Review of Devo: Live 1980

Introduction

The only thing I remember about Devo is the phrase "Are we not men? We are Devo" and the funny flowerpot hats. Despite being a flower child of the `80s they really didn`t make much of an impact at the time so it was interesting to go back and see why. Devo concentrated on their production of synthesised music in a period when it was very new. Taking it for granted these days we tend to forget that this was the era of Gary Newman, Orcestral Manouvres and other taking the synthesisied sound and molding it in disctinctive ways.

Hearing Devo now I am struck by the similarities of the sounds produced and I wonder if they were distinctive enough once everybody else had incorporated the sounds. They did split up and persue other projects after 1990.

There are 21 tracks on the main DVD all filmed at a live concert.

This is a Region 0 -compatible with all regions.

Video

This was filmed at a live concert and its pretty much four little blokes jumping up and down playing their guitars. If that`s OK with you then so be it.

There`s not much to be said for the picture quality, age and technology have made it average at best.

Audio

It has Dolby digital sound and the set up menu also offers Dolby 5.1 if you have the speakers. There is an impressive wall of sound if you turn it up nice and loud; itg also annoys the neighbours.

Features

There`s a generous full length live CD on the reverse of the DVD.
Bonus material on the DVD is rare footage from the M-80 concert- three songs.

Dove the band of Love (Devo) performing
Praying hands, Shrivel up.

There`s also a trailer for Devo:Live in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Conclusion

Devo play a lively set on this DVD. The bonus of the CD is a generous addition but I can`t say that watching four blokes in boiler suits and flower pot hats does much for me. If you are already a fan this will be a good nostalgic purchase and the good sound reproduction and content make it good value.