Alan Vega - Collision Drive (Remastered) (2026)
I like the idea of this record more than I like the record itself. On paper, Alan Vega stepping away from drum machines and leaning into full-band rockabilly grit should hit hard. In practice, Collision Drive feels uneven — flashes of personality surrounded by stretches that don’t fully ignite. The rawness is there, the attitude is intact, but the songs don’t consistently justify the stance.
Compared to the stark tension of Suicide, this feels surprisingly conventional. The band format adds punch, but it also removes some of the claustrophobic electricity that made Vega so magnetic. A few moments cut through, especially when the mood turns darker or stranger, but too often the album settles into competent bar-band energy rather than something dangerous. I respect it as a document of transition, but it rarely feels essential.
3 Pros
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Strong vocal presence – Vega’s voice still carries menace and theatrical conviction.
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Live-band grit – The move toward rockabilly instrumentation gives the album physical drive.
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Historical context value – Interesting as a bridge between art-punk minimalism and more traditional rock structures.
3 Cons
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Inconsistent songwriting – Few tracks feel fully realized or memorable.
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Reduced tension vs. Suicide – Loses the confrontational edge that defined Vega’s strongest work.
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Conventional drift – At times sounds closer to straight rockabilly revival than outsider art-rock.
Genre: Post Punk
Country: US
Final Verdict: 56% (Forgettable Album)
Yearly Ranking: 123th / 127
Highlight: Viet Vet
Made me think of:
Suicide (obviously)
The Cramps
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
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