Oh No! It's Devo//Freedom of Choice [Import]

"Freedom Of Choice" was where DEVO's world-view was overtaken by a case of pop-smarts. The synths had moved almost entirely to the fore, and there was an obvious attempt at disciplined song writing. It shows most obviously on "Girl You Want" and "Gates Of Steel." The very un-devoish longing in "Girl You Want" is universal enough to have found its way into the set lists of artists ranging from Soundgarden to Robert Palmer.

This is, along with "Q: Are We Not Men," the Devo album that integrates the theory on De-evolution most completely to the music. The title track mocks the how submissive we are when it comes to culture/consumer manipulation, while "Whip It" strings together a catalog of catch phrases and self-help mantras into a crackling three minute anthem. On the side of human conditions, "Mr. B's Ballroom" cocks its eye at the kind of hole-in-the-wall establishment where best friends drink and start fights before crashing through the plate glass door. (Likely while "Whip It" is playing on the jukebox.)

Just as important, this was the album that most people probably measure their knowledge of DEVO by. "Whip It" became the kind of song that college new-wave parties did the pogo to, and corporate rallies would chant along with as a morale enhancer. By making synthesizer rock safe for frat boys, "Freedom Of Choice" is easily the second of DEVO's crowning albums.

Oh no, suffered from a lack of ideas. Unfortunately, DEVO, who had already proven they [used] the latest gizmo many times over, used on their 5th album that detracted from their strengths. Just about every song here is dependent on pitch control voice manipulation, which made all the vocals sound like they were being sung by Mark Mothersbaugh's ... helium ... twin. It also didn't help that producer Roy Thomas Baker forces the edges off the band's sound. The synths here sound slavishly of the moment, as opposed to leading the movement.

Those are the bad patches. The good stuff is still here. "Peek-a-boo!" is willfully creepy in much the same way "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA" from "Duty Now For The Future" was, and "That's Good" should have been a dance floor smash (and if you are old enough to remember the TV show "Square Pegs," they played it at the high school dance!). "Speed Racer" does benefit from its quirky time signature, and finally, "Patterns" gives us another insightful glimpse at the theories of De-evolution.

Also of note are "Big Mess" and "I Desire." Both were written after the assassination attempt on President Reagan and the eventual discovery that the assassin was doing it to impress Jodie Foster. It inspired the immortal line (from "I Desire") "A smile I might bring you is more important than world peace." Now THAT'S truly Devo!

Their two most "pop" albums on one disk.