#252 Devo, 'Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!' (1978)

Previously #442

Devo’s debut album is a frenetic record of New Wave, Post-Punk paranoia and anxiety. David Bowie and Iggy Pop had received a tape of Devo demos from the wife of a friend in 1977. At the band’s debut New York gig, Bowie announced "this is the band of the future, I'm going to produce them in Tokyo this winter." That didn’t quite happen, though. Brian Eno landed up producing the album (his 5th entry on the list), with David Bowie assisting on the weekends. Eno funded the project as the band was unsigned at the time. The band were incredibly resistant to Eno’s ideas, though, not wanting to deviate from the sound they had established on their demos.

The album is totally nuts in a great way. It begins with “Yeah” x22 and then the lyrics “Got an urge, got a surge and it's outta control.” That sets the tone for the record. Next track is Devo’s version of the Rolling Stones’ classic, ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.’ But where Jagger’s version was swaggering, Mark Mothersbaugh’s interpretation was more anxious. Kinda like George Constanza doing Mick Jagger. It’s a great version. ‘Praying Hands’ is classic Surf Rock meets punk. You can hear a subtle shift in sound on ‘Space Junk,’ one of the songs that retains Eno’s production as he had intended. ‘Mongoloid’ was the first single (doubt that title would fly in 2021). My favourite song on the album, for its sheer bombastic craziness, is ‘Jocko Homo.’ The album title would be taken from its lyrics. It’s a fun, unique record but it gets a bit much towards the end. They would have been fun to see live.

#rs500albums