Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology

Performer: Devo
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Devo: Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Gerry Casale (vocals, keyboards, bass); Bob "Bob II" Casale (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Bob Mothersbaugh (guitar, background vocals); David Kendrick (drums, bongos); Alan Myers, Josh Freez (drums). Additional personnel: Annerose Bucklers (spoken vocals); Larry Klimas (saxophone); Ralph Rickert (trumpet); Paul Morin (upright bass); Bob Lee, Nick Vincent (drums); Roli Rox, Paul C (programming); Steve Lindsay (samples). Producers include: Devo, Brian Eno, Ken Scott, Roy Thomas Baker, Gerald V. Casale. Compilation producers: Gary Peterson, David McLees, David Baker, Devo. Engineers include: Devo, Conrad Plank, Ken Scott. Includes liner notes by Andy Zax. Digitally remastered by Dan Hersch & Bill Inglot (Digiprep). Personnel: Mark Mothersbaugh (guitar, keyboards); Jim Mothersbaugh, David Kendrick, Alan Myers (drums). Recording information: Amigo REcording Studio, North Hollywood, CA; Chateau Recorders, North Hollywood, CA; Cherokee REcording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Cleveland Recording Company, Cleveland, OH; Conny's Studio, Koln, Germany; Devo Rehearsal Faculity, Panorama City, CA; Different Fur Studios, San Francisco, CA; Harlan Hall, Akron, OH; Mutato Muzika, West Hollywood, CA; Palace, Hollywood, CA; Power Station, New York, NY; Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Soundtrack Studios, New York, NY; Sunwest Recordings Studios, Hollywood, CA; Warehouse, Minneapolis, MN. Editors: Dale Cooper; Roger Pauletta. Photographers: Hugh Brown; Richard Peterson. Heading into the new millennium, there was no truly definitive Devo compilation on the market, so Rhino attempted to remedy the situation with the double-disc Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology -- and did a pretty good job, without quite pulling it off. When faced with a choice, the compilation takes the collector-oriented route by including the rarer version; as a result, buyers get the original Booji Boy-label recordings of "Jocko Homo" and "Mongoloid"; the single remixes of "Snowball," "Baby Doll," and "Disco Dancer"; and the extended dance remixes of "Here to Go" and "Theme From Doctor Detroit." As an added bonus for fans, the beginning and end of each disc features brief sound clips from the group's legendary short films. More problematic, though, is the anthology's attempt to present a balanced overview of all phases of Devo's career. While admirable in intent, the fact is that the group's oeuvre grew steadily weaker as time passed, and since disc one runs all the way through their first (and best) four albums, disc two is a pretty bumpy ride. Not that it's worthless -- collectors and devoted fans will be thrilled with the inclusion of quite a few songs that had only previously appeared on various movie soundtracks, and it also rescues some worthwhile (if not quite transcendent) singles from obscurity, like the aforementioned "Disco Dancer" and "Post Post-Modern Man." But as a listening experience, it pales next to the first disc in terms of songwriting, musical invention, and edgy humor; plus, where the band's early covers reinvented rock standards as comments on alienation and dehumanization, latter-day items like "Bread and Butter" and "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" are strictly novelties and nothing more. So the bottom line is, you've got to be a hardcore Devo enthusiast to fully appreciate Pioneers Who Got Scalped. If you are, it's a fantastic package; if you want a more basic overview, you're better off with the somewhat disorganized Greatest Hits and Greatest Misses discs or the import collection Hot Potatoes. It's kind of a shame, though, that in spite of the generally fine job done compiling Pioneers, there still isn't a single Devo anthology that distills all the best moments from their crucial early years, and throws in just the right (small) number of later singles. ~ Steve Huey Heading into the new millennium, there was no truly definitive Devo compilation on the market, so Rhino attempted to remedy the situation with the double-disc Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology -- and did a pretty good job, without quite pulling it off. When faced with a choice, the compilation takes the collector-oriented route by including the rarer version; as a result, buyers get a couple of early Booji Boy-label recordings, and several single and dance remixes. More problematic, though, is the anthology's attempt to present a balanced overview of Devo's career. While admirable in intent, the fact is that the group's oeuvre grew steadily weaker as time passed, and since disc one runs all the way through their first (and best) four albums, disc two is a pretty bumpy ride. Not that it's worthless -- devotees will be thrilled with the inclusion of quite a few songs that had only previously appeared on movie soundtracks, and it also rescues a few worthwhile singles from obscurity. But it pales next to the first disc in terms of songwriting, musical invention, and edgy humor; plus, where the band's early covers reinvented rock standards as comments on alienation, latter-day items like "Bread and Butter" and "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" are nothing more than novelties. So the bottom line is, you've got to be a hardcore Devo enthusiast to fully appreciate Pioneers Who Got Scalped. If you are, it's a fantastic package; if you want a more basic overview, you're better off with the somewhat disorganized Greatest Hits or the import collection Hot Potatoes. It's kind of a shame, though, that in spite of the generally fine job done compiling Pioneers, there still isn't a Devo anthology that distills all the best moments from their crucial early years, and throws in just the right (small) number of later singles. ~ Steve Huey

Rolling Stone (6/8/00, pp.120-22) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Weird in a different way: It's half album tracks and half alternate mixes, rarities and tracks from Z-grade movies....The first disc roars from start to finish....[while] Disc 2 manages pretty well in salvaging the last 18 years..." Spin (7/00, p.151) - 6 out of 10 - "...You witness the cultural moment for the post-human hardhats - that early '80s instant when new wave, rap, and electro collaborated on a soundtrack for the 21st century....A trip through the band's Rust Belt-bred dystopia reminds you how much they got right..." Q (8/00, pp.115-6) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Trading heavily in alienation and sexual frustration, their early material [groundbreaking electro-punk] overshadows most of what was to come." CMJ (6/5/00, p.25) - "...Not just a greatest hits package...[it] features a broad cross-section of classic cuts....Devo was a pioneer well ahead of its time..." Melody Maker (6/13/00, p.81) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Sounds strangely like Iggy Pop duffing up early Human League. Sheer genius, then." Mojo (Publisher) (7/00, p.125) - "...Great beats, great riffs, great ideas, and most importantly of all, great fun."

They'll forever be known for their infamous flowerpot hats, but more importantly, Devo was one of the architects of American new wave in the late 1970s and early '80s, whether spastically deconstructing the Stones' "Satisfaction" or churning out irresistible synth hooks. Their social satire added a valuable element of irony missing from many other groups of the era. Devo paved the way for both synth-pop and geek-rock. Singer Mark Mothersbaugh went on to become a successful film composer, but the group engaged in periodic reunions over the years.

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