Two CDs. Digitally remastered and expanded 30th anniversary deluxe edition of Devo's 1988 album. Over the years this totally underrated album has become a true fan favorite, as well as a prediction of these unsettling times we live in. So, it seems only fitting it's right now that Total Devo gets it's first time reissue for all to hear. Back in 1988, when the airwaves were being homogenized by vapid pop, Devo set about creating their first album in four years. The result was this slice of overt irony, a dance orientated, back to basics, emotionally arch selection - including now classics 'Baby Doll' and 'Disco Dancer' - that twisted pop on it's head by imitating in part the very music it mocked. Despite it's industrial edge and unusual trademark quirk, the joke was so honest at the time that it was inevitably lost, but in the years since hindsight has this serving as a true testament to another of Devo's misunderstood works of art.
A**.
Best vinyl I've bought in years.....
Especially compared with Sony's re-issue of the Star Wars albums ,this Devo album is wonderfully presented with a top quality gatefold sleeve,a few extra bits and bobs,and really top quality heavy vinyl. Sound quality is pretty damn good and the album has a few extra tracks that weren't on my Enigma issue cd,or compact cassette. Like "Oh no,it's Devo" , "Shout"and "Smooth Noodle Maps" this was/is an underrated album and like those mentioned contains some great catchy tunes (amongst a few I've never been keen on) . Hopefully Futurismo will do more sets like this and maintain their friendship with whichever pressing plant did such a great job on the vinyl.
T**M
Underrated, and that's the plain truth
Total DEVO marked the beginning of an new era for the group. It came after a 4 year hiatus, featured a new drummer (David Kendrick - long time drummer for Sparks) and was released on a new record label (Enigma). Their lyrical approach is noticably different too, focusing more on human emotional themes as opposed to the cryptic social satire of their early work. The music is the most dance-orientated of their career and sounds quite dated now but that adds a certain '80s charm. Highlights include the funk guitar in Disco Dancer, the catchy should-have-been-a-single Happy Guy, the 'femmes DEVO' vocals of Plain Truth and the breakdown in the beautiful ballad (seriously!) I'd Cry If You Died. This might not be the sound most associate with DEVO and it's certainly not a good place to start if you're a newbie but it's still worth a listen.
T**J
My favourite Devo Album
I know it was neither a commercial nor critical success, but this is my favourite Devo album. Hardcore spuds will disagree but the tunes and variety of song give this record something over and above some other offerings. Not a bad track on it . Would recommend this along with 'Something for Everybody' as albums for the unconverted to try. Accessible but none the worse for that.A gem
M**T
Five Stars
Great!
B**B
WE ARE DEVO
I bought this on vinyl back in 1988 and it soon became one of my favourite albums.Devo are often lumped together with One Hit Wonders due to their biggest hit Whip it, but they are much more than that. Their lyrics are full of social comment and brilliant observation while their music is lifted well above synthpop by their mix of synth and guitar.The band themselves are so underrated amongst the general music listener that it's a travesty and like a lot of bands that started in the early to mid 70's found themselves taken advantage of by inscrutable record labels and told what direction their music should go in rather than just let it come naturally .Anyone starting off listening to Devo could do no better than choose this album !
M**K
Total Devo (CD) by Devo
Total Devo is a very good album by one of the more American bands (Underated in Britain anyway) to have stuff released in this country, and I would like to thank you in being able to obtain a copy of a very difficult to get album
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