My Amazon Reviews: Devo "Something for Everybody"

Men on a Mission

4 out of 5 Stars

Sounding more invigorated and fresh than we should have expected at this point in time, Devo deliver "Something For Everybody," their market tested, fan voted and 80% focus group approved first disc in two decades. Given the state of the world and the state of the musical art, it sounds like they haven't aged a day.

From the pomp blare that blows open "Fresh" to the sythed-shouted call to arms of "March On," this is the irony drenched and jittery synth-rock these guys all but perfected in the 70's and 80's. There's even a snotty political broadside via the title track. And as they say on "Later Is Now," eventually everyone gets it right. The future really has caught up to Devo. There's plenty of humor, snark (both at once in "Don't Shoot, I'm a Man") and irresistible dance beats, even if you think you've heard it all before.

Well, you have. As they call their publishing "Recombinant Music;" you'll still dig it. At the same time, there's one song here that marks a high-water mark for Devo. "No Place Like Home" is, of all things, a piano ballad at its heart. Not just a piano ballad, but an honest to spud-pete "Save The World" song. While "Beautiful World" and "Freedom of Choice" were topical in a more underhanded way, "No Place Like Home" goes straight for the jugular, arguing that the pure devolution's endgame is extinction. It's also the song I heard didn't make the Song Study cut, but the band put it on the disc anyway. Pretty potent stuff, but the irony of all ironies is that Devo has grown up. "Something For Everybody" may have a few duds ("Cameo" is my pick for most replaceable song), yet I am still in awe that this album is as strikingly good as it turned out. "On with the show," the bellow at the close of "March On." And I couldn't agree more.

    

Old Traditions are New Again

4 Out of 5 Stars

The long awaited reissue and remaster of Devo's 1981 "New Traditionalists" is well worth the wait. I've had this CD in three different forms now; an early 90's Japanese import, stolen from me and replaced by the Infinite Zero version, and finally, this. I had also read the saga of the disintegrating master-tape a long time back, but this version is the best "New Traditionalists" has ever sounded. More punch, thicker bass and bottom, much better definition.

There's also the fact that Devo was on a creative roll at the time. They'd just had a major hit with "Freedom Of Choice," had done major TV shows and concerts, and this was meant to be the album that kept that momentum going forward, moving ahead. New Traditionalists" found DEVO in that precarious state. Their arty irony and brainy pop smarts had made them a flavor of the moment and suddenly the whole world was chanting "are we not men?" It both emboldened them and deepened their cynicism.

"Through Being Cool" rallied the alienated to rise against the ninnies and the twits at the same time "Beautiful World" wearily declared that it might have been a beautiful world for you, but "it's not for me." After all, how could you rail against the lemming/jock mentality when they were the ones donning energy domes at the football games and singing "Whip It" at corporate synergy rallies? But having been touched by the gold finger of hit making, DEVO did their best to fill an album with enthusiastic pogo anthems about their favorite topics, love sex and the willful decline of the human condition. "Jerking Back and Forth" and "Love Without Anger" are typical visions of human relationships ala DEVO. (The stop motion doll video for "L.W.A." is among the band's best.) "Going Under" had them tinkering with their sound a little.

While it charted about the same as its predecessor, none of the singles performed as did "Whip It" and the record was considered a commercial disappointment. (Oddly enough, "Working In a Coal Mine" came from the movie "Heavy Metal" and was inserted as a single into original album pressings, was a bonus track on the Infinite CD, and is left off here. Also missing, the "Devo Saves The Children" poster art.) The bonus tracks are nothing much to speak of, other than they show what molds "Super Thing," "That's Good" and "Patterns" were cast from. What I am really hoping for now is the ultimate remasters on the remaining Devo albums, even "Smooth Noodle Maps."

My Amazon Reviews: Devo "Duty Now For The Future (Re-issue)"

The Future Already Happened.
5 Out of 5 Stars

DEVO caught a minor case of the sophomore slump after their brilliant debut. "Duty Now For The Future" is a really, really good album that came after a perfect one, and it does shrivel in comparison. The DEVO eyes had turned from the sound of things falling apart to the machinery that made it go. Having used up most of their "conceptual" songs for the debut, we were served up musings on love work and death. "Swelling Itching Brain" and "The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise" are a pair DEVO hall of famers.

This is also the home of one of DEVO's best statement-of-purpose songs, the concert fave "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA." Declaring themselves to be "suburban robots to monitor reality," DEVO make the claim that they are here to protect both man and mutant, only to discover that Mr. DNA deems them fit to "sacrifice themselves so many others may live!" It also rocks harder than anything else DEVO ever recorded for the first part of their career. After this, the slick success of "Whip It" kind of tamed them...if you ever considered DEVO tamable.

And there's something else. I had always been annoyed by the production of the original album, and wondered why the band and producer Ken Scott chose to leave the album in a flat, murky sounding final mix. This re-issue corrects that in a serious way. While there are no indications that the disc was remixed, everything sounds sharper and more distinct. It's raised my original rating of "Duty Now..." to five stars because frankly, this sounds utterly new and exciting all over again.  

New Job, New Devo

In the past few weeks, I interviewed for a job to commercial voice overs. They called this week to offer me the position and I accepted. It is a significant increase in pay for me, plus benefits. I will be adding my vocal talents to a staff that creates online advertisements for YellAds (the Internet division of Yellowbook) at their King Of Prussia location (actually, Gulph Mills). I start a week from Monday.

The only drawback? It's an overnight (11:30 PM to 7:30 AM) shift.

Joel finished his Penn State classes tonight and is officially a grad-ee-ate! He officially joins the segment of the family clan as a Nittany Lion with a brand new Masters degree. We will be going out Saturday for an official New Job/New Degree ribs dinner.

Even more exciting? There's a new Devo single in advance of their coming album "Something for Everyone." As a dedicated Devo-tee, I can't wait for the whole thing.