Customer Reviews

E-Z Listening Disc

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Yes, this album is kitschy and trite--but that's the whold point! The casual Devo listner will not understand this album... it's an inside joke from the now-Mutato Muzika boys to their fans. From the bluegrass version of "Beautiful World" (who'da thought it possible!), to the power lounge-lizard "Whip It," this shows Mark Mothersbaugh and the boys to be the true geniuses they were and are today. I suppose the casual Devo listener might enjoy it, if they knew the songs on the album in their original forms. If you thought "Whip It" was the best (or only) thing Devo ever put out, DON'T BUY THIS RECORDING! If you bought "Smooth Noodle Maps" just because you have the courage to be a Devo fan--even into the new millenium, then this album is for you.

I was expecting elevator music. I wanted to find out how far Devo would go in transforming their wonderful, unique work into bland pap. Call it morbid curiosity.

I was disappointed, but it was the happy kind of disappointment. It wasn't elevator-like at all. Fulfilling their genetic imperative, Devo deconstructed their own songs, but they stopped far short of destroying them. (I am grateful.)

(Theoretically, you *could* pipe this sort of music into an elevator, but then no one would want to leave; proper elevator music makes people want to get out as soon as possible.)

Some of the tracks are watered-down versions of the originals, and not especially interesting, although it's true enough that they're easy to listen to. But many of them do hold to the Muzak tradition of subverting the impression of a song from, say, ironic and upbeat to maudlin: "Mongoloid" is a good example. The tune's the same, you can even sing along, but if you weren't familiar with the original you'd never suspect what the song is about. It's a gentle yet haunting rendition of a fun, punkish song.

The E-Z "Jocko Homo" isn't quite as radically different from the original, but it is pretty funny. If you really want to hear something that would frighten people out of the elevators, try "Peekaboo"! You think Devo's first interpretation of "Satisfaction" was bizarre? Listen to this one. Proof again that even the most straightforward song can be bent in many directions while still maintaining its identity.

Maybe just knowing it's really Devo is what makes it fun. I don't think this disk would make much sense to someone who isn't a fan; even if they liked the sound of it, they'd miss out on a lot by not being in on the joke. It's a must-have for Devotees, though, and fascinating if you're interested in the different ways a song can be put together, taken apart, and rearranged.

How great is this? You can play Devo for Mom and Dad and they will probably like it or at the very least, they won't complain and they will listen to it. It IS a beautiful world. For you... I'm the Big Oh and I'm Devo. Bye

...I originally purchased this music when it was mail-order only on 2 cassettes. Devo wanted to "muzak" their music before others did it to them and this disc is TERRIFIC! Haven't you ever been to a mall & heard Talking Heads or XTC Muzaked? They did it first & BEST! Lighten UP! Buy this NOW! ..WE MUST REPEAT!

This collection consists of all 19 muzak style songs released exclusively through Club Devo in the 1980's. Devo reworks their well-known songs into almost recognizable instrumentals in the style of muzak. For example, the synth-pop sound of "Beautiful World" becomes a hilbilly hoedown. "Jocko Homo" is turned into a Carribean style anthem of monkey mon in business suits. "Pity You" is reworked into a truimphant synthesizer piece. "Peek a Boo" is no longer a synth heavy song about a child's game, but an old west cattle round-up complete with cattle mooing, coyotes howling, and cowboys yelling and laughing. "The 4th Dimension" is redone into a 60's twist beach party reminiscent of the Ventures.

Some of the songs also reappear on other DEVO releases. The E-Z Shout was included as a bonus track on the Infinite Zero release of Shout. "Goin' Under" is the same version used in the Now It Can Be Told Live record. The E-Z "Whip It" is played during the ending credits of "We're All Devo."

This is great for relaxing, driving your roommate insane (just loop the same song many, many times), on hold music for customers on the phone, or sneaking into the PA system at work. The CD is well worth the price, nearly 71 minutes of pure DEVO muzak.

Before buying this disc you had best be aware that it is not anything close to the style of music you would expect from Devo. It is a clever muzak adaptation of the bands hits (and misses). I wish more artists put out records like this. If you are a hard-core Devo fan that's open-minded you will most definitely get a kick out of this. On the other hand, if the only thing you've heard from them is "Whip it", may I suggest doing your Devo homework first.

I originally bought this on cassette from the fan club when it was first released, and just purchased my third CD copy. I cannot live without this.

I used to glom onto the great sales-pitch inner sleeves for all DEVO records where they would hawk their merchandise and the original 2 EZ-Listening cassettes always made me want to order them but I didn't like the lousy cassette format, so it never happened. Good thing Rykodisc did us all a favor and released them on a single CD! This is where Mark Mothersbaugh's soundtrack career began in earnest. Listening to this it's not hard to make the leap to the Rugrats soundtrack as he renderers some of DEVO's least digestible melodies into twee little tunes suitable for all ages. More conceptual brilliance from DEVO!

From what I've learned this CD was a fan club release, thus, only for DEVO fanatics. But even so I can't imagine every die-hard DEVO fan being all too crazy about this either, as it basically tears down the very music for which we love DEVO. But also take in the fact that the band is (almost) always doing new, usually very interesting, ideas. I can't say this is their most fascinating, let alone best quality effort, but if you take it for what it is--an intentionally cheesy self-mockery--you just might really get into it.

For me, however, I can't say I actually like most of the music, as many of the tracks seem hardly recognizable from their parents, but if you're looking from something fun, unique, and overall something DEVO-esque, this is it.

E-Z Listening was originally issued by Devo on two volumes of mail order cassettes. Being a ravinous fan I had volume one. I had no idea volume two was out until this disc was released.

I think these versions were meant to be heard as fillers during concerts. With that said I don't recomend playing the disc all the way through in one sitting. It's best heard in small doses.

Devo drove the point of de-evolution home by purposely doing these elevator muzak versions of their own songs. The idea works - really it does. Get it? Parody yourself and the cycle is complete. Society doesn't break down unless every one is included.