Taking Sides: DEVO vs. XTC

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Both brilliant. Neither fit snuggily within the tenor of the times. Both too smart for their own good. Both relegated to cult status. Both done up the rear by the music business. But....whom do you pick?

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc800/c838/c83853107o2.jpg http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc000/c023/c023577x8u1.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Devo, because they knew when to quit.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

devo. by a mile. but then I get slightly obsessive about them

― simon 803 (simon 803), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Devo, because they knew when to quit."

erm.. except they still havent. they still play live occassionally, anyhow.

but yeah.. devodevodevo

― Wyndham Earl, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, XTC hasn't played live in years, but they still release albums and are considered the "more active" of the two.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

'playing live occasionally' is difft from 'making new crap albs'

― geeta (geeta), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I think what strikes me about these two bands (as well as on the Ministry/Talk talk thread) is that their debut albums sound virtually interchangealbe ("Cross Wires" wouldn't sound at all out of place, for example, next to "Praying Hands")

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

....yet Devo's final album and XTC's WASP STAR couldn't sound further apart, musically.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

XTC. I only like two or three Devo songs ("Satisfaction", ehh..."Whip It"'s OK) and I've enjoyed XTC consistently (though I think they're a bit overrated here too). Maybe I just don't get Devo.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess Smoothnoodlemaps was the last proper Devo record, right? Good place to stop, I guess. At least it was a step up from Total Devo.

I haven't heard an XTC album since Nonesuch, so I can't offer any comment on their latest stuff -- except that the Coat of Many Cupboards box set (comprised of old stuff) was the best re-issue of the year.

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

XTC. It was okay not to "quit," becuase their last two albums were fun and tuneful and rocking and beautiful. It's okay to love 'em both, because of all the similarities listed above; my high-school girlfriend dragged me to see Devo at the Opera House in Portland because she loveded "Speed Racer" SO MUCH! But my vote is for Partridge and Moulding and the revolving drummer's chair and dear departed Gregsy and mad Barry.

― Matt C., Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Devo had the conceptual edge and the cooler accoutrements, but began to lose steam after Freedom of Choice. XTC had the songwriting edge, and continued to improve as they went along (from White Music to the goegrous English Settlement in five years).

I love them both, but have more great XTC albums than great Devo albums.

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Indeed, XTC ran off long stretches of great records with very few filler. Other than one bum steer in the mid-80's they were consistently excellent until their renaissance. And Apple Venus was still pretty damn good.

This is one topic that would cause a major ruckus in my household ...

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"Other than one bum steer in the mid-80's"

To which are you referring? MUMMER? BIG EXPRESS? I hate the former and love the latter, personally.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmm, I was thinking Skylarking...

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Both bands had really terrific bass players as their secret weapons. I like them both, but at the end of the day, Devo, because of "Beautiful World".

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

ACK! Really? I think SKYLARKING is fucking BRRRRRIILLLLLIANT (even if Andy Partridge hates it).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Devo gets bonus points because none of them ever thought they were John Lennon.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Personally, I'm a total Devo-dude. I'm guessing it's the sheer weirdo-ness factor.

Primus used to do a fantabulous cover of XTC's "Making Plans for Nigel". At least, I think it's an XTC song.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

devo is much more satifying in all the various things about a band that aren't their recordings. But having recently pulled out the first three DEVO records and been mostly bored and disappointed, I give the edge to XTC for leaving a better recorded legacy. BUT if you throw in the rykodisc "hardcore devo" cds with early demo tracks, and the movie "the truth about de-evolution", then the weight shifts back in favor of the spuds.

― arch Ibog (arch Ibog), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Devo!!!

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Skylarking, with the exception of "Dear God" and "Earn Enough For Us," should be stricken from the books of XTC lore. It's neither as delightfully whimsical as The Dukes of Stratosphear material, nor is it as memorably poppy as XTC material prior to and following its release. Actually, it's the most MOR album they ever released (thanks, I'm sure, to Todd Rundgren).

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Devo, because they knew when to quit.
I disagree with this statement, personally: I think they should have stopped after Oh No! It's Devo, because a string of amazingly forgettable albums came after that. I also stupidly bought the Adventures of the Smart Patrol video game, and it was one of the worst games I'd sunk money into, at that time. At any rate, the first four are brilliant.

As for XTC, I just recently re-purchased everything up until Nonsuch, and have no real plans to get anything after that point. Points taken off for the cashgrab demo comps.

Both have amazingly great numbers in their back catalogue, but XTC gets the nod for having a much longer productive run, and for not foisting awful video games on us (although the idea of a tiny gnome-like digitized Partridge is kinda funny).

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 18:54 (twenty-two years ago)

This is appalling, I love Skylarking. I'd take XTC between the two -- I find the early material of each equally great, but XTC's development into a pastoral pop band was something I found quite beautiful. Thus XTC ranks, for me, as two great bands, while Devo only ranks as one.

(Also Devo did not write "Sgt. Rock.")

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 19:10 (twenty-two years ago)

you're mad Paul - positively BARMY! "Skylarking" is the epitome of an XTC record to me - it's a nice little conceptual package, the songs are all over the place, beautiful melodies, the pastoral themes and arrangements, all of Partridge/Moulding's lyrical obsessions are present... what's not to love? Easily my favorite XTC album, the one I listen to the most for sure (the Dukes record excepted).

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 19:13 (twenty-two years ago)

and for not foisting awful video games on us...

And I s'pose Gerald Casale held a gun to your head? Jeez.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 19:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I swear, if I read the word "pastoral" used to describe Skylarking one more time, I'm gonna...

...well, I don't know. I all talk, really.

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

i like Devo more but i know more of their stuff. i kind of rediscovered XTC recently tho after finding their 2 singles compilations in a thrift store & more stuff than i remembered is real good...these 2 bands had somewhat of a mutual fan club going back in the day as i recall

― (doorag), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

And I s'pose Gerald Casale held a gun to your head? Jeez.
Well, no, but it was put out under the Devo name and so I was, admittedly misguidedly, expecting a certain level of quality out of the thing. That's all.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)

On that note, according to Chalkhills and Children, XTC and Squeeze had some sort of rivalry going on back in the day as well.

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Ever hear of the phrase "Caveat Emptor?"

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

What the fuck are you tearing into me for here? All I'm doing is answering the question? Chill out!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not tearing into you, cool out. I just find it funny that one of the reasons you rated them worse than XTC is because of a video game you didn't have to buy.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it counts; nobody has to buy any of the albums either, and I think that the video game was reflective of their general level of quality overall, including the music.

Again, don't misread me, I thought their first four albums were godlike and nearly untouchable, but their later years were spent releasing substandard toss-offs and rehashing old material (EZ Listening Disk anyone?). Knowing Devo's history, especially with technology and their sense of humour, I just found the video game particularly disappointing because they really should have been in their element and it literally stunk up the place. Even without the game, I'd have still said XTC.

(I'm also interested in the position you're taking w/r/t the game: why shouldn't it count? Note that it was put together by the band as an official Devo project, not some third-party knock-off.)

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I dunno man, not to belabor a point (too late!), but I don't know if I'd ever expect a rock band to be good at making a video game, or a video game programmer to be good at making rock music, for that matter.

Obv. the Journey video game is an exception.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, The Residents games were at least passable, which probably raised my expectations for the Devo game to an unreasonable level. But you're probably right...perhaps this should be a separate thread.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

HSTENCIL: (Yet more) tips-Chicago!

I want you to tear apart my guide to Chicago so I can have better ideas about what to do with my weekends.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, hey, no one had to pay attention to Partridge's Lennon-izing as well, but apparently it's valid for critique, and a video game isn't? If we're gonna take the entire stock into account, let's take it all into account.

or a video game programmer to be good at making rock music

...um... *laughs nervously*

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

dear donut bitch,

when a person's idolatry of another person becomes their reason and modus operandi for making music, in fact the sole thing having to do with their music, it should be free to be criticized as part of the music.

love,

hstencil

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

the reason i never much liked devo wz their inordinate worship of themselves

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 22:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"the reason i never much liked devo wz their inordinate worship of themselves"

WHA?

I can't think of a humbler band.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

uriah heep

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 22:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Seriously. They're SO humble it verges on self deprication.

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 22:53 (twenty-two years ago)

"XTC and Squeeze had some sort of rivalry going on back in the day as well."

I could sooner see a rivalry between XTC and, say, Split Enz. Squeeze may have also been pegged with the "Beatlesque" tag, but they lacked XTC's early amphetamine veloctiy and (relative) edge that XTC packed in fistfulls.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 23:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I think the "rivalry" was more of a music press creation than it was anything between the groups. However, Squeeze was punchy in the very beginning. Ever heard "Sex Master" or "Bang Bang?"

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

dear donut bitch,
when a person's idolatry of another person becomes their reason and modus operandi for making music, in fact the sole thing having to do with their music, it should be free to be criticized as part of the music.
love,
hstencil

dear hstencil,

well said. But you really need to give video game programmers more credit for being able to rock, because... well... you just should. ;-)

hugglez,

donut bitch

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 19 December 2002 01:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Devo, by a longshot. If only for that insanely scary clown in the "Peek-a-Boo" video. That hideous visage could give anyone a bout of insomnia.

― Adam Bruneau, Thursday, 19 December 2002 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

isn't the question one of fun pop (Devo) vs. serious rock (XTC)? The Lennonisms are what put me off XTC, too; I love Devo, even the later albums have some gems and they never wrote anything as embarassingly awful as "Dear God."

― J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Thursday, 19 December 2002 02:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I tried to beat John to this-Devo because they had a sense of Humor

― brg30 (brg30), Thursday, 19 December 2002 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

But the cover of "I can't Get No Satifaction" is ick...

― brg30 (brg30), Thursday, 19 December 2002 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

XTC didn't start off as too "serious" a rock band (listen to WHITE MUSIC through DRUMS & WIRES....hell, read the cover of GO2 and try not laughing.)

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 19 December 2002 02:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Devo, because XTC's performance on "Urgh..." annoyed the shit out of me for reasons I still don't understand, but all the live footage I've seen of Devo has been 100% ace.

― Clarke B., Thursday, 19 December 2002 05:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree that the cover of GO2 is completely great. However I will defend Devo's cover of "Satisfaction" against all enemies foreign and domestic

― J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Thursday, 19 December 2002 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Another vote for XTC, if anyone's still bothering to keep score.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 19 December 2002 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

DEVO knew when to quit?! They went on like 3 albums too far.

Although Mark Mothersbaugh owns the only existing Clavivox, and made the music to Rugrats, so rock on to him.

― David Allen, Thursday, 19 December 2002 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

To which are you referring? MUMMER? BIG EXPRESS? I hate the former and love the latter, personally.

Ditto. The Big Express is hugely underrated. Though the bonus tracks on the Mummer CD are actually quite good.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Thursday, 19 December 2002 19:10 (twenty-two years ago)

In Devo's case, I don't think they necessarily quit by choice (nor have they officially stopped being a going concern.) Their last record label, Enigma, went completely belly-up on them, so I think it became more a matter of not being able to get re-signed than actually throwing in the towel and hanging up their energy domes.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 19 December 2002 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I am appalled by the scurrilous accusations that XTC are/were a "serious" band. They've had their moments of self-importance, to be sure, but there is no way that any band that has released "When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty" and "Generals and Majors" and "Stupidly Happy" and all that Dukes of Stratosphear stuff (every song with hidden meanings both serious and silly within) and "Frivolous Tonight" and "Radios in Motion" could ever be accused of being too serious. Perhaps compared with Devo, but didn't their run of "silly but meaningful" stuff devolve rather into "just silly and kinda boring"?

And Devo live in 1982 was perhaps one of the biggest failures I've ever seen. I went with my g-f and there was all this wankery with video screens singing back-n-forth with live singers: very tech. proficient, very techno, very blah. Then again, XTC doesn't really have a live canon, as Partsy's stage fright kicked in about that time and they never played live since.

― Matt C., Thursday, 19 December 2002 21:31 (twenty-two years ago)

"Then again, XTC doesn't really have a live canon,"

Their live canon up until the point Andy had his breakdown (the ENGLISH SETTLEMENT tour?) proved them to be a force to be reckoned with. I have several bootlegs (primarily of the BLACK SEA-era) and they completely cooked!

I managed to see Devo three or four times, and they were always entertaining...with or without the video enhancements.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 19 December 2002 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I have tons more records of XTC than Devo, so it's obvious which one I'm gonna side with..

But I'd hate to think no one considered Devo "serious".. or at least those who would call themselves Devo fans, before "Oh No!" anyway. There's some pretty bitter stuff in the lyrics, especially "Freedom of Choice" (which Rage Against The Machine covered and GOT THE LYRICS WRONG... they botched the "Freedom from choice" part of the end, apparently)... Hell, even "Disco Dancer" has some weird tangents.

And hey, XTC became good at being "serious". I could pass "Dear God" and others, but "Apple Venus" is dead brilliant, and it's certainly the most serious record of their career.

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 20 December 2002 02:07 (twenty-two years ago)

And yes, I actually like Lennon-isms... (otherwise, I wouldn't be such a Chris Knox fan)

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 20 December 2002 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, Im from Ohio, and I was an art student at Kent State for a semester, and Devo is way better, and Devo kicks more ass, and Devo's songs are funner to cover live, so I gotta give it to Devo.

― Helltime Producto (Pavlik), Friday, 20 December 2002 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

This whole thread is bringing me straight back to 1982, when English Settlement and New Traditionalists were two of my favorite albums. And let's not forget getting called "Devo" in the hallways at school. Did every American new wave/punk kid get that? I never got called "XTC," probably because they didn't yet have a US radio hit a la "Whip It."

― mike a (mike a), Friday, 20 December 2002 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.