's getting ready to go out on a Saturday night music in the 80s

(It seems her 80s musical life keeps coming to mind with every thread I pop in today)

― you can see me from westbury white horse, Tuesday, 13 May 2025 15:53 (one year ago)

Your mum had the right idea.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 13 May 2025 16:09 (one year ago)

a highlight of the 'electronic music djs are playing rock music' period of the early 00s for me was prob wandering through the dance tent at glastonbury on a very warm day, in a bit of a state, trying to find my friends, and hearing 2manydjs play la rock by vitalic, then just as that wore off, they played this. i know people love live music but for me it is a little better to have a huge soundsystem and the original record playing to a few thousand people, in the right context anyway. absolutely huge liftoff for the... i shouldn't call it a 'breakdown' or a 'drop' but you know the bit i mean, lol.

― LocalGarda, Tuesday, 13 May 2025 16:26 (one year ago)

I go back and forth between this and "How Soon Is Now?" as the defining indie-riff of the 80's.

― henry s, Tuesday, 13 May 2025 19:10 (one year ago)

manics did a kick ass cover of this when I saw them a few years ago

― brimstead, Wednesday, 14 May 2025 16:37 (one year ago)

Yeah they've been doing that for a bit, saw them in 2022 and they busted it out.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 May 2025 16:43 (one year ago)

I go back and forth between this and "How Soon Is Now?" as the defining indie-riff of the 80's.

Billy and Johnny were at school together, iirc; friends since their early teens.

― fetter, Wednesday, 14 May 2025 20:10 (one year ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgUCIotNJF0

― blagobu, Saturday, 17 May 2025 18:57 (one year ago)

Shades of Axl's "gimme some reggae!!"

There was an interview with Astbury in I want to say the Quietus where he came off simultaneously smart and perceptive and self-aware and utterly daft and ridiculous at the same time. I love "Love," "Electric" and "Sonic Temple," but as for the rest I've never been able to figure this band out.

― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 17 May 2025 19:17 (one year ago)

Last night here in Los Angeles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rzc54pV918

― Elvis Telecom, Saturday, 17 May 2025 22:16 (one year ago)

Thanks for sharing!

Love was one of my first loves.

― Bee OK, Sunday, 18 May 2025 02:59 (one year ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soZ-dd84N2Q

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 18 May 2025 04:27 (one year ago)

aw that is rather nice i did not expect to enjoy it so much

― Theodor W. Adorbso (Hunt3r), Sunday, 18 May 2025 04:27 (one year ago)

Re the et’s cut— will check jic’s

― Theodor W. Adorbso (Hunt3r), Sunday, 18 May 2025 04:28 (one year ago)


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