50 Years of De-Evolution 1973-2023 by Devo
Release date: October 20, 2023Label: Rhino / Warner Records
Back in 1996, my mom took me to Soundwaves as she bought the original London Cast of The Phantom of the Opera starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, and me, the soundtrack to the 1981 adult-animated cult-classic film Heavy Metal. I was completely spellbound of the bands I didn’t know about. Black Sabbath (Dio-era), Blue Öyster Cult, Grand Funk Railroad, Cheap Trick, and Devo. Mind you, I was 11 years old, and being hooked into the music. Once I heard Devo’s take of Lee Dorsey’s ‘Working in the Coal Mine’, that’s where everything clicked, right there and then.
27 years later, we’re coming back to the Energy Dome’s mansion, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the band’s formation in Arkon, Ohio. This 2-CD and 4-LP set complies not just the hits, but B-sides, and rarities. When you think of Devo, you think of their hit song ‘Whip It’ from their 1980 album Freedom of Choice.
But it’s more than just the controversial song that they’re known for. The Smart Patrol have a wide range of classics that add elements of post-punk, electronic music, dadaism, and synth-pop, rolled into one.
From their starts with the labels including; Warner Bros. (1978-84), Enigma (1988-90), and returning to their home label with Warner in 2010 by releasing their ninth studio album Something for Everybody. 50 Years of De-Evolution is like going through an old scrapbook and remembering what it was like to be young during their 50-year ride.
Not only reflecting the great memories they had, but the accomplishments they achieved. And it wasn’t just the hard work, but the following Brotherhood they had with each other. Most of the songs they did, I’ve heard originally from their out-of-print 2-CD compilation, Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology from 2000.
Songs like the Booji versions of the call-and-response ‘Jocko Homo’, ‘Be Stiff’, and ‘Mongoloid’ which were from the B Stiff EP released in 1978. It was so great to hear those versions again. Not to mention the theme from Dan Aykroyd’s 1983 unsung comedy gem ‘Doctor Detroit‘.
They also had a chance at poking fun at a certain subject which is on the song ‘Disco Dancer’. With its electronic thumps, heavy drum beats, the idea of a man who follows in the footsteps of John Travolta’s character from Saturday Night Fever, falling into a 15-year sleep, and witnessing how the future ain’t what it used to be since 1977.
From there, we have the heavy, punky blues structure of 1974’s Hardcore years on ‘I’m a Potato’ to the exciting enjoyments of ‘The Day My Baby Gave me a Surprise’, ‘Peek-a-Boo!’, ‘Post Post-Modern Man’, ‘Time Out for Fun’, ‘That’s Good’, ‘Snowball’, and their take of the ‘Worried Man Blues’ with ‘It Takes a Worried Man’ from Neil Young’s 1982 cult classic Human Highway.
‘Beautiful World’ still holds up many years later. It has that message of a wonderful city filled with wonder, technology, art, and science. You can imagine all of the happiness that surrounds that song, but once the final section comes in as Gerald sings “It’s not for me!” there’s a dark and harsh reality where everything has gone to hell in a hand basket.
Going through the darker hallways, ‘Some Things Never Change’ which has a reference to The Beatles’ ‘A Day in the Life’, details the lies that the government and politicians had made the same promise, again and again. You feel as if Big Brother is approaching, and Orwell’s vision is upon us from 1984.
Then, returning to the circle with the closing three tracks from Something for Everybody with the dance pump detailing about social media, religion, and fast-food joints on ‘What We Do’, the loss of everything going into this chaotic nightmare on ‘No Place Like Home’ and returning to their New Traditionalists roots with ‘Watch us Work It’.
Despite line-up changes, different styles, and the passing of Bob Casale and Alan Myers, Devo are growing more stronger than before. Yes, it may not be the same, but 50 years on, the Smart Patrol can take it up a notch.
So, one more time fellow Spuds, “Are we not Men? WE ARE DEVO!”
