#498 Suicide

Revisiting Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020)

1977’s self-titled Suicide is a punk band crossing 50s rockabilly with slasher films. It’s definitely a precursor to Nine Inch Nails and other hardcore bands. Stand out songs are “Ghost Rider” and “Frankie Teardrop”. I learned while researching Nebraska (#150) that Springsteen was channeling this album for “State Trooper” - the intense, monotonous guitar and harrowing screech at the end comes close, but Suicide is straight from Hell - this is some 1922 Nosferatu music. It's intense and weird, but mesmerizing nonetheless.