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

( 2 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Steve Huey
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. Q: Are We Not Men also revived the absurdist social satire of the Mothers of Invention, claiming punk rock's outsider alienation as a home for freaks and geeks. While Devo's appeal was certainly broader, their sound was tailored well enough to that sensibility that it still resonates with a ...
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More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Steve Huey
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. Q: Are We Not Men also revived the absurdist social satire of the Mothers of Invention, claiming punk rock's outsider alienation as a home for freaks and geeks. While Devo's appeal was certainly broader, their sound was tailored well enough to that sensibility that it still resonates with a rabid cult following. It isn't just the dadaist pseudo-intellectual theories, or the critique of the American mindset as unthinkingly, submissively conformist. It was the way their music reflected that view, crafted to be as mechanical and robotic as their targets. Yet Devo hardly sounded like a machine that ran smoothly. There was an almost unbearable tension in the speed of their jerky, jumpy rhythms, outstripping Talking Heads, XTC, and other similarly nervy new wavers. And thanks to all the dissonant, angular melodies, odd-numbered time signatures, and yelping, sing-song vocals, the tension never finds release, which is key to the album's impact. 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.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/25/1990
  • Label: Warner Bros / Wea
  • UPC: 075992736428
  • Catalog Number: 3239
  • Sales rank: 31,712

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Devo Primary Artist
Mark Mothersbaugh Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Bob Casale Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Gerald V. Casale Keyboards, Vocals
Bob Mothersbaugh Guitar, Vocals
Alan Myers Drums
Technical Credits
Mark Mothersbaugh Composer
Gerald V. Casale Composer
Brian Eno Producer
Patrick Gleeson Engineer
Konrad Plank Engineer
Chuck Statler Producer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 2 )
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Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    I gotta feeling

    I recently played Rock Band, and I was excited to see a DEVO song in the game. It made me rush out and purchase this album which I haven't listened to in some time. I was so glad that I did. Just about every song on the album is amazing. I forgot how great this album is and how influential it was in shaping new-wave and electronic music. I also forgot that this album came out around 76-78. While I am familiar with some of the other later DEVO hits, like whip it, I can't believe how innovative this album is considering that there was nothing that really anticipated this sound save for a few obscure electronic acts like Suicide, which was more obtuse and confrontational, and the Silver Apples, which was more repetitive and odd. DEVO makes happy, danceable, and great music on this album. The subject matter is odd, idiosyncratic, and enjoyable.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Get this album now.

    It is just incredible. Get it now.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews