Devo - Q: Are We Not Men
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Free Music Notes for Q: Are We Not Men
Free Music Review: Are We Not Brilliant?
Hit: 5 Stars
Devo stormed onto the music scene with their 1978 debut; the CD starts perfectly with the "yeah yeah yeah yeah" rumble of "Uncontrollable Urge." They build on this auspicious beginning with their remake of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," which always sounds to me as though the music consists solely of a synthesizer backed with garage tools being banged together. I love the irony of these rather contained and arty "rockers" opening their debut CD with two such completely hedonistic songs.
Some of the songs are peculiar - including "Space Junk" and its protagonist, Sally, who is always being hit with, well, space junk. A few songs might also be a little offensive in this age of political correctness, especially "Mongoloid" and "Sloppy (I Say My Baby Getting'); however, the lyrics are so absurd that it's clear that they shouldn't be taken seriously. The masterpiece here, arguably, is "Jocko Homo" - which contains the unforgettable chorus for which this CD was named - Are we not men? We are Devo! The group even calls themselves pinheads in this song.
Devo has always been uncategorizable. Are they punk? Are they new wave? Are they rock? Nowadays of course, a number of bands successfully blend musical styles (e.g., Flaming Lips), so it's not as revolutionary. However, I can only imagine what people thought of this CD in 1978. I was only 8 when this CD was released, and other than "Whip It," I wasn't very familiar with their work until recently. I bought this CD about a year ago because I was impressed by Mark Mothersbaugh's film score work, including the delightfully whimsical "Rushmore." Needless to say, I think this CD is remarkable, and I plan on buying more Devo music. Many people are also apparently still discovering this defunct group, as this CD didn't go gold until 2001. It's about time!
Free Music Review: absolute perfection
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought this album with a friend one day, in one of those huge corporate electronics stores. I picked it up immedietely, having heard the greatness of "Jocko Homo" and "Satisfaction" before. My friend looked at the album in my hands, and said the following thing:"Hah, they had that song 'Whip It,' didn't they?" Immediately afterwards he rolled his eyes. Hmph.
Why Devo is so dismissed as an eighties novelty band is lost on me. Heck, I even like "Whip It" for it's musical qualities. But would you catch me saying that to anyone anymore? No way. I'd get the same response every time.
Sad that those idiots will never listen to this amazing, one-of-a-kind album. "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!" is musically flawless, a combonation of the aggressive post-punk feel with a little (but thankfully, not too much) new wave mixed in. The result is pleasing to the ears and very danceable. Just my kind of music.
I love every single song on this album; I fear that if I began to name off my favorites, I'd list the whole album.
So, I'll just list my top favorites as of right now: there's the wonderful, sort of creepy masterpiece "Shrivel Up," a song with a catchy melody (the kind that will stick in your head for a long time) and odd, kooky lyrics. There's also the near-instrumental "Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy," featuring almost two and a half minutes of nothing but amazing music (with a piano thrown in for good measure). "Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')" has one of the weirdest and catchiest choruses anywhere.
Oh, if only I had the time to name of the merits of each song on here. Seriously, every single song counts. You'll be liking "Come Back Jonee" as much as the classic "Jocko Homo." Although it may take a couple listens to truly get into the vibe of this album, it's well worth it.
Free Music Review: High school subversives ...
Hit: 5 Stars
This album was released when I was in my final year of high school, and became an instant cult hit among our (all-boy) class.
Many of us felt we could identify with the lyrics of "Mongoloid" as we thought about our post school lives ("... and he brought home the bacon, as though no-one knew ...").
"Jocko Homo" was anthemic enough to be shouted out at our end of high school barbeque, and we felt terribly subversive sitting in the exam hall for our final exams chanting under our collective breaths "we are not men, we must be pins, we are not men, we must be pins ..."
As I grew older and Devo became more commercially acceptable, I felt they sold out the original ideas behind this album. "Freedom of Choice" was about the last decent album, with "New Traditionalists" being a big disappointment. I stopped listening to Devo and cringed every time during the 80's that one of their later hits was played on radio or a video show.
So, with some trepidation, I pulled this record (that's right kiddies, still got the vinyl) out the other day and played it. This album has not lost any of the edge that it had, and still spoke to me in ways that later albums do not.
It's not polished, and some tracks are better than others, but the energy and intent to get you to think about who you are and what you do by poking fun at yourself and the world around you is still very tangible.
This should be prescribed listening for all adolescent boys (and middle-aged men).
Free Music Review: The Truth About DE-EVOLUTION
Hit: 5 Stars
1978 was the height of the disco craze, with millions of Americans shaking their respective bootey's to such homogenized drivel as "Disco Duck." But alas, out of Akron OH came five Kent State neo-nerd types who with this one album basically called the bluff of a popular culture that was being force-fed to millions of unsuspecting spuds everywhere. Devo introduced "The sound of things falling apart," or devolution as their satiric theory as to why our "culture" seemed to be regressing backwards.With incredible production by Brian Eno, Q: Are We Not Men/A: We Are Devo! provides a uniquely clever look at popular culture via 1978's crass commercialism that truly doesn't take itself too seriously.
With the tonge in cheek sentimentalism of "Come Back Jonie," to the over the top outrage of "Gut Feeling/Slap 'Yo Mammy," Devo rocks with a hypnotic urgency that made the New Wave movement so much fun. The listener felt that he/she was privy to someting that not everyone else new about. Also includeded is Devo's interpetation of The Stones' classic,"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," and of course their unofficial theme song "Jocko Homo." But what makes this CD so timeless is that Devo could rock! The runaway punk of "Uncontrolable Urge" and the energy-chocked guitar chaos of "Too Much Parinoia," make this stand up even two decades later. This album was more than a clever concept, it delivers the goods.
Free Music Review: The Truth About DE-EVOLUTION
Hit: 5 Stars
1978 was the height of the disco craze, with millions of Americans shaking their respective bootey's to such homogenized drivel as "Disco Duck." But alas, out of Akron OH came five Kent State neo-nerd types who with this one album basically called the bluff of a popular culture that was being force-fed to millions of unsuspecting spuds everywhere. Devo introduced "The sound of things falling apart," or devolution as their satiric theory as to why our "culture" seemed to be regressing backwards.With incredible production by Brian Eno, Q: Are We Not Men/A: We Are Devo! provides a uniquely clever look at popular culture via 1978's crass commercialism that truly doesn't take itself too seriously.
With the tonge in cheek sentimentalism of "Come Back Jonie," to the over the top outrage of "Gut Feeling/Slap 'Yo Mammy," Devo rocks with a hypnotic urgency that made the New Wave movement so much fun. The listener felt that he/she was privy to someting that not everyone else new about. Also includeded is Devo's interpetation of The Stones' classic,"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," and of course their unofficial theme song "Jocko Homo." But what makes this CD so timeless is that Devo could rock! The runaway punk of "Uncontrolable Urge" and the energy-chocked guitar chaos of "Too Much Parinoia," make this stand up even two decades later. This album was more than a clever concept, it delivers the goods.