REVIEW: Various Artists, We Are Not Devo (Centipede)
- Al Muzer
Much better than the concept, budget, bands involved, group honored, label and, for that matter, the songs selected would lead you to expect, We Are Not Devo defies seemingly astronomical odds and logs in not only as one of the finest tribute discs released in recent memory, but as a valid contender for year-end Top 10 album lists across the nation come December.
A glowing example of how to absorb a unique, challenging and fairly well-known catalog of material and reinvent it as something completely your own, the (mostly) So-Cal bands that appear on We Are Not Devo obviously love, respect and, more importantly, grew up listening to the songs that turn up on producer/label head Jim Goodwin's Devo-sanctioned (Mark Mothersbaugh even contributed artwork) disc.
Despite the appearance of Possum Dixon's bizarre, Santana-on-acid shot at "Mongoloid," the Voodoo Glow Skulls' super-ska version of "Time Out For Fun," Lagwagon's energetic assault on "Freedom Of Choice," The Vandals' neurotic romp through "The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise" and outstanding contributions from Supernova, Face To Face, SNFU, One Hit Wonder, The Aquabats and Jughead's Revenge; the album is practically stolen by relative unknowns Ridel High (who check in with a truly urgent update of "Blockhead") and the Don Knotts Overdrive's disc-dominating take on "Snowball."
