Total Devo is the seventh studio album by the new wave band America, Devo. Originally released in May 1988, their first album on Enigma Records, four years after their previous album, Shout . The album was recorded between 1986 and 1988, with basic songs recorded in Devo's studio, at Marina del Rey, and an additional track in Master Control, in Burbank, California.
Total Devo is the first Devo studio album without drummer Alan Myers, who was replaced by former Sparks drummer David Kendrick. This is the last Devo album to include the use of digital sampling CMI Fairlight sampling, mostly used for pre-sorting of albums, as well as for sampling in choruses "Some Things Never Change" and "Agitated."
"The Shadow" has lyrics that contain many references to literary works. The choir is partly lifted from T. S. Eliot's poem "The Hollow Men" and combines and memparaffrase his slogan from the following series of characters The Shadow ("Who knows what lurks in the hearts of men?
The song "Some Things Never Change" is based in part on the same title entitled "Some Things Do not Change," which is the rejection of their previous album Shout and will then appear on the compilation album Recombo DNA . The song also paraphrases lyrics from The Beatles' The Day in the Life and appears in Interplay's computer adventure game, Neuromancer , itself an adaptation of the 1984 novel of the same name by William Gibson.
The song "Baby Doll" was used in the same year in the Tapesheads comedy film, with newly recorded Swedish lyrics, and credited to (and featured in music video by) a fictional Swedish band called Cube-Kuadrat.
Devo Total is the only Devo album to be released on DAT in addition to standard releases on vinyl, cassette and CD. At 41 and 30 seconds, it is also the longest studio album Devo.
The album was re-released on vinyl in 2012, eliminating "Sexi Luv".
Video Total Devo
Cover design
The cover photo was based on an early promotional photo by Devo from 1977. However, in taking cover covers, David Kendrick's chin fell behind the uniform of Bob Casale. Instead of retrieving the photo, Kendrick's second chin was plastered. For a silhouette photo on the back cover, the band members pose naked, with the album art spoof Prince Lovesexy.
The description on the front cover has changed depending on the number of tracks in each release. Original vinyl release covers include "11 digital cartoons from de-evolution bands," while the original CD release, which included two additional songs, was given the caption of "13 digital cartoons from the de-evolution band." The cassette release was titled "12 digital cartoons..." and a Release Release Release titled "16 digital cartoons..."
Maps Total Devo
Promotional music video
A music video made for the second single, "Disco Dancer," uses a slightly remixed version of the song by producer Ivan Ivan. According to Devo co-songwriter and bass guitarist Gerald Casale, the video failed to receive airplay after first airing on MTV "Smash or Trash ?," where a video was aired and viewers would call and pick it. The video was "discarded" and MTV refused to air it afterwards.
Tour
After a four-year hiatus, Total Devo tour saw the band scale back. The set is very basic without the complex visuals and the band wearing plain red shirt and pants, with computer images resulting from smiling and sullen faces (as shown on album artwork) on the back of the shirts. These clothes were added by the Energy domes and the "World Service" uniforms that were introduced at the time of release during certain parts of the show. The tour was commemorated on the 1989 album Now It Can Be Notified .
On the next date on the tour, two songs from the next album Smooth Noodle Maps are added to the setlist: "Post Post-Modern Man" and "A Change Is Gonna Cum."
Critical reception
Like its predecessor, Total Devo received negative reviews, with many reviewers (including band members) showing the band's "de-evolution" in quality compared to previous material. Most reviewers point to the arrangement and writing of songs that are "bland, not innovative", though "Disco Dancers" and "Some Things Never Change" receive some praise. Mark Prindle of Prindle Record Reviews says that, while a stronger effort compared to Shout , "it's just a mid-pop music, perfect for orthodontist offices and homecoming dance."
Michael Azerrad of Rolling Stone magazine was also not good, calling the album "SOS despair of lead author Mark Mothersbaugh." and that "If you listen carefully, the bass drum on this recording sounds suspiciously like a digital sampling of dead horse sounds being beaten."
Track list
All lead vocals are performed by Mark Mothersbaugh, unless they are recorded.
All songs written by Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale, except recorded.
Personnel
- Devo
- Mark MothersbaughÃ, - the main vocal and background; keyboard; Roland D-50; Roland S-50; guitar; Fairlight CMI; digital editing
- Gerald CasaleÃ, - main vocals and background; bass guitar; bass synthesizer; Roland D-50; keyboard
- Bob CasaleÃ, - guitar; keyboard; Fairlight CMI; Roland D-50; Roland S-50; Roland JP-8000; Mackiee 14ch Mixer Roland DJ-2000; voice samples; backing vocals
- Bob MothersbaughÃ, - guitar; backing vocals
- David KendrickÃ, â € "drums; tap; drum machine
- Session musician
- Steve LindsayÃ, - a bass sample on "Disco Dancer"
- Greta Greta - supports vocals on "The Truth"
- Nan VernonÃ, - backing vocals on "Plain Truth"
- The production team
- Devo - manufacturer
- Jim MothersbaughÃ, - technical assistance
- Bob Casale - engineer; Amiga computer graphics
- Gerald Casale - the concept of graphics; art direction; World Service Uniform
- Mark Mothersbaugh - a graphical concept; art direction; World Service Uniform
- Rocky SchenckÃ, - photography
Performance chart
Weekly chart
References
External links
- Total Devo on Discogs (release list)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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