Q: Are We Not Men

Devo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002KJ1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,650 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #74 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > American Punk
  • #78 in Music > Music Deals > $7.99 and Under
  • #92 in Music > Alternative Rock > American Alternative > General

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When Devo's debut album came out in 1978, nobody knew what to make of the mutant new-wave quintet from Akron, Ohio. With Brian Eno's skillful production, Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Jerry and Bob Casale, and Alan Myers emerged fully formed and outrageous with their razor-sharp social commentary and exhibition of subversive media savvy. Beyond their industrial uniforms and pseudo-devolved demeanor, Devo also happened to be a rocking little band. Classic rave-outs like "Mongoloid," "Jocko Homo," and "Uncontrollable Urge" illustrate the band's perky-jerky intensity. On their inimitable cover of the Rolling Stones' youth anthem, "Satisfaction," Devo's avant-garde robot funk takes the song to a new level of alienation and discontent. While the band went on to greater fame, this was the only album they made that truly mattered. --Mitch Meyers

Product Description

Content featues the 11 tracks from the original album plus 11 live bonus tracks, all on one disc. Produced by Brian Eno, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! was a seminal touchstone in the development of American new wave. It was one of the first pop albums to use synthesizers as an important textural element, an innovation that began to lay the groundwork for the synth-pop explosion that would follow very shortly. Q: Are We Not Men also revived the absurdist social satire of the Mothers of Invention, claiming punk rock's outsider alienation as a home for freaks and geeks. While Devo's appeal was certainly broader, their sound was tailored well enough to that sensibility that it still resonates with a rabid cult following. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No comparison!, May 28, 2004

By 

jason gilmour (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Q: Are We Not Men (Audio CD)

O.K. I'd like to start off by pointing out that this record was the end result of DEVO's long and complicated de-evolution from multi-media project to major label "pop" band. The reviewer that wrote something about DEVO ripping off some idiotic Euro-dweebs has no idea that almost all of the songs on this perfect album were being developed since 1974-75. Lookie here spud, DEVO were WAY head of "new wave", "electro" or whatever pretentious label you wanna give it. Yeah, Kraftwerk were around before DEVO but man, those guys took themselves SO seriously! DEVO created a kind of glorious primitive futurism that is complex while being darkly funny. DEVO are part freak show, part futurist, part goon and 100% pure godhead. That said, "Are We Not Men" is a blistering manifesto and a great record.

38 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are We Not Brilliant?, October 9, 2004

By 

Westley (Stuck in my head) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Q: Are We Not Men (Audio CD)

Devo stormed onto the music scene with their 1978 debut; the CD starts perfectly with the "yeah yeah yeah yeah" rumble of "Uncontrollable Urge." They build on this auspicious beginning with their remake of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," which always sounds to me as though the music consists solely of a synthesizer backed with garage tools being banged together. I love the irony of these rather contained and arty "rockers" opening their debut CD with two such completely hedonistic songs.

Some of the songs are peculiar - including "Space Junk" and its protagonist, Sally, who is always being hit with, well, space junk. A few songs might also be a little offensive in this age of political correctness, especially "Mongoloid" and "Sloppy (I Say My Baby Getting'); however, the lyrics are so absurd that it's clear that they shouldn't be taken seriously. The masterpiece here, arguably, is "Jocko Homo" - which contains the unforgettable chorus for which this CD was named - Are we not men? We are Devo! The group even calls themselves pinheads in this song.

Devo has always been uncategorizable. Are they punk? Are they new wave? Are they rock? Nowadays of course, a number of bands successfully blend musical styles (e.g., Flaming Lips), so it's not as revolutionary. However, I can only imagine what people thought of this CD in 1978. I was only 8 when this CD was released, and other than "Whip It," I wasn't very familiar with their work until recently. I bought this CD about a year ago because I was impressed by Mark Mothersbaugh's film score work, including the delightfully whimsical "Rushmore." Needless to say, I think this CD is remarkable, and I plan on buying more Devo music. Many people are also apparently still discovering this defunct group, as this CD didn't go gold until 2001. It's about time!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth About DE-EVOLUTION, June 21, 2000

By 

Jim Conway (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Q: Are We Not Men (Audio CD)

1978 was the height of the disco craze, with millions of Americans shaking their respective bootey's to such homogenized drivel as "Disco Duck." But alas, out of Akron OH came five Kent State neo-nerd types who with this one album basically called the bluff of a popular culture that was being force-fed to millions of unsuspecting spuds everywhere. Devo introduced "The sound of things falling apart," or devolution as their satiric theory as to why our "culture" seemed to be regressing backwards.

With incredible production by Brian Eno, Q: Are We Not Men/A: We Are Devo! provides a uniquely clever look at popular culture via 1978's crass commercialism that truly doesn't take itself too seriously.

With the tonge in cheek sentimentalism of "Come Back Jonie," to the over the top outrage of "Gut Feeling/Slap 'Yo Mammy," Devo rocks with a hypnotic urgency that made the New Wave movement so much fun. The listener felt that he/she was privy to someting that not everyone else new about. Also includeded is Devo's interpetation of The Stones' classic,"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," and of course their unofficial theme song "Jocko Homo." But what makes this CD so timeless is that Devo could rock! The runaway punk of "Uncontrolable Urge" and the energy-chocked guitar chaos of "Too Much Parinoia," make this stand up even two decades later. This album was more than a clever concept, it delivers the goods.