Devo was at kent state in 1970

[Hannah Bell]

Now, Devo is back with a new album, their first in 20 years. And far from sounding dated or passé, Something for Everybody showed that their inimitable brand of neo-dystopian synth-pop more relevant than ever...

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc0uQXxkOcg

For the group, this kind of biting spoof on everyday consumer culture is--as the lyrics declare--nothing new. In fact, it's practically in their artistic DNA. Casual listeners who may be quick to lump them in with the vast amount of empty-headed '80s pop acts might be shocked to know that founding members Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale were student activists at Kent State on that fateful day in 1970 when the National Guard gunned down four protesters.

Casale was friends with two of the victims--Allison Krause and Jeffrey Miller. The experience would drive both he and Mothersbaugh away from activism forever--at least in the conventional sense. Devo was conceived of as a "postmodern protest band," born as much out of demoralization as lingering hatred for capital's continued cultural stranglehold.

In their view, the hacks that ran society were "devolved," and the music was written with them in mind. Though they rarely hid their ability to write a great pop hook, their overly slick, synth-laden sound emulated the kind of music that might emerge if Corporate America had finally succeeded in conquering our hearts and minds.

http://socialistworker.org/2010/08/11/what-we-do-is-what-we-do

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. 'Freedom of Choice'

victim of collision on the open sea
nobody ever said that life was free

sink swim go down with the ship
but use your freedom of choice

i say it again in the land of the free
use your freedom of choice

in ancient rome there was a poem
about a dog who had two bones
he picked at one he licked the other
he went in circles till he dropped dead

freedom of choice is what you got
freedom of choice is what you want
then if you got it you don't want it

seems to be the rule of thumb
don't be tricked by what you see

you got two ways to go




DEVO was very underestimated in their lyrics
I bought their first album back then
didn't know they were at Kent State

[AngryAmish]

2. And they made millions while doing it!

[tuvor]

4. They hardly got rich from their heyday. n/t

[slampoet]

9. Actually they made more of their money from day jobs for synth companies and tv music

[Mugweed]

3. I love DEVO

I first heard them in 1978 when I was 10, and was fascinated. The first concert I ever attended was DEVO's Freedom of Choice in 1980, at age 12. My entire life has been shaped by their pointing out irony, hypocrisy, and downright dumbing-down of the populace. The new album (yes, I still call them albums) rocks.

We're all DEVO...

[Erose999]

8. Not quite sure what to think of the concept of the new album...

When I started this video I heard "This is the story of how DEVO and Corporate America join forces to finally make Something for Everybody". Given that I thought DEVO was a tongue in cheek response to the rampant consumerism of the 80's I am not quite sure how I feel about this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdcmpt3xAIo&feature=related

Looks like they have Josh Freese on drums though. Thats pretty awesome.

[Starry Messenger]

5. Wow, I didn't know that.

I always thought Devo had more of a political edge than they got credit for. I love them. I can't wait to hear the new stuff.

[progressoid]

6. ...electin'...

[superduperfarleft]

K&R.

Hugely underrated band, and a lot smarter than most people give them credit for.

[blindpig]

7. "the sound of things falling apart.."

yes indeed

[maryf]

10. k&r

thanks.