Reviews (page 3 of 7)
It's an enjoyable and decently solid album of late '70s New Wave, music's most funloving genre, so it makes for a good time Shrivel up, DEVO!!
Never heard of these before but thats what this list is for. Really enjoyed this one actually, great sound. Not the greatest fan of the Satisfaction cover though - it was unique and they've made it theirs but it just didn't hit the same way the original does.
Hell yeah, I love my weird little autistic bands. Quality.
DEVO! They are a fun band. I'm not usually a new wave guy but I've always enjoyed them. Weird experimental music almost always hits well for me. This album is no exception, its a fun, odd album that lays out an entire genre of music. Sadly most of the bands that went for this sound never quite hit it.
The new wave era was just magic. I think there's not a single bad album from this time.
Just a blast. I have to deduct one star for the one song (you know which one).
Good, but not their best album. Their best album is FREEDOM OF CHOICE with the iconic standard, "Whip It", where they would perfect the balance of synth Kraftwerk and rock The Ramones. This album is a little too bare bones punk and doesn't show much of the innovations that Devo actually would bring to the genre of new wave where their influence was most felt. Their unique take on The Rolling Stones classic is more enjoyable than the original, as far as I am concerned. While this album is better than most of the punk albums that were chosen for this list, I think FREEDOM OF CHOICE is their most influential album to the masses and musicians. Personally, I would swap them.
Devo at their most weird and wonderful. Are We Not Men? Is kind of the sound of punk morphing into new wave in real time. This album kind of feels like a cultural garbage disposal, you throw rock, funk, surf, punk, pop in, and Devo gets their wormy hands in all the crevices and Devos them up. We end up with an album that sounds more or less like a New Wave project, but with sort of a punk soul. But that isn't all, we also get a twisted weirdo cover of (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, mutated surf riffs on Praying Hands, the abstract, opaque Space Junk, the skronky, discordant, delightfully obnoxious Jocko Homo, and the lower key, sour Shrivel-Up. And between these artier moments, Devo's sharp pop and punk songwriting really shines. Uncontrollable Urge, Mongoloid, and Sloppy are catchy, quirky, and fun. This is a really great collection of songs, and a *fantastic* debut. No one else, not even Devo can replicate the specific type of gleeful, catchy anarchy on Are We Not Men?
Nice upbeat album if a little weird and some songs being... no longer politically correct. Doesn't have 'Whip it' on which is the only DEVO song I knew before listening to this but gives off some similar vibes.
Fun, short album. my first time listening to devo other than whip it. Reminded me of Talking Heads somehow.
An okay album, I liked Uncontrollable Urge and (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction the most.
I recently watched the Netflix documentary (2025) on Devo, so I was excited to have this come up as I think I underrated Devo for a long time. This album was really fun, like Talking Heads meets Kraftwerk and surf rock, kind of. The standout track to me is "Gut Feeling / (Slap Your Mammy)" but I was continually impressed throughout. The rhythm section in their cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is wild. The simple composition but energy in "Uncontrollable Urge" is great. There isn't really a bad track, though the peaks of the songs aren't really as good as compared to, say, Talking Heads' albums of the same time. We can only wonder what this album would've sounded like if Brian Eno had been allowed more control in the studio. It's wild that anyone would restrict Eno so much, but I suppose he didn't have the same credentials that he has now. I respect Devo sticking to their vision of their songs and putting out what they wanted.
Funky af
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is in the running for best cover of any song ever. Beyond that, it's just a pure expression of it's time.
Fun and weird. Some real bangers. Jocko Homo is iconic
This works when Devo embrace the fact that they’re goofballs.
Weird
It gets lost in barely coherent noise for a bit, but overall a great album in the pioneering of New Wave. Guy feeling/Slap your Mammy and Come Back Jonee are the highlights to me.
jako dobro! ali mislio sam da će mi se još više svidjeti :( nema veze, sigurno ću opet slušati
4,5
Not usually the biggest fan of post punk/new wave but I did enjoy this one! I think the lack of distinct 80s synths made it more enjoyable for me.
Un gran descubrimiento, se nota su aire experimental y distinto, un disco marchoso que se compacta muy bien en su conjunto de canciones, una escucha muy amena. Sonidos muy bien cuidados y con carácter. Notable claro.
I really enjoyed this album. Great bass lines, weird lyrics and interesting music.
I can deny local heroes Devo.
Fuggin classic. So original so weird so kick ass
The most rated band of all time. I feel like everyone shouts about how they are sleeper hits but they’re just popular, I’m not sure they were ever underrated, or at least have had their rating adjusted so much at this point that it nullifies it. This has the best stones cover ever maybe? I saw and have been listening to a lot of modest Mouse this week and this hits that same “guitar being used in a sparser way than usual and strange man yelling over everything” itch that I love about them. This probably went a lot harder when it came out (or when it was rediscovered later as everyone tells me). Mongoloid sticks out as a weak entry here but the rest is all enjoyable.
Crappy cover of Satisfaction non withstanding this was prettt good 3.5
DEVO is so much more than just “Whip It”. This was a super fun listen!
My first exposure to Devo was on Saturday Night Live in 1978, with the yellow hazmat suits and the red flower pot hats and a version of "Satisfaction" that was unlike anything I had ever heard before. Now, 47 years later, things don't seem as de-evolutionary aa they did to 10 year old me. I don't know if music has caught up to them, or I am just older. I still kind of dig it though.
Surprisingly this was good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahyeahyeahyeahyeahyeahyeahYEAH! Devo is just so much fun to listen to. You start off with "Uncontrollable Urge," and just ride the coaster from there. I know their cover of "Satisfaction" is... hard to take sometimes (I played for my kid, who has a pretty open mind, and he walked right back out), but I dig it's quirkiness. Hearing "Jocko Homo"... I had heard "Weird Al" throwing it into one of his polka medleys first. So the original always feels weird to me. "Come Back Jonee" is a lot more punk than it has the right to be. Although most people know the few hits, this album really shows some of the stuff they can do. Really enjoyed it. Top tracks: "Uncontrollable Urge," "Satisfaction," "Praying Hands," "Too Many Paranoias," "Shrivel Up"
These guys are better than I thought they were and they are a clear part of the new wave and post punk evolution. I hear Blondie and the Talking Heads and even the Undertones (not American) in their songs. This album definitely has some fun parts; I'm just trying to sort out whether it was more up than down. Disc one is great. Uncontrollable Urge is awesome (so much energy) and I quite like their take on Satisfaction, especially the repeating of baby, baby, baby (and other word repeats). It's like The Sex Pistols' take on My Way - not as vulgar but their own twist. Praying Hands, Space Junk, and Mongoloid were also solid though it got weird on Jocko Homo (essentially the title track). Disc two wasn't as good but still solid, I think all of Too Much Paranoias, Gut Feeling, Come Back Jonee, and Sloppy are pretty fun and groovy. But then they end on another weird one in Shrivel Up. Still, a lot more ups than downs here. Like I said, they/this album are better than I thought.
This was so simultaneously of its time and ahead of its time. On one had, this album came out in 1978 and that's insane. On the other, it's really clear that this album came out in 1978, mostly because of the slurs. My favorite song's title is a slur against people with Down Syndrome. For it's time, though, the song is surprisingly progressive, talking about how people with it are totally normal and have jobs and hats and stuff. That's the main word I'd use to describe the album, progressive. Both stylistically and lyrically.
I like this one enough, not a 5 since it's a little bad sometimes. But it's good fun Will I listen to again: 89%
Great album containing some of their quirkiest and best known tunes
Really fun! And still as good as I recall from last time I heard it, Devo took me a while to enjoy but their weirdness and absurdness are the best part of their music. Specially in this album more than stuff later I think
How have I lived this long without giving Devo a listen? A few of these sounded familiar, but the only song I knew for sure was the Satisfaction cover, which I love. It's much better than the original! So many other great songs on here, I can see as well how they would be considered very influential. Quite like Talking Heads, but with even more energy. I'm giving it a 4 for now, but could see this becoming a 5 for me over time.
Whew! That was a lot in one sitting. Cool album. But it feels like being yelled at after awhile.
Surprise hit! Liked it.
A classic from my youth! I loved everything about Devo when they hit the music scene. Devo didn’t just bring a unique style or vibe — they were a conceptual shockwave, a full-blown eruption of image, irony, and identity. Devo was THE proto-MTV band.
Very good - so many ideas for a debut album. A band I never looked into in any detail but will now.
I knew only Uncontrollable Urge going in. Kind of punk, a little funk, and weirdness. I'm guessing they were influenced by The Talking Heads? I kinda dig it, but it's good that it is short because I could see it wearing out its welcome with more songs. I won't mention that one song that isn't on the album.
Honestly. This was great. I did enjoy this.
Seems appropriate to bring up the de-evolution of mankind these days. I grew up on "Whip It" but was mostly confused by the rest of their material as a kid (and that video for "Satisfaction" freaked me out a little) - the soulless robotic/machine-like aspect of the music wasn't something I was ready for when I was little but honestly exactly all of exactly that - the weird and disjointed and absolutely ungroovy aspect of it - is nearly perfect. Love it. 8/10 4 stars.
Straddling the space between punk runk and new wave, Devo delivers. Each instrument seems to mix together just right. Very good album.
This is an awesome, innovative album by a crazy talented band. Came out in 1978 but was a blueprint for what would come in 1980s post-punk alternative underground rock. Brian Eno and Mark Mothersbaugh are both geniuses! 4⭐️
It feels terrible to label Devo as a one-hit wonder band because of that one song with the music video where they wear those nipple hats. If their debut is anything to go by, they certainly shown enough talent and creativity to warrant more than one song. Granted, I feel like Devo walked so the Talking Heads can run, but it’s hard to imagine what new wave would be without this. It’s a perfect mash-up of surf rock and classic sci-fi that comes off as genuinely catchy. There’s some good weird shit in here, from Space Junk to the deconstructed cover of I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction). Hope the list makers saw more potential in Devo to put more on here. Favorite track: Jocko Homo Other hits: Uncontrollable Urge, Praying Hands, Shrivel-Up, Mongoloid, I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction), Space Junk
Nice one.
It’s Devo! It’s a great album!
Court, punché, nerveux et singulier.
4. We are DEVO.
Ridiculous, wild, barely music, wonderful.
Fun album with a pretty good cover of Satisfaction.
I thought this would be a 5 but I wasn't feeling it all the way through. Still very good of course. But I guess I wish it was all more energetic and punk leaning songs, like Mongoloid and Uncontrollable Urge and Gut Feeling.
Quality new wave, I don’t want to write a review rn
Great!
On sent le ptit Brian Eno à l’oeuvre ici, ça clique pas autant qu’avec Talking Heads par contre, mais c’est une belle ride
New wave pioneers. Quirky art ensemble with some catchy tunes. Solid album.
I really only know Devo from Whip It! and Uncontrollable Urge. From both, I fully anticipate a kooky (in a good way) ride. I always found Uncontrollable Urge to be a silly song. I still think it is, but it is undeniably fun. Borderline rockabilly in tone. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction is such a fresh interpretation of the classic Stones song. Doesn't make any attempts to replace the original -- re-packages it into a completely different framework that works entirely on its own separate kooky level. Jocko Homo is an interesting one -- a parody of anti-evolution philosophy written to some interesting time signatures that invert midway through. Too Much Paranoias is goofy, but enjoyable straight through -- stand out to me. Gut Feeling / Slap Your Mammy is about as straight a cut as this album has given so far and it is delightful. The vocals might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think they work so well (similar to how David Byrne works with the Talking Heads). Man I absolutely love Shrivel-Up. The bass reminds me of Primus and the whole thing is wonderfully weird. After a single listen, it is safe to say this was a hell of a lot of fun. Heaping doses of kookiness that is interesting from start to finish and is wonderfully concise at just under 35 minutes. This was fantastic. Gut Feeling is this is just below 5 territory, but I will be back for sure.
ENOOOOOOOOOOOOO I for one am very excited to see these guys in Ocean City later this year. Pretty silly but refreshingly unique stuff. Gut Feeling is such a fun song. Shrivel-Up has a pretty spooky vibe to it. This gets a 4 for being crazy unique and weird that it confused me on what to give it. Would probably go 3.5 if that was possible.
So fun musically and with some interesting lyrics as well.
Really fun and rad. Punk, post-punk, new wave, oddball avant-garde, dumb and smart all wrapped up in one. Must-listen #127.
Very fun! A great opening track, a fun little cover of Satisfaction, and off to the races for a zany good time from start to finish. I love the energy. I can hear their influence on post-punk revival bands like The Futureheads. The most purely enjoyable album in this game so far.
Wild record. Not the best start to finish but has some crazy tracks throughout. This would have been so crazy to hear in the 70’s just from how different it is. Future synths. Rigid but fast guitars. Weird/bizarre lyrics/vocals from the guy who wrote the sims soundtrack later in life? Nice
Eneste problem med den her bog er at der ikke er nok new wave. (Det her er nærmest mere punk end new wave, men også en af de der plader hvor det er lidt skørt at diskutere genre. Det er pisse sjovt. Fremragende plade.)
we are not men 💅
ok devo you win
7/10
Devolved
Really enjoyed this album, with the exception of the lyrics of the 5th track. I'd written much more about this but somehow I failed to hit save so you're gonna have to do with this
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background I'm just slightly too young to have caught Devo in their late 70s / early 80s heyday. Every listen I found I enjoyed it more than the previous time. This is somewhere between a 3 and a 4 right now...I'll round up to a 4.
Q: Is this not good? A: Yes it is
I love weird and innovative things like this. They weren’t afraid to do something out of the norm.
This was awesome, started and ended very strong. A great, fun way to spend 30 minutes
Q: Are Devo Not Men?
March 23, 2025 HL: “Satisfaction”, “Jocko Homo”, “Gut Feeling” Maybe not their BEST work, but a satisfying intro to Devo & their balance of poppy consonance and wacky dissonance
Didn’t know what to expect with that album cover but was pleasantly surprised when “Uncontrollable Urge” started playing. Really sets the mood of punky, silly, high energy music. The album is just fun and I enjoyed it. Pretty short which is always a good sign in my book. 4 star.
Необычное название альбома = необычное звучание. Данный альбом мне зашел своим уникальным звучанием, смесью электроники и рока. И, если честно, для 1978 года это звучит очень круто, моментами в треках проскакивают звучание, которое было очень популярно в 90х. Определенно классное творение, заслуживающее внимание. Если как обычно сравнивать с кем то группу, то Devo больше всего напоминает лично мне Weezer. В 90х Weezer играл музыку на свежо звучащих инструментах, при этом используя достаточно старые мотивы. В музыке Devo можно проследить схожие черты. Кавер на Rolling Stones мне заходит намного больше оригинала, в Sloppy просто замечательный припев, а кавер на Хендрикса вышел хорошим примером нового звучания известной песни. Я считаю, что данный альбом хорошо дополняет нью вейв волну в роке тех лет и его непременно следует послушать каждому. Каверные (и не только) 4/5
Odd and intriguing and annoying like a good punch in the face that you needed.
I did not use a private session for Spotify. I like this album, it's got some new wave classics on in. There is one song on it that is hard to listen to, so it ain't all zingers. But its fun.
Great album. A unique sound is hard to capture and Devo does it with ease. (20 known/33 new)
Bit of fun, bit of a grower. Rugrats.
All in all, a very solid record. One of the more unique new wave bands, both technically and production-wise, who have managed to record an innovative album, where every track is a story for itself. Melody-wise, some post-punk-ish influence can obviously be heard, which makes this album even more special, along with Brian Eno's masterful assistance.
Good fun.
4.5/5
Loveeeee
I love it when bands get weird
Wtf did I just listen and why did I like it?
Pretty unique sound. I think it’s a bit too conceptual though, not as enjoyable.
baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby
very tongue and check forward thinking new wave alothough not all of the lyricism has ages gracefully it it undeniably fun 7/10
Fire
baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby
what if there was a whole band made out of neil cicierega? now you know.
I hurt my middle finger on Friday after drinking so I'll keep it brief: I was overhyped going in, but I loved it while listening the first time and it got better yet the second (which I don't always have time for so I'll try to not be biased). I think I finally understand the answer to the prompt and why they are DEVO. Good shit. 8.5/10
8/10 Pleasantly surprised by how fun and funny this record still is, considering the band’s reputation I would’ve assumed this album was way tamer and nerdier, but it’s actually quite unhinged at points in a way that I really like. They manage to be both witty and abrasive in really creative ways, offering some really interesting song concepts and Pop and Punk fusions that work really well, it really is unafraid to be what it is even if may seem a bit cringe or dorky at points. While it isn’t a perfect Punk album, it certainly deserves a mention amongst the best of the genre. The quirky teen from 1978 that listened to this probably got shoved in the smallest lockers.
Love Devo, this album is great, like most of their output, I think having a massive hit really hurts them in most people's eyes but they never disappoint on each record, you'll find some bangers throughout
Great
4.5
I really wanted to like this album mainly because this is the kind of post punk/new wave I really get into. My main hangup is the quirky vocal delivery which worked for me on some track... Not so much on others. My stand out tracks were "Mongoloid", "Gut Feeling", and "Come Back Jonee" (probably the least quirky of the bunch) but also found but parts of "Uncontrollable Urge", "Space Junk", and "Too Much Paranoias" tasty as well. This may be an album I have to warm up to, but I gave it two listens today mainly because it seems I should like this more than it's hitting me. (7.75) ★★★½ (four in the app)
One of the coolest punk/new wave albums I have heard. "Gut Feeling" is a fantastic song. 4 stars
At times it gets a little too quirky for me, but there's a lot of great tunes here including "Uncontrollable Urge", "Mongoloid", "Gut Feeling", and their iconic cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction". 4 stars
Crazy cool album with crash of elements such careening punk rock riffs, bellowing stutter of nerd baboon vocals and a laboratory of synths gone haywire plus a lyrical thread of humans evolving backwards because evil technology. It’s all a restless barrel of fun that threatens to get too tetchy and tuneless with noise assaults like Jocko Homo but mostly stays with the realms of classic. Uncontrollable Urge is a knockout brilliant and punchy intro, the cover of Stones’s Satisfaction is made to be as perfectly awkward and discombobulated as possible and is somehow more satisfying than the original and Gut Feeling near the end has a gliding krautrock feel and is a phenomenal standout.
"Play Whip it!" "No. Play the other one." DEVO are a weird band, and I love strange music. He almost has a David Byrne quality to his voice which I like. A lot of these songs have very funky (in both meanings of the word) beats. A short and strange album. Low 4.
Quite a quirky album with some cool songs and a dry delivery. Enjoyable
The new wave of new wave, an impressive start for all that was to come
Such an enjoyable, original sound, full of surprise and a light sound. It loses a star for the covers, but they made the covers their own and did them well.
As daft as it is, I enjoyed this a lot!
My favorite take on Satisfaction. Devo is the end result of the awkward nerdy kid in class discovering himself when he heard punk rock for the first time.
I really enjoyed this one! Uncontrollable urge is a jam. This was fun.
Loved this, just leaks innovation. Devo weren't a band to settle for bog standard rock. Great use of rhythm - 5 bar phrasing 7/8 time sigs. Quirky and great.
Interestingly weird
I love these guys.
Very Devo
Love this album, although not one I play often. . Some great tunes, whilst also being completely bonkers. You can hear the seeds of so many contemporaries and successors in here. Mongoloid is both of its time and timeless. It also has the only decent cover of Satisfaction ever made - the quirky-jerkiness adding to the original sentiment admirably.
Lots of energy. I like it when these experimental records are also fun to listen to and not just an excuse to scream into a microphone.
A rip roaring good time.
Punk/ electronic fusion at its finest
Kova ja piristävä! Kieli poskessa tehtyä outoilupunkkia 4/5
Their version of Satisfaction is worth the album.
I'm not sure I've ever liked this? But I liked what it did to the music scene. It allowed people to be weird again.
I have never listened to a Devo album, somehow. It's cool. It's entertaining. The cover of a terrible Stones song and the Jonee B. Good riffing are irreverent in a neat way. I want more heart though. The B-52s can do all this and keep something full of life at the centre. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
Wacky
Great slice of post punk
Very fun and at times even funny. These guys fire in all sorts of directions and hit a lot more than they miss. Still hadn't come up with their iconic hats yet. Key tracks: Uncontrollable Urge Mongoloid Jocko Homo Shrivel Up
We are Devo D-E-V-O Classic fun Devo
Reminds me of my childhood playing with toys in the basement while DEVO is on the radio.
What a great debut from a great band. Bunch of fuckin nerds that figured out a cool way to talk shit about the knuckle draggers amongst us. Just a unique take on new wave and post punk with 70s electronic influences (can, cluster, prob kraftwerk etc) that is so much fun. The stones cover is honestly my least favorite part. It was kind of interesting, but that could have just been left for live shows. Fav track: mongoloid
Great album!
relatively decent, but it got a bit repetitive after listening to a few songs. i do recommend if you like this type of music since i do think there’s an audience out there
I had fun
Devolution is real
Thoughts before listening: Another album I own. Devo is super fun, and like my previous comments on Talking Heads, they are so much more important than their one novelty of a hit. This album was a very important one for punk and alternative music, and many musicians that I enjoy cite Devo as a major influence. The band's punk side really shines on this album. Review: Devo's sound is punk rock but played a bit slowed down for more of a "chunky" affect. Theres also a fair amount of humor and silliness mixed in here. Really fun album by a great band that inspired many others. 4-stars
Ahead of its time. We continue to devolve as a species. We are not men.
Just imagine finding this when it was released in the late 70’s. Even weirder then!
3.6
This was fun. I don't get the impression that they take themselves too seriously, which I appreciate, especially for this genre. I'd listen to it again.
One of the iconic albums of my '20's. There's always a concern when one of these crops up - & of course some stuff is iconic because it takes you back to a particular time or place rather than it's intrinsic musical merit. Pleased to say this one's held up very well.
Not an all time classic, but it's really fun. I Can't Get No Satisfaction has to be one of the best covers of all time.
It writes it's own rules.
Sometimes things age really well, life a fine wine, and other times wine sits too long and turns to vinegar. There are some tracks on here that weren't even good for their time. I'm a mongoloid? Ouch. Great satire, sure. But the art that was derivative of this exceeds the original – specifically Weird Al's interpretation of Homo Jocko and his Devo pastiche, Dare to be Stupid. Favorite track: Satisfaction.
D E V O WE ARE DEVO
Are we not men? We are DEVO! Fun, quirky album. Good time all around. Standouts: Uncontrollable Urge, Praying Hands, Jocko Homo, and Gut Feeling/(Slap Your Mammy).
It reminded me a lot of early Talking Heads so cool to see Eno produced this one before working with them. The opening track is iconic and sounds like a precursor to Song 2 a couple decades later. Some good grooves throughout but usually not enough for me to save the songs to library. Still short and fun though. Rating: 3.6
Uncontrollable Urge is a great song. Next song sucks. Rest is good too. Slap Your MAMMY is great too.
I have an uncontrollable urge to headbang to this album! This music just makes you feel good, I think it comes with a pill that makes you want to scream these lyrics at the top of your lungs. Now I just need to learn the lyrics 😂
Wacky enough that it is catchy. I remember when this came out. It was cutting edge and funny at the same time. I enjoyed it.
Yeah, Devo is cooler than I remembered. 3.5/5
You may not like it at first but you will… everyone does eventually.
Classic weird, need rock
Thought it was super creative and sometimes were just amazing. Other songs were a little bit out there for me, but I still really like this album. I would rate this one a four out of five.
One of Kent State’s finest!
LFG!!! Satisfaction is such a goofy cover.
Just a fun album
A classic New Wave album owing a heavy debt to German experimental rock band Can. Devo were yet another part of the ultra productive period of Bowie and Eno's Berlin years that also included Bowie's most experimental releases and the first two solo albums from Iggy Pop. In other words, they were in very good company and really tapped in at exactly the right moment. I love Devo though it's far from a perfect album. The imperfections kind of add to its charm and the whole devolution image. I can't explain why but I can easily listen to this album on repeat. At the time of this writing, 'Gut Feeling' isn't on Spotify. I hope that gets sorted soon because it's the best song on the whole album.
Extra fine
That was a hilarious way to spend 35 minutes. Songs like “Gut Feeling” and “Space Junk” really show that you gotta be silly to have fun. Also, the Stones cover, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, really threw me off in a good way. Despite this silly positivity, Devo’s humor is somewhat different from mine, as illustrated by “Sloppy”. This album deserves to be in the Library of Congress, and it also deserves a 4.315/5, or an 86.3%. Fav: “Gut Feeling / Slap Your Mammy”, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” Least Fav: “Sloppy”
You expect absurd entertainment and you get entertaining absurdism
Stumbled upon this record purely by accident. Bought it as a cheap used record and my kids loved to dance to it so I listened to it way more than I may have otherwise. Fun, energetic, experimental.
good, 4.5/5. i'm tired of reviews, this is the best new wave album from the 70's
We are DEVO!
Ah, primordial new wave! Back when it was weird, post punk-y and art rock-y! And much more palatable post-punk, too, than ‘Metal Box’! I'd probably be more into their other albums (the ones that lean more into synth pop and sound more like Weird Al's pastiche "Dare To Be Stupid"), but I really do appreciate this one for how odd it is without being a mess.
A quick 30ish minute burst of punk and synth-fueled tracks that give the concept of De-Evolution a sound. Great stuff.
I did something I don’t normally do with these albums, and that’s go back to the first few songs after finishing. I’m glad I did, because I definitely came into this album with the wrong mindset – it originally clicked for me around Track 5 that the sort of cacophony I was embedded in was a very controlled and intentional chaos, which became incredibly apparent by Track 7, and from that point on, once they broke through to me, I thought tracks 8 & 9 were a great string of strong melodies and fun vocals, but that kind of started to fizzle out with how awkward the last 2 tracks felt. As soon as the album ended, I went back to the first 4 and definitely had a better time with them, except that the Rolling Stones cover was still just a little too different for my tastes. All in all, though, I’d say…weirdly enough, it’s a 3.5 that I’m gonna go ahead and round up to a 4, if only because they managed to pull me out of whatever biases or predispositions I had, and made me really listen to what they were going for, and in that sense, I appreciate the hell out of this album for doing that. There’s definitely flaws, namely that I just think it’s still a bit off putting near the end, and that sometimes it IS too chaotic, but it’s a really tightly produced album that takes a bit to crack through, and it might not ever crack through for some people, but when you get it, you just get it, and it makes the album work.
"Q: Are We Not Men?" is the debut album of DEVO. Post-punk which heavily embraces the new electronica, this album is a huge stepping stone in the progression of music for this era. This album is quintessentially 80's, but was released in 1978, which shows how ahead of the time DEVO was. Although this album is a little rough and does not have any of DEVO's top singles, this album is strong work and does have a very unique cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction".
Enjoyable listen. More guitar driven than I expected. Uncontrollable Urge is a flat out banger. The satire is biting throughout the album. Hugely influential. Will listen again.
So good. So fun. Still sounds fresh. Their version of Satisfaction is a five star song. The podcast 99% Invisible recently had a good episode called Devolutionary Design that was all about the cover art for this album.
A lot like talking heads.
Pretty influential and ahead of its time.
On first listen so many of the songs just sounded awful/awkward to me.. and I'm sure that is partially intentional, just since it's Devo, but after a few listens it really grew on me. Super goofy, wacky, bizarre and mechanical but still has bops. 8/10
Devo is Talking Heads if David Byrne got an early autism diagnosis. All the beautiful, neurodivergent angst and chaos of, say, Fear of Music, but with no intention from the musicians to be anyone but themselves. Even if that occasionally came at the expense of the music. All I know is I will be blasting Mongoloid at every house party I go to from now on to ensure nobody ever lets me connect to a speaker again.
This was fun, although I don't know if they could get away with a song called "Mongoloid" in today's political climate.
YES!! I know a lot of this album, but not the whole thing. "Uncontrollable Urge" "Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy)" and their amazing cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" are already faves. "Mongoloid" obviously has an extremely dated title and lyric, but if you ignore that it is also a jam. I didn't know Brian Eno produced this, along with David Bowie being involved. The wikipedia for this album is great! It's 1978 post-punk/ early new wave - it sounds like a sillier version of Talking Heads '77. I enjoyed it, first time standouts were Praying Hands and Shrivel Up.
I love a debut that acts as a thesis statement for an artist, and this album is one of the best examples of that. The whole concept of “De-Evolution” is both silly and satirical and they take it through each track. And in addition to the noise and weirdness, there are also some solid songs on here.
Still sounds like the future four decades later. This Akron, Ohio band never fails to sound unlike anything else. Catchy synth riffs mixed with interesting instrumentation brings together the odd time signatures and overall wonderful mix that singer Mark Mothersbaugh would become known for.
Devo is probably the best band name of all time. this album is really cool, I don't get some of the tracks like jocko homo yet, but there's also great post punk/nee wave classics like uncontrollable urge and gut feeling.
If you can get into this album's bizarre manic energy, it's a lot of fun. Not an every day kinda listen for me personally, but I can definitely appreciate it occasionally. Off the wall in a good way.
4.25
Fuck yes! I love DEVO!!!!! (I can’t get no) Satisfaction sums up perfectly everything they do well, take an existing song that is great and make it so sharp, jarring, and full of energy that you can’t help but dance to it. unfortunately one song has aged catastrophically, so badly that I couldn’t listen to it, but the rest of the album and how different DEVO were still makes this a great. 4/5
Fun and weird. Did enjoy.
It definitely didn't age that well but back in the day this album was a lot of fun. Ridiculous but fun. The cover of Satisfaction and name of the album are examples of this.
From the album title to the quirky sound, to the artwork (Chi-Chi Rodriguez!?!?), this is an unforgettable album - a light-hearted alternative to The Clash or The Pistols. I was surprised to learn that Brian Eno produced it, but they only allowed his synths on a few of the songs, oh well. Good Fun!
This is seminal post-punk/proto-new wave that ranks up there with the best late 70s bands like Talking Heads, Elvis Costello and the Cars. Gut Feeling and Mongoloid are my favourites on this album. Lead singer Mark Mothersbaugh isn't the greatest vocalist, with its herky jerky vocals and but he later shows his talent by penning many brilliant soundtracks for a host of Wes Anderson films, TV shows and also video games. The production by Brian Eno is also top shelf.
An alternative rock classic. Innovators of the genre.
By whatever circumstances as a kid I wandered into New Wave and got Devo - New Traditionalists on cassette tape. As was fashionable at the time it was probably through Columbia House, 12 for 1 penny. You could say that record was a little edgy, quirky, spacey, but certainly not punk. It probably took me years/decades before I was ready to roam back into their earlier records, including this one from 1978. They were much more brash, punk (more inclined to They Might Be Giants punk than The Sex Pistols), irrepressible, and deviant before they became known as synth-dweebs. I think they were discounted as being a kitschy gimmick act, and did mellow out. Not sure how I would have reacted as a pre-teen to this record or if my mom would have been copacetic. In any case, after about 45 years it is fresh, aggressive and hilarious.
Weird but fun, thoroughly enjoyed.
det här albumet har något alltså. mongoloid är en sinnessjuk låt men också cool. vissa låtar är lite för plojjiga på något vis så en svag fyra får det bli.
I am so glad Devo existed in the world. It would be a less interesting place without them.
Weird, different. Love it.
I cannot describe why I like this, but I do.
Punk? New Wave? Both?
I have a tough time putting a rating on this one, as it has some songs I truly love, like "Uncontrollable Urge", "Gut Feeling" and "Jocko Homo". It also has a few that I almost always skip. I go for 4, as it really captures what this band was about, how unique and crazy they were, and the range of catchy, quirky, post-punk nerdiness they could exhibit.
I really enjoyed this. I always thought of Devo as kind of a novelty act but now I realize there was a lot more going on. Sort of Talking Heads-ish. 4 stars.
Some good old fashioned rock and roll!
This is great. Didn't know what to expect, but I've been pleasantly surprised. Obviously some of the language used is problematic, but what wasn't problematic in the 1970s? The inclusion of live tracks is unfortunate, but the performances and recording are decent enough to not distract too much. But live stuff is usually an automatic 1 star, so we have to acknowledge it in the score.
Great album. I loved the energy and the silly weirdness of it. Hard to believe this came out in 1978. Ahead of its time for sure. Favorite Songs: Uncontrollable Urge, Gut Feeling Least Favorite Songs: Shrivel-Up, Satisfaction, Space Junk
Not quite sure how to classify this album. Is it punk, or new wave, or synth pop/rock/electronica, or some manifestation of what Mark Mothersbaugh dreams at night? Regardless, Devo deserves a spot outside the mantle of one hit wonder for Whip It. Being included in the 1001 is an appropriate acknowledgement of their artistry
From the gunsmoke and dead bodies at Kent State to the two-sided wax and endorsements from Eno & Bowie on stage, devolution was documented at its most pure and revelatory in this post-punk/new wave classic. A world's away from what they would eventually be immortalized as, Are We Not Men? is Devo at its most high-octane, most frenzied and most imaginative in regards to both original and covered material, leading the way in terms of longevity that's still going on in unexpected ways over forty plus years on. They may not be men but they surely are who they say they are. We've heeded that succinctly. Favorites: Uncontrollable Urge, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Praying Hands, Mongoloid, Jacko Homo, Gut Feeling/(Slap Your Mammy), Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin'), Shrivel-Up.
Great memories. Fun music.
Yeah! Love Devo. Not sure I’ve ever listened to a studio album through though, so I'm a little nervous that I'm just too used to Greatest Hits. Out the gate... pretty punk, but quirky. Satisfaction, such a great unique cover. Defines the 80's sound of New Wave. Ahead of its time for sure. So unabashedly dorky... I love it. Gut Feeling is a classic and sounds great! Seriously love this track. Probably gonna go with a 4/5 because although the hits are amazing and I love this band, it's pretty short and even still it's inconsistent in production and quality, and there are many lackluster tracks.
One of the things that has struck me with the albums that I've been getting lately is that I like music, but it has to be my kind of weird. Trout Mask Replica and The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter are great examples of weird albums that I really detested. This, on the other hand, is my kind of weird. It helps that the music is really good, and the album is very self aware about what it is and what it's trying to accomplish. Musically, the mix of rock instruments and synthesizers is great, and not something I've seen much elsewhere on this list. It seems like lots of bands become synthesizer bands when they start integrating the instruments, but Devo feels distinctly like a rock band, even on their synthesizer-heavy songs. The more I listen to it, the more this album feels distinct from nearly everything else that I've been listening to on here, despite the fact that I've been through nearly 650 albums at this point The whole album is silly, yet very well executed. It's like it refused to take itself seriously, but is performed at such a high level that we must take it seriously. The fact that it came out in 1978 seems impossible to me. I would have pegged it in the mid-80s for sure 4/5
This album absolutely deserves a place on this list and the songs are pretty good as well. This is the forebearer of new wave and the 80's sound that other artists copied or tried to copy. I will never be a Devo fan, mostly because I find the lyrics to be trite and trying too hard to be quirky. I don't connect with the music, but I have to admit it is good music.
Whip it!
4.5
surpsingly good. that 70s punk I usually dont like but some wild sounds like soad
DEVO!! More proof that late 70s/early 80s new wave is some sick shit!
One of my favourite album covers
This album felt like it had big 'Jim Carrey in the Mask' energy. Fun times, another point in the 'I liked it' column for Brian Eno, his track record is starting to level out for me.
Aussi fun qu'inventif
Very good album. I remember listening to this a long time ago and being a bit disappointed that it wasn't more wild like my assumptions said it would be. Knowing what I was getting into, it was a very fun listen and I'd definitely listen to it more. 4/5
Sucks that the catchiest song on the album is titled after and frequently repeats a slur. B+ otherwise, love Devo but certain elements just don’t hold up
Bolje nego sam očekivala 3 pjesme sam lajkala
Ako ste se ikada pitala tko je DEVO ovaj album vam odgovara na vaše pitanje
We are devo!!
I'm a bit too young (5 years maybe) and probably on the wrong continent to have grown up with Devo as a thing. Beyond Whip It! I didn't know their music at all. And that was probably through Rockband or something. This is alright. I enjoyed the vaguely new-wave, punky sort of sound and there are some decent individual tracks. I'd listen to it again if I cam across it randomly but I might not go out of my way to find it. Better than average certainly.
I really liked this. Definitely frenetic — there were times it sounded like Talking Heads meets King Crimson — and interesting to hear a more guitar-driven side to the band. I'd heard much of this ... well... some of this before, but hearing it all in one album brought that point home. I listened to some of "Freedom Of Choice" after this was over to get a feel for the more electronic vibe. It's all good. I am not man. I am Devo.
This album was so fun! I can definitely hear the inspiration for some of my favourite indie rock bands today
This band is fantastic. Even as a young teen when I first heard 'Whip It!', I loved their humor. Much later, I realized what excellent musicians they are. I am glad I got to listen to this album in full, which I hadn't done before. When I place this album in the time and context of when it was recorded and released, it's clear to me how ahead of their time they were. So fun. And I do remember devoted Stones fans losing their minds over Devo's cover of 'Satisfaction' on this album. That cracked me up. Superb!
Ну вообще снова база, но тут какая-то фишечка была, так что 4о4ка
Ok
Was not expecting Devo lol
I always feel like I should like New Wave more than I actually do. The A side is a little generic but the B side is wonderfully weird and very Devo
a very Important album in music history, which isn’t always a good thing with this list. I’m always gonna love some Devo, though
LP
How was this the first time I've listened to a Devo album? I can't say, but one thing I'm sure of is I've been missing out. So much wasted time...
Love me some DEVO. Some songs are dated and a little problematic, (we don't say Mongoloid anymore) But still such great tunes on this album.
It’s wild, fun, electric, and just plain interesting music. Some songs are better than others, but this album deserves a listen in its entirety.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, kinda goofy but good
Somehow so dated, and yet so ahead of its time. It boggles me that this was less than 15 years after the Beatles formed. Some parts hold up better than others, but this is a fun, interesting, and self-embracingly weird cut.
A truly fun electronic punk/New wave record.
First time listening to Devo. Love it
This is the kind of punky new wave music I can behind. Loud and fast, but without being repetitive or boring. This is weird shit. Devo were ahead of their time. This is probably a 4.5 star for me, and I've chosen to round down, but I could have gone in either direction on this one.
Parcela doidona da lista. Tem que ter. Gostei. Ouvia as duas primeiras e pronto. Se não fosse essa lista...os caras tocam muito. Essa lezeira é proposital. Genial.
It's very close to a 5, but i want to reserve 5 in case something better comes up.
This album is so cool, a monument of its generation. It's a really fun, enjoyable and light journey amongst the punkish new-wave of the late 70s.
Never heard this album before. I of course have heard the songs Uncotrollable Urge and the iconic take on Satisfaction, but the rest of the album is new to me, and I love it. Almost every song has a way to bore its way into your brain to the point where I'm humming it at various points in the day. A couple of the songs are just a little too angular for my tastes which keeps it from being a 5 but its oh soooo close. 4.5 stars
Funky. 4/5
brand new
Not that great in songwriting, but a genre-defining staple
Classic Devo. This started a whole new sound in music. Standouts: Uncontrollable Urge, I Can't Get No Satisfaction, Jacko Homo Others: Praying Hands, Mongoloid, Too Much Paranoid, Come Back Jonee 4/5
Way better then Whip it
Really consistent and good album, even beyond the radio hits. Creative and experimental without losing structure, and very well produced.
Notes - New wave post-punk - Produced by Brian Eno! He’s EVERYWHERE - I used to listen to this album in high school a BUNCH - Love how crisp and punchy this album is - Every part of it just worms into your brain - Jangly, percussive guitar parts - Yelped vocals - Very distinct sound aesthetic - Talking heads-y (Eno connection) Fav - Too much paranoias - Love the energy and guitar part Least fav - Come back jonee - Sounded unfinished 4/5
Would buy this.
Always down for Punk.
these guys play fast; they did Satisfaction at three times Rolling Stones speed
I occasionally wonder what the person who can't see any value in stuff like Devo actually likes musically. My brain screams 80s Phil Collins, but perhaps that's reductive. Plainly not for everyone, but love em, they ripped it up and started again.
Uncontrollable Urge e mega banger classic album också
Awkward, angular and all the better for it
Littéralement mind blown, le mélange de son est ahurissant, c'est tellement en avance sur son temps. L'une des découvertes les plus surprenantes des 1001
bien qsy! muy diver. 8 /10
4.5
I listened to Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo for the first time in the last year and a half. I wanted to see what else was on the album with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Jocko Homo". In general I like the mix of electronic, new wave, and punk that is Devo. There are several tracks from the band that I will always be willing to listen to, and some that I will play again just because the song scratches a particular itch. "Space Junk", "Gut Feeling" and "Mongloid" were new tracks to me that I added to my personal playlist. Rating this album is a little strange because based on my individual track ratings this album gets 3 stars, but I would have to admit that I might just listen to the album again to have a full Devo experience.
Classic.
So good! Classic. Original sound. Image this came out in 1978! 4/5
Campy but fun.
Right off the bat, great, known song (Uncontrollable Urge) and in a few movies. Satisfaction is obviously a cover but a great take on it - reminds me of the movie Casino. All else is good too but it does taper off. 8/10.
It’s fun and out there in just the right ways.
From the art design, to the sound, and the cover of the Stones Satisfaction and the reminder of gut Feeling being used in Wes Anderson's (shocking!) The Life Aquatic, just a lot to enjoy here.
Very good
Great album. Are We Not Men? Stradles that punk / post-punk / new wave perfectly. As a bonus, the only non-Devo song written by the band, The Rolling Stones (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction is a great example of taking an original and putting your spin on it. 4/10
NERRRRRRRDS
Devo is nuts, love em forever
Great, top-to-bottom!
A fun romp with the zany introduction to devo. Favorites: "Uncontrollable Urge", "(I Can't Get No) Satisfsction", "Gut Feeling / (Slap Your Mammy)"
Serves well to remember this is an amazing album - avant garde and still relevant. I forgot - I had devolved - now I remember.
Early new wave sound still very much influenced by punk. I heard a lot of the Kinks in this album. I enjoyed the strange lyrical content and the playfulness with rhythms. Overall not a bad album. I can definitely see how this links to later new wave and post punk sounds
I absolutely love the insanity of this Album.
So easy to only think of Whip It when you hear Devo. Enjoyed this album and it's fast raw sound. Reminded me of early Talking Heads at some points which would have been contemporary to this album's release.
Classic. Impossible to not love
Hard to imagine the shock this would have had on release. Still utterly bonkers in places, the best ever Satisfaction cover, and in Mongoloid a song that could never have been written today (I remember the lyrics being printed in Smash Hits). Only not a 5 as one too many song follows the same template.
Classic Jams. Much better than I expected.
What a fun listen
I'd forgotten how punky this album was! Jittery, flinchy and angular with a very perverse sense of humour. You couldn't get away with calling a track Mongoloid today, but kudos for using the quantum term 'superposition' in a lyric.
I remember seeing the video for Satisfaction back in the day, with the sawn-off guitars and weird vocals, I was hooked. Not recommended for fans of .38 Special, just sayin'
All the familiar and obscure-ness.
4.5
4.4 + The album that proves that Devo isn't just an oddball sideshow act. It's raucous, manic and catchy from jump, full of jagged edges and jangly surprises. The sound is a blend of Talking Heads and Kraftwerk, with the sneering irony of punk rock. \"Mongoloid\" is an absolute banger. A good album to play when you're over-caffeinated and needing to crank out some annoying tasks.
Groovy tunes. Very fun to bop to.
Album cover and name are an easy 5*, Songs are good weird Devo tracks so only makes it to a 4 overall
Have to like it as an akronite.
DEVO isn’t really my jam, but the album was good enough 🤷🏻♂️
Too much paranoias is a track that fits in perfectly with what alternative rock would become in the 90’s. Gut feeling is a bop
It was alright. Kind of punk-ish
Quirky, nerdy, urgent and paranoid post punk/new wave/surf rock with tons of humor and satire. Weird, but in that good way.
Great!
So rad.
Finest band in plastic flowerpot hats ever. Really great album.
Devo is a one-of-a-kind band. Though they weren't quite coneheads yet, you could sense their weird nerd-iness and quirky delivery through many of their songs. The album starts with a banger and follows up with a cover that rivals the original. Devo rules at playing their songs in their little oddball world. Not ever song is a winner but this album is an undeniable new wave cornerstone. We Are DEVO!
This is a solid album! The music is great, the concepts are wild -- it's all around a good/interesting listen.
Maybe the only Talking Heads rip-off band worth a damn
Devo is weird but I like it.
Real fuckjng good!
poop
A very curious album with sounds that probably had never been heard before. Very cool
Wonderfully odd, and a precursor to an onslaught of ska and new wave sounds. I don't have a good reason to like it, since the vocals are absolutely the type I despise, but it works for me in this combo. Still, this isn't an album I would reach for as readily as the other 5-stars, so 4 stars it is!
Devo sure is weird. Glad I listened the Frankenstein-like cut of the album + six live tracks + three B-sides as listed on Spotify. That meant I got Whip It again. Wild that "Mongoloid" doesn't cause more Discourse.
I can't help but smile when I listen to Uncontrollable Urge and it's link to Randy Marsh in South Park. I'm not the biggest Devo fan. It's weird and eclectic, and sometimes it's great, other times it doesn't land.
Oh man, this album art is brutal. Devo is an act I should enjoy more but they just are not for me. I appreciate the energy and weirdness they bring. On the album there are moments I’m totally on board, the closing track specifically is awesome. I just couldn’t imagine ever throwing on a Devo album. A lot of their stuff just plays like a fever dream and stresses me out. 3 stars
Oui bon bah voilà hein Playlist pick : Uncontrollable Urge