Devo - Men Who Make The Music/Butch Devo & The Sundance Gig

If you are a Devo fan - hardcore, soft core, or raw potato - "The Men Who Make The Music" is a must own. Possibly one of the most important early long form music video packages ever, it demonstrates how pioneering Devo really was, and it laid the ground work for MTV to step in and ruin music video as an art form forever. This is not only a must own, but a must watch regularly, lest you forget just how important Devo really was. Conversely, the Sundance gig is IMHO rather disappointing. Don't get me wrong, the set list is phenomenal, and it's awesome to finally have it available, but good lord the sync issues are disasterous. When the sound IS in sync to picture it's fun to watch, but so much of it is out of sync that it's painful. Nowhere is it more evident than during "Uncontrollable Urge", where Devo's synchronized leg jumps are literally opposite to where they should be with the music. This, of course, is not Devo's fault, it's the very amateur editor's. Devo's performance is stellar as usual; they start a little winded from apparent altitude, but they take flight at "Going Under", and from there it's relentless Devo assaulting the uninitiated film festival crowd (look, the crowd responds biggest to "Whip It", enough said).Get this DVD for "The Men Who Make The Music". It's critical viewing. Devo warned us decades ago, and the evidence is all here. The Sundance gig is fun if you can handle the she's out of sync issue.

This, the re-release of The Men Who Make The Music, is probably one of the single most important pieces of videography in Devo's history. The content in this documentary (predating the traditional "home video" that would become ubiquitous in the 80's), is focused on Devo as they rode the coattails of success during their first two records (1978-1979). While most people tend to remember them from their iconic Freedom of Choice era and onward, here was a time when Devo were truly high concept, weird synth punk, and even with decent acting chops.In fact, that is the highlight of this release - the mini episodic skits Devo does with General & Booji Boy. You'll see scenes of Devo hanging out in strip clubs with synthesizers, and Devo wearing chrome ski makes discussing business with their managers. The other huge bonus is the live footage from their first major label tour in '78. If you loved the previous DVD for the Freedom Of Choice tour, then you're going to love this. This is prime Devo: Fast, bouncy, and tight as a knot. They sound youthful and vibrant here.Plus they throw in a show from 1996 ( similar set up as the previous lollapalooza show DVD from the same year). Only here they play in prison suits and grunge out their set a bit with mostly their guitar driven work and a few left field acoustic renditions.This release is really a no brainer for Devo fans.Cheers.

Had been trying to get this for years. Great to see the re-release and good overall quality especially considering age of material.

Great compilation with a variety of segments from other recordings and video comps with Devo...great for completists (sic). "The Story of De-evolution" and the "1980 Flipside" dvd are more focused on the ealier 'hardcore Devo' years-when the band was actually young!

I am a fan going back to their 2nd release after seeing them on SNL as a kid. This is a great DVD. I was not surprised that it stood the test of time and the picture was great. the extras were very good as well. a must for a fan.

Classic DEVO!!

I saw it when it first came out,still a classic and the bonus concert footage is nice too

Devo fans rejoice! There is some great concert video footage. Don't just die under Big Daddy's cap! Be a spud.

I've been after this for a long time and although most of "The Men Who Make The Music" is available elsewhere this video was originally put together early on in the band's career so has an historical angle about what they were trying to say at the time. As well as the 49 minute main feature you also get 66 minutes worth of their 1996 Sundance gig where the band dressed in stripy prisoner clothes and played the cream of their earlier material. And then if that isn't enough you also get about 40 minutes worth of behind the scenes afternoon rehearsals prior to the Sundance gig (although the sound quality is quite poor for this). And then you also get a taster for their Devo Live 1980 DVD with Gates Of Steel, and then after you play the clip you find hidden away there is a live version of Uncontrollable Urge - a taster from the Live From The Land Of The Rising Sun DVD.Other reviews have said that the DVD quality isn't good as other Devo DVDs but I don't agree, the compression is probably higher since there is a lot of footage here but playing this on my computer shows no problems at all (remember that the original source of a lot of the clips was video anyway so you are not going to get higher resolution than that), ....although I suspect that a cheap DVD player will probably have problems with the decompression.

Excellent content from excellent DEVO Art Movement as opposed to transitory simplistic band. Up there with Dylan and Beefheart as landmarks. Grossly maligned by some and underrated by most.

Really pleased with this product and service

Great DVD for Devo Fans

Lo avevo in video cassetta ma col passare degli anni si era usurata e quindi era diventata quasi invedibile, per fortuna i Devo hanno deciso di ristamparla in dvd e così ho deciso immediatamente di riacquistarla ...ne vale la pena e seppur datato è un piccolo capolavoro video musicale che tutti i fans dei Devo devono avere assolutamente nella propria dvdteca.