This Is the Devo Box cover

This Is the Devo Box

Devo · 2008

276 min · 88 tracks · new wave

Eclectic and frenetic art rock blends playful absurdity with biting social commentary over innovative new wave soundscapes.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Jocko Homo — This track serves as an anthem for individuality, featuring chant-like vocals that encapsulate Devo's ethos of 'devolution' while combining catchy hooks with philosophical musings.
  • →
    (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction — Devo's rendition transforms the Rolling Stones classic into a mechanical critique of consumer culture, highlighting their innovative approach to reinterpretation and satire.
  • →
    Whip It — As one of their most recognizable hits, this track pairs catchy melodies with a message about perseverance and self-empowerment, making it a staple in both pop culture and Devo’s discography.
  • →
    Mongoloid — This song confronts societal norms with its quirky instrumentation and lyrical narrative about identity and acceptance, showcasing Devo's boldness in addressing sensitive topics.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

63 /100
Treeline
Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

This compilation captures Devo's eclectic style and innovative approach, though its extensive nature affects cohesion.

What we noticed

  • Many tracks feature unconventional song structures and abrupt tempo changes, reflecting Devo's experimental approach.
  • Several songs incorporate spoken word elements and humor, blending social commentary with absurdity.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
9/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • frenetic energy for active listening
  • quirky humor in every track
  • short bursts of playful chaos
  • dynamic flow with varied pacing
  • for group sing-alongs

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer slow, steady rhythms
  • seek lengthy immersive pieces

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2008, This Is the Devo Box is a comprehensive box set that encapsulates Devo's career from their formation in the late 1970s through their evolution into the 2000s. It coincides with a resurgence of interest in the band, following their participation in various festivals and renewed critical acclaim after decades of influence on alternative music and culture.
Stylistic neighbors
Talking Heads· Wire· The B-52's

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Uncontrollable Urge 3:08
  • 2 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction 2:39
  • 3 Praying Hands 2:46
  • 4 Space Junk 2:13
  • 5 Mongoloid 3:42
  • 6 Jocko Homo 3:40
  • 7 Too Much Paranoias 1:56
  • 8 Gut Feeling / (Slap Your Mammy) 4:54
  • 9 Come Back Jonee 3:46
  • 10 Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin') 2:39
  • 11 Shrivel-Up 3:05

Disc 2

  • 1 Devo Corporate Anthem 1:16
  • 2 Clockout 2:46
  • 3 Timing X 1:11
  • 4 Wiggly World 2:43
  • 5 Blockhead 2:59
  • 6 Strange Pursuit 2:45
  • 7 S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain) 4:30
  • 8 Triumph of the Will 2:18
  • 9 The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize 2:42
  • 10 Pink Pussycat 3:11
  • 11 Secret Agent Man 3:37
  • 12 Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA 6:06
  • 13 Red Eye Express 2:50

Disc 3

  • 2 It's Not Right 2:21
  • 4 Snowball 2:28
  • 5 Ton o' Love 2:30
  • 6 Freedom of Choice 3:31
  • 7 Gates of Steel 3:28
  • 8 Cold War 2:31
  • 9 Don't You Know 2:15
  • 10 That's Pep! 2:17
  • 11 Mr. B's Ballroom 2:47
  • 12 Planet Earth 2:46

Disc 4

  • 1 Through Being Cool 3:15
  • 2 Jerkin' Back 'n' Forth 3:04
  • 3 Pity You 2:47
  • 4 Soft Things 3:26
  • 5 Going Under 3:27
  • 6 Race of Doom 3:43
  • 7 Love Without Anger 2:37
  • 8 The Super Thing 4:20
  • 9 Beautiful World 3:35
  • 10 Enough Said 3:27

Disc 5

  • 1 Time Out for Fun 2:48
  • 2 Peek-A-Boo! 3:00
  • 3 Out of Sync 3:33
  • 4 Explosions 3:03
  • 5 That's Good 3:26
  • 6 Patterns 2:58
  • 7 Big Mess 2:43
  • 8 Speed Racer 2:39
  • 9 What I Must Do 2:34
  • 10 I Desire 3:13
  • 11 Deep Sleep 3:24

Disc 6

  • 1 Shout 3:16
  • 2 The Satisfied Mind 3:07
  • 3 Don't Rescue Me 3:06
  • 4 The 4th Dimension 4:24
  • 5 C'mon 3:18
  • 6 Here to Go 3:17
  • 7 Jurisdiction of Love 3:00
  • 8 Puppet Boy 3:09
  • 9 Please Please 3:04
  • 10 Are You Experienced? 3:09

Disc 7

  • 1 Freedom of Choice Theme Song 2:45
  • 2 Whip It 2:52
  • 3 Girl U Want 2:56
  • 4 Gates of Steel 3:27
  • 5 Be Stiff 2:55
  • 6 Planet Earth 2:46
  • 7 Freedom of Choice Theme Song 2:52
  • 8 Whip It 2:46
  • 9 Snowball 2:50
  • 10 It's Not Right 2:25
  • 11 Girl U Want 3:01
  • 12 Planet Earth 2:36
  • 13 S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain) 4:06
  • 14 Secret Agent Man 3:25
  • 15 Blockhead 3:26
  • 16 Uncontrollable Urge 3:17
  • 17 Mongoloid 3:29
  • 18 Be Stiff 3:00
  • 19 Gates of Steel 3:28
  • 20 Smart Patrol / Mr. DNA 7:19
  • 21 Gut Feeling / Slap Your Mammy 4:31
  • 22 Come Back Jonee 3:40
  • 23 Working in the Coalmine 2:49

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata