Customer Reviews

Adventures of the Smart Patrol

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Even if you've never played the Smart Patrol computer game, (best of luck finding it, its out of print), this is still a worthwhile addition to your CD library if you're a hardcore Devo fan. The 2nd half of the album is all rehash, but the first half makes up for it. The three new Devo songs include the blah instrumental Smart Patrol theme, the wimpy but still catchy "That's What He Said", and a reworked Booji Boy version of their hardcore noiseburst "U Got Me Bugged", this one with 100% understandable lyrics. The two non-Devo songs are what really make this album worth it. They are "Spirit Of JFK" by Spudtalk-founder Scott Orsi, which consists of JFK newsreel sound clips set to a rock & roll background (trust me on this one) and, my personal favorite, the juvenile speed-metal song "34C" by Brian Applegate, all about boob sizes. Bottom line: if you find this in a bargin bin for a discount price, snag it up. For added pleasure, scare your sister by showing her what a Turkey Monkey looks like.

Devo go CD Rom? Yes indeed.And although the game itself got panned mercilessly,for being "too retro"- ( Hello,what don't YOU get about DEVO? )- the soundtrack itself is a sweet little gem of old and new.

The Golden Oldies ( which are a part of the game itself...find the videos ),"Peek-A-Boo!","Beautiful World","Whip it","Freedom Of Choice" and "Jocko",sort of read as a " one hit from each album." They seem to have been put to the back of the spud bus,just in case you only want to hear the new stuff. "Mechanical Man" is also an old DEVO nugget.

So what's the real scoop you ask? How about DEVO as an alias band? Yeah,that's them as "The Smart Patrol" ( The CD visual band,are the actors from the game,NOT the actual band.). DEVO play a mean surf instrumental in the title track! ( Imagine The Ventures trying to do a synthi-retro version of The Streets Of San Francisco theme.). "That's What He Said" is almost a kick to the groin of Morrissey-type songs...those overly self-indulgent whiney songs. "U Got Me Bugged" is a newly mixed vocals version,in which you'll remark,"So THAT's what he's saying!".

The two NON-DEVO tracks,also fit into this mix quite nicely. "34C" by Brian Applegate is a hilarious homage to the American fixation. While "The Spirit of JFK" by Scott Orsi,will knock you out! He found various news reel sound bytes,by JFK,Lee Harvey Oswald,and several newscasters,and turned it all into a highly amusing punchline about Sampler Rock. The addition of these two performers,makes you wish DEVO would produce full albums by these artists.

All in all,a nice package of The New and The Old,DEVO continue to go forward into the past! DUTY NOW,SPUDS!

Good Spud points: New material consists of 5 songs. The first two are performed by the Smart Patrol and can be found on the CD-ROM. "U Got Me Bugged" has been re-recorded with a new Booji Boy vocal track that is MUCH more understandable than the Hardcore 2 version. Two songs are non-Devo; however, they are still de-evolved as ever: "34C" by Brain Applegate and "The Spirit of JFK" by Scott Orsi.

Bad Spud points: Half the album is recycled songs already found somewhere else. The latter half of the album is mostly a compact Greatest Hits/Misses collection. Get a taste of Devo's hits without buying Greatest Hits/Misses.

A great retrospective sampler, with a taste of current de-evolution. How cool is Devo? Name ANY other well known band that would include two devolved songs from fans on their CD... "Enough Said." BUY THIS CD!!!

O.K.,Look These Guys Are The Fathers New Wave/Techno,In The Mid To Late 70s These Spud Boys From Akron Ohio Opened A Door Inwitch Many Bands & Much Music Has,And Is Still Utilized Today. DEVO&Their Music Are Alot Like Scotch!? They are Both An aquired Taste...Now From what I Just Sampeled I Think It Was Worth My Time & I Hope Others To Just Peek-a-Boo & Listen To Yet Another De-voultionary release!!!

This quicky toss off was made for a CD-rom video game that was far funnier than this disc. Five of the eleven songs are DEVO classics and you can get them on "Greatest Hits" or "Essentials." The remainders are a so-what instrumental, "Mechanical Man" (also available elsewhere) and a re-recorded "You Got Me Bugged," which was never a steller song in the first place. Then two songs from some clowns whose names we won't bother with, becasue their songs are that worthless. DEVO Completests may want this but otherwise, stay away.