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

Produced by Brian Eno, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! was a seminal touchstone in the development of American new wave. It was one of the first pop albums to use synthesizers as an important textural element, and although they mostly play a supporting role in this guitar-driven set, the innovation began to lay the groundwork for the synth-pop explosion that would follow very shortly. It also doesn't hurt that this is arguably Devo's strongest set of material, though several brilliant peaks can overshadow the remainder. Of those peaks, the most definitive are the de-evolution manifesto "Jocko Homo" (one of the extremely few rock anthems written in 7/8 time) and a wicked deconstruction of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," which reworks the original's alienation into a spastic freak-out that's nearly unrecognizable. But Q: Are We Not Men? also had a conceptual unity that bolstered the consistent songwriting, making it an essential document of one of new wave's most influential bands.

Probably got the fifth star because I listened while going for a run and it helped me along

So nice I listed to it twice. It's only 35 minutes long. I had this, on vinyl. In 1980. Maybe even earlier.

Where is "Whip It"

Great satire delivered in solid music

What a waste of time and energy. Why this is on the list, I have no idea but it needs to be removed. It's just utter shit.

Strong hat game.

Great album! It was like a crazy mix of the ramones and the beach boys

dunno if i'm a man or devo any more.

Super fun and energetic. Could see most of these songs being in a movie soundtrack.

Like listening to a blueprint of what was to come in 1980s.

10/10 I love new wave

But Q: Are We Not Men? also had a conceptual unity that bolstered the consistent songwriting, making it an essential document of one of new wave's most influential bands.

This album kicks ass. 70s pop-punk with fat riffs and some ethereal 80s sounds that were clearly ahead of their time.

Starts with the fucking Devo guy singing "yeah, yuh-yuh-yeah yeah yeah!" over and over, moves on to the least essential Rolling Stones cover in history, and somehow goes downhill from there. All of the thumbs down. Best track: Space Junk

Devo arrive at their first album fully formed - a bunch of geeky clowns dismantling rock 'n' roll on record, all in service of a sinister, shadowy credo that humanity is going backwards. You're never too sure whether they're joking or not, and that ambivalence lurking in the heart of Q: Are We Not Men? forms a huge part of their appeal. The other is their weird, stiff, hysterical motorik music. There's not a bad track here, and many real highlights. Strange sounds, played with intent and determination.

invested 34 minutes during my morning ablutions to discover i do not like Devo. that talk-singing with shitty surf rock riffs doesnt do it for me. i cant believe i listened to the whole thing

PREFS : TOUT MOINS PREF : RIEN

For me, listening to this album for the first time all the way through was a bit like discovering as a kid that your dad cheats on his taxes or keeps porno mags under the bed, in other words that he's a not a superhero, but just a regular flawed human being. The problem is, I've had Devo's greatest hits collection for a decade or so and I guess a part of me was expecting that kind of unabashed brilliance from their debut album. Completely unfair. Most of Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! is merely very good rather than brilliant. One nice surprise is that, even though the songwriting isn't for the most part at the level of masterpieces like Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy or Jocko Homo, the production completely slaps. For a pop album, QAWNMWAD easily boasts the most well thought out synth patches of 1978. Yes, getting an appropriate synth sound is easier when your stock in trade is satire, like Devo, or tongue in cheek pop deconstruction, like The Cars, but the range of decent synth sounds on QAWNMWAD is impressive nonetheless. I suspect a lot of that is producer Brian Eno's doing. He also does a beautiful job of balancing the various elements of Devo's sound. The guitars are crisp and the vocals have just the right amount of echo and reverb. I love the way the bass is processed on Mongoloid, with a clean, springy sound up front with almost imperceptible tweaks that create depth. Eno's production manages to be both immediate and deep. You can elect to groove along on the surface, but there's a lot going on in these tracks if you care to drill down. Another thing I gained an appreciation for is the basic musicianship of the band, which is apparent even in the lesser tracks. Drummer Alan Myers is the glue that holds the band together. His big robotic beats are a major part of Devo's sound, and he handles the tricky time signatures and section shifts with aplomb. Singer Mark Mothersbaugh is a maniac--I love his phrasing and energy, which never flags. It's not easy to do full on satire and rock out at the same time. But what about the songs themselves? Well, most of the compositions, like Come Back Jonee, are built on short snippets with layered, interlocking rhythms. Much of the interest comes in these tunes comes from the performances, the arrangements, the production touches, and the amusing and thoughtful lyrics, which is admittedly far from nothing. But these songs feel like an additional section or two or some twist would have pushed them into classic territory. The one discovery here is Too Much Paranoias, which is possibly just as nuts as Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy although a lot less commercial. Yes, it's built on one riff, but the melody is practically atonal, and there's that improvised bridge in the middle of the tune. Pure insanity, in a good way. I dunno. Yes, Devo's style is unique and a lot of fun. The playing, production, and arrangements are first rate. And there are a handful of outright classics on this album. But I can't give this a 5/5 because of there are just too many songs that feel like underachievers.

Dug it. Dug it good.

Irritating for the most part and I felt like it was an inside joke that I didn’t get.

Fuck yeah

Unnngh - love this Devo album! I saw them live at a festival in Japan in like 2008, and they looked like a bunch of portly middle aged men in yellow jumpsuits and funny hats, but they sounded exactly the same. I was convinced they were miming and kinda bummed out, but then towards the end of the set the singer started to get slightly out of breath and it became apparent that they’re just awesome and can recreate their sound from the glory days at will…. 😆 Fave track - "Gut Feeling / (Slap Your Mammy)" is just so so good. Love the moody intro to "Mongoloid" too...

This was an awesome album. Great recommendation.

Kanonplatta med åtskilliga hits. Ägde skivan som ung och den gick varm på skivspelaren. Mongoloid är en av världens bästa låtar dessutom.

Seminal …. Fruits all through the 80s and beyond … with Devo and Dave Byrne/talking heads … Something was brewing

Hell yeah. Excellent album. I was a little disappointed looking at the tracklist to not see "Whip It," if that gives you any idea what kind of Devo fan I am. But the first track I recognized instantly from a Tony Hawk game, absolutely love "Uncontrollable Urge" and would never in a million years guessed that was Devo. Loved their rendition of Satisfaction, and overall it's just a really cool exploratory album. It's more punk rock than new wave, but you can hear the origins of new wave forming - this was made in 1978! That's so crazy to me. Just a really creative album, totally worth including. Also, funniest track title maybe of all time award goes to "Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')." No way they could've known what that would mean 45 years later. Favorite tracks: Uncontrollable Urge, Satisfaction, Mongoloid, Jocko Homo, Come Back Jonee, Sloppy. Album art: Absolutely love it, iconic for sure. Bold, bright colors, a nice '50s utopian style portrait of a man's head on, what, a golf ball? Not sure the rhyme or reason to any of this, but it rocks. 4.5/5

Devo is so fucking weird in the right way.

wavy

Q: Is this yet another classic album produced by Brian Eno? A: Why, yes it is.

This album rules. Super fun, very unique, lots to love about it. I sometimes like how subtle the electronic instrument use is, other times I feel like it could be a little more emphasized, but overall a solid record.

listened on my lunch break, deserved a more sincere listen and review sorry bout it. Liked what I was hearing 3.5/5

Really fun record that still feels timely, with exciting angular melodies and often quite funny lyrics. Only mildly dated by its production. Can hear the influence in a lot of today's post punk. Fave track: Too Much Paranoias

What a treat - so easy to enjoy the punchy and unique stylings and fun instrumentation. Seems completely original and innovative compared to some of the other rock and post-punk outfits of the time. Weird and a total joy. Fave track: Come Back Jonee

Perhaps the most bizarre album I have ever enjoyed - it really is very strange. I'm not sure it is one of the best 1001, or one of the most important 1001, but it is certainly interesting and I am glad to have heard it. Pretty much every track has the germ of a pop song in it, but then buried under many layers of bizarreness.

This is one of those albums I bought recently because everyone should own this record on vinyl. For novelty and nostalgic reasons, Devo is one of those one-of-a kind bands that had an interesting concept and took it as far as they could. I first saw them on TV (SNL or Fridays?) around this time and well, they were hilarious! Personally, I liked them best on the early albums, as their sound was fresh and exciting on the debut, but loses steam towards the end. Still an enjoyable listen and you can't help, but visualize those goofy hats.

This is very much music of its era, the late 70s where electronic music and synthesisers were becoming quite common. Music was changing,to me this wss the foundation of the 80s pop sound. There are similarities with Talking Heads. This is fun, humerous music and less confrontational than the contemporary punk sound coming from the Clash, the Pistols and Iggy Pop. it is fun to listento, but sounds very 70s

Q. What does SHACK eat for breakfast? A. Lamb chops.

I don't think I've ever listened to a Devo album all the way through before. As someone who grew up with MTV, they made such a big visual impact on my young eyeballs that the music has always been somewhat secondary. And I'm still not positive if I'm supposed to take the music itself seriously... but I kinda don't care. There's a general tone and feeling that came through while listening to the collection of songs here that I enjoyed overall. I don't like the Stones cover and I agree with Craig that the songs aren't as strong as I'd hoped for, especially thinking in comparison to that album we listened to recently from The Cars. But again this one is more about the feeling and it gave me a good one. Plus, I got to have a meeting with Mark Mothersbaugh once and he couldn't have been nicer. Their offices had weird instruments laying around and was exactly what I hoped it would be. Towards the end of the meeting, Mark had to leave to go talk to David O'Russell about scoring one of his films and asked if I'd rather go in his place. Ha. Top 10 moment in my entire film endeavor.

No. 212/1001 Uncontrollable Urge 3/5 I Can't Get No Satisfaction 3/5 Praying Hands 3/5 Space Junk 2/5 Mongoloid 3/5 Jocko Homo 2/5 Toro Much Paranoias 2/5 Gut Feeling 2/5 Come Back Jonee 3/5 Sloppy 2/5 Shrivel-Up 2/5 Average: 2,45 Post-Punk is just not my thing. I know you want to do something different than the artistas before you. But how about making something that is enjoyable to listen to?

Certainly they transcend the novelty act trap (and memories) but don’t get to actual substance or any real merit beyond the occasional chuckle or non-negligible cleverness. “Satisfaction’ works pretty well and “Gut Feeling” is the closest to straight-up effectiveness in the New Wave/indie rock vein – but there’s a saminess has the satire wearing thin before too long. One likes the commitment to doing something different and pretty damn original without loving the output. In time, the funny hats would make it hard to take the music seriously; one wonders if they were taking the piss out of their fans or who took whom too seriously (or not seriously enough). One doesn’t think enough of the product to be inspired to consider the depth or poignancy of the social satire (consumer culture is a pretty fat target) or how this fares as performance art. (That it was on the radio makes pop music the main genre. Were they merely a less serious Talking Heads? Were they outdone by their spiritual heirs (e.g., They Might Be Giants, Dead Milkmen and Magnetic Fields)? 2.5 > 2

I love this stupid album. Their version of Satisfaction sticks in my head more than the Stones version. Heresy to some but I love it. And of course, thanks to Ridiculousness, Uncontrollable Urge is all over the place and I’m not mad about that. More people need to hear Devo beyond Whip It.

I hated Devo as a kid cause I only heard whip it and altough fun I simply thought it was kind of shitty. Little did I know that 40 years later I can say they got done dirty by mtv. Its one of the most underrated groups in history. I feel they are so versatile and amazing musicians. This album has so much variety and diffent sounds and music. This is an experimental confept album that even with a cover of the stones its simply breathtaking something really different and fresh still today. Really insane that it sound better today than I remember back in the 80s.

I like weird and Devo is pretty weird.

This is why post-punk will always be my favourite genre/era of music. Everything about it, those funky basslines, angular guitar riffs, tight drumming. It just hits some part of my brain and I love it so much.

This album was a favorite of Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Truly unique at the time of its release.

I think it's really great that my generation progressed musically. Sonic Youth was created as a direct response to music to Devo (Devolve / De-Evololution). When I was coming up, Devo was barely more than a punchline, they were weirdos, wore weird hats, dressed in identical full-body uniforms. But, that may have been the point when they first started as an thematic art project. The concept being that the future of the world was all going to be run by machines & computers and something as personal and humanistic like music would all be made by robots. (uhhh, hello AI). But if you take the time to listen to this a few times, you begin to realize how amazing this band was. It wasn't until much after I had grown tired of noise rock / Sonic Youth-y stuff that I found this album and was surprised to find is so fun, weird, interesting and good. Gut Feeling has got to be one of my favorite tracks ever. Simple guitar looping that builds and builds until it explodes. Weird cover of Satisfaction and of course Uncontrollable Urge make this album memorable.

What an album! Their Humor is far out and their music is also odd. I love it!

- favs: praying hands, uncontrollable urge It reminds me a little of David Bowie in some ways and the B52’s!!! absolutely love Devo, such iconic band and this album is absolutely amazing. It belongs into my record collection :)

Devo is a national treasure and should be treated as such. Mothersbaugh has done so much for the art of music that it will take decades to fully understand his influence and contributions to the medium.

Devo is Dead Kennedys for nerds. I’m a nerd.

Whoa this rules. It’s so deranged, it’s so fun. The drummer is so good! Easy sell: I’m a Devo Guy now.

Fuuuuuuck yeeeaaaahhh!! Satisfaction is one of the best covers of all time. This whole album is brilliant and daring and stupid and great. 5/5

Fantastic. What did people in 1978 think?

"Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!" Is the debut album by American new wave band Devo. New wave, post-punk, art rock, punk rock. Sure. The album was produced by Brian Eno. There were difficulties between the Eno and the band during the recording and David Bowie actually ended up re-mixing the album. Devo is Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals, keys, guitar), Gerald Casale (vocals, bass, keys), Bob Mothersbaugh (lead guitar, vocals), Bob Casale (rhythm guitar, keys, vocals)and Alan Myers (drums). The album had mostly positive reviews and is noted as being a seminal American new wave release. Commercially, it hit #68 in the US and #12 in the UK. Of note: the original cover was intended to have a picture of golfer "Chi-Chi" Rodriguez. They couldn't get his approval in time so they replaced it with a morphed face of presidents JFK, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. "Uncontrollable Urge" kicks things off. Herky-jerky and anxious music and singing. Melodic and a nice chorus. A new wave guitar. Minimalist lyrics...Social Anxiety? Paranoia? Maturation? Maybe all of them. They perform one of the best covers of all-time with their version of the Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Mechanical sounding. A cool, wavy bass. A nervous guitar. They give an anxious, original interpretation. And, they're performance of this song on Saturday Night Live is utterly spectacular. A creeping guitar intro opens "Mongoloid," a song they would probably rethink today. A mechanical beat. Very 80's sounding keys. Layered sounds. A background wah-wah guitar. It's about a man who has down syndrome and leads a normal life in de-evolved society. They continue the de-evolved theme in "Jacko Homo." A repetitive beat. More anxious guitar and keys. "Are we not men? We are Devo!" A fast and galloping guitar and bass begin "Come Back Jonee." They deconstruct Chuck Berry's "Johnny B Good" as Johnny is failing in a relationship. A great Johnny B Good-esque guitar solo. The album closes with "Shrivel-Up." Eerie guitar. Multiple sounds in the background. Kind of pyschedelic and reminded me of Ween. This is a great and original album. No bad songs here. They had been playing them for three years and it sounds like it. The music is melodic, mechanical, angular and unique. They create an anxious and paranoid atmosphere. Their next three albums are also good but this is their best. An album everyone needs to have. I'm off to find my red energy done hat and yellow jumpsuit.

Very deserving album to be on this list. It's hugely influential and also just plain fun to listen to.

since i can still rate the albums before joining the group, today is 7/10/2024, but this might be a top 5 new wave album oat, everything sounds fresh and good, it's a 10.

Twitchy aggro nerd destruction crew

Pure quality & brings back some great memories

My first time giving Devo a real listen and it is very funny and surprisingly really good. I'm not 100% sure this actually a 5 but I am sure that these guys are 100% committed to their bit and I respect the hell out of that so I am going to reward by rounding up.

This album is packed with great songs that also have that unique Devo sound. Robotic, energetic yet still sounding hand crafted. I don't know that they made a better album than this. Remains a standout.

Six. Or maybe seven. That's how old I was when I asked my mum for a Devo album for Xmas. God bless her she had to ask at the record store because she had no idea what a Devo was. Neither did I really, but my friends older brother listened to them and I thought they were cool. So I thought they were cool. And guess what kids, Devo were both cool and NOT cool at the same time. I still own this album, and it still gets play today. Standouts are the kooky (and somewhat divisive) version of 'Satisfaction' and the classic 'Mongoloid' - a ode to diversity and equality, and the fantastic slow build of 'Gut Feeling'. Five devolving stars.

I still have a little piece of a radiation suit that was torn off and thrown into crowd at a Devon gig. This band was something else live. Great album to kick off the day with.

Listening to this, I am pretty sure I heard this album playing while I was exploring between the walls of the City Museum in St. Louis circa 2010. It's a great soundtrack and some creative music overall. Favorite track: "Satisfaction" or "Space Junk."

a really fun, off kilter, energetic romp of an album. this is definitely not everyone's bag, but if you know 'whip it' you may have an idea of what you are in store for. it's an album that definitely goes against the grain, and that's kind of what i love it for. 'uncontrollable urge' is one of the best album openers of all time, and i also adore 'jocko homo' and 'gut feeling/(slap your mammy)' - not to mention their odd cover of the rolling stones' 'satisfaction.' the production is great and it sounds as bombastic today as it probably did in 1978.

Even though I generally like new wave, and am a huge Brian Eno fan, I'd never really dug into Devo. I think I missed out, this was so cool, cooler than I expected.

I’m a little biased with this one since Devo is my absolute favourite band of all time, but there really is something special about their debut. The introduction of their philosophy of de-evolution to the world (where humans as a species was regressing rather than evolving) may have shocked but was also surprisingly prescient of the state of things to come. David Bowie even introduced them once as “the band of the future” and I think he saw in them something more than the “novelty act” that people were throwing at them. From frenetic guitars, melodic bass lines and diy synthesizers and a pounding drum, they had something to say and wanted to make sure you heard it.

Absurd excellence

When I was 10 years old my brother and I first saw Devo perform on Saturday Night Live and our minds were blown with their yellow suits and crazy sound. As my father usually turned the channel during the musical acts, he must have been intrigued as well. My brother and I would go on to become big Devo fans (one of the few bands we equally shared) and had all of their albums on cassettes. So, while it's slightly possible I wouldn't have completely loved this album on one cold listening today, and the fact that I probably loved a couple of other later Devo albums better (e.g. Freedom of Choice, Oh No! it's Devo) it brings a great deal of affection and nostalgia to hear, and I'm guessing this is going to be our one Devo shot. Love it!

I like Devo's sound, and maybe I tried to be a fan my younger days, but it didn't really stick. Mostly, I have an abstract appreciation for them and they make me think of a particular person from high school.

How could I not love Devo and their singular style made for us nerds?

As somewhat of an aficionado of strange, quirky music it always seemed like Devo should be squarely in my wheelhouse. But for whatever reason it never really was. Even today, I have enormous appreciation for them but I’m not sure I would put a whole album on the Victorola for a spin. Regardless, I really do appreciate this greatly! Very glad to have spent the time listening to this album!

Ohio representing. Whip it was one of my first albums. I never really got into any other Devo songs/albums. This one was great! 5/5

I don't know, man, if you don't have the desire to pogo like a weird alien/robot, or twitch like it's day three of a meth bender, I just don't want to hang out with you. It's totally left field, weird. On the same vein as, say, Ian Dury, where you're not entirely certain the person you're listening to is human. It's just fun, and fun throughout. Favorite tracks: "Uncontrollable Urge", "Praying Hands", "Mongoloid"

One my original jr high records! Amazing!

A stone cold classic. A bunch of midwestern weirdos making weird nerdy music that sounds both very 70’s/80’s but also at times like something from the future. I’m surprised I haven’t noticed it before when listening to this record, but it sounds so similar to the Talking Heads around the same time to me. I haven’t heard these two contemporaries compared much but they have such a common neurotic vibe. There’s also a lot previewing Weezer’s blue album here to me. It’s such an influential and unique record.

If this chart is full of albums that pushed the boundaries and are the yardstick by which other albums are judged then this album is rightfully here. It's not an easy listen but it's so chock full of ideas and quirks (not sure how much is Eno) you can't deny it. What must it have sounded like in 1978......?

The fact that no one has been able to top this in almost 50 years is proof of devolution.

Still a regular listen around here.

YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY. DEVO sits on the Mount Rushmore of American New Wave acts alongside The B-52s, Blondie, Talking Heads, and The Cars. Their version of Satisfaction breaks my brain every time I hear it and I love it. Bonus star for the hilarious Shrivel-Up at the end.

Ah, my 450th album, and it’s one that I’m familiar with. I bought this on CD about fifteen years or so ago because I saw it on the 1001 albums list. Back then, I listened to it once, but it wasn’t really my cup of tea, so I’ve never revisited it until today. I would still say that this album isn’t really something that I really enjoy listening to, but I think it’s a fantastic album. Driven by frantic rhythms (both on guitar and drums), peppered with otherworldly synthesizers, and some really wild lyrical themes delivered in Mark Allen Mothersbaugh’s unique vocal style. The guitar work on this album is really outstanding, and helped shape what New Wave music would become in the eighties. Despite relying more on rhythm than melodic structure (at least in my opinion), Devo manages to create a variety of sounds across these eleven tracks. Lyrically, this album’s theme of de-evolution is conveyed across the album, covering topics ranging from giving into compulsions, masturbation, and the constant barrage of consumer culture. Devo’s take on The Rolling Stone’s “Satisfaction” takes the song from an ‘aw shucks, I don’t fit in no matter how hard I try’ anthem to an ‘I’m going to lose my mind from people trying to sell me crap’ panic attack. On its surface, “Mongoloid” hasn’t aged particularly well, but the critiques of dumbing one’s self down to fit in with the current culture still resonate as true. “Uncontrollable Urge” is my favorite track on the album, with its driving guitar rhythms and pounding drums on the chorus. The backing vocals really give the song a deeper sound, and the little synthesizer chirps and whirring guitars towards the end of the song create a great atmosphere for the rest of the album. While this isn’t the type of album that I’d gravitate towards, I do think it’s outstanding. The songwriting is great, the guitar arrangements are perfectly executed, and Devo’s overall vision and image really shine through on this brilliantly weird album. I think this a must listen for anyone who really loves New Wave music, but I can understand why it may miss the mark with a lot of people.

Banger!

First Devon record I've listened to and just all around a super cool record, feels like the absolute perfect stepping stone between the punk rock of the late 70s and the synth pop that'd be so prevalent throughout much of the 80s. Personal favourite tracks are "Mongoloid", "Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy", "Come Back Jonee" and "Uncontrollable Urge".

Casualmente, volví a éste disco el domingo pasado. Una joya post-punk con voces muy de la época, puntualmente Robert Smith. Temas bailables, más experimentales, siempre con un dejo humorístico. Un gran comienzo de una gran banda

I love Devo. Maybe in another timeline they get a 4 butt fuck it.

God I love this album.

The biggest flaw with this album is that it isn't longer. Banger after banger, one of the best albums from an era filled with great post-punk and new wave.

Another record that blew me away in '78 when I first heard it (although the next album "Duty Now For The Future" was actually the first Devo album I ever heard). Yet another record that subverted all expectations, and signaled a whole new type of music. How could I not give it 5 stars?

I love this album. So much variety and Devo was just blazing suck a new trail in music. A favorite is the cover of Satisfaction. It is one of the most unrecognizable covers I’ve ever heard. Only at the end of the song do you catch the familiar guitar riff.

Released just after Talking Heads' More Songs About Buildings and Food, they're part of the first batch of New Wave American artists that turned punk into something silly, fun, and accessible to the public. It's catchy and wild; you could dance and scream along. These songs are iconic. It breaks down pop structures, unlike their next album Freedom of Choice which has "Whip It" still being played on classic radio. You get parodies on classics like "Satisfaction" and "Johnny B. Goode" which are essentially unrecognizable to the songs they originally destructured. You only get a hint of rockabilly in "Come Back Jonee". Instead, we get a fusion of punk, surf, synths, and a whole lotta not giving a fuck. Whole album is genius. I can't think of a single skippable track. It's too short and diverse for you to get bored or tired at any point. The vocals are unique and fun. Lyrics are hilarious. Synths are whimsical. Beats are fast and cool. Guitars are rhythmic and groovy. "Uncontrollable Urge" is a strong intro that sets off the rest of the album. Every other song has its own personality and story that has it stick out. Tons of overlooked ideas, like the Velvet Undergound-esque distortion in "Gut Feeling", the gothic of "Too Much Paranoias", or the industrial krautrock of "Jocko Homo". Only downside is I felt the ending was a bit weak. I liked "Sloppy" and "Shrivel-Up", but I felt like they could ended on a more of a satisfying bang. Really wish we had more records like this. It's so innovative, creative, and fun with no low points. I'm always replaying this one. Also, if you haven't seen them live, please do. They really show off their silliness and unpredictability when live. I heard they once played "Jocko Homo" for a half hour but no recordings have been discovered. I would kill to see that. Favorites: Uncontrollable Urge, Jocko Homo

Whip it good. I mean its Devo. Of course its great.

goes hard every track on here is silly fun but with a markedly satirical undercurrent. it captures the absurdities of the american empire and its culture, in a wrapper of catchy pop music as opposed to the more cerebral post-punk of their contemporaries Pere Ubu, propelling them to hugely influential status. easily their best album and these fellas were true pioneers, many of these songs written before the big punk explosion of 1976-77 highlight : Gut Feeling / Slap Your Mammy

So so good! I haven’t listened to this one in a while, and it was really fun to revisit. A terrific debut!

An obvious all-time fav and classic. Staple in any collection. Gut feeling, space junk, come back jonee, mogoloid.... Absolute favorite.

I love it. Weird lyricism, and a sound that feels like it's permanently on the verge of falling apart, yet somehow stays on track.

Some of the drumming and background seems almost Beach Boys-esque, and I hear lots of precursors/similarities to the Talking Heads. Also just like, weird electronic experimentation that's pretty fun.

Amazing! They were way ahead of their time!

Bija ok

This album upset my dog. 5 stars.

This was fun! I can’t describe it better than the Apple Music blurb, which called it “pop music from a dystopian novel”, tracking the group’s jokey “space caveman” idea that society was devolving rather than evolving.