Suicide [Second Album]

• Artist: Suicide
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1980
• Genre: Rock

Review

Confusingly released in 1980 as Alan Vega/Martin Rev: Suicide, Mute reissued Suicide's second album as The Second Album in 2000. The reissue adds the "Dream Baby Dream" single, as well as a second disc of Vega and Rev's first rehearsal tapes. The Ric Ocasek-produced Second Album is less confrontational and more contemporary than the duo's terrifying debut. Vega's rockabilly snarl and Rev's burbling electronics remain, but Ocasek's involvement purges a pop sensibility only hinted at on Suicide. Hell, some of the tracks are downright pretty ("Shadazz," "Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne"). Perhaps it's not as renegade as Suicide, but it's an arguably better, more realized work, and just as essential. Three of the tracks found on the first rehearsal tapes disc were previously issued on ROIR's Half Alive in 1981. The rehearsals are extremely spatial and equally creepy as the proper studio works. Most of the tracks lurch by at a mid-tempo pace; Vega's distorted vocalisms are rather restrained but highly sinister, and Rev's sonic wizardry is delightfully horrific. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne		Suicide	(3:21)
Mr. Ray	Martin Rev, Alan Vega	Suicide	(5:14)
Sweetheart	Martin Rev, Alan Vega	Suicide	(3:37)
Fast Money Music		Suicide	(3:08)
Touch Me		Suicide	(6:38)
Harlem	Martin Rev, Alan Vega	Suicide	(4:24)
Be Bop Kid		Suicide	(2:13)
Las Vegas Man	Martin Rev, Alan Vega	Suicide	(4:10)
Shadazz		Suicide	(4:25)
Dance		Suicide	(3:23)
Super Subway Comedian [#]		Suicide	(4:59)
Dream Baby Dream [*]	Martin Rev, Alan Vega	Suicide	(6:24)
Radiation [*]		Suicide	(3:07)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Speed Queen [Demo Version]	Martin Rev, Alan Vega	Suicide	(1:24)
Creature Feature [Demo Version]		Suicide	(3:37)
Tough Guy [Demo Version]		Suicide	(2:50)
A-Man [Demo Version]	Martin Rev, Alan Vega	Suicide	(2:53)
Sneakin' Around [Demo Version]		Suicide	(2:44)
Too Fine for You [Demo Version]		Suicide	(2:06)
See You Around [Demo Version]		Suicide	(4:22)
Be My Dream [Demo Version]		Suicide	(4:13)
Space Blue Bambo [Demo Version]	Martin Rev, Alan Vega	Suicide	(3:27)
Spaceship [Demo Version]		Suicide	(2:42)
Into My Eyes [Demo Version]		Suicide	(5:15)
C'mon Babe [Demo Version]		Suicide	(3:15)
New City [Demo Version]		Suicide	(2:41)
Do It Nice [Demo Version]		Suicide	(5:24)

Credits

Bob Bert (Interviewer), Martin Rev (Synthesizer), Suicide (Engineer), Martin Rev (Keyboards), Mel Austin (Cover Photo), Ric Ocasek (Producer), Slim Smith (Layout Design), Alan Vega (Vocals), Marcia Resnick (Photography)