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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! | 
 enlarge | Artist: Devo
Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Category: Music
List Price: $7.98
Buy Used: $3.99
You Save: $3.99 (50%)
New (32) Used (16) Collectible (1) from $3.99
Rating:  66 reviews
Sales Rank: 13198
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.7 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 3239
UPC: 075992736428
EAN: 0759927364282
ASIN: B000002KJ1
Release Date: October 25, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| | Uncontrollable Urge | | | (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Devo, Jagger, Mick | | | Praying Hands | | | Space Junk | | | Mongoloid - Devo, Casale, Gerald V. | | | Jocko Homo | | | Too Much Paranoias | | | Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy | | | Come Back Jonee | | | Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin') | | | Shrivel Up |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
When Devo's debut album came out in 1978, nobody knew what to make of the mutant new-wave quintet from Akron, Ohio. With Brian Eno's skillful production, Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Jerry and Bob Casale, and Alan Myers emerged fully formed and outrageous with their razor-sharp social commentary and exhibition of subversive media savvy. Beyond their industrial uniforms and pseudo-devolved demeanor, Devo also happened to be a rocking little band. Classic rave-outs like "Mongoloid," "Jocko Homo," and "Uncontrollable Urge" illustrate the band's perky-jerky intensity. On their inimitable cover of the Rolling Stones' youth anthem, "Satisfaction," Devo's avant-garde robot funk takes the song to a new level of alienation and discontent. While the band went on to greater fame, this was the only album they made that truly mattered. --Mitch Meyers
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| Customer Reviews: Read 61 more reviews...
 Are We Not Brilliant? October 10, 2004
Westley (The South)
31 out of 35 found this review helpful
Devo stormed onto the music scene with their 1978 debut; the CD starts perfectly with the "yeah yeah yeah yeah" rumble of "Uncontrollable Urge." They build on this auspicious beginning with their remake of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," which always sounds to me as though the music consists solely of a synthesizer backed with garage tools being banged together. I love the irony of these rather contained and arty "rockers" opening their debut CD with two such completely hedonistic songs.
Some of the songs are peculiar - including "Space Junk" and its protagonist, Sally, who is always being hit with, well, space junk. A few songs might also be a little offensive in this age of political correctness, especially "Mongoloid" and "Sloppy (I Say My Baby Getting'); however, the lyrics are so absurd that it's clear that they shouldn't be taken seriously. The masterpiece here, arguably, is "Jocko Homo" - which contains the unforgettable chorus for which this CD was named - Are we not men? We are Devo! The group even calls themselves pinheads in this song.
Devo has always been uncategorizable. Are they punk? Are they new wave? Are they rock? Nowadays of course, a number of bands successfully blend musical styles (e.g., Flaming Lips), so it's not as revolutionary. However, I can only imagine what people thought of this CD in 1978. I was only 8 when this CD was released, and other than "Whip It," I wasn't very familiar with their work until recently. I bought this CD about a year ago because I was impressed by Mark Mothersbaugh's film score work, including the delightfully whimsical "Rushmore." Needless to say, I think this CD is remarkable, and I plan on buying more Devo music. Many people are also apparently still discovering this defunct group, as this CD didn't go gold until 2001. It's about time!
No comparison! May 28, 2004
jason gilmour (Toronto, Ontario)
22 out of 24 found this review helpful
O.K. I'd like to start off by pointing out that this record was the end result of DEVO's long and complicated de-evolution from multi-media project to major label "pop" band. The reviewer that wrote something about DEVO ripping off some idiotic Euro-dweebs has no idea that almost all of the songs on this perfect album were being developed since 1974-75. Lookie here spud, DEVO were WAY head of "new wave", "electro" or whatever pretentious label you wanna give it. Yeah, Kraftwerk were around before DEVO but man, those guys took themselves SO seriously! DEVO created a kind of glorious primitive futurism that is complex while being darkly funny. DEVO are part freak show, part futurist, part goon and 100% pure godhead. That said, "Are We Not Men" is a blistering manifesto and a great record.
absolute perfection May 18, 2003
race_of_doom (USA)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
I bought this album with a friend one day, in one of those huge corporate electronics stores. I picked it up immedietely, having heard the greatness of "Jocko Homo" and "Satisfaction" before. My friend looked at the album in my hands, and said the following thing:"Hah, they had that song 'Whip It,' didn't they?" Immediately afterwards he rolled his eyes. Hmph. Why Devo is so dismissed as an eighties novelty band is lost on me. Heck, I even like "Whip It" for it's musical qualities. But would you catch me saying that to anyone anymore? No way. I'd get the same response every time. Sad that those idiots will never listen to this amazing, one-of-a-kind album. "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!" is musically flawless, a combonation of the aggressive post-punk feel with a little (but thankfully, not too much) new wave mixed in. The result is pleasing to the ears and very danceable. Just my kind of music. I love every single song on this album; I fear that if I began to name off my favorites, I'd list the whole album. So, I'll just list my top favorites as of right now: there's the wonderful, sort of creepy masterpiece "Shrivel Up," a song with a catchy melody (the kind that will stick in your head for a long time) and odd, kooky lyrics. There's also the near-instrumental "Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy," featuring almost two and a half minutes of nothing but amazing music (with a piano thrown in for good measure). "Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')" has one of the weirdest and catchiest choruses anywhere. Oh, if only I had the time to name of the merits of each song on here. Seriously, every single song counts. You'll be liking "Come Back Jonee" as much as the classic "Jocko Homo." Although it may take a couple listens to truly get into the vibe of this album, it's well worth it.
The Truth About DE-EVOLUTION June 21, 2000
Jim Conway (Kentucky)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
1978 was the height of the disco craze, with millions of Americans shaking their respective bootey's to such homogenized drivel as "Disco Duck." But alas, out of Akron OH came five Kent State neo-nerd types who with this one album basically called the bluff of a popular culture that was being force-fed to millions of unsuspecting spuds everywhere. Devo introduced "The sound of things falling apart," or devolution as their satiric theory as to why our "culture" seemed to be regressing backwards.With incredible production by Brian Eno, Q: Are We Not Men/A: We Are Devo! provides a uniquely clever look at popular culture via 1978's crass commercialism that truly doesn't take itself too seriously. With the tonge in cheek sentimentalism of "Come Back Jonie," to the over the top outrage of "Gut Feeling/Slap 'Yo Mammy," Devo rocks with a hypnotic urgency that made the New Wave movement so much fun. The listener felt that he/she was privy to someting that not everyone else new about. Also includeded is Devo's interpetation of The Stones' classic,"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," and of course their unofficial theme song "Jocko Homo." But what makes this CD so timeless is that Devo could rock! The runaway punk of "Uncontrolable Urge" and the energy-chocked guitar chaos of "Too Much Parinoia," make this stand up even two decades later. This album was more than a clever concept, it delivers the goods.
 Black by Unpopular Demand October 31, 2004
P. Kemp (Houston, TEXAS United States)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Ok let me play the race card.I am black and so were 95% of my friends when this Lp came out.I remember buying it just because of the album cover. When I took it home and played it I knew right away that Devo would hang.I remember playing it at a house party[I Can't Get No Satisfaction]My homies never forgot and this was months before they even got airplay.I would still be jamming this joint but it came up mysteriously missing thanks to my brother Johnnie.Oh well This is a cut above anything else similar that was out at the time.[groundbreakingly unpopular]
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