New Traditionalists (Deluxe Version) [Remastered]

With 1981’s New Traditionalists, art-project pop-rockers Devo were in a peculiar position. The massive hit “Whip It,” from their previous album, Freedom of Choice, made them unlikely stars and the band wanted to ensure that this sudden mainstream success didn’t mess with their avant-garde explorations or their satiric worldview. They needn’t have worried. The mass audience liked the accessible melodies of “Beautiful World” and tunes such as “Through Being Cool,” “Jerkin’ Back ‘n’ Forth” and “Love Without Anger” assured their dedicated cult following that the band knew exactly what they were doing. The singing is always slightly uncomfortable; the rhythms always feel as if they’re about to cause whiplash. The additional tracks make for a much more detailed portrait. “Modern Life,” “One Dumb Thing” and “Faster and Faster” sound like sure-fire hits in the last new- wave disco on earth, while the demo of “Psychology of Desire” displays how complete the band’s vision could be at the work stage. The “E-Z Listening” version of “Beautiful World” isn’t exactly what the lite-FM stations ever would have had in mind, but it does sound like Devo’s idea of relaxing.