Following the 2010 release of Something for Everybody and the sudden passing of both (former) drummer Alan Myers in 2013 and founding member Bob Casale in 2014, Something Else For Everybody was released promptly in May 2014.

The collection of Something session demos and other b-sides, with potential album titles from Devo Opens the Vault, Gems from the Devo Dumpster, to the ultimate title, offered an introduction to the slow releasing of rare material (and re-visitation of Hardcore Devo in tours) that followed the death of Bob Casale.

The album jumps immediately into the polished fresh mix and master of Something For Everybody with "Monsterman." The 2 minute industrial grinding shifts into a much more organic and punk rock direction with the following four songs. "On the Inside" features distorted boxy guitar and drummer Josh Freese's particular Vandals style drumming, while "Should-A Said Yes" revisits tight clean palm muting and the imperfect group vocals that portrayed a rawness on albums like Are We Not Men? or Freedom of Choice. "Think Fast," and "Raise Your Hands" are packed with twangy leads and fuzzy rhythm guitars, courtesy of Bob Mothersbaugh, and are a great departure from the focus group'd over-production of the album they were cut from.

I recognized the sequencing, hand claps, and tight drums to the instrumental of "Message of Hope" from Josh Freese's crowd funded and solo My New Friends EP. Perhaps his brain was behind the initial music, or he asked to use it when it when the song was scrapped, but I find his vision to be much better. "Big Dog" is a highlight of the Something Else, introducing a strict grid of percussion samples, and a giant hook you would find on a more electronic-oriented record like Oh No, It's Devo!




"Can U Juggle" sinks hard into teeth grinding synths, distorted guitars, real drums, and the album proceeds with two more songs living in the same demo session headspace (and a pretty good remix of "Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)") "Throw Money At The Problem" and "I Luv Ur Gun" both dip into sexual puns and unfiltered humor that dates back to the band's inception.

Something Else For Everybody offers insight to the fundamental creation of a Devo full length, along with the beginning of a slow trickle of a legacy that the Mothersbaughs, Casales, and other contributors possess. It is unlikely that spuds will hear any substantial material ever again, and if we do it will likely be in small doses, or lacking the momentum the group once carried.



(Editor's note- this review was originally submitted in error by the reviewer with a 1.5 star score. The reviewer intended a 3 star score, and has been amended accordingly)