First And Last And Always - Sisters Of Mercy

Advantages: takes you back to the birth of goth
Disadvantages: very different to the Gothic sound of today

...were barely visable. First and Last and Always took the elements of the live shows and represented them for the home stereo. The packaging of the album sums up what you are about to recieve, basically a black album cover with red writting and the minimal of design work, just a picture of the band in shades and black leather in front of a Detroit adult movie theatre. The first thing that hits you about the music is its cold, detached and clinical ...
...would listen to nothing else but this one band. If the re-invention of the gothic romances set to the cold detachment of the modern world appeals to you then First and Last and Always, the first and best of the Sisters albums, is the only place to start. ... Read review

Advantages: Magnificent full-length debut from Goth masters
Disadvantages: Some tracks need to be heard live to be appreciated

This was the first chance the mainstream would have had to hear the mighty music of Leeds' Sisters of Mercy. Although formed in 1980, the band had only released a long succession of singles and EPs before this debut album. Although 'Floodland' is a stronger and more epic album, this is the album that really gave impetus to the 'Goth' movement and has the classic band line-up. The key is here that they sound like a great band playing together, whereas ...
...love with this when i first heard it, but it was on a bootleg live album. This song is just INVINCIBLE when heard live, as the atmosphere is better, and best of all the tempo is twice as fast. This is my favourite Sisters track, and quite frankly is a Gothic masterpiece. This version suffers from playing at a slow tempo. It is an epic multi-layered ode to Marian, who alone can save Eldritch from doom. The third verse bizarrely is sung in German, ... Read review

Advantages: atmospheric Goth at its best
Disadvantages: Not for pop idol type music lovers

...fully understand the music of First and last and always, I think you need to know where they were coming from and what had come before. As this record was released nearly twenty years ago many readers may not of heard of the band or younger readers may not even have been born, so here goes. The Sisters of Mercy were born in Leeds in 1980 when Andrew Eldrich was invited to join a band being formed by Gary Marx. The First release was Damage Done/ ...
...John Ashton.This was the bands first track to appear in the independent chart, The following of the band was starting to expand from their northern roots. Next in 1983 was Anaconda / Phantom which is in the same vein as Alice while Phantom is much slower and moodier. The same year saw the release of the Reptile house EP including Kiss the Carpet / Lights /Valentine /Fix / Burn This EP contiued more in the vein of Phantom. Next up is The Temple ... Read review

Advantages: Very atmospheric
Disadvantages: Sounds a little unpolished

This was the first album by The Sisters of Mercy, released in 1985, so straight away, you're taken back to the early days of Goth when it was still all about pretentious pretty boys with loads of make up and angst, who were interested in Dracula and graveyards and speed and looking moody. These were the good old days of Goth before it was copied badly by the Americans or taken on half heartedly by 16-18 year olds and their one black jumper and bit ...
...Marian 6. First And Last And Always 7. Possession 8. Nine While Nine 9. Amphetamine Logic 10. Some Kind Of Stranger As you begin listening to the album, you can't help thinking how over-the-top Eldritch's voice sounds, and wondering who he's trying to kid, but by the end of the album you love it, because at the end of the day, that's what Goth is about. There are some signature Missionesque guitar chords on here and plenty of high drama with the ... Read review