Track Listing

1. Devo Corporate Anthem
2. Clockout
3. Timing X
4. Wiggly World
5. Blockhead
6. Strange Pursuits
7. S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain)
8. Triumph of the Will
9. Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize
10. Pink Pussycat
11. Secret Agent Man
12. Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
13. Red-Eye Express

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24223 in Music
• Released on: 2005-02-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

Devo's best album by a long shot
Some people prefer Devo's first, Eno produced record, or the later "sellout' records like Freedom Of Choice and New Traditionalists. But nowhere did Devo strike a more perfect balance between guitars and synthesisers than on Duty Now.

The first record was really a guitar/punk album, and the later records rely heavily on synths, which in retrospect make all the records which followed Duty Now kind of dated in that cheesy 80's way (i.e. Whip It). But on Duty Now For The Future, the guitars and keyboards mix to form a perfectly synergised, melting plastic kind of sound, which they never bettered. There are amazing songs on this record - Pink Pussycat, Blockhead, Wiggly World, and the epic Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA. This is a truly unique record which still sounds fresh today.

Devo's tableau of de-evolution, punk perviness, and corporate toxemia really click on this record. At no point does this heady subject matter seem forced - the schtick is delivered confidently, artfully and with much humor. This is a truly visionary record that deserves to be rediscovered - one of the few records from that period that can be held up as genius 25 years later.

GREAT ALBUM, GREAT BAND, SO WHY NOT GREAT RE-RELEASE?
There is no question in the power of Devo's music, philosophy or art (especially in "Duty For The Future"), however this edition of the recording is quite lackluster considering a previous version of "Duty" far out weighs it. The Infinite Zero label (reissue label ran by Henry Rollins) produced a quality re-mastered version sporting two great bonus tracks (Soo Bawls, Penetration In The Centerfold) with lyrics to boot. The release here features no extra tracks, no lyrics, and adding to the insult a weak re-mastering (if any at all). The CD sleeve itself consists of a single 4.75" X 4.75" paper square. The original vinyl gave you more than that.

If you wonder why the album hasn't been repackaged by reissue titans at Rhino, consider the fact that the company who put this one together is actually a subsidiary of Rhino Records; Collectable recordings. Quite a shame, actually.

My advice is that if you are new to this recording, pick it up because the price isn't that high for it. But if you'd like to have quality experience of a great work, seek out the Infinite Zero copy if you can find it (because it's out of print, of course). Or try purchasing the import version by Virgin records which has this album backed with another Devo classic "New Traditionalists".

Devo IS a genre and this album proves it
What more can be said about Devo this far into the future? They were and still are pioneers of their style of music. Its like Devo couldn't decide if they wanted to be a new wave band or a rock band...so they combined the two! I love their first album and totally recommend it, but this album is when they really starting experimenting and it contains the gem Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA.It opens with the silly Devo Corporate Anthem(I can just see the band standing against the wind saluting), then kicks into Clockout and from then on its a wild ride. Its hard to say much more other than the fact that Devo's music is essential to any REAL music collection.Get their first album and stop after you get Oh No! Its Devo! From Shout on it got pretty lame(and it wasnt their fault it was contractual). If you like rock N roll with synthesizers and a whole bunch of social commentary then get this right now! Let me be the first to congradulate you on subscribing to De-Evolution! Go Spuds Go!