Something for Everybody

It’s been twenty years since the last real Devo studio album and like many bands that were once ahead of their time, Devo now sound remarkably contemporary. Techno learned plenty from these art-punks from Ohio. While Devo could’ve conceivably released this album anytime in the past ten years and it would’ve sounded plenty in style, in 2010 it sounds like music to everyone’s ears. “Fresh” kicks things off with a tense, terse, austere atmosphere for singer Mark Mothersbaugh to “sing” in his apostrophe-hyped delivery where every line sounds like a command to dance. “Please Baby Please” is the closest the group’s ever come to a genuine love song. “Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)” cranks with a melodic keyboard loop prepping the crunchy guitar lines and a tune anyone can hum. If not for the tight, tough production, “Mind Games” would sound like it could’ve been birthed in the early ‘80s when synth-pop first took hold. The entire album is a rediscovery of the band’s primal power.