Freedom of Choice

Tracks:

Girl U Want
It's Not Right
Whip It
Snowball
Ton O' Luv
Freedom Of Choice
Gates Of Steel
Cold War
Don't You Know
That's pep!
Mr. B's Ballroom
Planet Earth

Amazon.com

While it was never determined whether those plastic things on their heads were flowerpots or collapsible drinking cups, the high-concept-minded Akron, Ohio, crew known as Devo had attracted mostly just the artsy new-wave crowd until this 1980 album brought them mass appeal. Way ahead of the video curve (they'd been making promo films since 1975), this band led by singer Mark Mothersbaugh and bassist Jerry Casale scored a huge hit with the jagged-rhythmed "Whip It," thanks in large part to a typically tongue-in-cheek video that MTV and dance clubs jumped on. The album also featured such cracked winners as "Girl U Want," "That's Pep," and the ever-caustic title track. --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews:

My own personal epipiphany/revelation/awakening continues...........2007-07-03

....and it as clear as clarity can possibly be that my spuddies were, are and forever will be part of my journey here on Planet Earth. I have just received my very own, brand spankin' new copy of Freedom of Choice...and it's been, ooohhh...say 26 or so years since the spud that is currently engaging your overdeveloped and underutilized senses has had the pleasure of hearing the sweet, starchy musings of the brightest bunch of hominids ever to realize the benefits (and trappings) of the opposable thumb and advanced prefrontal cortex! Things have truly come full circle for myself, just the spud boy that I be...and the feeling is the closest sensation to 'euphoria' that I have ever experienced; real or imagined, artificial or genuine. Gratitude is not a big enough term...
For if Devo were a drink, I would drink it.
For if Devo were a food, I would eat it.
For Devo is an idea...and I will do all a spud can do to absorb it. So may the pores of the inquisitive be saturated and those of the ignorant be purged. For Devo supplies the tunes that the ganglia may dance.
Is this the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end?
Is it Devolution or is it Derevolution?
What does it take...to do The Super Thing?
First one must open their eyes....

Let go the ego, and see the World for the first time...for all hope can never truly be lost, only misplaced.

'....Where pleasure follows pain
People go insane
Fly around in planes
Pray that it won't rain
Drive around in cars
Get drunk in local bars
Dream of being stars
For this I lived all my life on Planet Earth????????!!!!!!'

Just overrated.......2006-08-28

I own Devo's first four albums, and have heard some of 'Oh No it's Devo. Haven't really decided on that album, but of the first four, I believe 'freedom of choice' to be the worst. With poor sound quality on this CD aside, I find the production on the part of Robert Margoullef to be quite unpleasant, and at times annoying. The guitars are very quiet, while the synthesisers have an almost cyber-medieval sound. On the part of the vocals, Mark Mothersbaugh has a very limited range on this album, which is quite frustrating. I think that about half the album is enjoyable, such as 'Whip It', 'Planet Earth', 'Cold War', 'Don't you know' and 'Gates of steel'. On the other hand, the rest of the album ranges from mediocre to plain awful, the worst being 'Ton of luv', 'It's not right' and 'Girl u want'. This is a very popular album, and I just can't see why.

Bad Luck Or Bad Image Kept Them Underground,But They Are More Than A Footnote In Music History.......2006-03-12

My friends reaction to Devo the first time they saw them was that they were the wierdest band they ever saw. This was the Energy Dome stage. "Whip It" was cutting edge. Now it is a song for kids. The album was titled Freedom Of Choice and they seemed to champion this idea, to conform to the corporate image, yet the verses describe a situation where the subject goes crazy trying to make a decision. Maybe they wrote the song as a subtle message of determinism, that hid below the surface to disguise their subversive philosophy. The previous album had a song called "Triumph Of Will" to further confuse their stance. If they were really intellectual nerds they would recognize freedom of choice is an illusion so I am hoping my latter take holds the truth. After all Freud invented the term will and he was a determinist. Plus anyone that studies the human body, mainly the brain, knows free will is an illusion. There is no self initiating force in the human body. Every organ depends on outside stimulation. Even though freedom of choice seems to be common sense, when we really examine our behavior all our decisions are based on our genetic endowment, past experiences, and the current situation. I wish their lyrics championed this non-conformist truth as much as de-evolution, but their iconoclasm may be limited. This album seemed to take a step backward both lyrically and musically. It had the most filler of the first three. "Girl U Want", "Whip It", "It's Not Right", "That's Pep" and "Don't You Know" are all weak tracks in my opinion. It also contains many of their best tracks. "Gates of Steel" and "Freedom Of Choice" are classics, but the lyrics seem to reinforce them fitting into conformist society by espousing the concepts of free will. The rest has the best of both worlds. Evocative music and brilliant lyrics. "Ton U Love" and "Cold War" may be standard fare, but the music makes the lyrics stand out. I saved the best for last. Two of the finest songs ever written, "Mr. B's Ballroom" and "Planet Earth", make this a must own and help solidify Devo's catalog as one of the most exciting in recording history.

Devo - 'Freedom Of Choice' (Warner Bros.) 4 1/2 stars.......2006-03-09

Great 1980 'new wave' classic.About as good as their 'Are We Not Men...' effort(see my review).Noticed that 'Freedom...' seems to have a more polished sound to it.Sure miss Mark Mothersbaugh and crew,their live shows are certainly a fun event to attend.Most impressive cuts here are,without a doubt "Girl U Want",the video channel staple "Whip It",title track "Freedom Of Choice","Mr.B's Balloon" and "PLanet Earth".Everybody get out their power domes!Long live Devo!!

three and one-half stars.......2005-07-16

Known mostly for the mega-hit "whip It" Devo's 1980 effort "Freedom of Choice" is so much more. Actually the best song on the album is it's first, "Girl U Want" a crackling rocker with a decidedly Devo bent. Side two is also a real killer with the band knocking out two and one-half minute ditty's one after the other each one stopping short of being overly clever. Sonically the album's sound is very dated, but it's okay because it sounded weird back in 1980, but song arrangements are sharp, clean, and sound good at high volume. Overall high spots are the songs mentioned earlier plus "Cold War", "Don't You Know", "That's Pep". There are really no low spots, just a bit lesser songs.

Average customer rating:

But for the Satisfaction of A Beautiful World...
buy this for TURNAROUND
Freedom: 4 1/2 stars, Oh No: 3 stars
The Best of Devo
Complete albums with bonus tracks.

Oh No It's Devo/Freedom Of Choice
Devo
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Dance Pop | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Duty Now for the Future/New Traditionalists
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo/DEV-O Live
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
New Traditionalists
Shout

ASIN: B000005RT0
Release Date: 1993-05-20

Tracks:

Time Out For Fun
Peek-A-Boo
Out Of Sync
Explosions
That's Good
Patterns
Big Mess
Speed Racer
What I Must
I Desire
Deep Sleep
Girl U Want
It's Not Right
Whip It
Snowball
Ton U Love
Freedom Of Choice
Gates Of Steel
Cold War
Don't You Know
That's Pep
Mr. B's Ballroom
Planet Earth
Turn Around
Peek-A-Boo (Dance Velocity)

Album Details

Devo's Third and Fifth Studio Albums (Possibly their Best) on One CD; Their 1980 Breakthrough LP 'Freedom of Choice' and 1982 Title 'oh No! It's Devo'. Featuring the Group's Largest Hits to Date, 'Whip It', 'Freedom of Choice' and 'Girl U Want', plus a Remix: 'Peek-A-Boo (Dance Velocity)'.

Customer Reviews:

But for the Satisfaction of A Beautiful World..........2006-10-01

The early 80s...the age of the one-hit-wonder, and an era perfectly captured with retrospective 'Best of [Band]' compilations. BUT to every rule there is an exception...and the exception is not men...they are DEVO. Dee Eee Vee Oh! One sweeping randomly compiled album will not suffice.

And it doesn't have to. Here are two superb original albums...taking up the space of one, and better still...priced as one. They totally capture the appeal of this band along with a great substantial chunk of their most classic material. If you're not an aficionado...maybe just contemplating getting your first Devo CD...then this is The One.

Could it be that simple? Could this one CD satisfy all your Devo requirements? Alas, no. To me there are two essentials missing...their classic 'Beautiful World' and the most appealing recording of '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' ever made(!). And if you are limited to one CD, and these tracks are fundamental to your Devo needs (you may also desire 'Working in the Coalmine'), only then do you need to relegate them to the commonness of the 'Best of...' masses.

buy this for TURNAROUND.......2006-01-22

My personal favourite Devo tune wasn't "Whip It" like most fans, but the b-side to that single, called Turn Around. This is a brilliant song, and I'm so glad I bought this CD to get that song.

Freedom: 4 1/2 stars, Oh No: 3 stars.......2003-05-12

By virtue of getting "Freedom Of Choice" along with the not so stellar "Oh No It's Devo" on one disc, this CD is worth the money. It is an interesting comparison, since "F.O.C." was Devo's last dirty sounding record and "Oh No" sported Roy Thomas Baker's typical sterile uber-clean polish job.

"Freedom Of Choice" was where DEVO's world-view was overtaken by a case of pop-smarts. The synths had moved almost entirely to the fore, and there was an obvious attempt at disciplined song writing. It shows most obviously on "Girl You Want" and "Gates Of Steel." The very un-devoish longing in "Girl You Want" is universal enough to have found its way into the set lists of artists ranging from Soundgarden to Robert Palmer.

This is, along with "Q: Are We Not Men," the Devo album that integrates the theory on De-evolution most completely to the music. The title track mocks the how submissive we are when it comes to culture/consumer manipulation, while "Whip It" strings together a catalog of catch phrases and self-help mantras into a crackling three minute anthem. On the side of human conditions, "Mr. B's Ballroom" cocks its eye at the kind of hole-in-the-wall establishment where best friends drink and start fights before crashing through the plate glass door. (Likely while "Whip It" is playing on the jukebox.)

Just as important, this was the album that most people probably measure their knowledge of DEVO by. "Whip It" became the kind of song that college new-wave parties did the pogo to, and corporate rallies would chant along with as a morale enhancer. By making synthesizer rock safe for frat boys, "Freedom Of Choice" is easily the second of DEVO's crowning albums.

Oh no, suffered from a lack of ideas. Unfortunately, DEVO, who had already proven they [used] the latest gizmo many times over, used on their 5th album that detracted from their strengths. Just about every song here is dependent on pitch control voice manipulation, which made all the vocals sound like they were being sung by Mark Mothersbaugh's ... helium ... twin. It also didn't help that producer Roy Thomas Baker forces the edges off the band's sound. The synths here sound slavishly of the moment, as opposed to leading the movement.

Those are the bad patches. The good stuff is still here. "Peek-a-boo!" is willfully creepy in much the same way "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA" from "Duty Now For The Future" was, and "That's Good" should have been a dance floor smash (and if you are old enough to remember the TV show "Square Pegs," they played it at the high school dance!). "Speed Racer" does benefit from its quirky time signature, and finally, "Patterns" gives us another insightful glimpse at the theories of De-evolution.

Also of note are "Big Mess" and "I Desire." Both were written after the assassination attempt on President Reagan and the eventual discovery that the assassin was doing it to impress Jodie Foster. It inspired the immortal line (from "I Desire") "A smile I might bring you is more important than world peace." Now THAT'S truly Devo!

The Best of Devo.......2003-01-23

Simply put. These are Devo's two best albums. If you're looking to get into the band, this is the best place to start. Essential.

Complete albums with bonus tracks........2001-09-29

Inexpensive and has some tracks previously available only on 45's.

Tracks:

America the Beautiful
Me And My Friends
Any Dance'll Do
Look Around
Ray Of Hope
Island Of Love
Of Course
Love Was So Easy To Give
People Got To Be Free
Baby I'm Blue
Heaven
Adrian's Birthday
Boom
Cute

Average customer rating:

Pre CD anthems worth owning even on the cassette set
High school soundtrack redoing Elementary school soundtrack
Forgotten alt-bands of the 90s remember alt-bands of the 80s
The dream of a Tribute lover

Tannis Root Presents: Freedom of Choice
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Caroline
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Compilations | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music

1990s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000000HVS
Release Date: 1992-10-23

Tracks:

CA Plane pour moi - Sonic Youth
Rock And Roll Girl - Muffs
Destination Unknown - Erectus Monotone
How Much More - Redd Kross
5' 1 Inch - Tiny Lights
Pump It Up - Mudhoney
The Wait - Das Damen
Tainted Love - Finger
Wishing - It's O.K.
Dreaming - Yo La Tengo
Wuthering Heights - White Flag
I Got You - The Connells
Homosapien - Big Dipper
Mexican Radio - Polvo
Antmusic - Hypnolovewheel
Don't You Want Me Baby - Chia Pet
Hero Worship - Permanent Green Light
Girl You Want - Superchunk

Customer Reviews:

Pre CD anthems worth owning even on the cassette set.......2007-01-11

I'm defiinitley not a music critic. But you should buy this, it's cheap, and play it loud. ...stop the catbox...yeah right....

High school soundtrack redoing Elementary school soundtrack.......2005-06-06

It's for a great cause, this album, despite what rightwingers might think of it. If you are old enough to remember the old K-Tel compilations (predates Now That's What I Call Music!) like Chartaction '83, Streer Beat or Hit Mix, you probably heard the originals on one of those. Before alternative got silly, several of the "biggies" (Sonic Youth, Redd Kross, Superchunk, Mudhoney, The Muffs and an uncredited Soul Asylum doing the Vibrators' "Baby Baby") and some lesser knowns put out this album of cover tunes. It was too early in some respects for the 1980s retro boom of late, but 13 years on they still hold up pretty well and the price is right. I got this when I was in high school and still listen to it quite frequently.

Signed,
epsteinsmutha

Forgotten alt-bands of the 90s remember alt-bands of the 80s.......2002-01-27

When bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam redefined the "alternative rock" genre in the early 90s, it became easy to forget that the 70s and 80s had alternative scenes of their own.

Except back then it was called "new wave" and the songs were characterized by synth-driven tempos, propulsive arrangements, and lyrics about alienation and nuclear war.

Freedom of Choice, a fund-raiser for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, presents some of the genre's best songs and places them in the context of the alternative rock of the 90s. So, songs by the Human League, A Flock of Seagulls, Missing Persons and Soft Cell are covered by Chia Pet, It's OK, Erectus Monotone, and Finger, respectively. Add covers of pre-new wavers Elvis Costello by Mudhoney and Iggy Pop by Tiny Lights, and you've got the idea.

When this collection came out in 1992, it was probably a little early to be commemorating the 80s and call -- as the liner notes do -- the Go-Go's Charlotte Caffey and Devo's Gerald V. "new wave legends". The good news, however, is that unlike most compilation CDs, this one is surprisingly consistent.

Sonic Youth, perhaps the best-known alternative band on the compilation, turn in a fine dismantling of Plastic Bertrand's "Ca Plane Pour Moi" as do Yo La Tengo, who cover Blondie's best song, "Dreaming".

White Flag provide an effective, albeit unrecognizable, cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" and the Muffs score with an upbeat version of Paul Collins' "Rock & Roll Girl".

More faithful to the originals are Mudhoney's take on Elvis Costello's "Pump it Up" and the Connells' rendition of Split Enz's "I Got You."

Ten years after the fact, this compilation remains an interesting relic, though it's telling that the bands of the 80s covered here are still remembered fondly, while the bands doing the covering are, but for a handful, mostly forgotten.

The dream of a Tribute lover.......2001-03-22

Many people hate tribute records. Many people like them. I am one of the later. I accept that they are often made in a careless way, looking like the artist involved didn't care too much for something they are doing free. This is not the case here. Almost all the covers are taken very seriously, with love. After all those are the songs that really got a lot of people into music. And we are talking about some heavyweigths here: Sonic Youth (alma mater of the project), Mudhoney, Yo la Tengo...

Average customer rating:

Great songs with a strong reggae groove, where's the next cd

Freedom Of Choice
Freedom of Choice
Manufacturer: Daletone Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

Reggae | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000I6U7
Release Date: 1999-01-24

Tracks:

Track 1 "Rub A Dub"
Track 2 "Stand By Me"
Track 3 "Leaving Out Love"
Track 4 "I Love You In My Arms"
Track 5 "Harley Gone Down"
Track 6 "Paradise"
Track 7 "Johnny B. Good"
Track 8 "Rub A Dub Dub"

Album Description

Daletone Records is an Independent Record Company

Customer Reviews:

Great songs with a strong reggae groove, where's the next cd.......1999-02-24

This record has some great tracks like "Harley gone down" and "Rub a Dub". More tuneful than most reggae cd's; Strong grooves make it a very enjoyable listen. Would like to see the group live.

Average customer rating:

Freedom of Choice

Manufacturer: October
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0002CKCR2
Release Date: 2004-06-10

Tracks:

Freedom of Choice
Clay In My Hands
Putting Flowers
Connected to Eachother
Where Are You
Spotlight
You Shine On Me
Butterfly
Wiseman
Restless Mind
Love Insurance
Supernova

Album Description

Children Within made a splash in Sweden during the mid 90's with two popular albums, "Countless Galaxies" and "Sea of Life". Those albums were also explored withing the American synthpop underground during a time when that particular style was hard to find in the USA. The band had a retro-Depeche Mode flavor which appealed to many starving synthpop fans.

Tracks:

Ca Plane Pour Moi - Sonic Youth
Rock & Roll Girl - The Muffs
Destination Unknown - Erectus Monotone
How Much More? - Redd Kross
5' 1" - Tiny Lights
Pump It Up - Mudhoney
Wait - Das Damen
Tainted Love - Finger
Wishing
Dreaming - Yo La Tengo
Wuthering Heights - White Flag
I Got You - The Connells
Homosapien - Big Dipper
Mexican Radio - Polvo
Antmusic - Hypnolovewheel
Don't You Want Me Baby - Chia Pet
Hero Worship - Permanent Green Light
Girl U Want - Superchunk

Customer Reviews:

Pre CD anthems worth owning even on the cassette set.......2007-01-11

I'm defiinitley not a music critic. But you should buy this, it's cheap, and play it loud. ...stop the catbox...yeah right....

High school soundtrack redoing Elementary school soundtrack.......2005-06-06

Forgotten alt-bands of the 90s remember alt-bands of the 80s.......2002-01-27

When bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam redefined the "alternative rock" genre in the early 90s, it became easy to forget that the 70s and 80s had alternative scenes of their own.

Except back then it was called "new wave" and the songs were characterized by synth-driven tempos, propulsive arrangements, and lyrics about alienation and nuclear war.

White Flag provide an effective, albeit unrecognizable, cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" and the Muffs score with an upbeat version of Paul Collins' "Rock & Roll Girl".

More faithful to the originals are Mudhoney's take on Elvis Costello's "Pump it Up" and the Connells' rendition of Split Enz's "I Got You."

The dream of a Tribute lover.......2001-03-22

Average customer rating:

Freedom of Choice
Irie
Manufacturer: Hardware
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Reggae | International | Styles | Music

Reggae | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00008EQS1
Release Date: 1992-11-01