Devo – Oh, No! It’s Devo – 1982
The opening track of Oh, No!, “Time Out for Fun” is at once the full immersion into synth rock (there’s not a real instrument on this record, save Mothersbaugh’s vocals and even that sounds fake) and also more fun than anything else on the previous record.
With Oh, No! it seems obvious the guys had given up on their “De-evolution” doctrine and were going for hitsville, U.S.A.
At just over 30 minutes, it’s barely an album. Using lyrics based on the writings of John Hinckley (“I Desire”)
make it a subversive and caustic one as well.
On Oh, No! It’s Devo, the group employed ex-Queen, ex-Cars producer Roy Thomas Baker who shines everything up nice and glossy. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t bite. Well, if not “bite” at least it’s easier on the ears.
An antiseptic record, it’s no Freedom of Choice, but it’s not as dull as New Traditionalists.
I’m one of those people who actually like the uber-pop sheen of Weezer’s Make Believe. It’s no surprise that I like this one as well.
Grade: B-
ASide: Peek-A-Boo
BlindSide: Time Out for Fun, That’s Good, Big Mess, Deep Sleep
