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Devo's Freedom of Choice (33 1/3) Paperback – Illustrated, May 21, 2015

by Evie Nagy (Author), Fred Armisen (Foreword)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 86 ratings
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Finally, after all that waiting, The Future arrived in 1980. Ohio art-rockers Devo had plainly prepared with their 1979 second LP Duty Now for the Future, and now it was go time. Propelled by the new decade's high-tech, free-market, pre-AIDS promise, 1980's Freedom of Choice would rocket what Devo co-founder Gerald Casale calls his "alternate universe, hermetically sealed, alien band" both into the arms of the Earthlings and back to their home planet in one scenic trip.

Before an artistic and commercial decline that resulted in a 20-year gap between Devo's last two studio records, Freedom of Choice made them curious, insurgent superstars, vindicated but ultimately betrayed by the birth of MTV. Their only platinum album represented the best of their unreplicable code: dead-serious tricksters, embracing conformity in order to destroy it with bullet-proof pop sensibility. Through first-hand accounts from the band and musical analysis set against an examination of new wave's emergence, the first-ever authorized book about Devo (with a foreword by Portlandia's Fred Armisen) explores the group's peak of success, when their hermetic seal cracked open to let in mainstream attention, a legion of new Devotees, and plenty of misunderstandings. "Freedom of Choice was the end of Devo innocence–it turned out to be the high point before the s***storm of a total cultural move to the right, the advent of AIDS, and the press starting to figure Devo out and think they had our number," says Casale. "It's where everything changes."

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Previous page
  1. Part of series
    33 1/3
  2. Print length
    184 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Bloomsbury Academic
  5. Publication date
    May 21, 2015
  6. Dimensions
    4.8 x 0.55 x 6.4 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1623563445
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1623563448
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Evie Nagy's 33 1/3 book on Devo's Freedom of Choice is fantastic, nerdy, swift and meticulous, and the book you have been waiting for if you even like Devo a little bit.” ―Jessica Hopper, Senior Editor, Pitchfork

“Nagy’s little book helps us stay in a special moment in new-wave rock history.” ―Ed Komara, Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal

“Evie Nagy's book on Freedom of Choice is a solid look back at the point where everything changed for Devo. As 33 1/3 books go, this is one of the more straightforward ones, built on research and interviews with a lot of the key players, looking at the album's creation and its place in Devo's career, It's a good read, and Nagy gets Devo's mix of nerdishness, humour, and serious political intent … Nagy does a solid job bringing together new quotes from Devo members, others involved with the album, other people from Devo's circle over the years, and other musicians as well as bits from contemporary articles to tell a story that's well worth reading for anyone interested alternative music or 1980s pop culture.” ―TheFifteenth

“Get straight! Go forward! There's no Hazmat jacket required to whip through Freedom of Choice, which motors through Devo's rich history with all the relentless precision and curveball flourishes of their greatest works, and-best of all-vividly renders the very human souls behind the automaton anthems that devolutionized an era.” ―Sean Howe, author of Marvel Comics: The Untold Story

“Excerpted” ―Fast Company

“Nagy's look at Devo offers some great anecdotes for the spuds out there. There are coked-out stories about the band in the studio and on the road, as well as a look at how the oddball aesthetic of Devo left its fingerprints on nerd culture over the last few decades, maybe even initiating the whole geek chic thing.” ―Hubert Vigilla, Ruby Hornet

“Nagy has conducted interviews with the remaining Devo members, has quoted extensively from interviews and has told in detail the history of the album including the elaborate studio sessions with producer Robert Margouleff ... This is compulsory reading for fans.” – HHV-Mag

“Spuds will love the nostalgia and the insiders' information in Devo's Freedom of Choice … Non-spuds who think of Devo as a one-hit wonder will be surprised to read of Devo's impact and musical influence. Spuds and non-spuds alike will want to dust off their old LPs or cassettes, or pull up some songs on YouTube, and relive the early days of Devo, a great band ahead of its time.” -Reading Glutton

About the Author

Evie Nagy is a music, culture and business journalist who has been a staff editor and writer at Rolling Stone, Billboard and Fast Company. Her work was published in Best Music Writing 2010, and she co-wrote the afterword to Out of the Vinyl Deeps, an anthology of rock writing by the late Ellen Willis, the New Yorker's first pop music critic. She currently lives in Oakland, CA.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Academic; Illustrated edition (May 21, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 184 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1623563445
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1623563448
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.8 x 0.55 x 6.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 86 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
86 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

JPH
5.0 out of 5 stars What a great read!
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2022
Verified Purchase
FREEDOM OF CHOICE is a fantastic album and I've beena big fan of DEVO for a while (I'm not at "Spud" level but a fan nonetheless).

I knew quite a bit about the band but the info in this book is really interesting, and I'd never heard a lot of it. And most of it is from recent interviews with Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale.

Really good stuff.
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Steve M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful behind the scenes history
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2021
Verified Purchase
I'm not even a huge fan of this band (I know the hits and that's it), but I found the book to be extremely engaging. It goes into detail about each song, while also giving a history of the band. If you're a fan, this is a must-read.
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John Allen
4.0 out of 5 stars Good take on a G
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
Good take Iake on great band making.record.
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Beth
5.0 out of 5 stars Short but sweet
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2015
Verified Purchase
This was a quick and fun read about one of my all-time favorite bands and their most commercially successful album, "Freedom of Choice."

This little book packs a lot of great information into a few pages. The chapters begin with discussions of each song on the album but dive quickly into the deeper meaning of the band and their message.

The band has always been ahead of their time, and their commentary on the corporate machine is still relevant and right on.

This was a delight and it is a must-read for any spud who still loves this band as much as this tomato!
7 people found this helpful
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T. Hurst
5.0 out of 5 stars We are all DEVO
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
I've been a hard core DEVO fan since I was in high school in 1983, but I never knew any of the inner workings or dysfunctions of my altruistically perverted idols. This book provides the VIP tour of DEVO and took me on a ride down memory lane - only it was a mix of my memories and their memories. Such a blessing to have this record of the band's troubles, hopes, dreams, successes, and mutations. It's an absolute must read for any true DEVO fan!
7 people found this helpful
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Parrish
5.0 out of 5 stars Someone who gets it...
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2015
Verified Purchase
Evie Nagy does a masterful job at telling a slice of the story through the lens of Freedom of Choice. Devo is not easy to capture, this book is an enjoyable journey through the time and songs. Perfect for the true fan, and those who've wondered what may lie just beyond Whip It.
3 people found this helpful
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chris kasabian
4.0 out of 5 stars Everything good, but did not realize it was smaller book in size, but otherwise, satisfied !
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
Good book, just didn't realize it was a smaller book in actual size, otherwise, Happy !
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Matthew Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars How would this book effect my feelings for one of the great releases of our time
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2015
Verified Purchase
Getting the inside scoop on the songs of FOC, after a lifetime of memorizing them, was a little intimidating. How would this book effect my feelings for one of the great releases of our time? So far, it's fascinating and eye-opening. Great work.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

K. M. Strain
5.0 out of 5 stars Fab
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2018
Verified Purchase
My partner really enjoyed reading this , he hasn’t read a book in ten years so for him to read it it must be good xxx
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Mike Melanson
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on July 12, 2015
Verified Purchase
Awesome stuff... these 33 1/3 books are GREAT!!!
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