Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! CD

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! songs AFTER THE GOLDRUSH mixes up the hard rock of EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE and the folk and country leanings Young pursued with Crosby, Stills And Nash in one of his most eclectic and satisfying releases. The acoustic picking on the opener, "Tell Me Why," frames Young's vulnerable warble beautifully, signaling the softer aspect of the album. But the electric crunch of "Southern Man," a raging tour de force protest song that captures the special chemistry between Young and backing group Crazy Horse, balances Young's sensitivity with aggression and amplification. The album continues its collage of styles, from the wistfulness of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" to song fragments like "Til the Morning Comes" to the transformation of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" from canter to ballad. But the crowning achievements are the album's magnificent title track, a vividly drawn portrait of post-'60s melancholy, and the gorgeous, aching "Birds," a swan song heralding emotional departure. Both songs are graced by Nils Lofgren's delicate piano, and stand as two of Young's finest compositions. In a catalogue filled with rock classics, AFTER THE GOLDRUSH still ranks among the best. Unknown Contributor Role: John Nowland. Personnel: Neil Young (vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, vibraphone); Danny ...

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! buy CD music Neil Young's second album yielded several of his most enduring hits (including the title tune, "Cowgirl In The Sand," "Cinnamon Girl," and "Down By The River") and firmly established him as a solo artist of the first rank. Though it's impossible to narrow the catalog of Young and Crazy Horse down to one representative document, this is about as close as you're likely to get. This was Young's first collaboration with the Horse, and it's still one of that group's defining recorded moments. As in much of Young's subsequent work, the feeling of despair moves unabated through the album, which runs the emotional gamut from laconically desperate to psychotically desperate. Despite the gloom, the heavy electric riffing on "Cinnamon Girl" and "Cowgirl In the Sand"--two surrealistic odes to an idealized muse--is cathartic and invigorating, easily as riveting as the guitar onslaught of anyone from the Stooges to the Velvet Underground. Young's rootsy, acoustic side comes to the fore on "Round & Round" and "Running Dry." The homespun quality of these songs doesn't leaven the consuming sense of dread that permeates this album, though. Strangely, this expression of angst and emotional disorder became one of Young's most lastingly popular albums, and "Down By The River," "Cinnamon Girl," and "Cowgirl in the Sand" quickly turned into FM staples. Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Neil Young (vocals, guitar); Danny Whitten (guitar); Billy Talbot (bass); Ralph Molina (drums). Additional personnel: Robin Lane (vocals); Bobby Notkoff (violin).

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! album for sale R.E.M.'s full-length debut is a landmark album that set the standard for the next 10 years of indie rock. The Athens quartet combined Byrdsy, folk-rock guitar jangle with obscurantist lyrics and a post-punk compositional sensibility to create a vibrant new sound that would soon be imitated by every high-school poet with a Rickenbacker guitar. R.E.M. was also one of the first bands to make the long, hard journey from college radio (when it was still college radio) to mainstream acceptance, and managed the difficult task of maintaining its integrity at every step along the way. MURMUR, far from an embryonic debut, shows a fully-formed unit with a strong artistic vision. (It was preceded by two legendary underground releases: The "Radio Free Europe" single--which was re-recorded for MURMUR--and the CHRONIC TOWN EP.) Producers Mitch Easter and Don Dixon's lofty reputations would have remained intact even if they had never worked on another record after this one. The gentle-but-insistent arrangements and glorious pop hooks of songs like "Catapult" and "Talk About The Passion" provide the perfect contrast to Michael Stipe's earnest, moody vocal style. Drummer Bill Berry's breathless effervescence provides the perfect backdrop for this album of jumpy, intellectual pop. Additional Tracks; Deluxe Edition Recorded at Reflection, Charlotte, North Carolina in January 1983. R.E.M.: Michael Stipe (vocals, piano); Peter Buck (guitars); Mike Mills (bass guitar); Bill Berry (drums, percussion). Audio Remasterer: Greg Calbi. Recording information: Larry's Hideaway, Toronto, Canada (1983); Reflection, Charlotte, NC (1983). Photographers: Sandra Lee Phipps; Michael Plen. R.E.M.: Michael Stipe (vocals); Peter Buck (guitar); Michael Mills (bass, background vocals); Bill Berry (drums). Additional personnel: Jefferson Holt, Bertis Downs.

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! CD music 1980's FREEDOM OF CHOICE proved to be Devo's big commercial breakthrough. Due to its massive hit single "Whip It" (one of the most memorable and original singles of the year) and a more refined sound, FREEDOM OF CHOICE is Devo's most popular album, easily on par with their classic '78 debut. Along with albums by Blondie, The Cars, The B-52's, and Talking Heads, FREEDOM was one of the first new wave records to break into the mainstream, helping to pave the way for the success of "alternative rock." Although "Whip It" has been played to death over the years (it's turned up in countless movies and '80s compilations), its sly lyrics, stiff-yet-catchy synthesizer breaks, and hilarious accompanying video still hold up. Also included on FREEDOM are many tracks just as strong as "Whip It"--the defiant title track and the jerky "Girl U Want" are excellent, and deserved to be hits as well (the latter has been covered by both Soundgarden and Robert Palmer). Other highlights abound ("Snowball," "Gates of Steel," "Planet Earth," etc.), making FREEDOM OF CHOICE Devo's third classic album in a row. Deluxe Edition Audio Mixer: Devo. Recording information: The Fox Warfield, San Francisco, CA; The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA. Photographers: Joep Bruijnje; Allan Tannenbaum; John Tremblay; Jules Bates.

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! buy CD music 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. NEW TRADITIONALISTS contains 3 bonus tracks. Devo: Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals); Bob Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale (guitar); Gerald V. Casale (bass); Alan Myers (percussion). Audio Remasterer: Scott Levitin. Liner Note Author: General Boy. Recording information: Amigo REcording Studio, North Hollywood, CA; Devo Rehearsal Facility, Panorama City, CA; Power Stations, New York, NY. Photographers: Moshe Brakha; Robert Matheu.

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! songs While the most obvious flaw of Devo's Duty Now for the Future is that the material simply isn't as good as on their debut, their second album also captures the group in the midst of a significant stylistic shift. On their first album, for all their herky-jerky rhythms and electronic accents, Devo were pretty much a standard guitars/bass/drums rock band, albeit one with more than their share of eccentricities. Duty Now for the Future found them bringing the keyboards that were used as punctuation on their earlier material into the forefront, adding a new level of irony to their "little minds through big technology" philosophy. While Devo would later learn to use electronics with confidence and wit, they were still learning how to integrate them into their sound on Duty Now, and the results lacked the strength and coherence of their debut. Of course, it also helped that the first album had better songs; the two instrumentals on side one are merely filler, "Pink Pussycat" and "Clockout" are jokes that just aren't funny, and "Triumph of the Will" embraces fascism as a satirical target without bothering to make it sound as if they disapprove. But "Secret Agent Man" is a wittier devolved cover than "Satisfaction," the band rarely sounded as cheerfully creepy as on "The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize," and the side two rave-up, "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA" is superbly potent (for all their progressive trappings, Devo were formalists enough to know you make a big rock move near the end of side two.) Duty Now for the Future is hardly a bad album, but it isn't as strong as what Devo had already brought to the table -- or would offer later on. [In 2010, as Devo were preparing to release a new album, Warner Bros dusted off Duty Now for the Future for an expanded and remastered reissue. Five bonus tracks were added for this edition; "Soo Bawls" was from the Duty Now sessions, while "Be Stiff" and "Penetration in the Centerfold" were recorded with Brian Eno while working on their first album. "Soo Bawls" and "Penetration" were previously released as B-sides and find the band pushing their lyrical eccentricities to the limit. A live recording of "Secret Agent Man" also appears, as well as "General Boy Meets Apocalypse Now," a witty throwaway in which Devo's spokesman offers another thoughtful message to the troops over a bed of atmospheric synth doodling. Neither the remastering nor the bonus tracks make this an essential upgrade, but the expanded booklet and improved back cover artwork at least make this package look a lot better, and if you're a fan who never got around to buying Duty Now on CD, this is as good as this album is ever likely to get.] ~ Mark Deming Audio Remasterer: Scott Levitin. Recording information: Chateau Recorders, Hollywood, CA (11/22/1979); Conny's Studio, Köln, Germany (11/22/1979). Photographers: Devo; Dale Cooper; Norman Seeff.