Duty Now for the Future

Devo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collectables
• ASIN: B000784WN6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,618 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Keyboards jumped to the fore as Devo continued their rise to pop power with this hit 1979 Warner Bros. album. Their unforgettable take on Secret Agent Man joins inspired originals like The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize; Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA , and the faux-fascist track that kicks off the record, Devo Corporate Anthem !

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devo's best album by a long shot, March 6, 2005

By 

James F. Mcdermott "Jim" (NYC NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duty Now for the Future (Audio CD)

Some people prefer Devo's first, Eno produced record, or the later "sellout' records like Freedom Of Choice and New Traditionalists. But nowhere did Devo strike a more perfect balance between guitars and synthesisers than on Duty Now.

The first record was really a guitar/punk album, and the later records rely heavily on synths, which in retrospect make all the records which followed Duty Now kind of dated in that cheesy 80's way (i.e. Whip It). But on Duty Now For The Future, the guitars and keyboards mix to form a perfectly synergised, melting plastic kind of sound, which they never bettered. There are amazing songs on this record - Pink Pussycat, Blockhead, Wiggly World, and the epic Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA. This is a truly unique record which still sounds fresh today.

Devo's tableau of de-evolution, punk perviness, and corporate toxemia really click on this record. At no point does this heady subject matter seem forced - the schtick is delivered confidently, artfully and with much humor. This is a truly visionary record that deserves to be rediscovered - one of the few records from that period that can be held up as genius 25 years later.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars GREAT ALBUM, GREAT BAND, SO WHY NOT GREAT RE-RELEASE?, July 23, 2006

By 

squarehawk2 (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duty Now for the Future (Audio CD)

There is no question in the power of Devo's music, philosophy or art (especially in "Duty For The Future"), however this edition of the recording is quite lackluster considering a previous version of "Duty" far out weighs it. The Infinite Zero label (reissue label ran by Henry Rollins) produced a quality re-mastered version sporting two great bonus tracks (Soo Bawls, Penetration In The Centerfold) with lyrics to boot. The release here features no extra tracks, no lyrics, and adding to the insult a weak re-mastering (if any at all). The CD sleeve itself consists of a single 4.75" X 4.75" paper square. The original vinyl gave you more than that.

If you wonder why the album hasn't been repackaged by reissue titans at Rhino, consider the fact that the company who put this one together is actually a subsidiary of Rhino Records; Collectable recordings. Quite a shame, actually.

My advice is that if you are new to this recording, pick it up because the price isn't that high for it. But if you'd like to have quality experience of a great work, seek out the Infinite Zero copy if you can find it (because it's out of print, of course). Or try purchasing the import version by Virgin records which has this album backed with another Devo classic "New Traditionalists".

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devo IS a genre and this album proves it, June 23, 2005

By 

Herbert West (The Rabbit Hole) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duty Now for the Future (Audio CD)

What more can be said about Devo this far into the future? They were and still are pioneers of their style of music. Its like Devo couldn't decide if they wanted to be a new wave band or a rock band...so they combined the two! I love their first album and totally recommend it, but this album is when they really starting experimenting and it contains the gem Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA.It opens with the silly Devo Corporate Anthem(I can just see the band standing against the wind saluting), then kicks into Clockout and from then on its a wild ride. Its hard to say much more other than the fact that Devo's music is essential to any REAL music collection.Get their first album and stop after you get Oh No! Its Devo! From Shout on it got pretty lame(and it wasnt their fault it was contractual). If you like rock N roll with synthesizers and a whole bunch of social commentary then get this right now! Let me be the first to congradulate you on subscribing to De-Evolution! Go Spuds Go!