I absolutely agree with New Traditionalists being ranked #1. I feel that album had the perfect blend of what made DEVO so special. Meaty drums, incredibly funky synth bass, herky jerky guitar, no nonsense arrangements, and man Gerry’s vocals are superb. I also love the darker mix of it. I think I read in an interview that the tape they were using to record this album on started disintegrating so they had to do an emergency digital reel to reel conversion which led to it having a darker more bass heavy mix. In other words, you and I are on the same page good sir!
You finally got round to it. Freedom Of Choice was lower than I expected but we have the same number one which is cool and most people wouldn’t put that first. My CD copy actually closes with Working In a Coalmine which just makes the album even better..When I revisited SFE recently it wasn’t quite as good as I remembered and leaving Watch Us Work It off it was a mistake which is why I put it at 7. I never had a problem with Shout. Total Devo is last because the second half is spotty. 1. New Traditionalists 2. Are We Not Men 3. Freedom Of Choice 4. Oh No It’s Devo 5. Duty Now For The Future 6. Shout (Underrated) 7. Something For Everybody 8. Smooth Noodle Maps 9. Total Devo
It was super hard to split that one & NuTra for me. There’s nothing between them. If I’d done this video another day Duty Now could well have won the day. I adore that album.
Shout is a beauty! yeah devo always had great luck for charts in australia yet didnt tour much here, look forward to seeing them in 2023 and i'm trying to get some devo hits played on air that needs to return like here to go and peek a boo
I think you really did an excellent job here. I appreciated your well thought out opinions on each album, and agreed with the fact that I love even their lowest rated album, because they are my favorite band of all time. Here are my thoughts... I agree that Smooth Noodle Maps is my least favorite of their albums, but it still has some great tracks. My favorite is "Devo Has Feelings Too" which I think was one of the few that you didn't mention when you went through it. I think the major problem that I have with this album is that the sound of each song is too safe and clean. I think Devo is at their best when their music is experimental, and sounds like nothing you've ever heard before or since, and this album, with its relatively vanilla instrumentation doesn't have any of that. "Devo Has Feelings Too" rocks the hardest of any of the songs on the album, and thats probably why I like it the best. I was surprised that you had Freedom of Choice as low as you did. I think that its one of the best electronic albums of all time, because its extraordinarily tight and cohesive. Devo is very good at that in general in terms of their albums, they all have a very specific sound. If you were to listen to a B-Side that you had never heard before, you'd probably be able to guess which album it was from, because each album has such a distinctive sound. Freedom of Choice packs more great counterpoint, creative ideas and unforgettable lyrics into 32 minutes than any other album I can think of. That being said, I still agree that my favorite album of theirs in New Traditionalists, and I'm happy that so many in the comments section agree! Interestingly enough, during the recording of Nu-Tra, some of the magnetic tapes they were using actually got damaged, and that affected the overall sound, adding to the murkiness of it. The band actually liked it, so they chose to leave it alone. Sometimes when you work on a project, random things just happen to make it better. This was the case here. I have two suggestions/requests that I would love to see if you have the time. #1. Make a Top 25 list of your favorite DEVO songs and give us the reasons why. You did such a great job with the albums, I 'd love to hear what you think of the individual songs as well, and it would free you up to talk about some of the other songs that aren't on their major albums like Dr. Detroit and Mecha-Mania Boy. I made a Top 100 list on my own, and it was a fun exercise which I think you would enjoy as well, but you don't have to make it that long. I'll be posting my Top 25 onto my channel soon, because I didn't think that people wanted to watch a full top 100, so I'm keeping the other 75 to myself! #2. I'd love to know if you've ever listened to Wall of Voodoo. They're another one of my favorite bands, and if thinking that if you like Devo as much as I do, that you would appreciate them as well. They are another band, like Devo, that are known by some as a one hit wonder, but they actually made a lot of tremendously creative, unique and darkly beautiful music, so I think you might enjoy a deep dive there if you're not familiar with them. Thanks for putting together such a great video! I'm looking forward to checking on your other stuff when I get a chance. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much! I really feel like Devo’s first 5 albums are all brilliant, I really like the rest too, but any of those first 5 could be my favourite on any given day. I adore FoC, and because it was my first it will always have a special place in my heart. I’d love to do a song ranking at some stage, it’s a type of video I haven’t done before on my channel. I have a Wall of Voodoo Studio Albums Ranked on the channel, it’s in the playlist. I love them!
A fan from '77. Maybe do a list of top 10 Devo non-album tracks? Social Fools, Modern Life, Soo Bawlz three of my faves. I actually loved the Enigma albums and thought them a return to form 1 DNFTF 2 Are we not men 3 Freedom of Choice 4 Total Devo 5 SNM 6 New Traditionalists 7 Oh No 8 Total Devo 9 Shout Some of the tracks they left off would have made the albums better - Social Fools, Somewhere, Working in a Coalmine, Worried Man, Watch us work it
What an interesting selection. Very well argued. I'm old school. Are We Not Men is such a stunning debut. My first Devi album was duty now for the future. And I saw them live when they toured Freedom Of Choice. Brilliant live album. Devo don't get enough love. Thanks for this
New Traditionalists was the first album (not just the first Devo album) I ever bought with my own money. Still proud to this day to know I make a rock solid choice. I prefer Oh No, It's Devo, but New Traditionalists is a close second and will always hold a special place in my heart. (It also came with a bonus 45 of "Working in the Coal Mine.")
Oh No has been rising in my estimation in the last few years. NuTra was also the first album I bought with my own money, but I had been given Freedom of Choice as a birthday present.
That one has been climbing in my estimation for the last few years, since I did this video it might even have sneaked into my top 3. But all of f those first 5 albums to me are of the highest quality.
Hi 👋 I like Devo. Songs of theirs which are good are Mongoloid , and Come back Jonee . I remember going to a Disco in 1980 and dancing insanely to their song Whip It.
BL, baby! Welcome back to the land of the RUclips video! Nice to see another semi-obscure type band ranked… the maniacal mutant men of DEVO! Now, I’m not insulting the band, l just feel that their particular genius went over the heads of many of my fellow countrymen here in the USA. I think they’re quintessentially quirky and unique, too bad many other carbon-based units don’t feel the same. At any rate, l bought my first Devo album back in the early 80s through one of those record clubs. In the 90s & 00s, l worked with a huge Devo so I’ve heard every Devo album. In fact, l am going to forward this very video to him. Here’s my top three: 3. Something for Everybody (Cracking comeback CD 💿! My coworker and l played it a lot at our record store job, for about 4-5 years, after it’s initial release. After he left, for another job, l played it less frequently.) 2. Freedom of Choice (Those four singles - “Girl,” “Whip,” “Gates,” & Freedom” - make this a very special album. Indeed. Indubitably.) 1. New Traditionalists (The one l first purchased in 81/82, through the Columbia Record & Tape Club, on vinyl. As the cliché states, All Killer No Filler. What a stonking record!) Keep up your vivacious and loquacious video work! Cheers from Noo Yawk, ova heyah! 🤘😎🤘
I've enjoyed your input as a Contrarian but didn't realize you had your own channel until I watched the Bicyclelegs episode! Love this band ... was introduced to the debut by a cousin. By the time I had a few extra dollars to buy an album, Freedom of Choice was released and that's what I bought! Often times, my discovery point of an artist usually remains my favorite and is the case here. Either of those can sit in the top position for me but I enjoy anything Devo! LOVE the power dome! Thanks for a good show!
I saw them for the 1st time touring before "something for everybody" came out. They did some of those songs. They weren't wearing the gray outfits. They had " fight or flight" suits.
I love Devo. I have to say that Duty Now For The Future and New Traditionalists would be my bottom two albums after Total Devo but, hey, tastes differ 🤷🏻♂️
I'd have to say Are We Not Men is #1 by FAR. I'd maybe put FOC or even the newest SFO as #2. I think Duty Now is very overrated, although the CONCEPT fit what they were doing at the time. New Traditionalists is good but would rank 4th in mine, probably. Thanks for this, I love the Mono Puff T-shirt!!!! Also, ever heard the B side album in 2011, Something ELSE for Everybody? It's AWESOME, and many songs there that didn't make the cut for SFE, are better than ones that DID! It's more rocking and raw. I Subscribed!!
My top 5: 1. Freedom of Choice, because it set the standard for the rest of the albums. 2. Duty Now for the Future, because it still had the punkiness of first album, but showed they were moving more towards the synth style they used later. 3. Q:Are We Not Men?, for how punky it is. 4. New Traditionalists, which was a difficult choice not to rank it higher. 5. Oh No, It's DEVO!
Great ranking and great band. I loved Devo growing up. The first 4 albums are awesome. Might go with Duty Now For The Future as my favourite, but it could be any of the first 4. I must check out the albums after New Traditionalists.
New Traditionalists is tied with their first album for me. Its just full of barely repressed anger and menacing synthesizer work. The lyrics are brilliant and i absolutely love Going Under. Sadly, it's also the beginning of the end of Alan's monster drumming. The sinister synth sound would continue with Oh No, which itself is killer. Honestly, theres only three albums by Devo that arent as strong as the classic five. SNM, Total, and Shout And even then, those have some high points here and there Duty now, spuds!
@@bicyclelegsmusic just thought having seen them just once in 2007,it was a shame duty now didn't get more set time so was glad to see it in your top3.. Just curious if you've heard Rhythmic Itch.. on Hugh Cornwells Nosferatu album? quite odd Ta
I have the exact same ranking, except I would switch the debut with FOC. If Q:A: is Devo's punk album, then Duty Now is their psychedellic record. New Traditionalists is their Sci-Fi album.
@@bicyclelegsmusic yeah, I don’t think I could do it since I don’t think they have any bad albums. My favorite changes very frequently. Also I’m glad I watched this video because it reminded me of how good of an album New Traditionalists is. I haven’t heard it in forever.
@@bicyclelegsmusic yeah, I don’t think I could do it since I don’t think they have any bad albums. My favorite changes very frequently. Also I’m glad I watched this video because it reminded me of how good of an album New Traditionalists is. I haven’t heard it in forever.
That's pretty much how I would rank them. You should look up Michael Pilmer. He's Devo's archivist and runs Club DEVO. Very nice interesting character.
I am in agreement with you on the number one and number two spot. I think the reason for this is because those albums are the most "scientific" sounding of their catalog. Do you know what I mean? For me, the number 3 spot belongs to "Shout", for much the same reason. As an aside, I always thought the beginning of "Gut Feeling" has an almost Byrds-esque quality to it. I may not get any agreement on that, though.
It's hard to separate them. They each are good for separate moods. I'd have to actually tie are we not men with freedom of choice. But new traditionalists, could make it a 3 way tie for me. What was the pioneers who got scalped about? I have seen it but not checked it out.
Pioneers Who Got Scalped is a really good, career spanning, 2CD compilation with a rather groovy lenticular cover. Lots of rarities mixed in with the bug songs. Well worth grabbing if you can.
Mid 20’s here, really got into DEVO around 2017 or so. Favourite to least favourite. (As of now) 1. Q Are We Not Men? A We Are DEVO 2. Something For Everybody 3. Freedom Of Choice 4. Duty Now For The Future 5. New Traditionalists 6. Something ELSE for everybody (underrated) 7. Oh No It’s DEVO 8. Shout 9. Total DEVO 10. Smooth Noodle Maps
commenting before watching once again......got on board with are we mot men? made it up to Oh NO and that is where I stopped....seemed like such a fall off from the 4 masterpieces before it, just never rekindled the magic again......now on with the show....I promise to give your highest ranked later album a spin today 😀,,,,also sad never got to see
I used to think ONID was a step down, but it’s really risen in my estimation in recent years. I could have ranked it higher than 4th, and very nearly did.
For me: Oh No / Duty Now / Freedom of Choice / Are We Not Men / New Traditionalists / Something for Everybody - didn’t like Total DEVO, Shout, or SNM at all though. P.S: Hardcore DEVO is where it’s really at!
Oh No! It’s Devo is definitely synthpop, and parts of the debut are very punky. There’s definitely more to Devo than just New Wave, though they were predominantly a New Wave band (and I don’t think I argued otherwise).
Yeah DEVO are absolutely beautiful. But New Traditionalists as their best ? My first album were both Q Are we not men and New Traditionalists. But man , not talking about DEVO after 1987 . New Traditionalists is very big flop compare to previous albums including their demo double album , Oh! No! It's DEVO and Shout are way better. It's a beautiful world is great , but the rest sounds tired . When I was kid and today. Total DEVO okay , but the next I thought they are done , till saw live 2015 without one of Bob's . Matter of taste . One of the most unique bands ever , interesting anytime , good or bad. If you like them , you love em . Otherwise don't listen to them ( this is not about the author).
I don’t really talk in terms of best or worst, but NuTra is my favourite (though it’s a tossup between it & DNFTF). But I love all the Warner Bros. albums, and the Enigma albums are pretty good too.
Great rankings, I might have a slightly different order but this is close. I have all Devo's albums on LP (including 'Now It Can Be Told' and 'Hardcore Devo') but I don't have 'Something For Everybody' which I have on CD. I really want it on LP but it's going for crazy money now..... and Josh Freese is now the Foo Fighters drummer!
I bought it at time of release cos I’ve been a massive Devo fan for more than 40 years. It used to be available at a reasonable price till the last couple of years.
Bro, putting New Traditionalists as number one is so spot on. I think that is Devo as their most refined.
Agreed 😊
I absolutely agree with New Traditionalists being ranked #1. I feel that album had the perfect blend of what made DEVO so special. Meaty drums, incredibly funky synth bass, herky jerky guitar, no nonsense arrangements, and man Gerry’s vocals are superb. I also love the darker mix of it. I think I read in an interview that the tape they were using to record this album on started disintegrating so they had to do an emergency digital reel to reel conversion which led to it having a darker more bass heavy mix.
In other words, you and I are on the same page good sir!
You finally got round to it. Freedom Of Choice was lower than I expected but we have the same number one which is cool and most people wouldn’t put that first. My CD copy actually closes with Working In a Coalmine which just makes the album even better..When I revisited SFE recently it wasn’t quite as good as I remembered and leaving Watch Us Work It off it was a mistake which is why I put it at 7. I never had a problem with Shout. Total Devo is last because the second half is spotty.
1. New Traditionalists
2. Are We Not Men
3. Freedom Of Choice
4. Oh No It’s Devo
5. Duty Now For The Future
6. Shout (Underrated)
7. Something For Everybody
8. Smooth Noodle Maps
9. Total Devo
Duty Now For The Future will always be #1 for me. It was my first Devo album.
It was super hard to split that one & NuTra for me. There’s nothing between them. If I’d done this video another day Duty Now could well have won the day. I adore that album.
Shout is a beauty! yeah devo always had great luck for charts in australia yet didnt tour much here, look forward to seeing them in 2023 and i'm trying to get some devo hits played on air that needs to return like here to go and peek a boo
I think you really did an excellent job here. I appreciated your well thought out opinions on each album, and agreed with the fact that I love even their lowest rated album, because they are my favorite band of all time. Here are my thoughts...
I agree that Smooth Noodle Maps is my least favorite of their albums, but it still has some great tracks. My favorite is "Devo Has Feelings Too" which I think was one of the few that you didn't mention when you went through it. I think the major problem that I have with this album is that the sound of each song is too safe and clean. I think Devo is at their best when their music is experimental, and sounds like nothing you've ever heard before or since, and this album, with its relatively vanilla instrumentation doesn't have any of that. "Devo Has Feelings Too" rocks the hardest of any of the songs on the album, and thats probably why I like it the best.
I was surprised that you had Freedom of Choice as low as you did. I think that its one of the best electronic albums of all time, because its extraordinarily tight and cohesive. Devo is very good at that in general in terms of their albums, they all have a very specific sound. If you were to listen to a B-Side that you had never heard before, you'd probably be able to guess which album it was from, because each album has such a distinctive sound.
Freedom of Choice packs more great counterpoint, creative ideas and unforgettable lyrics into 32 minutes than any other album I can think of. That being said, I still agree that my favorite album of theirs in New Traditionalists, and I'm happy that so many in the comments section agree!
Interestingly enough, during the recording of Nu-Tra, some of the magnetic tapes they were using actually got damaged, and that affected the overall sound, adding to the murkiness of it. The band actually liked it, so they chose to leave it alone. Sometimes when you work on a project, random things just happen to make it better. This was the case here.
I have two suggestions/requests that I would love to see if you have the time. #1. Make a Top 25 list of your favorite DEVO songs and give us the reasons why. You did such a great job with the albums, I 'd love to hear what you think of the individual songs as well, and it would free you up to talk about some of the other songs that aren't on their major albums like Dr. Detroit and Mecha-Mania Boy.
I made a Top 100 list on my own, and it was a fun exercise which I think you would enjoy as well, but you don't have to make it that long. I'll be posting my Top 25 onto my channel soon, because I didn't think that people wanted to watch a full top 100, so I'm keeping the other 75 to myself!
#2. I'd love to know if you've ever listened to Wall of Voodoo. They're another one of my favorite bands, and if thinking that if you like Devo as much as I do, that you would appreciate them as well. They are another band, like Devo, that are known by some as a one hit wonder, but they actually made a lot of tremendously creative, unique and darkly beautiful music, so I think you might enjoy a deep dive there if you're not familiar with them.
Thanks for putting together such a great video! I'm looking forward to checking on your other stuff when I get a chance. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much! I really feel like Devo’s first 5 albums are all brilliant, I really like the rest too, but any of those first 5 could be my favourite on any given day. I adore FoC, and because it was my first it will always have a special place in my heart.
I’d love to do a song ranking at some stage, it’s a type of video I haven’t done before on my channel.
I have a Wall of Voodoo Studio Albums Ranked on the channel, it’s in the playlist. I love them!
A fan from '77. Maybe do a list of top 10 Devo non-album tracks? Social Fools, Modern Life, Soo Bawlz three of my faves. I actually loved the Enigma albums and thought them a return to form
1 DNFTF
2 Are we not men
3 Freedom of Choice
4 Total Devo
5 SNM
6 New Traditionalists
7 Oh No
8 Total Devo
9 Shout
Some of the tracks they left off would have made the albums better - Social Fools, Somewhere, Working in a Coalmine, Worried Man, Watch us work it
Thanks! There certainly are plenty of great non-album Devo songs!
My favourite non album track is The Words get Stuck in my Throat
Recently been listening to their later albums. I bought Shout, Total Devo and a reissue of Smooth Noodle Maps on vinyl. I dig them!
What an interesting selection. Very well argued. I'm old school. Are We Not Men is such a stunning debut. My first Devi album was duty now for the future. And I saw them live when they toured Freedom Of Choice. Brilliant live album.
Devo don't get enough love. Thanks for this
I’d find it hard to argue with anyone who had any of the first 5 Devo albums as their favourite. Thanks for watching!
New Traditionalists was the first album (not just the first Devo album) I ever bought with my own money. Still proud to this day to know I make a rock solid choice. I prefer Oh No, It's Devo, but New Traditionalists is a close second and will always hold a special place in my heart. (It also came with a bonus 45 of "Working in the Coal Mine.")
Oh No has been rising in my estimation in the last few years. NuTra was also the first album I bought with my own money, but I had been given Freedom of Choice as a birthday present.
Oh no it’s devo is my #1. Every song is golden. 39 mins of mastery of Devo’s best sound and best lyrics
That one has been climbing in my estimation for the last few years, since I did this video it might even have sneaked into my top 3. But all of f those first 5 albums to me are of the highest quality.
That’s really cool how you’ve loved this band since a young age, you’re a true fan!! 😄👍
Hi 👋 I like Devo. Songs of theirs which are good are Mongoloid , and Come back Jonee . I remember going to a Disco in 1980 and dancing insanely to their song Whip It.
Devo & Split Enz were the very first two bands I became a fan of.
BL, baby! Welcome back to the land of the RUclips video! Nice to see another semi-obscure type band ranked… the maniacal mutant men of DEVO! Now, I’m not insulting the band, l just feel that their particular genius went over the heads of many of my fellow countrymen here in the USA. I think they’re quintessentially quirky and unique, too bad many other carbon-based units don’t feel the same.
At any rate, l bought my first Devo album back in the early 80s through one of those record clubs. In the 90s & 00s, l worked with a huge Devo so I’ve heard every Devo album. In fact, l am going to forward this very video to him. Here’s my top three:
3. Something for Everybody (Cracking comeback CD 💿! My coworker and l played it a lot at our record store job, for about 4-5 years, after it’s initial release. After he left, for another job, l played it less frequently.)
2. Freedom of Choice (Those four singles - “Girl,” “Whip,” “Gates,” & Freedom” - make this a very special album. Indeed. Indubitably.)
1. New Traditionalists (The one l first purchased in 81/82, through the Columbia Record & Tape Club, on vinyl. As the cliché states, All Killer No Filler. What a stonking record!)
Keep up your vivacious and loquacious video work!
Cheers from Noo Yawk, ova heyah!
🤘😎🤘
New traditionalists is absolutely their best album front to back. So great. This is coming from a 15 year old musician from Kentucky.
Well hello there! Thanks for watching and as you know I agree with you about that being their best.
The live album from the total devo Era " now it can be told" is awesome.
Yeah, it’s pretty special.
I've enjoyed your input as a Contrarian but didn't realize you had your own channel until I watched the Bicyclelegs episode!
Love this band ... was introduced to the debut by a cousin. By the time I had a few extra dollars to buy an album, Freedom of Choice was released and that's what I bought! Often times, my discovery point of an artist usually remains my favorite and is the case here. Either of those can sit in the top position for me but I enjoy anything Devo!
LOVE the power dome!
Thanks for a good show!
I saw them for the 1st time touring before "something for everybody" came out. They did some of those songs. They weren't wearing the gray outfits. They had " fight or flight" suits.
Devo rules! Great ranking and I agree with it pretty much, if I think about which albums I put on most often. I need to get one of those hats!
The Beginning was the End
I love Devo. I have to say that Duty Now For The Future and New Traditionalists would be my bottom two albums after Total Devo but, hey, tastes differ 🤷🏻♂️
I'd have to say Are We Not Men is #1 by FAR. I'd maybe put FOC or even the newest SFO as #2. I think Duty Now is very overrated, although the CONCEPT fit what they were doing at the time.
New Traditionalists is good but would rank 4th in mine, probably.
Thanks for this, I love the Mono Puff T-shirt!!!!
Also, ever heard the B side album in 2011, Something ELSE for Everybody? It's AWESOME, and many songs there that didn't make the cut for SFE, are better than ones that DID! It's more rocking and raw.
I Subscribed!!
Thanks! And I agree, Something Else For Everybody is really good.
🤠 It's especially amusing for me when The Church of the Subgenius gets into the mix.
Mark explains "BOB" and slack to a pink bimbo: ruclips.net/video/_9x6Jm3ski8/видео.htmlsi=oIoGXbW3JaglMk7P
Their first album for me.
It’s an undeniably great album, all of the first 5 are to me.
Can’t believe it’s twelve years ago since I saw devo with my mate Dave who’s no longer with us
My top 5:
1. Freedom of Choice, because it set the standard for the rest of the albums.
2. Duty Now for the Future, because it still had the punkiness of first album, but showed they were moving more towards the synth style they used later.
3. Q:Are We Not Men?, for how punky it is.
4. New Traditionalists, which was a difficult choice not to rank it higher.
5. Oh No, It's DEVO!
Those 5 could be in any order and I would find it hard to argue. Thanks!
Great ranking and great band. I loved Devo growing up. The first 4 albums are awesome. Might go with Duty Now For The Future as my favourite, but it could be any of the first 4. I must check out the albums after New Traditionalists.
Ask me another day and DNFTF would be my no. 1.
@@bicyclelegsmusic Mine could change too. It’s a tough call.
New Traditionalists is tied with their first album for me.
Its just full of barely repressed anger and menacing synthesizer work.
The lyrics are brilliant and i absolutely love Going Under.
Sadly, it's also the beginning of the end of Alan's monster drumming.
The sinister synth sound would continue with Oh No, which itself is killer.
Honestly, theres only three albums by Devo that arent as strong as the classic five.
SNM, Total, and Shout
And even then, those have some high points here and there
Duty now, spuds!
I agree completely.
Didn't see that coming.. Duty Now is my fave
I think EZ listening is a bona fide album but overall I'm in agreement
It’s really close between New Traditionalists & Duty Now for me.
@@bicyclelegsmusic just thought having seen them just once in 2007,it was a shame duty now didn't get more set time so was glad to see it in your top3.. Just curious if you've heard Rhythmic Itch.. on Hugh Cornwells Nosferatu album? quite odd
Ta
very great ranking. I'd personally put their debut as #1, but everything else I ranked is the same as yours
My top 5 were incredibly difficult to rank. I’ve been listening to these albums all my life.
I have the exact same ranking, except I would switch the debut with FOC. If Q:A: is Devo's punk album, then Duty Now is their psychedellic record. New Traditionalists is their Sci-Fi album.
It’s a great catalogue for sure. And I could definitely swap the debut & FOC around depending on what day you ask me.
Nice mono puff shirt
You should do a they might be giants ranking
That’s definitely on the cards, but a huge undertaking!
@@bicyclelegsmusic yeah, I don’t think I could do it since I don’t think they have any bad albums. My favorite changes very frequently.
Also I’m glad I watched this video because it reminded me of how good of an album New Traditionalists is. I haven’t heard it in forever.
@@bicyclelegsmusic yeah, I don’t think I could do it since I don’t think they have any bad albums. My favorite changes very frequently.
Also I’m glad I watched this video because it reminded me of how good of an album New Traditionalists is. I haven’t heard it in forever.
That's pretty much how I would rank them. You should look up Michael Pilmer. He's Devo's archivist and runs Club DEVO. Very nice interesting character.
I’m friends with Michael on FB. He’s definitely a character!
1 - oh no its Devo
2- Shout
3- Nutra
Top 3 for me
Oh no it’s Devo is a great album. Why the hate?
1. QA 2. FoC 3. DNFtF 4. ONID 5. SFE 6. NT 7. Shout 8. TD 9. SNM
Thanks for your ranking!
I am in agreement with you on the number one and number two spot. I think the reason for this is because those albums are the most "scientific" sounding of their catalog. Do you know what I mean? For me, the number 3 spot belongs to "Shout", for much the same reason.
As an aside, I always thought the beginning of "Gut Feeling" has an almost Byrds-esque quality to it. I may not get any agreement on that, though.
Yeah I do kinda understand what you mean. And I’d never thought of The Byrds when hearing Gut Feeling, but I think you’re onto something there.
It's hard to separate them. They each are good for separate moods. I'd have to actually tie are we not men with freedom of choice. But new traditionalists, could make it a 3 way tie for me. What was the pioneers who got scalped about? I have seen it but not checked it out.
Pioneers Who Got Scalped is a really good, career spanning, 2CD compilation with a rather groovy lenticular cover. Lots of rarities mixed in with the bug songs. Well worth grabbing if you can.
Mid 20’s here, really got into DEVO around 2017 or so.
Favourite to least favourite. (As of now)
1. Q Are We Not Men? A We Are DEVO
2. Something For Everybody
3. Freedom Of Choice
4. Duty Now For The Future
5. New Traditionalists
6. Something ELSE for everybody (underrated)
7. Oh No It’s DEVO
8. Shout
9. Total DEVO
10. Smooth Noodle Maps
commenting before watching once again......got on board with are we mot men? made it up to Oh NO and that is where I stopped....seemed like such a fall off from the 4 masterpieces before it, just never rekindled the magic again......now on with the show....I promise to give your highest ranked later album a spin today 😀,,,,also sad never got to see
Though Oh No Its Devo is not their best album I don’t hear any real fall off from the first 4 albums at all but we all hear things differently
I used to think ONID was a step down, but it’s really risen in my estimation in recent years. I could have ranked it higher than 4th, and very nearly did.
For me: Oh No / Duty Now / Freedom of Choice / Are We Not Men / New Traditionalists / Something for Everybody - didn’t like Total DEVO, Shout, or SNM at all though.
P.S: Hardcore DEVO is where it’s really at!
Now you look like mark.
Lol!
Dude. Devo wasn't Punk or Synth Pop...They are the Fathers of The American New Wave Sound !
Oh No! It’s Devo is definitely synthpop, and parts of the debut are very punky. There’s definitely more to Devo than just New Wave, though they were predominantly a New Wave band (and I don’t think I argued otherwise).
Yeah DEVO are absolutely beautiful. But New Traditionalists as their best ? My first album were both Q Are we not men and New Traditionalists. But man , not talking about DEVO after 1987 . New Traditionalists is very big flop compare to previous albums including their demo double album , Oh! No! It's DEVO and Shout are way better. It's a beautiful world is great , but the rest sounds tired . When I was kid and today. Total DEVO okay , but the next I thought they are done , till saw live 2015 without one of Bob's . Matter of taste . One of the most unique bands ever , interesting anytime , good or bad. If you like them , you love em . Otherwise don't listen to them ( this is not about the author).
I don’t really talk in terms of best or worst, but NuTra is my favourite (though it’s a tossup between it & DNFTF). But I love all the Warner Bros. albums, and the Enigma albums are pretty good too.
Great rankings, I might have a slightly different order but this is close. I have all Devo's albums on LP (including 'Now It Can Be Told' and 'Hardcore Devo') but I don't have 'Something For Everybody' which I have on CD. I really want it on LP but it's going for crazy money now..... and Josh Freese is now the Foo Fighters drummer!
I bought it at time of release cos I’ve been a massive Devo fan for more than 40 years. It used to be available at a reasonable price till the last couple of years.
@@bicyclelegsmusic Yep, been a fan since the first album in '78 and saw them at Festival Hall in '82.👍