I was there in 1974 at the first Suicide practices in a loft in New York City.
Suicide is the debut record released by electronic music duo Suicide in 1977. Often hailed as one of the most influential electronic acts ever, this record has lodged itself into underground music memory. But is it good?
Well, no. I didn't like this album at all, really. Maybe it's just because electronic music now is so evolved that even I can do it, or whatever, but I really didn't like this record. But why?
So the album starts on "Ghost Rider". It's distorted, guitar esque riff with effects laden vocals narrate frantically and isn't too bad for a while, but as the song continues it doesn't really offer alot. Sure, the instrumental goes up and around but doesn't accomplish alot. I'n sure hearing this in '77 would've been mind blowing, but hell, I can make these sounds in my living room. "Rocket Usa" follows it, and it's riff gets old almost instantly. The vocalist also executes his nervous screams a couple of times, and again, the lyrics are not far short of substance-less.
Cheree has a nice opening, it's hazy and fuzzy, before the vocalist again comes in and worsens the track. It fades in this quirky kind of drum machine too, and when the vocalist shuts up this twinkly xylophone effect floats in too. It's a high point on the record despite the track's terrible, terrible lyrics.
"Johnny" actually carries some pretty good melodies and the vocals kind of work more than other parts of the record, honestly the lyrics just sound like a homeless drug addict rambly about nothing. Considering Andy Warhol's appreciation of the band, the label kind of fits. "Girl" isn't much different either.
"Frankie Teardrop" is what a hack music journo would call an "epic", or an "opus", but god if it doesn't drag on. It's more than 10 minutes long, and does not justify it's length. It tells the story of a factory worker who doesn't make enough to feed his wife and kids, who then goes mad, kills them and himself, then as he lays in hell, the track leaves us with "We're all Frankies, We're all lying in hell", like come on, if someone came out with this today they'd be laughed off. It's embarassing, honestly. The track has A LOT of screaming too. The first time I listened to the track I clocked out at the 8 minute mark, It was unbearable. That being said the instrumental is, again, quite good at points. Thank god the instrumental had the influence and not the vocals, fuck me
The last track is called "Che", and to be fair it sends the album off well. The organ tones are pretty melancholic, and the noisey bits are good too. But again, the vocalist stubbornly refuses to be interesting. At nearly 5 minutes it feels like running the last mile of a marathon, but instead of getting any kind of recognition or medal you just have 32 minutes that you wasted listening to the record. Honestly, anyone who says they like this album is pretending to for indie music nerd cred, this album absolutely blows. Hopefully next week I'll listen to something actually worth my time.
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