Devo

Something For Everybody

Warner Brothers

It was 1976 and Britain was in the grip of New Wave fever when, hot from the USA, Devo released first single “Mongoloid”. The band’s manifesto – you had to have a manifesto to be a band in those days – was based around the imagery and teachings of good ole Bob Dodds and the Church of the Sub Genius.

They dressed up in funny hats and overalls; sort of Bill and Ben trying out for a part in “Ghostbusters” or Kraftwerk doing a spot of DIY.

After undergoing a bit of a resurgence in the last two years “omething For Everyone” is Devo’s first release in two decades and comes chock full of the bouncy, energetic, wacky synth pop that you will have come to know and love.

“No Place Like Home” is almost a ballad but the rest of the tracks  fairly stomp along, and it all sounds slap bang up to date, complete with that over-compressed loudness sound every CD comes with these days.

This, then, is a good Devo album – not quite a great one. The track “What We Do” sums it up, really: ”what we do is what we do what we do is nothing new”. If you thought “Whip It” or any of their early stuff was great, the chances are you’ll enjoy this too… if not, then best look elsewhere.

Still, even if you don’t like the music there is always the possiblity, unlikely I know, that something from Devo’s range of merchandise might appeal. A terraced plant pot hat or Energy Dome in  a range of colours (blue is this season’s must-have); the Everbody Mask or my particular favourite, the Hot Dog T shirt, will surely make you the envy of your friends.

Devo have always been as much about marketing as music – maybe the world has just caught up with them.

Stephen Morris