Today, new wave pioneers Devo released two songs, "Fresh" and "What We Do," their first new recordings in 20 years from their long-awaited upcoming comeback album, Fresh. And the songs do indeed sound fresh, while at the same time unmistakably sounding like classic Devo.
"Fresh"(Quicktime)
"Fresh" (Windows Media)
"What We Do" (Quicktime)
"What We Do" (Windows Media)
While these cuts are guaranteed to make the album, a few other unreleased Devo recordings remain in flux. So the yellow-jumpsuited Akron eggheads are solidifying their tracklisting as only they would: with a highly de-volved scientific study. The band sent out a missive this week explaining the fans' song-selection mission, should they choose to accept it:
Friends and consumers from all walks of life,
The time has finally come.
DEVO Inc., and its musical division DEVO, are in need of your help.
In an effort to comply with the growing need for appealing sonic products in the mass market, we have officially launched the "Devo Song Study" to collect data regarding which of our current roster of recorded material is most appealing to you, the general public. Currently the band has created 16 new songs, which, at the request of corporate leadership, must be narrowed down to 12 for the official album release.
This interactive test will gauge your exact opinion on matters of musical taste and is the latest technological wrinkle in facilitating Devo'ss ongoing mission to appeal to everybody. We need you, the harrowed content consumer, to determine these final 12 songs. And we assure you that any measured contribution to this cause is time well spent, and enables a freedom of choice that was foretold long ago.
Please participate in the "Devo Song Study" by going online to: http://clubdevo.com/SongStudy
You are the key to a more appealing tomorrow for all of us.
Duty now for the future!
Greg Scholl
COO of DEVO Inc.
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So apparently the freedom of choice, at least when it comes to Fresh, is in Devo fans' hands now.