Teen Gothic

First post here, I’ll try to keep it brief, but I feel there is something that needs to be said. I have been into goth/industrial since the mid nineties, and I wanted to provide some words of encouragement for the people who are new to this whole thing.

I see post after post asking “is this goth?”, “is that goth?”, “am I goth?”, “are you goth?”, “I think I’m goth, but am I goth enough?”, etc, etc, etc….

Music: As far as music goes, the goth genre is very specific. With the exception of Andrew Eldritch, and a few others, bands who are goth know that they’re goth, and make it pretty damn obvious that they’re a goth band. There are some good ones and many that suck, but there really isn’t any debate about whether or not they are goth.

The important thing to note here is that no one, I don’t care how goth they are, listens exclusively to goth bands. I can’t imagine anything more boring and mundane than that.

There are several genres that are not goth, but perfectly playable at a goth night, or goth get-together. Those might include Industrial, Synthpop, Darkwave, post-punk, etc.

Then there are the things you listen to that are not goth, or any of the adjacent genres that you listen to because you like them, and you are an individual who is allowed to like whatever kind of music you want to listen to. That can be anything. Yes, anything.

I am an experience musician in the gothic/industrial genres, and I personally listen to everything from ABBA, to Black Metal… including a very select number of country artists. I also love Gangsta Rap, and 60’s girl-pop.

You like what you like and anyone who disapproves can kick rocks. Seriously.

Are you goth?

Well, you’re here. You might be just now getting into it, or maybe you have been curiously exploring it for a while and thinking you might dive in head first. Maybe you’re royalty in your local scene…. Whatever the case may be, I have some advice. Just like anything else, there is a lifecycle involved in being a goth. Everyone here fits into one of these stages:

1. You like the music and aesthetic, but ultimately don’t care too much about the scene and how people in the scene see you. (Some people are fine staying here and not going any further, or lose interest)

2. You are in love with everything goth and going full bore into it. You are well aware that people who have been around longer are looking and you, dismissively at best, contemptuously at worst, and you are doing everything you can to gain their approval.

3. You made it! You’re the real deal. You know what’s up for sure. Maybe you even have a DJ spot at a local goth night. Now it’s your turn to give the fish eye to the out of place newcomers who pronounce the “x” in “Siouxsie” and wear brand new NIN shirts from Hot Topic. This is the pinnacle. (Some try to stay here forever, but most realize that it really doesn’t age well).

4. You have been through the scene, and still have affection for it, but really you could care less about your standing in the scene. You might hit the club occasionally, or go see a band when they’re in town, and even though you still love the music and the aesthetic, you no longer care enough to put up with the drama. And, you are back to getting the fish eye because you’re old enough to be the baby-bats’ mom or dad.

I know, TLDR… but I’m going somewhere:

The reason I cringe when I see posts asking about things being “goth”is because it is obviously something that you like, but you are concerned about whether or not it’s goth. I get it I’ve been there, but you are you. Don’t make goth your personality. Be you, and incorporate the things you like in the places you want to. If someone says you’re not goth because you have Taylor Swift in your Spotify playlist, tell them to pound sand.

No one worth knowing is ever going to judge you for not being goth enough. Your beauty is in your soul, and if someone can’t see it, you are better off without them.

Me and my friend and my father can no longer access juju ANYWHERE (other than spellbound ??? Anyone else having this issue? We’re from the US

I really want one! It’s so cool! Is it from a brand or if anywhere sells something similar.

Thanks!

Apologies for three days with no new posts, I have been busy and still recovering from being sick.

Phantasmagoria by The Damned somehow won. Lots of good picks, though! Excited to listen to some of them.

I didn't feel like skipping any letters but I honestly can't think of anything that starts with Q. But I'm doing this just in case there is something I'm not aware of. If there isn't any, I'll just skip to R.

Current list

A – Adrenaline by Rosetta Stone

B – Body and Soul by The Sisters of Mercy

C – Closer by Joy Division

D – Disintegration by The Cure

E – Elizium by Fields of the Nephilim

F – Fetisch by Xmal Deutschland

G – Garlands by Cocteau Twins

H – Heaven is Waiting by The Danse Society

I – In the Flat Field by Bauhaus

J – Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees

K – Killing Joke by Killing Joke

L – Lesbian Vampyres from Outer Space by Scary Bitches

M – Medusa by Clan of Xymox

N – Nox Novacula by Nox Novacula

O – Only Theatre of Pain by Christian Death

P – Phantasmagoria by The Damned

Rules/explanations:

Must be goth. Check the wiki/FAQ if you're unsure.

One band per letter. Any attempt to nominate a band already featured will be ignored.

Doesn't have to be an album, can be an EP.

Please post only one album per comment. It's easier to keep track of that way. You can comment multiple times, though.

Articles could count or be ignored for the next word.

Each round ends after 24 hours. (Super inconsistent at this point, life gets in the way)

Best/favourite album that starts with Q? (Not expecting much answers, but who knows)

Current list

A – Adrenaline by Rosetta Stone

B – Body and Soul by The Sisters of Mercy

C – Closer by Joy Division

D – Disintegration by The Cure

E – Elizium by Fields of the Nephim

F – Fetisch by Xmal Deutschland

G – Garlands by Cocteau Twins

H – Heaven is Waiting by The Danse Society

I – In the Flat Field by Bauhaus

J – Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees

K – Killing Joke by Killing Joke

L – Lesbian Vampyres from Outer Space by Scary Bitches

M – Medusa by Clan of Xymox

N – Nox Novacula by Nox Novavula

O – Only Theatre of Pain by Christian Death

Rules/explanations

Must be goth. Read the wiki/FAQ if you're unsure.

One band per letter only. Any attempt to nominate a band already featured will be ignored.

Doesn't have to be an album, can be an EP.

Please post only one album per comment. (It's easier to keep track of that way) You can comment multiple times, though

Each round ends after 24 hours. (Inconsistent schedule)

Best/favourite album that starts with P?

I'd like to say thank you to my friend u/TheHiyaPeople for taking over for N! I was sick and had to take a break. Anyway…

Current list:

A – Adrenaline by Rosetta Stone

B – Body and Soul by The Sisters of Mercy

C – Closer by Joy Division

D – Disintegration by The Cure

E – Elizium by Fields of the Nephilim

F – Fetisch by Xmal Deutschland

G – Garlands by Cocteau Twins

H – Heaven is Waiting by The Danse Society

I – In the Flat Field by Bauhaus

J – Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees

K – Killing Joke by Killing Joke

L – Lesbian Vampyres from Outer Space

M – Medusa by Clan of Xymox

N – Nox Novacula by Nox Novacula

Rules/explanations:

Must be goth. Read the wiki/FAQ if you're unsure.

One band per letter. Any attempt to nominate a band already featured will be ignored.

Doesn't have to be an album, can be an EP.

Please post only one album per comment. (It's easier to keep track of) You can comment multiple times, though.

Each round ends after 24 hours. (Inconsistent schedule, it'll probably be even more inconsistent since I'm sick right now.)

Best/favourite album that starts with O?

Sorry for the delay!

Anyway, Lesbian Vampyres from Outer Space won with Let Them Be Alien following close behind.

Current list so far:

A – Adrenaline by Rosetta Stone

B – Body and Soul by The Sisters of Mercy

C – Closer by Joy Division

D – Disintegration by The Cure

E – Elizium by Fields of the Nephilim

F – Fetisch by Xmal Deutschland

G – Garlands by Cocteau Twins

H – Heaven is Waiting by The Danse Society

I – In the Flat Field by Bauhaus

J – Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees

K – Killing Joke by Killing Joke

L – Lesbian Vampyres from Outer Space by Scary Bitches

Rules/explanations:

Must be goth. Read the wiki/FAQ if you're unsure.

One band per letter. Any attempt to nominate a band already featured will be ignored.

Doesn't have to be an album, can be an EP. (Mostly for bands who've never released any albums but have EPs)

Please post only one album per comment so I know what you're voting for. (It's easier to keep track of) You can comment multiple times, though.

Each round ends after 24 hours. (Inconsistent schedule)

Articles could count or be ignored for the next word.

Best/favourite album that starts with M?

I don’t know if anybody else does this, but sometimes when the usual gothic rock bands from the US and the UK isn’t doing it for me, I’ll look up gothic bands from other countries. Mexico, Japan, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Germany to name a few. In fact I’m currently trying to familiarize myself with the gothic bands of Mexico. I love trying to find new bands and artists in the genre that I haven’t heard of.

Decided to skip the voting around because it'd be pointless and like aytakk said, nothing will outvote Juju.

Current list so far:

A – Adrenaline by Rosetta Stone

B – Body and Soul by The Sisters of Mercy

C – Closer by Joy Division

D – Disintegration by The Cure

E – Elizium by Fields of the Nephilim

F – Fetisch by Xmal Deutschland

G – Garlands by Cocteau Twins

H – Heaven is Waiting by The Danse Society

I – In the Flat Field by Bauhaus

J – Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees

Rules/explanations:

Must be goth. Read the wiki/FAQ if you're unsure.

One band per letter only. Any attempt to nominate a band already featured will be ignored.

Doesn't have to be an album. Can be an EP. (Mostly for bands that never had an album.)

Please post only one album per comment so I know what you're voting for. (It's easier to keep track of) You can comment multiple times, though.

Each round ends after 24 hours. (Inconsistent schedule, I post whenever I feel like it.)

Articles could count or be ignored for the next word.

Best/favourite albums that start with K?