Devo - Oh No It's Devo
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Free Music Notes for Oh No It's Devo
Free Music Review: Oh, yes! It's Devo
Hit: 4 Stars
Like some other reviewers have mentioned, I'm surprised at the nay-saying I'm hearing about this album lately. "This was the beginning of the end of Devo" and other such horse crap. I'd been into Devo since their first SNL appearance (late 1978/early '79?) and I don't recall this album having anything to do with any sort of decline or downfall. I know it never really qualified as a "hit" album per se, but I recall it being very well received by the fanbase, which by this time (late 1982) had boiled down a bit; it had been a couple of years since Whip It ruled the airwaves, and many Jonee-cum-lately fans had moved on to greener pastures. Maybe Oh No wasn't exactly the band at their peak, but it's an excellent album. As I recall, Devo referred to it as their "evil clown period". I sort of consider it to be part of an unofficial "Devo Phase II" trilogy that began in 1980 with Freedom of Choice, continued with New Traditionalists in 1981, and ended with this. It was the follwing album, 1984's Shout, that made it clear that Devo had run out of juice and was no longer vital. I'm loving their new comeback album and all, but I would argue that this was Devo's last truly great classic album. I could be mistaken, but I often hear hints of this record in a good bit of techno, at least up to the mid-1990s. I don't mean actual samples, just a general influence. In any case, make no mistake: Oh No It's Devo is quintessential and a must-own for even the most casual spud.Free Music Review: a bit slight, but a lot of fun
Hit: 4 Stars
After the (for the most part) fan favorite "New Traditionalists," Devo went straight ahead into synth pop territory and eliminated any traces of the angsty/quirky new wave guitar stuff. This created a rather divided fan base from this album on -- some like the synths, others want to bludgeon them with a sledgehammer.
I lean more towards loving it. "Oh, No! It's Devo" is fun and inventive synth pop, but on the whole a bit underwhelming.
The first listen completely perplexed me. "Peek-A-Boo!" was an instant plus. "Speed Racer" and "Big Mess" were extremely entertaining. But the rest seemed like a bad Cars imitation.
After a couple more listens, though, I grew to really love this thing. Every song except for the last couple are compelling in a off beat way, even the vaguely Car-sy "Out of Sync."
It also has the coolest beginning to any Devo record, ever. "Hello/this is/De-vo/we would like/to say/things go/both ways/new ideas/stupid moves/nightmares/or dreams come true" etc etc. The general recommendation to "give yourself a break" in opener "Time Out For Fun" is really quite nice and friendly, albeit in an odd way.
While not as good as "Duty Now" or "Freedom of Choice," "Oh, No! It's Devo" is easily their most charming album.
Free Music Review: DEVO did it again... but
Hit: 4 Stars
First and foremost: I LOVE THIS ALBUM... although is not as good as "New Traditionalist". DEVO went straight into mainstream pop without even notice it. This album is filled with very good songs like "Time Out for Fun", "Out of Sinc" and "Patterns", but one must wonder what went on their heads when they created such blunders like "Speed Racer" or "Explosions". However, this is an album for, well... TIME OUT FOR FUN, so don't waste your time analizing it. Buy this album ASAP if you like 80s pop.Free Music Review: FLYIN' POTATOS!
Hit: 3 Stars
Oh no, it's a lack of ideas! Unfortunately, DEVO, who had already proven they were crazy for the latest gizmo many times over, used on their 5th album that detracted from their strengths. Just about every song here is dependent on pitch control voice manipulation, which made all the vocals sound like they were being sung by Mark Mothersbaugh's helium eating twin. It also didn't help that producer Roy Thomas Baker forces the edges off the band's sound. The synths here sound slavishly of the moment, as opposed to leading the movement.
Those are the bad patches. The good stuff is still here. "Peek-a-boo!" is willfully creepy in much the same way "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA" from "Duty Now For The Future" was, and "That's Good" should have been a dance floor smash (and if you are old enough to remember the TV show "Square Pegs," they played it at the high school dance!). "Speed Racer" does benefit from its quirky time signature, and finally, "Patterns" gives us another insightful glimpse at the theories of De-evolution.
Also of note are "Big Mess" and "I Desire." Both were written after the assassination attempt on President Reagan and the eventual discovery that the assassin was doing it to impress Jodie Foster. It inspired the immortal line (from "I Desire") "A smile I might bring you is more important than world peace." Now THAT'S truly Devo!
Free Music Review: be warned
Hit: 3 Stars
These devo reissues are bland , no inner artwork to speak of and missing all the bonus tracks that the infinate zero issues had . Please Mr. Henry Rollins bring back the goods . Infinate zero did a great job and these just dont live up .