Devo - New Traditionalists
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Free Music Notes for New Traditionalists
Free Music Review: What Am I Doing With a Devo Album!?!
Hit: 4 Stars
I must confess that I am not a fan of New Wave. I can certainly "stomach"...and in some cases really enjoy certain bands from the genre such as The Cars, Talking Heads and The Fixx, but I absolutely adore "New Traditionalists". I actually "unshelved" this CD recently after many years of not listening to it...and it brought it all back for me and prompted me to write the one and only review I'll likely write for a New Wave release. It also got me wondering exactly how (and why) I ended up with this recording---- usually I can remember who, how and where I was "turned-on" to a new artist or band...but for the life of me, I can't remember how "NT" found its way into my collection? I don't own any other Devo albums, and probably never will---- I grew up with Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and a small portion of Pop Rock and Singer/Songwriter music....so I KNOW I didn't purchase this (besides, the mention of a band like Devo would have gotten me laughed right out of the Rock/Metal band I was playing in at the time I "aquired" this album). Anyway...enough of my ramblings. Without going into individual songs, I can say that I really enjoy every track on the original release....though I can do without the extra tracks here on the remastered CD. If pressed to name favorites, I would pick "Pity You", "Going Under", "Through Being Cool", "LWA" and "Beautiful World". Other reviews here mention how the band was trying to "say" something within the individual songs on "NT"---- I guess I can see (hear) that, however, if I want a listening experience with a "message" and social commentary, I'm not going to grab for this to get that "fix". On the other hand, if I'm in the mood for some cool, quirky and fun music that doesn't take too much "brain power" to enjoy, this exceptional release is always on 'stand-by' for me. If your looking for an 'initiation' into this band, I would (and can only) recommend looking no further than "New Traditionalists....4.5 starsFree Music Review: Eliminate the ninnies and the twits
Hit: 4 Stars
New Traditionalists" found DEVO in a precarious state. Their arty irony and brainy pop smarts had made them a flavor of the moment via the "F.O.C." hit single and video, 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, and "Working In A Coal Mine" was given the DEVO oldie treatment. Sonically, this is probably the band's best next to what Eno gave their debut. All in all, a solid album.
Free Music Review: Best Devo record!
Hit: 4 Stars
I had always thought of Devo as a one note novelty act that couldn't POSSIBLY have any artistic merit or worthwhile material beyond Whip It. Boy was I wrong. After discovering their new album Something For Everybody, I quickly backtracked to their original material and first in line was New Traditionalists. I was pleasantly surprised at how great this album is and also at how my view of this "joke" band had changed. Just got around to actually purchasing this today and it was worth every penny. "Through Being Cool", "Jerkin' Back N' Forth" and "Beautiful World" are all classics that can be found on their Hits collection, but I implore you to pick up this album as a whole. It flows very nicely and includes some of their best album tracks as well ("Going Under", "Love Without Anger", "Pity You"). So next time someone tries to write Devo off as a non serious group, prove them wrong by popping this one in.Free Music Review: The Spud Boy's Fourth Album
Hit: 4 Stars
Really, this is where the Spud's edginess ends. A very solid CD by the boys from Ohio. Some great videos came off this CD as well (Beautiful World, Love Without Anger).
The CD sounds great. If you're a fan of DEVO this is an album you have to have. After this the decline begain (though, there were still bright spots).
Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
Free Music Review: A good album but doesn't stand out very well
Hit: 3 Stars
While this album has some definitely great tracks, I feel it overall is a bit aimless. The music gets a bit monotonous, and the lyrical content isn't as clever as before or after.
A few tracks are still some of my favorites in the DEVO studio release catalogue, like Through Being Cool and Race of Doom, but I feel for the most part that the tracks that were not released as singles or for other promotional advances are pretty dull, which really weighs the album down, not to mention it's their shortest studio album, I think, with the exception of the obscure 'Be Stiff' album.
The biggest thing that bothers me about this one though is how DEVO seem more interested in sex than self-induced idiocy for which they are best known. Lyrically this album is unfocused, and while that's usually pretty okay for most musicians (let's face it, music is the biggest priority in music, not words) but DEVO has always been an intelligent post-modern band, but some of these songs make them feel pretty out-dated and tacky.
The three extra tracks on this edition are all pretty interesting, and in my opinion would've really helped the album along had they been part of it originally, but at least now we can hear them.
And even while I consider this DEVO album one of my least favorites, it's still really good (I just can't get into most of it), but the best of this album can be found on their Greatest Hits and Misses so if you have/want those probably don't bother with this unless you really love DEVO.
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