Holy akron, new album from MUTHA-EFFING DEVO – plus reality show?
DEVO tour poster
I had seen and participated in DEVO’s “vote-for-the-songs-you-want-on-the-new-album” thing, but somehow the actual release slipped by me. Well, after a 20-year break, DEVO’s new album: “Something For Everybody” is out. In DEVO fashion, this comes along with a new look (nice. powder blue is the new red apparently.) and an extension of the De-evolutionary philosophy.
As part of the pitch and concept for the album, there’s a “reality series” of videos – which are most likely completely fake, but brilliant nonetheless. This is DEVO for 2010 all right. (videos at the bottom of this post)
All that’s well and good, but I know what you’re wondering: Is the album terrible? Answer: No. Is it as amazing as “Hardcore DEVO” or “Are We Not Men?” or “Duty Now”? Answer: Also No. This album falls squarely in with the mid-period DEVO stuff: “New Traditionalists” and the “Whip It” era. I think it’s way better than those last couple of DEVO albums. The songs are snappy and clever, loaded with trademark DEVO sounds and beats. In fact, I’d swear several songs sample old DEVO songs. Things take a bit of a turn for the lame at the end of the album with a kinda-ballad and a last track that sounds more like something a DEVO knock-off band would write. Still, it’s not enough to ruin things for me.
DEVO "Something for Everybody"
So this is “Something For Everybody,” the “88% focus-group approved” album that is designed – at least within the semi-fictional DEVO-world – to bring DEVO into mainstream America. I am totally enjoying the concept and really nice art direction (check out the perfect album cover) which is 100% in keeping with the DEVO we know and love, although I have no doubt the stated intention will fail miserably. But they may have succeeded at doing something that seemed even less likely: making a totally decent new DEVO record.
I recommend checking out their official website, http://www.clubdevo.com for lots of fun stuff.
Oh yeah, and they’re on tour too. Dates here: http://www.clubdevo.com/tour/
