Are We Not Men? Devo Returns With New Album June 15
"DON'T SHOOT" - DEVO from DEVO Channel on Vimeo.
It's 1980. Gas prices were high. The Soviet Union was dominant at hockey and were about to lose to a bunch of Yankee amateurs. I wasn't born yet, a game where a yellow circle who ran away from ghosts and ate smaller circles was released (Pac-Man) and Devo's "Whip It" made its debut, forever altering the landscape of music.
Devo's new album "Something for Everybody" is being released today, June 15, their first album in 20 years. While the band formed in the early 70's, they didn't make their mark until 1980 with their hit single "Whip It."
Devo, an abbreviation for "De-evolution," took an interesting approach to their newest album by having a sort of 'who makes the cut?' As outlined by the NPR Music blog, 16 songs were candidates to be on the final album, though only 12 actually made it. Fans, including myself, were able to vote and have their say on what song made it on three different releases. This, to my knowledge, is something that has not happened before in the music industry.
There have been other forms of music delivery, for lack of a better term. Paul McCartney released music that was only available through Starbucks. Radiohead released an album solely through their website, before later releasing it to stores. With the advent of technology influencing music, modern day minstrels have had to not necessarily change (as change insinuates something "bad"), but adapt to modern markets and their demographics. And, it seems, that a band who became famous 30 years ago for funny hats and outfits, toting synthesizers and keyboards, and a catchy tune, has been able to somehow be original and stay ahead of the ever changing curve.
Devo, I salute you. And to you dear reader, may I present "Don't Shoot ("I'm a man")" featured above off their latest album.
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