| Product Summary | | Label: Collectables Records | | UPC: 00090431655528 | | Release Date: 2/22/2005 | | Buy.com Sku: 63942135 | | Item#: M22HU4 | | Buy.com Sales Rank: 25079 | Format:  CD |
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| Song Listing |  |
Disc 1
| | Song Title | Sample | | 1. Through Being Cool ~ Devo |  | | 2. Jerkin' Back N' Forth ~ Devo | | | 3. Pity You ~ Devo | | | 4. Soft Things ~ Devo | | | 5. Going Under ~ Devo | | | 6. Race Of Doom ~ Devo | | | 7. Love Without Anger ~ Devo | | | 8. Super Thing, The ~ Devo | | | 9. Beautiful World ~ Devo | | | 10. Enough Said ~ Devo | |
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| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | NEW TRADITIONALISTS contains 3 bonus tracks. | | Devo: Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals); Bob Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale (guitar); Gerald V. Casale (bass); Alan Myers (percussion). | | Personnel: Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Bob Mothersbaugh (vocals, guitar); Gerald V. Casale (vocals, keyboards); Alan Myers (drums). | | Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot. | | Recording information: Power Station, New York, NY. | | Photographer: Moshe Brakha. | | Unknown Contributor Role: Manuel J. Donayre. | | Devo followed up their platinum-selling pop breakthrough in typically perverse fashion: New Traditionalists presents a band seemingly aghast at being pegged as a novelty act by some of their own satirical targets. Apparently deciding -- admittedly, not without reason -- that America's comprehension of irony was sorely lacking, Devo largely abandons its sense of absurdity on New Traditionalists, explicitly stating their cultural views and at times calling attention (as with the otherwise terrific single "Beautiful World") to their already obvious sarcasm, in case anyone missed the point. The problem was, Devo's cult wasn't missing the point, and with all their quirky trappings, the band was hardly likely to reach most of their newfound pop audience by making their message more straightforward. Still, despite some heavy-handedness, New Traditionalists is hardly a total failure. The opener "Through Being Cool" actually benefits from the new outlook, making for a clear and effective statement of purpose. It sets the stage for some of Devo's angriest, most embittered songs, which often function as connections between new wave and the punk attitudes that were so crucial in its creation. Devo might have pulled it off if their songwriting hadn't also begun to slip -- too many tracks end up flat-out unmemorable. They try a couple new things arrangement-wise (adding more electronic percussion), but nothing that drastically overhauls their minimalist synth-pop, and that lack of variety is more glaring when paired with the melodic deficiencies. New Traditionalists' repetition of musical and lyrical ideas foreshadows the band's decline, but really, at least half of the album is worthwhile. It just doesn't quite recapture the inventiveness or pointed humor of its predecessors. ~ Steve Huey | | With the commercial success of their previous album FREEDOM OF CHOICE, the pressure was on Devo to come up with another hit. While NEW TRADITIONALISTS was indeed an exceptional album, it did not replicate the commercial success of its predecessor. The album was the first to be completely produced by the band, and also marks the first time that keyboards and electronic drums would dominate the arrangements on a Devo record (little guitar is heard), resulting in a much more computerized and precise sound. But the songwriting skills of Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale were in full effect, as Devo's trademark humor and wit were on full display. | | The opener, "Through Being Cool," catches the band at it's most fun. Other technoid highlights abound, such as the forgotten early-'80s MTV hit "Love Without Anger," the ironic "Beautiful World," the jittery "Going Under" and an anthemic Devo concert staple, "Jerkin' Back N' Forth." Also included are lesser-known (yet still intriguing) tracks, such as "Pity You" and "Soft Things." Another powerful Devo release. |
Producer: Devo |
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| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 03/14/2006 | | Original Release Date : 1981 | | Catalog ID : 6555 | | Label : Collectables Records | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00090431655528 |
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| | Professional Reviews | | Q (5/97, p.130)
- 4 Stars (out of 5)
- "...like funk processed in a clinic, with the offbeat lyrics delivered as if by some drilled regiment...Who could say no?" |
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