deevolutionisreal

[deevolutionisreal]

Wiggly World

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 4 - Wiggly World

Chris: Alright, we're getting into a wiggly world in 3, 2, 1, now!

Jon: Starts right off with a hopping-in-place tone.

Chris: Yeah, spring noises.

Jon: All this buildup for that sick riff.

Chris: Guitar tone that almost sounds like Q&A.

Jon: Kind of an inverted Satisfaction.

Chris: Yeah, right in the pocket.

Jon: Yeah. Another didactic song outlining their beliefs.

Chris: Yeah. "The fittest shall survive."

Jon: But the unfit may live. Modern life does not invoke Darwin's laws. So do as you like.

Chris: Lol yep, there you go. It's never straight up and down.

Jon: I also love when they do the "let's all try out this line."

Chris: That's a big Devo buzz-phrase, I feel.

Jon: Definitely.

Chris: The chorus is so damn fun.

Jon: Yeah this song is fun as hell / always was for me as a child before I ever thought about it.

Chris: Yeah, super danceable, especially for something that has this many stop/starts. But it has a linear build still somehow.

Jon: Pogo-able for all the punks and the skids.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: Speaking of which they are all about brevity still. Get in, get out.

Chris: Oh yeah. That screechy sound in the background, too.

Jon: Slay a bit, don't overstay your welcome.

Chris: All these songs are under 3 minutes so far.

Jon: Which itself feels like an Eno-ish restriction. A less than oblique strategy.

Chris: Yeah, it's like they took what they wanted and moved on to a new sound. Did they have a famous producer on this record? Because the sound layers are amazing. Bucking pop song structures while still being poppy.

Jon: That's a good question. I wanna say they self-produced? But I'm not sure. Ken Scott, I guess.

Chris: Yeah just saw that. Except for Secret Agent Man. Which was self produced.

Jon: Yeah. Ken Scott also worked with Bowie, assisted on Beatles records. Shit man.

Chris: Oh damn. Well, Ken Scott is no slouch, then.

Jon: Oh man, he did the Missing Persons record. That explains a lot. I love that one. Haha. Here's to you, Ken.

Chris: I get why Brian Eno produced Devo, and I know Q&A was a hit, but I'm still impressed Devo bagged Ken Scott for this. Despite not knowing who Ken Scott was 3 minutes ago.

Jon:

"Wow... Ken Scott!" --you.

Chris: Haha.

Jon: But yeah this is kinda wild, looking at the resume.

Chris: Sounds damn great. I think wiggly world blends weird synth and traditional guitar pop more than the previous songs.

Jon: Yeah, it feels the most linked to the last album. The three before it feels very New.

Chris: Right, well the 2 instrumentals are obvious. There weren't any on Q&A. Plus being all/mostly all synth.

Jon: Yeah.

Chris: Clockout the tone is a bit different. But wiggly world the guitar tone is similar to Q&A. But at the same time has more layers of weird other synth stuff. That does not sound like Q&A to my ear. And somehow it works.

Jon: Yeah absolutely! That checks out. The album, so far, feels unimpeachable.

Chris: Yep. That fact that this weird mix of things works blows me away. Chris:** Like, there are so many opportunities for this to suck.

Jon: Yeah it's definitely impressive / also great that they managed to sell records & stay on a major.

Chris: Yeah! I think that's a bit of the times and a bit of them. Like, they had the goods to stay on a major. But also new wave was a thing that they were able to ride. Even tho I don't think of Devo in the same universe as The Knack. I think music listeners at the time did lump them together, at least in terms of, "hey, I don't want to listen to my older brother's music, and punk is dead, so what can I call my own?"

Jon: Yeah they were shape shifters of a sort.

Chris: I also realize I am imparting thoughts on a whole generation I am not part of, so grain of salt. Yeah, Devo are shape shifters, but shape shifters that tell you exactly who they are.

Jon: True. Charlatans who are very up front about it.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Timing X

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 3 - Timing X

Chris: Alright, we are talking Timing X in 3, 2, 1, now!

Jon: Second badass instrumental of the album. Front loaded.

Chris: Lol yeah. Fun little synth run.

Jon: Also some time signature fuckery.

Chris: Then the bass.

Jon: Reminiscent of prog.

Chris: Yeah. Tone sounds the same as anthem. But it's got more energy.

Jon: True. With more pep.

Chris: More build.

Jon: Haha.

Jon: More drums, too.

Chris: And space synths at the end. It really gets big at the end.

Jon: And an abrupt ending setting up Wiggly World.

Chris: Yep!

Jon: Yeah the little lasers, haha.

Chris: More links!

Jon: PEW PEW.

Chris: I really love this tune.

Jon: This song was a fave of mine from the beginning, yeah.

Chris: I always wanted it to keep going.

Jon: I almost wish there were more weird little 1:15-ish instrumentals on their records.

Chris: But part of the appeal is they leave you wanting more I think.

Jon: Valid.

Chris: Yeah I think that would be really good to have these little links. These short instrumentals. Things you couldn't sustain for a whole song.

Jon: It's almost like a little "hey we'll be right back after this commercial sting."

Chris: Right.

Jon: The Monkees recorded those when the reruns were airing in the 70s. Little jingles. Not to shoehorn in another band.

Chris: I actually think this song is catchy enough to be a full song, but at a minute plus you get this tight arc.

Chris: Oh whoa.

Jon: And a laid back alternate one:

Jon: But anyway haha. RIP Peter Tork. Much love.

Chris: Yeah, man. That one's still fresh.

Jon: But yeah Timing X feels like a cool Saturday morning cartoon thing, to me.

Chris: Yeah. I'd watch the cartoon of this theme. Begs for another mash up, haha. I don't have a strong idea for it though, so I'm not volunteering for this one.

Jon: Considering the things that DID have cartoon tie-ins, it's silly that Devo never had a shot at that. Lookin' at you toxic avenger.

Chris: Wait, really?

Jon: That movie was all tits and blind jokes.

Chris: That was a cartoon?

Chris: Whoaaaa. It's like a full cartoon. Troma made this thing?

Jon: Yeah, it's bizarre. I think there was even a video game.

Chris: Holy crap. What a very specific time.

Jon: Haha right??

Chris: I bet if Devo hit in the late 80s/early 90s they would have a cartoon and a cereal. Action figures, the whole thing.

Jon: Well they did eventually have action figures but that was kinda post-nerd-chic boom. Doesn't count.

Chris: Yeah, I mean marketed to kids.

Jon: We need Kenner reusing Han Solo to be Bob1.

Chris: Haha. That's right.

Jon: Anyway now that I've linked a ton of unrelated shit: Timing X slays, I love it.

Chris: Yeah it's great. And it sets up Wiggly World.

Jon: Very well.

Chris: Keeping their link streak.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Clockout

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 2 - Clockout

Chris: Alright, let's Clockout in 3, 2, 1, now! Sick drums.

Jon: Full-on surf rock mode.

Chris: That stuttering snare and the beefy bass kick you right in.

Jon: Yeah it's a good mix.

Jon: I also like the filter on the drums.

Chris: Yeah it's really fun, musically. "All the secretaries down on their knees." Still horny.

Jon: Oh always. "My mammy" feels racist too.

Chris: Ooph, didn't catch that.

Jon: A+ all around for discomfort.

Chris: Thematically it ties into Devo Corporate Anthem. It's like you treat the cooperation with all the reverence of royalty, then you go into Clockout with all it's office depravity.

Jon: Oh good call.

Chris: "The future is going to be maintenance free" is a great line.

Jon: Very.

Chris: It sticks in my brain, and I don't really know what it means. And we're out with a slide whistle.

Jon: Very good use of synths on this album. Kinda sparing, often as SFX but not obnoxious.

Chris: Yeah agreed. And disturbing giggles/"Oh no no" In this song the synth is a big part of the hook, but it doesn't stomp the song.

Jon: Yeah. I feel like they let synths metastasize in a bad way by like, Shout.

Chris: Lol yeah.

Jon: But this era is the sweet spot for sure.

Chris: When this album comes out, it didn't do as well as Q&A. People didn't know what to do with it, I think.

Jon: Perhaps. It's a shame, in this guy's opinion. I find it crazy charming.

Chris: Yeah, I really like it. It's been super influential. But you're right about the synth balance. They increased it's place from the previous album. Shifting their tone. Right away you know they are not re-making Q&A.

Jon: Gutsy move, kinda.

Chris: Yeah exactly. In another world, you could totally see them re-making Q&A. I also want to call out Clockout's drumming. Really engaging, and right when you think you know what's happening, theirs a little curve. Keeping you on your toes without yelling, "HEY! I AM THE DRUMER AND I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY!"

Jon: Haha. They've always been about subtle but really impressive drumming, I feel.

Chris: Yeah. Alan is a wizard.

Jon: For sure. RIP.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: Or as the subtitled lady in the whip it video puts it, OH THAT ALAN!!

Chris: Haha, I did not know that.

Jon: Haha it's right at the end.

Chris: Well shit, I'll need to revisit that one.

Jon: Indeed.

Chris: The line about maintenance free. I think I get it now.

Jon: Hit me.

Chris: Because the narrator is afraid the future will be maintenance free. Which is bad for business. But like, seemingly good for everyone else.

Jon: Oh good call. Automation, loss of jobs. Prescient, by that reading.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: And lord knows they'll accept any/all claims of having foreseen things.

Chris: Haha. They're good on that front.

Jon: Jerry is nothing if not a self-congratulating prophet in interviews. Which I love him for.

Chris: That's awesome. I mean, I'd do the same thing in their position.

Jon: Kind of the opposite of Deny Deny Deny.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Devo Corporate Anthem

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 1 - Devo Corporate Anthem

Jon: You ready for some Duty Now?

Chris: Hell yeah! I'm really excited to crack this album.

Jon: Same here. It's a fun one.

Chris: Should we discuss the album in general a bit first?

Jon: Well in highschool I had it on a two-fer CD with New Traditionalists, and it had the weird alternate "Science Guy" imagery on the cover instead of the standard CMYK barcode mess.

Chris: Ohhhhh. Is that the European cover?

Jon: I've always assumed so, but never quite looked into it.

Chris: That's cool. I like that cover.

Jon: But yeah that disc got the most spins from me back then.

Chris: That's awesome. I didn't hear this album until way later. This one fell through the cracks for a long time. And I think I was inspired to go back and listen after you telling me you really liked it as a kid.

Jon: Oh sweet.

Chris: And I felt like, whoa, what is this?

Jon: Yeah it has a distinct energy to it.

Chris: Having listened to Hardcore I can trace more of a line between that and duty, than I can for Q&A, but it has a whole different energy. No more Brian Eno.

Jon: I can see that.

Chris: Less jittery, more…idk.

Jon: Confident but still neurotic as shit.

Chris: I feel like the vibe on this album is really distinct, but I can't describe it well.

Jon: Maybe by the end of this experiment we'll be able to put our fingers on it!

Chris: Alright, then let's get to it!

Jon: Count it off!

Chris: We're getting our mandatory corporate anthem in 3, 2, 1, now! I love this opening.

Jon: This was one of those songs I never knew was a "real" song with a title, cuz it was on the Men Who Make The Music tape as an interlude kinda. Where they just stand in line with wind blowing on them, and salute toward the end.

Jon: Hell yeah. Do we have more to say?

Chris: No I think we covered it.

Chris: It feels like a whacky British comedy making fun of the king.

Jon: Haha, I see it.

Chris: I read on Wikipedia that this is a ode to a movie?

Jon: Oh shit, is it? It definitely feels like an Overture of some sort.

Chris: Rollerball, apparently.

Jon: Oooooh. I haven't seen that (somehow).

Chris: Yeah me neither.

Jon: I do love the notion of a "Corporate Anthem."

Chris: Yeah absolutely. Sets the tone. Is this the first Devo song to be entirely synth? Also, is it entirely synth? Sounds like it to my ear.

Jon: It might be? I think the cymbal crashes are real though.

Chris: Sure. They have some interesting filtering on them, tho. They almost sound static-y.

Jon: True. I'll need to listen closer next time.

Chris: Cool. Continuing our linking conversation from last album, this I think perfectly leads into Clockout.

Jon: Agreed! Kind of a quiet/loud thing. It sets it up nicely. Have you ever seen that clip of a kid playing crash cymbals at a school performance, but he drops one and instead of picking it up, just faces the flag and salutes?

Chris: Ha no I have not seen that.

Chris: Is that kid in a youtube video or was it staged?

Chris: Lolol. Whaaaaat. Is that a rule or something? You drop a cymbal and to honor the flag you salute or something?

Jon: Haha no idea. But it came to mind when listening to something as regal as this song.

Chris: I would love a mashup of these two things.

Jon: Ooooooh shit. Be the change my man.

Chris: Shit, I just signed myself up. Alright, I'll do it, mister!

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Shrivel Up

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 11 - Shrivel Up

Chris: Let's shrivel up in 3. 2. 1. Now!

Jon: Sewer drip noises to start. This is definite end-credits music.

Chris: Yeah, absolutely. With that continuing in the background. There is no other place this song could fit on this album.

Jon: Definitely.

Chris: Has almost carnival sections. Cartoon noises.

Jon: Yeah. haunted carousel vibes.

Chris: But a sombre tone overall.

Jon: Are we to assume the song is about a wasted sperm btw? "Daddy's cap" always meant condom in my head.

Chris: Oh wow, yeah I never put that together.

Jon: POOTY POO POO. This part rules. I take it all back.

Chris: Lol A+ cut from that. Running out of sap.

Jon: I mean from this band, what else can it be. When you're not sure: it's semen.

Chris: Yeah lyrics are def weird family sex.

Jon: That's the rule. The law.

Chris: Totally 100%

Jon: And like that, we're out. Shrieking ghost synths die out.

Chris: It's a god given fact that you're gonna lose your ma.

Jon: As if to say "quick put Side A back on so you don't get all sad and weird."

Chris: Haha.

Jon: I do love these weird, "Truisms spouted at random," songs.

Chris: Yeah it is the total opposite energy as uncontrollable urge.

Jon: 100%

Chris: As strange as it sounds, uncontrollable urge has a sense of optimism compared to this.

Jon: Oh absolutely.

Chris: As a, "Here's a tone to go out on," song, I end up thinking about it a lot more than I'd expect.

Jon: I feel like they kinda err on the side of somber with final tracks.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: Lemme look tho. Red Eye checks out. Planet Earth. Yeah I stand by this. Weirdly resigned songs.

Chris: Yeah, the, "I give up," song.

Jon: I respect it.

Chris: I don't think it's ever a top cut on the album for me. But yeah. Respect.

Jon: Oh I love Red Eye. But yeah.

Chris: They're also not bad songs, and they stick with me a lot. I'm excited to re-listen to these.

Jon: Yeah!

Chris: It's not like it's been a while, but I'm trying to come at it fresh. Listen more intently.

Jon: Yeah, I definitely feel great about this as an exercise. In life and also on a blog.

Chris: Hell yeah! But anyway, that concludes Q&A. Any thoughts on the album as a whole?

Jon: Royalty. More or less. Haha.

Chris: Lol same same. It's so tight. These last two songs are a little less, but honestly who cares? If you listen to one Devo album, I always say this one.

Jon: Oh definitely.

Chris: Not just because it's so good, but because it has the clearest bridge between Devo and regular music.

Jon: Yeah, it's just a solid disc that you can see the average person buying.

Chris: Absolutely. People who also owned talking heads and B-52s and second wave punk records would own this.

Jon: Oh indeed. Anybody inclined toward new wave/ punk / Sire records output.

Chris: Yeah exactly. And lots of the later grunge folks were influenced by Devo as much as Sabbath and The Melvins. Which is interesting. Maybe more in the sense of, "Oh, you can be weird and out-of-band and artsy and still make music."

Jon: Oh definitely. I mean Nirvana covered Turn Around.

Chris: Yep. And Soundgarden covered Girl U Want.

Jon: Oh shit, that's right.

Chris: I think that wraps up Q&A.

Jon: Sounds good to me! Sad to be done with it, but excited to do Duty Now, my fave as a kid.

Chris: Hell yeah! I really like duty now. It kinda blew my mind.

Jon: Yeah I'm a big fan.

Chris: Alright dude, a pleasure as always.

Jon: You too! Take 'er easy.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 10 - Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')

Chris: Alright, let's talk sloppy talk in 3. 2. 1. Go! Faster pace that the EP I think.

Jon: The opening guitar line always reminded me of morse code.

Chris: Obviously way better production.

Jon: Haha yeah.

Chris: Mmmm yeah good call out. That hey hey hey in the background was added.

Jon: I DO appreciate the vocal gymnastics in this song.

Chris: Yeah, I do like that as well, but on the live recording mark didn't pull it off.

Jon: Huge nuts for trying at all though.

Chris: But yeah this song is fun but more simple. Has the same repeating phrase. Back and forth.

Jon: It feels like a few segments or song-ideas just tacked together. Musically anyway.

Chris: Right yeah. Held together with tape feeling.

Jon: False ending, haha. Slash surprise coda.

Chris: Yeah it's also super short. Punk length. And tempo, come to think of it.

Jon: Indeed. surprising amount of silence at the end, setting up Shrivel Up too.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: Usually on this LP they're all about OK NEXT TUNE.

Chris: It doesn't bother me.

Jon: Yeah. This song feels like an outburst. kinda like Too Much Paranoias. Music as OCD.

Chris: Yeah, that tracks. I think it's a statement about shrivel up, which is maybe the most different tonally from the rest of the album? It's this crazy explosion that never fully resolves.

Jon: I also like that it almost implies the "concept" of the album having a boner, and now it's spent. If we're gonna be 12yr-olds about it. And we better be.

Chris: Haha. I think that's the only way to be about it. This boner was sloppily spent. These start-stops are a metaphor about cum spasms.

Jon: Come back jonee was premature ejaculation, sloppy was frustration at this, and shrivel is trying to fall asleep once she's rolled over in disgust.

Chris: It all tracks. So yeah, maybe less stellar than the other tracks so far, but I'm not mad it's on the album.

Jon: Yeah, it still beats a lot of other tunes by far.

Chris: That being said, would you replace it with anything from their previous catelog? I'm kinda thinking of Be-stiff.

Jon: Oh probably. Be Stiff or Social Fools, yeah. Surprised those weren't on the album anyway.

Chris: Yeah, maybe they made a decision about the sequencing and flow?

Jon: I can see that.

Chris: But I think they could have made it work.

Jon: Yeah. If Mongoloid has a place on here.

Chris: Yeah idk. Or at least release them as produced singles.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Come Back Jonee

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 9 - Come Back Jonee

Chris: Alright, we are talking Come back Jonee in 3. 2. 1. Now!

Jon: Let me say that the end of slap your mammy sets this up really well, first off. Whole album, insanely good with transitions.

Chris: Yeah absolutely. Continuing the sequencing streak.

Jon: Also this beat kinda prefigures Whip It.

Chris: Ha yeah you're right.

Jon: Manic western vibes.

Chris: It's got a lot of swing. Very dancable. You bop to this.

Jon: You've seen the video for this one right? The boys going apeshit in cowboy outfits at like, a bowling alley?

Chris: Haha yep. With a big crowd.

Jon: I also love the peppy tone and sad lyrics. like the crashing into a semi part. Also lol @ the datsun namecheck.

Chris: Yeahhhh. The lyrics are a bit of a departure for this album, since they're telling a story.

Jon: True! More narrative, less doctrine.

Chris: Yeah, paint a weird, sad picture, and drop it in.

Jon: For some reason as a teenager I thought they were singing about a (coded) JFK ?

Chris: Haha. That's incredible.

Jon: I don't see many actual reasons for this. But I like it. r/FanTheories.

Chris: But isn't that the core of JFK theories?

Jon: He made her cry / got killed on a roadway. "Her" being "all the ladies, who loved that suave man" Or, Jackie.

Chris: Damn.

Jon: Idk. you can make anything work I guess. If you stretch.

Chris: Stop making me a believer! The ending of this song is so triumphant. You feel like dancing with joy haha.

Jon: Hell yeah. I'm not gonna lie, the last two songs of the album are my least fave for some reason.

Chris: But the lyrics are like, "fuck you, you're dancing at death, you monster"

Jon: After all this straight-up excellence we get what feel like b-sides. Maybe that's to let you down easy. Calm you down before you go back to your life.

Chris: Are you saying that come back jonee is more a b-side, or the two tracks following this one are b-side-y?

Jon: The next two songs.

Chris: Yeah, I'd agree.

Jon: Jonee is Grade A.

Chris: Yeah. Really fun tune that sneaks up on you.

Jon: Absolutely.

Chris: It's like it's waiting for you to pay attention, but doesn't care if you don't.

Jon: Yeah I can see that. I feel like this album makes for surprisingly good background music if you don't have the attention span to focus on it.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: (Maybe we can blame Eno again for that, what with his Ambient music ethos and whatnot)

Chris: Haha yeah good point.

Jon: (or I'm just grasping at straws. grasp grasp)

Chris: But the point is well taken. The album works both in the background and paying attention. Which is not an easy feat.

Jon: Definitely not easy.

Chris: Kind of magic in a bottle.

Jon: Haha I hope our discussions of future albums don't sound so sycophantic.

Chris: Hahaha. Yeah, we're being real devo shills right now.

Jon: What jury would convict us though.

Chris: Exactly! A victimless crime!

Jon: Unimpeachable. Can't impeach this album.

Chris: That you can't.

Jon: It can erase tapes all it wants. Sleep with interns. No impeachment.

Chris: Lolol. Except lets impeach it a little bit on the next two songs.

Jon: Haha yes.

Jon: I feel more flippant than usual today. Blaming caffeine for my hacky tasteless jokes.

Chris: Then drink more coffee!

Jon: Feel free to edit as needed for wokeness.

Chris: I don't think you're crossing any lines. Says the straight white dude.

Jon: I feel like Jerry would tsk-tsk us for even worrying. Gotta get in the no-fucks mindzone for these reviews.

Chris: Haha oh yeah.

Jon: To honor them.

Chris: He'd roll his eyes and show his dick.

Jon: Jesus I TOLD you I saw it once, right? At central park?

Jon: His dick flopped out.

Chris: Yeah! Wtf.

Jon: Okay phew. Just checking. I wasn't even mad. Extremely strong move for post-9/11 america. In 2004 we needed that.

Chris: Yeah, as you told it, it was at a show, and it "wardrobe malfunction"-ed? And he did an, "Oops, silly me," look?

Jon: Yeah, their under-jumpsuit clothes weren't adequate. But I have a feeling Jerry was like, "Welp, guess it's dick time now," once it happened. It was during the jump-up-and-down or jog-in-place choreography bits.

Chris: Right, right.

Jon: My friend Anthony remembers better than me. "It was POINTING," he always exclaims. Dude was in a good place that night.

Chris: Haha. Half chubbing for the crowd.

Jon: I wonder if there was a backstage discussion afterward.

Chris: Lol.

Jon: Mark: "Look... I do the Rugrats music now, man. C'mon."

Chris: Haha. But it could be just as likely that the conversasation after was, "so…pizza?"

Jon: Haha truth. No way was that anywhere near their wildest or raunchiest show. Anyway wanna move on to sloppy?

Chris: Yeah, now that we've covered the ghost of Jerry's dick, let's move on.

Jon: (crosses self) amen.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Gut Feeling / (Slap Your Mammy)

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A We Are Devo! - Track 8 - Gut Feeling / (Slap Your Mammy)

Chris: alright, let's talk Gut Feeling / Slap Your Mammy in 3. 2. 1. Now! The most pop optimistic chord on the album.

Chris: Yeah. Heavy reverb. Duane Eddy shit.

Chris: The drums kick in and I always feel excited. The song is just a pure pop gem.

Jon: Yeah this is another excellent example of how to build up a song bit by bit.

Chris: Absolutely. The organ coming in.

Jon: When the piano shows up it's like oh hey! That guy was here the whole time, how fun.

Chris: Haha yeah. Another layer.

Jon: I don't think I ever parsed that both instruments are there.

Chris: They build slow and deliberate, but nothing feels wasted.

Jon: Yeah.

Chris: Might be the only time we have a piano in Devo?

Jon: Very valid question.

Chris: Little Richard style piano snaps.

Jon: Yeah, lot of early rock n' roll vibes.

Chris: And we ebb into the verse.

Jon: Killer bass line, too.

Chris: Oh the bass is so good.

Jon: I know we don't wanna make this blog just us going "MAN what a good song!" but sometimes…

Chris: Haha yeah it is difficult. This song owns. Very complex but danceable. Which is real hard. This almost gospel music and the lyrics are all "you suck!"

Jon: Haha seriously. I dunno how I feel about it being the "Life Aquatic" song to a lot of people now.

Chris: Yeah that is weird. Those screeching guitars. It's like the song is falling apart.

Jon: Haha yeah.

Chris: And now we slap your mammy.

Jon: And now a mini-rodeo shitkicker jam to set up the cleaner rodeo jam coming up.

Chris: I always felt like this section was like The Ocean (Zeppelin). In that total change that's still related. And out clean.

Jon: Yeah I can see that. Yeah, setting up Jonee perfectly. Again, we jerk off about the sequencing. But good lord.

Chris: Haha. Yeah, it's a hell of a thing to jerk to. That end section of the song is head turning as well, because the beginning you don't know who is being sung about. Who the object of ire is. The default is some ex lover, and the rock n roll/gospel/pop underpinnings put you in that traditional thought.

Jon: Yeah! Also "Mammy" brings up a lot of blackface/Al Jolson imagery, as a word.

Chris: Mmmm, yeah I hadn't thought of that. I was just thinking of the turn as, "it's your mom!" But considering what we heard in the hardcore discs, I wouldn't be surprised.

Jon: Yeah, no. Haha. There's a few levels of discomfort here.

Chris: Yeah, there certainly are.

Jon: Now I'm listening to The Ocean cuz it's been a while.

Chris: It's a good tune. Not to lead the witness.

Jon: Haha yeah. I agree. My first exposure was the Beastie Boys though.

Chris: Oh wow!

Jon: Haha I know right.

Chris: I mean that makes sense. Mine was actual Zep but my childhood was odd and specific.

Jon: True. It took a while to not expect their sampling of it. Time signature wise sepcifically.

Chris: Haha, sure sure. I learned that song on drums at one point.

Jon: Oh sick!

Chris: Yeah that was what was interesting drum-wise. Apparently people couldn't figure out the time signature for a long time. It ended up that it's a combination.

Jon: Yeah.

Chris: The first phrase is in 7/8. Then the second is in 4/4. And finally the ending segment is in 3/4.

Jon: The whole thing is in F⁄U.

Chris: Haha!

Jon: (shreds away on skateboard)

Chris: That is the best mic drop I think this post can get.

Jon: Nice.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Too Much Paranoias

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 7 - Too Much Paranoias

Chris: Okay, let's get into Too Much Paranoias in 3. 2. 1. Now! True to it's name.

Jon: Continuing in the same jerky riff vein. Heavy Hardcore vibes here. Just faster.

Chris: Kicks off side two with a slam of anxiety. I think this is the most "listener hostile" song on the record.

Jon: Haha yes. I wonder if Burger King cared about the jingle borrowing.

Chris: Haha, yeah, I bet they didn't like it. But parody law?

Jon: I love the little deconstruction parts of the song. That one part always feels like it's gonna launch into Purple Haze.

Chris: Ha yeah it does feel like it could go into something else entirely. Just bending notes and heavy riff punctuations.

Jon: This song definitely nails TV loneliness / exhaustion.

Chris: Absolutely. The bass part mimicking stomach distress.

Jon: And another hard stop setting up the next song wonderfully.

Chris: Yeah, just boom. Really short song. Under 2 minutes.

Jon: Power move.

Chris: Sets an even more hard-edged tone for side 2.

Jon: Full frontal attack. But then Gut Feeling is gonna loosen up that impacted colon.

Chris: Building this wild energy with no where to go. Yeah, I think this is one of the best sequencing decisions the band ever made, personally. Starting off this side with the panic, and having the guts to start the side with it.

Jon: Yeah this album is a master class in sequencing. I wish I could come close to this with mix tapes I've made for girls. Maybe less anxious sounding. But you know.

Chris: Haha, yeah. We all wish our romantic mix tapes were better sequenced.

Jon: Amen. At least none of us ever put "I Need a Chick" on them.

Chris: Yeah, that is a relief. Although, I did put Zappa on one once. Not a great move under the best of circumstances.

Jon: Risky but I can see it being acceptable given how much there is to pick from.

Chris: I THINK it was worth an eyebrow raise? In hindsight?

Jon: He had some harmless satires of doo wop. Heh, love songs. Who needs em. (please date me).

Chris: Hahaha. That describes a good chunk of my adolescence.

Jon: Ohh same here. (deep sigh)

Chris: Lol.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Jocko Homo

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 6 - Jocko Homo

Chris: Alright, lets do Jocko Homo in 3. 2. 1. Go!

Jon: Whoa, WAY faster.

Chris: Faster pace! Yep.

Jon: And the synth doots match the key nicely this time. Instead of just FUCK YOU 1-2-3-4.

Chris: Yeah, it's not as dissonant.

Jon: This is surgically tight.

Chris: Yeah it's super crisp. And that back beat snare.

Jon: Yeah the drums are on point all over this record.

Chris: They added the bass snare bass snare in the back. These drums are so cool.

Jon: Yeah it's on par with Satisfaction I'd say. For coolness/jerkiness.

Chris: It remains interesting while just being one hand at a time for a lot of it.

Jon: And as tight as the beginning is, now we get into the longer bit. Sadly without the O-HI-O.

Chris: Yeah, that is sad. But this makes up for it I think.

Jon: But yeah. I can see taking it out to strengthen the "message" maybe.

Chris: With all the weird noise. Taking more time.

Jon: Yeah it's a fun sound scape.

Chris: Building. The rolling drums at the lyrics, like a marching band. Such a great counter point.

Jon: Yeah there's so much shit I never noticed consciously in this part. Just weird pulsating shit.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: I presume we have Eno to thank. Another journalistic catch-all, but fairly. Dude was a beast.

Chris: Yeah Eno did not play around. This whole section feels like a triumphant homecoming, but the lyrics are all about: "We are dumb-dumbs!"

Jon: Haha yes. Another traditional rock song ending here. Even the little drum roll punctuation mark. Badum. The end.

Chris: Lol yeah. The drummer is getting up. End of side one. Intermission.

Jon: Oh is it? I never keep LP sequencing in mind, but it's pretty important. Esp for overwrought discussions like these.

Chris: Oh yeah, gotta keep those details up there for pointless deep dives like this! But yeah it's the end of side one.

Jon: Nice.

Chris: I think this side totally kills it in sequencing. This song is a good statement piece to end on. Has enough meat on the bone to resonate as the last thing you hear before having to flip the record.

Jon: Oh definitely.

Chris: When I first heard this song, it felt almost too rich. Like, there was too much going on for me to fully process it. I would enjoy it but I wouldn't linger.

Jon: I get that. There's a lot of stuff on this album in that vein.

Chris: Yeah. It took me years for me to grow into it. Like, there's that hook that can get you early, but it takes time to age into everything. And I think that's the mark of good art.

Jon: Agreed, it's definitely one of them anyway.

Chris: Yeah, there are others, for sure. I don't mean to make a checklist of quality, lol.

Jon: Haha no I feel ya.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Mongoloid

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 5 - Mongoloid

Chris: We are talking about Mongoloid in 3. 2. 1. Go! Such a recognizable bass line.

Jon: Slower build in this one, I think.

Chris: Yeah they build it more. That creeping synth in the background.

Jon: The rhythm is more interesting, too. Specifically the drum sounds, I mean.

Chris: Yes agreed.

Jon: Stays pretty close to the earlier version though mostly.

Chris: Yeah, it's pretty close. The arrangement is really clean. But this version the instruments are very separated. Might be difference between budgets tho.

Jon: Haha yeah money and producers can mean a lot. The weird toy-sounding noise kinda floating from left to right casually.

Chris: Did the EP version have the two vocal tracks?

Jon: I think so, I remember the slight harmony. Using that term loosely.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: Much cleaner synth part at the end.

Chris: Yeah. And the synth comes in.

Jon: The synthesizer doesn't sound like it's dying. Which maybe is less true to the band.

Chris: This synth almost feels like a car engine to me.

Jon: Oh definitely.

Chris: The mono shifting.

Jon: Kinda like in old racing games.

Chris: Yeah exactly. Has a space-y exit.

Jon: Very much so.

Chris: One of the few songs on this album so far that doesn't end in a hard stop.

Chris: As we've talked about before, problematic lyrics aside, this song rips.

Jon: Indeed. That caveat that comes with a lot of early Devo.

Chris: Lol yep. This was actually one of a handful of Devo songs a friend gave me digitally. This was after the health food store. And this was also back in the day when sharing one or two music files was a thing.

Jon: Oh nice! I forget how I came to it, probably when I picked up Q&A in high school. You'd think I'd have heard it earlier but I guess not.

Chris: Interesting, yeah. I might have had it a bit earlier, but not by much?

Jon: Yeah, it isn't on the Greatest Hits comp I was lent.

Chris: Oh wow.

Jon: I guess they saved that for Greatest Misses.

Chris: This is not a greatest hit?

Jon: My sister had Greatest Misses, but it scared me off

Chris: Oh shit! What was scary about it?

Jon: Parental advisory label, Pink Pussycat, Penetration in the Centerfold, the fact that I was a weak and timid child.

Chris: I relate hard.

Jon: Looking at the track listing now, that comp is excellent.

Chris: Oh for sure.

Jon: And it doesn't shoehorn in some Shout era shit like the Hits comp did.

Chris: Haha. Yeah they always try to salvage that kind of crap.

Jon: Track 1 of a Greatest Hits CD and you make it a remix of Here To Go? Fuck outta here.

Chris: Haha.

Jon: Anyway. We can save Shout bashing for later.

Chris: There will be plenty later. That is absolutely devolved.

Jon: True. That perfect excuse. For any and all choices.

Chris: Haha yeah. It is a get out of jail free card. Sort of.

Jon: Definitely a brilliant tactic/coverall.

Chris: It really is. I do want to say about this song: it's like the music is daring you to dance. Begging you to try. And then laughing when it's not QUITE possible. At least in a social sense, I would say.

Jon: That's definitely a vibe I get from a lot of this material. Oh you wanted party music? Haha eat shit, this is palsy music.

Chris: Hahaha spot on. Catchy and fun, but nervous and jittery enough to shake loose of any regular thing you'd do with music.

#music #newwave #devo

[deevolutionisreal]

Space Junk

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 4 - Space Junk

Chris: Okay, let's check out some space junk in 3. 2. 1. Go!

Jon: Different sonics to this one. Harmonics almost. Overtones floating around.

Chris: Yeah, different tone. "I never touched \ Her", Always raised my eyebrow.

Jon: Yeah fair enough. And then the weird list part.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: Denial of wrongdoing lyrics. Excuses.

Chris: Devo's lists are set to disconcerting music lol.

Jon: 100% Tex-ass. Kans-ass.

Jon: Always a favorite of mine, that part.

Chris: Haha, yeah.

Jon: The weird radio muttering, I almost never noticed.

Chris: The stereo in this song is really great.

Jon: Yeah.

Chris: Yeah, it's in that right channel and is hard to spot.

Jon: ALMOST a conventional rock and roll ending. But then that weird chord.

Chris: Yeah exactly. It continues this trend of building up something that never QUITE happens.

Jon: Haha yes! They love messing with traditional expectations of the form. I think.

Chris: Yeah for sure. The end is different than the 3 preceding songs. Because there is a lot of convention here. We are pointing out the subversion, but you need to be able to follow the form to be able to throw expectations. It's not like, experimental music. There's real hooks and movements etc.

Jon: Yeah. Just…off.

Chris: What I think is really amazing is that it engages you on a primal level the way, among other genes, rock n roll does, but also subverts. But that subversion is somehow primal. You don't have to think about it. You can, and you get something from it. But it's there in the music.

Jon: True! Always important, to be able to take something or leave it. And still enjoy a tune.

Chris: Right exactly. If I NEED to think about a song to enjoy it, I don't enjoy it. Maybe that's be being an…idk, anti-elitist? I'm not sure. But I need my music to hit me in the gut before I care about the brain.

Jon: I think it's reasonable.

Chris: Sick.

Jon: Even the avant garde shit I like, still has to kinda hit me on a visceral level.

Chris: Yes exactly.

Jon: Purely cerebral wanking is boring. Cough Zappa cough. Shit on zappa dot net.

Chris: Haha. I respect that even while I 33% disagree with it.

Jon: Haha yeah.

Chris: Also, http://www.shitonzappa.net/ is available.

Jon: Excellent! .net is underutilized imo.

Chris: Damn right it is. People think of it as a poor man's dot com. But on space junk, I just want to again point to the sequence. All these songs are pretty up tempo, and agitated, but still form a pleasing arc without sounding too same-y.

Jon: The weird isolated chord at the end kinda sets up Mongoloid nicely yeah. Okay simmer down, it says.

Chris: Right, exactly. This song has such a swirling energy. Anyway, it's great.

Jon: Yeah it just escalates constantly. Like the endless stairs in Mario 64

Chris: Ha right.

Jon: (fuckin' nerd)

Chris: Then just goes hard to the classic rock too long outro thing.

Jon: Haha yes. Yeah I'm all for every song, so far.

Chris: Oh hell yeah. No bad apple in the bunch.

Jon: These are the times to be mindful and appreciative, discography wise, haha. All killer no filler.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Praying Hands

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 3 - Praying Hands

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band.

Chris: Let's talk Praying Hands in 3. 2. 1. Now!

Jon: Stuttery opening phrase.

Chris: Distinct riff right up top.

Jon: Yeah. Almost an inverted Satisfaction riff.

Chris: Yeah. Squawking synth. Thumping drums. This chorus.

Jon: Gunshot snares. This little interlude reminds me of Social Fools.

Jon: OK RELAX! etc.

Chris: Ha yeah.

Jon: One of their more didactic songs.

Chris: Yeah. It's really poppy. The chorus is such a frenzy. It feels cyclical.

Jon: I dunno if I'd even call it a chorus. It's more like a weird ejaculation.

Chris: Haha yeah.

Jon: Punctuation almost.

Chris: Get spiritual minded.

Jon: It took me a while to notice how insanely good the drums are on most songs. And this song also sets up Space Junk perfectly.

Chris: Totally.

Jon: Very very food flow on this record. Good feng shui.

Chris: Oh yeah the sequence is so good. The links, if you can call it that. Ends again on a clean note.

Jon: All the songs end on the same kinda vibe as the "THIS IS THE END" from the Be Stiff EP. OK BYE.

Chris: Yeah exactly. When listening to the record as a whole you really don't notice it. It just flows so well.

Jon: Yeah it's like a suite almost.

Chris: It's like lighting in a movie, you only notice it when it's bad.

Jon: Oh well put.

Chris: The litany of rules in this song too always stuck out to me. In that ultra fast pace. I could never put my finger on it but it felt like I was getting a certain cynical look at these social structures without totally being free of them.

Jon: Yeah. Like, what else are we hearing in the "brush your teeth or they'll fall away" tone. In the world.

Chris: Lol right, exactly. I have an admission to make.

Jon: Shoot.

Chris: I never read the lyrics to this song, and always heard that line as "brush your teeth in the formal way"

Jon: Hahaha. That's pretty great. I can see a Devo song about dental etiquette honestly.

Chris: Haha yeah, I'd listen to that. I think the song still works as fascist hygiene routine.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Satisfaction

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 2 - Satisfaction

This post originally appeared on de-evolution.band.

Chris: We are talking about Satisfaction in 3. 2. 1. Now!

Jon: Still such a goddamn good beat.

Chris: So killer. And the bass.

Jon: I 110% prefer this to the original.

Chris: Absolutely. The production is so good.

Jon: And that weird ascending dissonant guitar.

Chris: The drums have a great low end that wasn't present on the original. That growling guitar in the background.

Jon: I love how the iconic riff only shows up at the end as like an "oh yeah fuck you. duh nuh nuh" on the synth.

Chris: Haha yes. It's such a great subversion.

Jon: We believe that Mark cannot get any satisfaction. Mick Jagger? He is getting satisfied. I call bullshit on his delivery.

Chris: Yeah for sure. And they come up with a, in my opinion, just as memorable riff, to the most recognizable riff song.

Jon: Absolutely.

Chris: The baby baby baby. So long. So good.

Jon: I also love in the video when that Spazz Attack dude is just shaking during the baby baby baby's.

Chris: Haha yes.

Jon: And doing flips and shit.

Chris: That synth riff in the background. There it is.

Jon: All these songs are so tight! Get in, get out.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: And, SCENE.

Chris: They really are gems. Each of the first two songs ends on a definitive note. Uncontrollable urge with the bass note. Satisfaction with the drum hit and the single guitar/bass note. And it's out clean.

Jon: Full stop. Period.

Chris: They are punk length but with the musicianship of not-punk. Not to just shit on punk and split the audience.

Jon: Check this out btw: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-story-behind-devos-iconic-cover-of-the-rolling-stones-satisfaction.

Chris: Checking.

Jon: Yeah! Polished punk. Some might say post-punk but not in the sad desolate Joy Division sense. Not that any of these terms mean much.

Chris: Yeah, but I know what you mean.

Jon: To the point, irreverent, tight, energetic.

Chris: It's agitated and subversive without being completely nihilistic. Or however you spell that correctly. And I think it's important to note that Devo was on this other spectrum from what else was happening musically at the time. I think they're labeled new wave because they came around when a bunch of bands didn't sound like the rest of the radio, but they don't really track as part of that group to me. I understand that labels are just useful to contextualize, but the new wave label is so broad sometimes I think it misses a lot.

Jon: Yeah it may as well be "80s but not arena rock" sometimes. When people use it. (late 70s)

Chris: Yeah.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Uncontrollable Urge

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Track 1 - Uncontrollable Urge

The canonical version of this post appears at https://de-evolution.band/article/uncontrollable-urge/

Chris: Alright Jon, the moment has finally come.

Jon: Indeed!

Chris: We are talking about Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo.

Jon: The shit we know and love. And everyone also knows and loves.

Chris: Haha yep. This was the first Devo I consciously heard.

Jon: Oh wow! You went chronologically?

Chris: I'd probably heard whip it before, but this was the first one I actually listened to.

Jon: Oh fair enough. I think I heard like, stuff off Freedom of Choice or Oh No! It's Devo.

Chris: I didn't listen to this chronologically by myself. In the health food store where I worked as a teenager my co-worker played this a lot. And he was in complete control of the music. And this was the only Devo he played. So I got familiar/interested in them from that.

Jon: Oh right! Your personal curator. Solid source.

Chris: Exactly. Very helpful. I think he's a DJ in chapel hill now. When did you first hear Q&A?

Jon: I think I dug in a few years after hearing Whip It / seeing my sister's "Men Who Make The Music" VHS, in high school. I picked up those poorly mastered double-album CDs, one of which was Q&A and the Live EP.

Chris: Oh interesting, I've never heard that version.

Jon: It's just kinda thin. When I picked up the albums as LPs I was like OH there's bass, at all, in these songs.

Chris: Haha gotcha. And this album has some great bass lines.

Jon: It definitely does.

Chris: I heard the live EP stuff only much later in a remastered form. Did that color your impression of this album? The fact that the sound wasn't great?

Jon: Nah, the songs were still solid as hell / weird in a way I was all about at fifteen. https://web.archive.org/web/20040711083128/http://www.clubdevo.com:80/mp_redesign/tellus.html Devo's thoughts on those comps are here, toward the bottom.

Chris: Right, makes sense. That's interesting too, that it latched on at that time. I wish it had for me, honestly. I mean, it did, but I fought it lol. I thought, "this is good, but it's not REAL good, so I'm going to pass it by" Basically because it overwhelmed me and clashed with whatever pet persona I was developing at the time.

Jon: Aw. Yeah to be honest I was more into my New Traditionalists/Duty Now comp.

Chris: Yeah I feel you. What an interesting combo. Usually they combine albums closer in proximity. BUT. A conversation for a later time, perhaps.

Jon: Indeed, haha.

Chris: Right now we're still on Q&A.

Jon: Wanna count off Uncontrollable Urge?

Chris: Yeah, let's get down to it. We're talking Uncontrollable Urge in 3. 2. 1. Now!

Jon: Urgency, right away.

Chris: Such a solid first song.

Jon: We are a nervous band. Buckle in, listen to our ramblings.

Chris: Yeah there's a propulsion to it, but in a different way than the standard 70s rockers. The lyrics are sexual but not necessarily happy about it.

Jon: Yeah. A song about OCD like tendencies that sounds like those tendencies somehow.

Chris: Yes! It sounds like jittery, almost falling over dancing. While still being incredibly tight.

Jon: Yeah. And in verse 2 he kinda abandons the expected melody. More uncontrollability. Or a real word.

Chris: Haha. Also interesting is the low presence of the synth.

Jon: Yeah! It just kinda chimes in toward the end like, hey guys. Clang beep.

Chris: Yeah. It has big moments, but the driving factors are guitars/drums. This big build. Then boom, out.

Jon: I love how it kinda sets up Satisfaction almost.

Chris: Absolutely.

Jon: Like aaaaaaand (cool drum beat for song 2).

Chris: The last thing we heard is a bass note.

Jon: Flows very well, at least from what I remember.

Chris: Totally.

Jon: I kinda wish they'd worked with Eno more, this album has a great sound to it.

Jon: Not to credit him solely.

Chris: Yeah, I hear that.

Jon: But, who doesn't love Eno.

Chris: I do love Eno. The song goes from that lone bass note into lone drums.

Jon: Oh good point.

Chris: This album doesn't sound like any other Devo albums.

Jon: Very true. I even like the Coldplay record he did with that obnoxious song that was everywhere.

Chris: Oh which Coldplay one did he do?

Jon: Viva La Vida.

Chris: Ahhh right. I half remember the single.

Jon: Devo la Devo, though.

Chris: 😁 I think bowie was also interested in producing this? That would have been interesting.

Jon: I have heard that! Yeah I wonder how it'd have gone. I like that he was an admirer, though.

Chris: Yeah for sure.

Jon: Did you ever hear the DEV2.0 version of this?

Chris: No I haven't.

Jon: An adolescent girl singing yah yah yah yah yahyahyahyah etc. It is super super weird. And I think they changed the lyrics to be about snacking.

Chris: Oh wait! We did hear that. When we went to that Harvard movie night.

Jon: Oh shit that's true. DEV2.0 was such a goddamn bizarre thing, but completely on brand.

Chris: Haha yeah. Devo + Disney. You're like, What? And then you realize what they did. And you nod.

Jon: Two great tastes that taste great together! Like peanut butter and thumbtacks.

Chris: Haha.

#devo #music #newwave

[deevolutionisreal]

Blog Move

Hello folks,

As you may have noticed, Jon and I have decided to move this blog's custom domain - https://de-evolution.band - to our own servers. We did this mostly to own our data and to have greater control of where we syndicate. The recent Tumblr debacle also pushed us.

We will still be cross-posting to Tumblr, so if you've subscribed here you can continue reading with no change.

However, the canonical version of the site will be at https://de-evolution.band, which may release earlier than here on Tumblr.

One immediate benefit of the move is that we've been able to design a custom theme for our site, that we think is both attractive, better organized, and devolved.

To Summarize

This blog is now self-hosted, and lives at: https://de-evolution.band

You can still read new content on Tumblr, here: https://deevolutionisreal.tumblr.com

Thanks!

#devo #tumblr #newwave #music

[deevolutionisreal]

Be Stiff EP

The canonical version of this post appears at https://de-evolution.band/article/be-stiff-ep/

Chris: Alright, let's tackle the B Stiff EP in 3. 2. 1. Go!

Jocko Homo

Jon: Very stripped down still. Demo-ish. Lovably raw.

Chris: Yeah. Pretty close to the album version instrumentation-wise.

Jon: Yeah.

Chris: You can hear the grit on the tape.

Jon: Oh definitely. The four notes seem different. Off key.

Chris: Yeah. I agree.

Jon: The LP has them in key I think.

Chris: They seem like a insane steel drum.

Jon: Haha yeah.

Chris: Like, the steel drum lost it's mind.

Jon: Some abrasive old synth.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: I think this version has the extra, "rhyme in a riddle" part…?

Chris: Yeah. Unlike some of the other old versions, this one's tempo seems pretty close to the album cut.

Jon: True true.

Jon: YES. O HI O.

Chris: 😃 That's not in the album version.

Jon: I prefer it with that line. Was always sad they didn't do it on the LP. Was that Eno's suggestion…? Or maybe they didn't wanna be The Akron Band anymore.

Chris: Yeah who knows. I also prefer the faster talk for the ape stuff.

Jon: Yeah.

Chris: The whooshing sound is also different.

Jon: Mm…Overall, not super different, but enough to so pick out a couple things. I don't have much to say, sadly. Other than, "It whips ass, like all versions tend to."

Chris: Haha yeah, absolutely! We can talk more about it when we do the LP version.

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Jon: Slower for sure.

Chris: Yeah, sounds slower, but otherwise, God damn close to the LP.

Jon: Cleaner than the demo I think though? But similar.

Chris: Yeah. Def cleaner. A good midway point between the demo and the final cut.

Jon: Did I ever mention the story of Mick clearing the cover?

Chris: No, I don't know the story.

Jon: I guess the record execs or whoever played it and he got up and danced around to it excitedly.

Jon: I forget what he said but it was a cute story / worth googlin'.

Chris: Haha oh man! I'll have to check that out.

Jon: I feel like the bloopy synth counterpoint lines in this are more muted. They're shriller/more up front in the LP/demo. IIRC.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: Although now I wish I had notes in front of me, haha.

Chris: They're higher and more ethereal.

Jon: The baby baby baby's aren't as challenging at this speed. Also. Haha.

Chris: 😆 yeah. Speeeed that shit up! But man, overall this is so damn close.

Jon: Right? This is like a dry run for the debut LP.

Chris: They put an echo on the vocals near the end.

Jon: True. Also I think it's supposed to segue right into Be Stiff. I forgot that part. A nice touch IMO.

Chris: Yeah, it goes right in.

Be Stiff

Jon: Faster than on Hardcore. And less cartoony voices calling out the countdown.

Chris: And more aggressive vocals. Yeah exactly. The high guitar is more cartoony.

Jon: But I dig it/am confused why this wasn't a bigger song. Or maybe it was! Namesake after all.

Chris: Yeah I'm not sure. It might have gotten overshadowed by other cuts on the first LP.

Jon: But people never talk about it. Fun fact: Toni Basil covers it on the album that has Mickey. And Space Girl Blues from Hardcore.

Chris: I've heard that version! It's very interesting.

Jon: It's a trip, yeah! I definitely wanna compile all the Devo-adjacent projects out there. Martini Ranch and whatnot.

Chris: Yeah I'm into that. This version feels more angry.

Jon: Yeah. Less horny and more urgent.

Chris: Yeah.

Jon: Maybe still quite horny though. Actually. Never not horny, these lads.

Chris: You can never tone that down too much. I hear the bass part higher in the mix as well.

Jon: Ends just as abruptly though.

Chris: Lol yep.

Jon: I remain a fan of this song.

Jon: Weird lyrics and all.

Chris: Likewise.

Jon: Wet Women and Fruit Ooze and all.

Chris: It's really catchy.

Jon: Definitely harkens back to blues/rock. That descending main riff.

Chris: Yeah, this version for sure. Makes you sing that whack-ass shit to yourself.

Jon: Hahaha yes. Little Richard shoulda covered this.

Chris: That would have been awesome. Get on it Little Richard!

Jon: If Fats Domino can drop covers of Lady Madonna and Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey, why not this.

Chris: It's also interesting that they joined this with satisfaction but re-arranged the song order for the LP.

Jon: Yeah, and this isn't even on Q&A at all. Which boggles the mind. Maybe this EP was the "single" for it? IDK.

Chris: Yeah, it's on Duty, right?.

Jon: It isn't on any LP. It's on this. And compilations/Hardcore.

Chris: Oh shit, huh.

Jon: Right?? So weird…

Chris: I must have listened to CDs with bonus tracks. Because I def remember hearing this on one of those.

Jon: That would make sense. That's a relief at least.

Mongoloid

Chris: A little slower, I think?

Jon: The bass line remains badass as it sneaks up on you.

Chris: Oh hell yeah.

Jon: Slower than the LP, about the same as Hardcore I think.

Chris: Yeah. The guitar sound sounds cool and compressed. Like it's coming from a drive thru speaker.

Jon: Hahaha. Yeah I love the overall sound of it. I think they'd take that as a compliment.

Chris: I meant it as such. Ooh, more space noises.

Jon: Yeah they're going hogwild on this one. I'm into it!

Chris: Hell yeah. Sounds like a cartoon alien from a 50s era Saturday morning special landed. The cymbal crashes are so soft. Much softer than the rest of the drums.

Jon: Yeah. It's weird what they choose to be subtle with.

Chris: That "wakka wakka" guitar in the background is great.

Jon: Hell yes.

Chris: Almost giggling background vocals.

Jon: I also love the drunk sounding synth notes. Like they're trying so hard to hit the right notes.

Chris: Haha.

Jon: They're me at karaoke.

Chris: Yeah exactly. I can attest to this. Jon is an early Devo synth note at karaoke.

Jon: BwahhhhhHHHHHHHH. I'll get there if I strain.

(I Saw My Baby Gettin') Sloppy

Jon: Hesitant start.

Chris: Ha yeah. Some drum hits.

Jon: But I like the vibe. The synth once against sounds like an old VHS distro animation.

Chris: Ha yes. The guitars are almost jangly.

Jon: Yeah! These are some conventional pop guitars.

Chris: The vocals sound like they're in another room. Like he's yelling from behind the band.

Jon: If you're gonna have passable guitar, you need to go sing in the hall to make up for it.

Chris: Interesting different rhythm for WHOLA.

Jon: Yeah! They put a little stank on it.

Chris: Ha yeah. Exactly.

Jon: He's also selling the words more.

Jon: BRAND NEW CAR. He's pissed.

Chris: Yeah, he's really going for it. The second track here that's more pissed.

Jon: Yeah! The BE PISSED E.P.

Chris: Haha.

Jon: Ends just as abruptly as ever. Glad to see these choices were firm early on.

Chris: Lol yep! Stake out your brand!

Social Fools

Jon: They sped this way up. Straight up punk pogo tune this time around. Less of a cautious anthem.

Chris: Yeah exactly. Driving drumbeat right up front.

Jon: Also less weird synths.

Chris: The bridge is less ominous. But yeah, almost a punk song.

Jon: Yeah. Less sincere "pleading parent" bits too. Or just faster maybe.

Chris: Yeah, it goes by quicker so it doesn't sink in as much on that level? But a lot more danceable.

Jon: Whoa, that compressed drum fill.

Chris: Yeah that was nuts.

Jon: Yeah I have to wonder if this is more subversive in its slickness. Solo still rips. Thankfully.

Chris: Yeah it's great.

Jon: I don't think Devo gets enough credit for badass lead guitar parts/their conventional instruments in general.

Chris: Totally agreed.

Jon: People always wanna talk synthesizers and energy dome hats.

Chris: Exactly. I don't think Devo gets credit as musicians in general.

Jon: Yeah they're extremely sick, and that took me by surprise when I got into them in depth.

Jon: This is the END! Of this E.P.

Chris: And they end the EP with that!

Jon: I always liked that little ending. That's all for now / that's all we know.

Chris: Yeah it's great.

Jon: Good way to end any communique.

Chris: I'm pissed they didn't end every release that way haha.

Jon: Haha seriously. I wish presidents said shit like that. OK THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR DATA BYE.

Chris: I really enjoyed that EP. I don't think I've ever listened to it as a whole.

Jon: Yeah it's good shit! I definitely wish it got discussed more. And maybe it does and I'm just a hermit.

Chris: I'm living in the same hermitage, then, my friend. Still nuts that B Stiff isn't anywhere.

Jon: Right? I can see why like, Total Devo isn't on Spotify. But this? This owns.

Chris: Oh yeah, it totally does. Maybe it was a rights issue? Different label? How wide a release did this get?

Jon: Good point, yeah. I'm not sure if this was WB or not. They were on Stiff in the UK for a while. Coincidence name wise, I think. But other artists all covered that song, for that label. Seemingly.

Chris: Huh. I looked it up and this was a Stiff UK release.

Jon: And they had "Booji Boy Records" but I think that was a Stiff or WB imprint meant to feign bootleg/indie coolness aesthetically. With the Mechanical Man single and whatnot.

Chris: Right right. Maybe Stiff kept the rights to the song Be Stiff. Because after this EP they put out the Mechanical Man EP, right?

Jon: I think so! I forget honestly, the chronology of it.

Chris: Or, is that a bootleg?

Jon: Nah it's official but meant to look sloppy. Pun INTENDED, BITCH.

Chris: Haha! Well that was thoroughly enjoyable.

Jon: Yeah! This was fun.

#devo #music #newwave