Monday, January 20, 2014

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

New wave band, Devo may be described by some as bizarre, but it is no secret that they helped to define American new wave music. Devo was, at the time that this album came out, comprised of Bob Casale on rhythm guitar, Gerald Casale on bass and vocals, Bob Mothersbaugh on lead guitar, Mark Mothersbaugh on keyboards and vocals, and Alan Myers on drums. 

The record starts off with "Uncontrollable Urge", the fast upbeat track that every new wave band strived to make, but could not. The song starts with guitar and quickly layers the guitar and bass with the vocals following soon after. The verses are upbeat and all over the place, while the choruses are slowed down and melodic. This formula of loud verse, soft chorus, loud verse would be the formula used on many Devo sounds throughout the years. 

Another standout track on the record is the second track, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. The song is a Rolling Stones cover, but has hardly sounds like it with Devo's odd but brilliant spin on it. The song includes synthesizers, which makes it drastically different from The Rolling Stones' original version.

This record seemed bizarre and perplexed many people, but proved to be as influential as it is brilliant.


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