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New Traditionalists

Devo - New Traditionalists Audio CD

A fair review of the Devo "New Traditionalists" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Devo reviews here, or go back to the Devo tabs.

Band: Devo
Title: New Traditionalists
Rating:

Release Date: 2005-02-22
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Through Being Cool 2: Jerkin' Back 'N' Forth 3: Pity You 4: Soft Things 5: Going Under 6: Race of Doom 7: Love Without Anger 8: Super Thing 9: Beautiful World 10: Enough Said 11: Working in the Coal Mine [*] 12: Mecha-Mania Boy [*] 13: Nu-Tra Speaks (New Traditionalist Man) [*]

Awesome...Just pure awe-inspiring 80's Awesomeness!
After the success of DEVO's prior album to this one, Freedom Of Choice, featuring the well-known hit Whip It, DEVO went into their secret lab and concocted this synth-driven musical masterpiece! I'm telling you, it doesn't get much better than this!
. This is another amazing album by DEVO! It's my 2nd favorite album by them, right after Duty Now For The Future.

A good album but doesn't stand out very well
The music gets a bit monotonous, and the lyrical content isn't as clever as before or after. While this album has some definitely great tracks, I feel it overall is a bit aimless.

A few tracks are still some of my favorites in the DEVO studio release catalogue, like Through Being Cool and Race of Doom, but I feel for the most part that the tracks that were not released as singles or for other promotional advances are pretty dull, which really weighs the album down, not to mention it's their shortest studio album, I think, with the exception of the obscure 'Be Stiff' album.

The biggest thing that bothers me about this one though is how DEVO seem more interested in sex than self-induced idiocy for which they are best known. Lyrically this album is unfocused, and while that's usually pretty okay for most musicians (let's face it, music is the biggest priority in music, not words) but DEVO has always been an intelligent post-modern band, but some of these songs make them feel pretty out-dated and tacky.

The three extra tracks on this edition are all pretty interesting, and in my opinion would've really helped the album along had they been part of it originally, but at least now we can hear them.

And even while I consider this DEVO album one of my least favorites, it's still really good (I just can't get into most of it), but the best of this album can be found on their Greatest Hits and Misses so if you have/want those probably don't bother with this unless you really love DEVO.

Devo, Post Energy Dome
By sandwiching the immediate predecessor and immediate progeny of "Freedom of Choice," the listener can truly understand how Freedom Of Choice is the missing link between organic Devo (Duty Now for the Future) and synthetic Devo (New Traditionalists). This CD offers the casual devo-tee a chance to really understand the evolution of the de-evolution band.

"Duty Now For The Future" was Devo's apocalyptic warning against a wiggly world taken over by corporate culture; by the time "New Traditionalists" came out, the members of Devo had been fully re-programmed to trumpet the coming of a Brave New World.

Or had they?

Songs like "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA," "Devo Corporate Anthem," "Clockout" and "Blockhead" were harbingers of a "one-size-fits all" universe that came to fruition with "Freedom of Choice," though the spudboys by that time all chose to march in energy-dome topped-off lockstep.

"New Traditionalists" was Devo's reclaiming of pop culture, fending off punks, puritans, hippies, and hausfraus with rolling pins. With their action vests, they fended off dangerous human elements who threatened the Status Quo with devolved thinking. The world is a much simpler and easy to understand place, when your head is shielded with a vacu-plastic pompadour to ward off the daddy zeroes.

But, there is a premonition of revolt in such songs from "New Traditionalists" as "Beautiful World" (for YOU; IT'S NOT FOR ME), "Through Being Cool" and "Going Under. " "Working in a Coal Mine" was Devo's attempt at nostalgia as only they could understand it; disembodied computer-synth hu-boon vocals over steel guitar. It really takes a great swipe at all the MOR so-called "blues" artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton.

Devo never sold out, they just constantly repackaged themselves.

A strange (but excelent) twist for DEVO
However,when I listened the whole album I was totally amazed for it's extraordinary quality. In 1989 I bought this record on LP format, mostly because I loved the song "Going Under", wich was included in the soundtrack of the TV series "Miami Vice". Songs like "Super Thing", "Love. . . without Anger" and "Through Being Cool" were not really what you could call DEVO classics, but they were the living proof of the quality of a too-often not taken seriously band. Though I love DEVO's songs like "Whip It" or "Time Out for Fun", "New Traditionalists" was one step forward in the band's search for respect. If you are into 80s electronic pop, this CD is a must have.

What Am I Doing With a Devo Album!?!
I can certainly "stomach". I must confess that I am not a fan of New Wave. . . and in some cases really enjoy certain bands from the genre such as The Cars, Talking Heads and The Fixx, but I absolutely adore "New Traditionalists". I actually "unshelved" this CD recently after many years of not listening to it. . . and it brought it all back for me and prompted me to write the one and only review I'll likely write for a New Wave release. It also got me wondering exactly how (and why) I ended up with this recording---- usually I can remember who, how and where I was "turned-on" to a new artist or band. . . but for the life of me, I can't remember how "NT" found its way into my collection? I don't own any other Devo albums, and probably never will---- I grew up with Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and a small portion of Pop Rock and Singer/Songwriter music. . . . so I KNOW I didn't purchase this (besides, the mention of a band like Devo would have gotten me laughed right out of the Rock/Metal band I was playing in at the time I "aquired" this album). Anyway. . . enough of my ramblings. Without going into individual songs, I can say that I really enjoy every track on the original release. . . . though I can do without the extra tracks here on the remastered CD. If pressed to name favorites, I would pick "Pity You", "Going Under", "Through Being Cool", "LWA" and "Beautiful World". Other reviews here mention how the band was trying to "say" something within the individual songs on "NT"---- I guess I can see (hear) that, however, if I want a listening experience with a "message" and social commentary, I'm not going to grab for this to get that "fix". On the other hand, if I'm in the mood for some cool, quirky and fun music that doesn't take too much "brain power" to enjoy, this exceptional release is always on 'stand-by' for me. If your looking for an 'initiation' into this band, I would (and can only) recommend looking no further than "New Traditionalists. . . . 4. 5 stars.

You can see a complete list of all Devo discography, or go back to the Devo tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.