Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (Vinil 180g, LP dublu)

The satirical protest, the erratic structures, and the dry humor of “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” are so profound that it took decades for the music media to change their minds and come to appreciate the album. Ranked No. 252 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “Greatest Albums of All Time” and among Pitchfork’s top 100 albums of the 1970s, Devo’s radical debut played a pivotal role in the emergence of the subsequent new wave movement. And as fate would have it, the album is even more relevant in the 21st century than it was at the time of its release. The album was released in August 1978 by Warner Bros. in North America and by Virgin Records in Europe. Produced by Brian Eno, the album was recorded primarily in Cologne from October 1977 to February 1978 and reached No. 78 on the U.S. Billboard charts and No. 12 on the UK album charts.

According to Devo, the band consisted of “suburban robots” who had “come here to entertain corporate lifeforms.” Of course, bandleader Mark Mothersbaugh and his bandmates were human through and through. The Ohio-based group consisted of art students attending Kent State University. By the time Devo finally settled on the lineup that would produce “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!”, the band had already perfected their songs and attracted the attention of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and numerous record labels. Bowie, who remixed the album, was among the small circle of listeners who immediately recognized the band’s brilliant wit and ironic attitude. From the album title to the lyrics and composition, right down to the band’s name itself – Devo’s satire of societal dysfunction, ostentatious consumerism, and conformist behavior reflected the view that institutions, culture, and humanity are evolving backward rather than forward. This “devolution” is reflected in the strict precision, mechanical rhythms, and black-and-white certainty of the animatronic songs. Originally misunderstood by many critics as a joke or a curiosity, “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” gained credibility and influence over time. Decades later, its relevance in a landscape filled with virtual realities, artificial intelligence, blurred truths, lab-created clones, suppressed emotions, and the pressure from social media to slavishly follow so-called influencers is greater than even Devo could have foreseen. The scenarios the quintet alluded to on the album have become part of everyday reality. The prophetic nature of Devo’s early songs cannot be overstated.

MFSL now presents “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” for the first time in audiophile reference quality! Mastered from the original tapes at MoFi Studio in California, pressed and numbered by Fidelity Record Pressing, this double LP (180 grams, 45 rpm) is housed in a luxurious gatefold jacket by Stoughton Printing and offers the best sound quality the album has ever had. This collectible reissue sets new standards in terms of depth, transparency, and dynamics. No previous version offers this level of presence, clarity, and attention to detail, nor does it bring out the textures, timbres, and effects – so crucial to the music – in such a three-dimensional way. Even though Devo and Brian Eno didn’t always see eye to eye during the recording sessions, the merits of his production shine through here like never before!We recommend the use of „L’Art du Son” LP cleaner to wet wash your vinyl. Even new records of high quality production will benefit from this.

Lista pieselor

LP 1

Side A
1. Uncontrollable Urge
2. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
3. Praying Hands

Side B

1. Space Junk
2. Mongoloid
3. Jocko Homo

LP 2

Side C
1. Too Much Paranoias
2. Gut Feeling/(Slap Your Mammy)

Side D
1. Come Back Jonee 
2. Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin’)
3. Shrivel-Up