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With all the Daily Music Dose bands that I've chosen to do write-ups on, are you beginning to notice a recurring theme?  Does that theme happen to do with moody men singing in off-kilter baritones wearing dark sunglasses in the evening singing about every depressing thing you can think of?  Well, I happen to be a creature of habit, pretty much a one-trick pony, and I do not disappoint.  So, without further adieu, let me tell you about a little band from the 80s called The Sisters of Mercy.

You see, I have a love-hate relationship with this band.  Of course, I'll hook you up with an interesting selection of songs from this band's limited discographic history; but I tend to base how much I enjoy a band by how much the band actually believe in their own hype.  I can appreciate a band that is passionate about a cause and actually puts their words into action.  This is why, believe it or not, I actually have a bit of respect for Pete Wentz even though I happen not to like Fall Out Boy.  You see, Pete I honestly believe is a humanitarian (in his own unique way)...from traveling to Uganda to raise awareness of the that country's problems to encouraging youth to Rock the Vote, Pete puts his words into action.  However, Pete can also laugh at himself and take advantage of his "looks" so to speak to market himself and his band, and as an extra bonus of Pete's marketing skills, he inadvertently encourages young people to become interested in issues that he is interested in.  Granted, you still want to encourage the youth to be able to think for themselves instead of copying what their favorite rock star does, but it's better than the youth supporting bands that oh, I don't know, have messages in their lyrics that insinuate that date rape is super awesome and cool like some bands I know.  I mean, look at the enthusiasm Pete's eyeliner-wearing self encourages...

"...pete is gonna save the world becuz he is so hot. nobody will be able to resist his hotness. I want to save the world i can b with pete. I love eyeliner on guys. it make them look so macho..."

Yes, this is an actual comment to an article on Fall Out Boy that I found on the web.  But, it's a start, right?  But I digress; so, about my love-hate relationship with The Sisters of Mercy.  It basically has to do with front man Andrew Eldritch.  I enjoy Andrew, don't get me wrong, but he needs to really get over himself.  Since the band's formation in 1980, they have had nine members leaving the band basically over the fact that Eldritch can be a huge douche-bag.  I mean, I can't verify this statement with any actual proof, and maybe he's just a really talented and deep misunderstood poet...but, I kind of doubt it.  My first clue would be that if you have so many of the conventions of your sound and image associated with "Gothic" elements, so to speak, and then so vehemently deny any associations with the Gothic subculture, I tend to think your full of shit.  Even though your lyrics allude to carnal imagery, associations with the drug culture, and biting criticism of Republicans in the United States (yes, most notably both Bush former presidents), Christianity, etc., and you wear you sunglasses at night and dress all in black, I suppose it's okay for you to state, "I'm constantly confronted by representatives of popular culture who are far more goth than we, yet I have only to wear black socks to be stigmatized as the demon overlord."  Well, okay, but it wouldn't have anything to do with you early in your career being accused of ripping off everything that is Joy Division, now does it?

But, my criticism aside, I still do love the sound of this band; and you cannot deny the influence The Sisters of Mercy have had on the second wave of goth rock that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s including the use of drum machines and the unique vocal stylings (and fashion, sorry Andrew).  For example, with this first song alone entitled "Walk Away," I can think of at least three different bands of today that I would not be surprised were influenced by this melody, these vocals, and even the look.

Okay, so here's another nifty song..."Lucretia, My Reflection," because it's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Seriously, I got nothing. I just like this song. However, the video makes absolutely no sense to me; but nothing from the 1980s really makes much sense to me. Plus, the chick in the video (which they've used in pretty much all their videos, posters, flyers and what not) looks like Tim Curry in drag. OMG! If it was Tim Curry, I'd probably change my whole opinion of Andrew Eldritch.  

Finally, I give you the song "Black Planet," because you can never have too many songs on your ipod telling you about how much this world sucks and your life sucks and people suck and how everything sucks and that you should probably just crawl in a hole and pray for a sweet, merciful ending...right?  But, other than that, it's got a great beat and you can dance to it!  Yea, after watching this video, now I know why Ian Astbury started wearing those gaucho-cowboy type hats...oh, I think Rob Zombie does too!  Influence, I tell  you...they haz it.

As I barely alluded to earlier, The Sisters of Mercy have very limited amount of albums released.  Namely:

First and Last and Always released in 1985.
Floodland released in 1987. AND...
Vision Thing released in 1990.

The other two albums released were just compilation albums and therefore, in my opinion, don't count. Take a guess why The Sisters of Mercy haven't released any other albums since 1993 even though they still continue to tour and continue to treat audiences with new material on stage despite this "no new albums released since 1993?" Give up? A strike against their record company! Shocking! Even the band hasn't officially released any videos of their songs...so, maybe in his own way, Andrew is a man of his word sticking to his convictions and passions...And, I still do love them...I love the influence they've had on newer bands who have embraced the "dark culture," so to speak...I love that they're kind of creepy...I love that the drum machine is noted as a member of the band and is called Doktor Avalance...I love the Monkeemobile in the "Black Planet" video...AND I actually love that Andrew Eldritch is so weird. 

So, yea, go ahead and give them a listen...it's not like you'll turn gothic or anything. 

Just in case the videos don't show up, here's some links...

Lucretia, My Reflection
Black Planet
Walk Away