I have mixed feelings about this double CD"Anthology" from Devo. On the one hand, its a very goodcollection of Devo's essential recordings. They even included difficult to find gems like 'It Takes a Worried Man' and 'Doctor Detroit' -- two of Devo's best you won't find on any of their previous albums. This disc also contains some early pre-Warners versions of 'Jocko Homo' (terrific), 'Mongoloid' and 'Be Stiff'. You'll also hear under-rated gems like 'The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize' (which should've been a hit). However -- you can already get most of Devo's best work (for less money) on their 'Greatest Hits' and 'Greatest Misses' CDs. A lot of Devo's post-Warners work is contained here. Devo changed its sound significantly following their last Warners LP (1984's 'Shout'). Songs like 'Baby Doll' have a definite dance music feel -- with heavy synthesizers and drum machine. In fact, much of Devo's soundtrack work -- which dominates Disc Two is sadly uninspired. (Although their version of NIN's 'Head Like A Hole' is worth a listen). I was also disappointed that too many dance-mix versions of popular songs were included here. The version of 'Doctor Detroit' is the longer, over-produced "dance mix" version. You will also hear re-mixes of 'Snowball', 'Here To Go' (The latter of which has already been re-released on 'Greatest Hits' and the Infinite Zero version of 'New Traditionalists'), 'Baby Doll' and 'Disco Dancer'. Also be forewarned that the new song (recorded in 2000) -- 'The Words Get Stuck in My Throat' is actually a joke. It is Booji Boy (aka Mark Mothersbaugh) singing off-key and in a ridiculously high-pitched voice. As silly as it is, it is actually more like "traditional Devo" than most of the rest of Disc Two. It is even poignant in its own a twisted (devolved) way. There is a 52-page booklet which is a great source for Devo photos and illustrations.(Unfortunately the text in the booklet gives little insight to the band itself (Exactly WHY did drummer Alan Myers leave the group in 1988?) -- and the author seems to have never met a Devo song he didn't LOVE. By the way -- the CD cover --one of Devo's best ever -- is in 3-D. It depicts record company executives tossing hatchets at Devo-inspired action figures. Very clever. Devo was great. You will definitely realize that by listening to this collection (Disc Two not withstanding). Howver, if you're looking to just enjoy some classic Devo songs you haven't heard in years (like 'Whip It' and 'Satisfaction')-- get 'Greatest Hits' instead.

FIRST,the BAD NEWS: Since The Beatles "Anthology" was released,every music company feels the title "Anthology" can be used to unleash yet another collection of "Greatest Hits". Did they all miss the boat? The idea was to release,"Alternate" and "Unreleased" material. That's why it sold.(And is it just a co-incidence that the very company who took the big reamer to DEVO,are the people embracing DEVO,now? Is Rod Rooter,now in control at Warner Brothers?) If you are a DEVOnian who bought all the classic Devo stuff as it was released,or have purchased the Infinite Zero versions on C.D....you have about 80% of the material on this album. However...if you like the classic stuff,and don't mind it between the rarities....

The GOOD NEWS is....there really is some obscure stuff,and hard to find tracks! Among the previously unreleased tracks,are segments of General Boy & Booji Boy....from "The Men Who make The Music",as well as the inspirational "Duty Now For The Future" and "General Boy Visits Apocalypse Now",in which the good General waxes on things Devo. A great inclusion is the cool song "Worried Man",which if you never saw the little-seen film "Human Highway" you missed.(This version does not have Booji Boy's monologue).Most of the "unrerelased stuff" is from the "Oh No It's Devo" era to the present.

And speaking of presents! A BRAND NEW TRACK! (recorded Jan.2000), Booji Boy sings,his classic tune: "The Words Get Stuck In My Throat"...making this a must have set! The booklet,has a nice selection of photos as well.

A lot of rare stuff is absent...tracks like "Bush Whacked","Hey Hey My My"(with Neil Young),"Somewhere With Devo (Studio Version)","Witch Doctor",not to mention,numerous B-sides and Demos. But thems the breaks...you'll pay for 2 CDs,to get 1 cd worth of new stuff. Perhaps its the fans getting "scalped"? Here's hoping for "Anthology 2: More Wampum For The Buck". DUTY NOW SPUDS!

I love the first CD in this set, and there are maybe 5 songs on the second CD that are pretty good. The rest reminds me why I don't like the later albums.

A few weeks after purchasing this, I got two CDs in the mail from Rhino Handmade - The reissue of "Dev-O Live", and "Recombo DNA". Recombo DNA is a 42 track double CD, but instead of lots of hits it is full of demo versions, obscure live songs and unreleased tracks. Some gems include an old live version of "Words Get Stuck in my Throat", which was re-recorded for the "Pioneers" anthology, and the studio version of "Somewhere with Devo", which showed up in live form on "Now It Can Be Told".

They could have made an amazing 3 CD set by combining the first CD of Pioneers with Recombo DNA.

This anthology has a lot of awesome songs, but some of the songs were bizarre choices to put on this compilation. Even if you own all of their albums, this has songs that you don't own. It has a lot of songs off of soundtracks, and a couple of singles and demos not available elsewhere anymore. The first disc is pretty much their greatest hits, and it's an almost perfect disc. The second has some mediocre songs, but overall, it's just as good. I especially like their covers, because they can remake a song without making it sound the same. For someone who doesn't have their albums, it's a great buy! For someone who owns most of this, try to get it used or for cheaper.

Disk 1 is flat-out solid. The hits just keep on coming. I was 13 when these guys were in their prime (Freedom of Choice). Listening to Disk 1 is like going home ("Mongoloid" echoes in my dreams sometimes). Wacky flowerpot-hat-wearing spudboys! Gotta love 'em. Twist away the gates of steel.