I used to be a huge fan of Christian Death, but I could never get into that album. I would suggest Wind Kissed Pictures. And Juju for a Siouxsie album.

If I were to make a compilation of songs that I would start off a fledging goth on the right path to total goth fabulousness, it might look something like this:

1. Bauhaus - Stigmata Martyr - I think this song encapsulates Bauhaus' sound absolutely to the tee. All of the creepy instrumentation and crazed vocalizations are there, and the religious references really put it in the right perspective. The key to this song is a delicate blend of sarcasm and cheese. And it would also appeal to anyone into anything macabre, in my humble opinion. Besides, the only other respectable choice would be "Bela Lugosi's Dead", but giving them that song without an in-depth analysis could go either really good, or terribly bad. The last thing we need is more people thinking they're vampires.

2. Siouxsie - Halloween - Honestly, while I'm a devout fan of anything Siouxsie does, I think anything off "Juju" would be a proper opening. Not only is it the definitive Banshees album, it's the easiest to digest. "Kaleidoscope", I think, is far too experimental, and is more likely to confuse a newbie as to what exactly Goth music sounds like. Frankly, the album is all over the place, musically. "Halloween", I think, really sets the stage for the understanding of deliberate cheesiness that is such an integral part of goth, and it also accentuates the punk roots. On top of all that, it also happens to be an almost criminally fun song.

3. Sisters of Mercy - Flood 2 - "First, Last, and Always" may very well be an excellent album, but I don't think there's any argument that "Floodland" is the gothest album ever put to music. "Flood 2", on top of being an undeniably perfect song, is just dark enough to really capture the essence of such an important band (to goth) at it's darkest. "This Corrosion", simply for it's compositional wit and amazing mass appeal, is another good choice, but I'd have to parrot the "Bela Lugosi's Dead" comment for it needing a rather large explanation. All you'd have to say for "Flood 2" is, "Andrew Eldritch is a genius". After listening to the song, they'll completely understand. If they don't, pull the plug immediately.

4. Fad Gadget - Collapsing New People - For this song, I'd be willing to undermine the rule of trying not to confuse a newbie as to what goth sounds like. "Collapsing New People" is a prime example of Goths making fun of themselves, and if a goth can't make fun of themselves, they have no excuse calling themselves a goth. Besides, you have to prime them for Neubauten, Ministry, and Cabaret Voltaire eventually, no?

5. The Chameleons UK - Soul In Isolation - Not even so much for the purposes of goth, but more because you should expose this band to as many people as humanly possible. Musical brilliance is musical brilliance no matter what genre you place it in.

And there are a million others, but this is a good starter, I think.

Ooof!
Goth musick and aesthetics were what brought me and my last BF together. I thought we'd be together for a lifetime. Let me just say that there's more to bonding a relationship than music. It's the other underlying crap that ended it, in our case, after a year and a half. Be in sync (no pun int'd) with your partner, be in the same pattern of growth and be equal, be open to each other's interests- share them and accept them.
Whether they're goth or not is only a small percentage of a person. If they're closed-minded and don't take to your musical tastes (or you to theirs) well, maybe they're not right for you in the first place. I mean that in the kindest and most sincere way. The BF and I had music most in common, but that didn't make the relationship work.

That being shared, I'm going back to listening to the new Type-O Negative album. It's okay to draw outside the lines and I encourage it. Cultures and tastes cannot realistically be impressed upon a person. That has to to be a natural progression of love, and not of need or want.

I'm sure I took this thread in a misguided direction, sorry. It's good to be back, though. Smooches Fennis!

And I still think Gypsy 83 is a sweet film, no matter how contrived it may be. Karen Black rules!
So, go ahead. Hate me. I don't seek seek approval. :-]p

Aww, some little Darkling crunching me, but I despise his Goth Lite collection...Hmm. If he's cute, yeah I'll fuck him! And leave town before he wakes up.
Okay, I'm thinking of certain songs more specifically than albums. I'm dating myself here, but :

1 From a really, really OLD pre-"You Spin Me 'Round" Dead or Alive self titled-album, a song called "It's Been Hours Now", and from an even earlier work (from his Nightmares In Wax days) a song called "Black Leather"

2 S&TB : "Dazzle" , "We Hunger" and "Little Voodoo Dolly"

3 Diamanda Galas: Well, really, anything by Her is recommendable, I think. But then, She is a friggin GENIUS...

4 Dead Can Dance: "Song of the Sybil", "Soltarello" and "the Arrival and the Reunion"

5 Cocteau Twins: Okay, the whole of "Bluebell Knoll" is gorjeeuuuusssss

6 Sister's of Mercy: "This Corrosion-Touched by the hand of Ofra"

7 Eurythmics: "Here Comes the Rain Again" ( Oh, I know I'm gonna take some shit for that one, but, it was so darkly evocative!) And also, from their 1984 Album, "The Ministry of Love" mmm, delicious!

Really you guys, it's not so much one's choice of music that'd offend me. I just HATE seeing all the prefab "Goth" wear from oh, say , THE MALL! We hadda make our own great shit, thank you very much. And looked fabulous doing it. Where has creativity gone? Whatever happened to a Rit black dyebath for all household fabrics?
I'd rather try to gently steer them away from that which I think is shit/not Goth, toward the improved version. For instance...
That fucking piece of shit "Bram Stoker's Dracula" movie (only good thing about it was Diamand's vocals, and they didn't even make it to the fucking piece of shit soundtrack.) Try instead "the Hunger"...
Well, that's my contribution. Thanks for tuning in...