The first new Devo album in 20 years comes at a perfect time given the band foretold almost 40 years ago our current cultural landscape with frightening accuracy. And yet the release of a new Devo record is simultaneously pointless. No one buys albums anymore we’re told, certainly not vacuum packed herky jerky proffered by 60 year old men in yellow jumpsuits and red plastic hats. The long in development “Something For Everybody” is nevertheless out now on Warner Brothers, the label that broke Devo three decades ago. It’s not clear what either side gains from the arrangement other than the Bunny selling more “Whip It” downloads on ITunes.
The temptation when approaching any Devo product is to assume that what’s being presented is part of some larger theme. A new track like the vaguely doo wop “Please Baby Please” isn’t a crappy throwaway, but rather a sharp commentary on tramp stamps, Tweets, over sexualized Disney teens and/or fill in random cultural reference here. Or not. Devo at one time had enough goodwill saved up from the brilliance of their early output to enjoy a free pass. In my mind that expired with 1983’s “Shout” and the album’s rancid cover of Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced?” Devo seemingly agreed, and sat out the balance of the Reagan years.
And so I’ll take “Something For Everybody” at face value. “Watch Us Work It,” is a flaccid album opener, and was probably positioned there given its relative familiarity courtesy a 2007 Dell Computer commercial. The song sadly reminds me of the dross on disappointing reunion records “Total Devo” (1988) and “Smooth Noodle Maps” (1990). “Fresh” isn’t particularly, but has a useful enough hook for the closing credits of a never made 80’s movie. “Sumthin’” serves as a de-facto and forgettable title track.
The album doesn’t really get moving until “Don’t Shoot (I’m A Man)” if only for it’s brain slurrying synth hook and the two years overdue “Don’t Tase Me Bro” lyric. And just as quickly all hope in this album is abandoned. “Step Up” passes without notice, although if ESPN ever releases another edition of “Jock Rock” it could be of use. In fact the word “use” seems the key here in understanding just what the hell the point of a new Devo album in 2010 could possibly be. Bespectled Devo front man Mark Mothersbaugh has since the mid 80’s made his nut composing music for nothing but utility. Cartoons, movies, and commercials have all enjoyed his post ironic touch and the work no doubt has made him far more money than Devo itself. The whole of “Something For Everybody” seems designed for plug and play in more commercials, family friendly Wii Games, and feature length Nicktunes.
There was a time when Devo’s pop art served as a darkly humorous commentary on modern Western life, and songs like the propulsive “Freedom Of Choice” contained warnings against ceding critical thought to government, marketing, mass media, and public relations.
“I say it again in the land of the free/use your freedom of choice!”
And an indictment:
“Freedom of choice is what you’ve got. Freedom from choice is what you want.”
Devo had matching uniforms and a “Corporate Anthem.” They took the idea of voluntary conformity to it’s ridiculous extreme, and over time we did indeed culturally “devolve” just as they warned we would all those years ago. What wasn’t supposed to happen was for Devo to devolve right along with us.