Alan Vega - Saturn Strip LP

Label: Real Gone

Yellow vinyl edition.

Alan Vega's work with Suicide is revered by just about every electronic music artist who's tapped a keyboard or moved a mouse; his snarling, rockabilly-styled vocals teamed with Martin Rev's ominous, repetitive soundscapes blazed a trail for post-punk, synth pop, industrial rock, techno...the list goes on. Vega's solo career substantially overlapped with his Suicide recordings; this 1983 release, his first for a major label (Elektra), was his bid for commercial success, enlisting Ric Ocasek of the Cars (who had produced the second Suicide record) to produce and recruiting a young Al Jourgenson (who had just founded Ministry) to play keyboards. Vega even trimmed down his notoriously long songs... however, his art still proved too idiosyncratic for mainstream success. But even if it didn't result in sales, the relatively accessible sound of Saturn Strip ended up garnering much critical acclaim; this is Vega's best solo album, highlighted by "Kid Congo," his tribute to Cramps/Gun Club guitarist Kid Congo Powers, and a cover of the disco hit "Every 1's a Winner" that sounds like White Light White Heat-era Velvet Underground.