Is Devo underknown these days (beyond Whip It)?

Question

I was just listening to Q: Are we not men A: We are Devo a couple days ago and I got to thinking. Are Devo kind of a lost act beyond Whip It and maybe Girl You Want? Kind of like I wonder if the Talking Heads are still relevant only for the hits or if people, particularly younger people still know how awesome they are.

Any thoughts?

BQ: Favorite non single by Devo and the Talking Heads.

Thanks, and Happy Holidays

Answer 1

Hey Prof.

Happy Holidays to you too



very underknown and misunderstood.

Their first three albums are some of the best of New Wave. And the robotic, plastic aesthetic mixed incredibly well with an intellectually deep, thought provoking philosophy.



The fact that they've become a one-hit wonder joke is sad. They had a very interesting philosophy - the de-evolution of man, our regression from enlightenment and intellectualism toward consumerism and herd mentality. A great band that has been sadly relegated to "Whip It" references.



Sidenote:

I love Mark Mothersbaugh's work on Wes Anderson movies. Lightning Strike Rescue Op is one of my all-around favorite songs. He's a phenomenal musician.

Answer 2

Man, Devo brings back so many good memories for me! I like a lot of the Talking Heads as well.



From what I read in the R&P Q & A, lots of younger people listen to some awesome, older music. It is a great thing to see 16 year olds naming the Beatles and Led Zeppelin as their faves. Gives me hope for the next generations!



BQ: Freedom of Choice or Snowball by Devo

And She Was by the Talking Heads (I know it's a single but it's still my fave...)



I thought I had recently read something about Devo in Rolling Stone. I got this info on Wikipedia:



Devo continues to tour. The group has confirmed tour dates in the United States, Japan, Australia, France, and Spain for the summer of 2008. They also remixed a song by Datarock, "Computer Camp", which can be heard on the band's MySpace page. Datarock routinely cites Devo as an influence. 2008 also saw a Japan exclusive box set containing the band's first six albums, This is the Devo Box. On October 17, 2008, Devo performed a special concert at the Akron Civic Theater, their first in Akron since 1978, to promote Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. They were joined at the concert by fellow Akron-area musicians The Black Keys and Chrissie Hynde.[11]



In recent interviews, Devo has confirmed that they will be completing their new album. [12] The Studio Notes section of the November 27 issue of Rolling Stone stated that "Devo are working on their first album of new material since 1990's Smooth Noodle Maps. 'We have about 17 songs we're testing out," says frontman Mark Mothersbaugh. 'We've already been contacted by 20 producers - including Snoop Dogg and Fatboy Slim.'" No release date has been confirmed.

Answer 3

Hi Prof, Happy Holidays to You too Man.



I must confess I have known about Devo's existence since around 1983 but Whip It is the only song of theirs I've ever heard. Am I missing the boat here?



And much as I do like the Talking Heads I've never really investigated them beyond their radio work either, I do like Nothing But Flowers really well however.

Answer 4

I definitely think so. They're treated as almost a comical, new wave one hit wonder band (thanks, VH1). They were much more than that. I can't claim to know anything beyond Q: Are We Not Men and "Whip It," but even so, I feel that they deserve a great deal of respect.



Thanks for the acknowledgment, by the way.



BQ:

Devo: Sloppy.

Talking Heads: The Book I Read

Answer 5

i think so... or at least they arent talked about enough on here. I love devo, especially Q: are we not men, A: we are devo, it is such a raw powerful album. duty now for the future, new traditionalists, and freedom of choice are great too, after that they start to get a bit new wave cheesey. also i should say that i like mark mothersbaugh's solo work. particularly the interludes he did for royal tennembaums.



BA: uncontrollable urge

Answer 6

There were really only a handful of great (or even good) new wave bands, and Devo was certainly one of them. Their cover of "Satisfaction" is probably one of the top 10 rock covers of all time. Baby-baby-baby-baby-baby. . . well you can't really type it, but they way they turn it into this mechanical explosion is phenomenal.

Answer 7

the younger people have probably heard mark mothersbaugh's music without realising it....



thanks, rugrats!



and 'gut feeling' got a bit of exposure with 'the life aquatic' a few years back....



ma: wiggly world



edit:

what's round at the ends, and high in the middle?

Answer 8

Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini is my fav. YES!