Long out of print and never reissued, this year FUTURISMO invite you to snake through the chaos with a Deluxe limited edition of DEVO's 1990 album - Smooth Noodle Maps!An underrated gem, Smooth Noodle Maps might oddly be the most anticipated of all DEVO's reissues. It's title being a direct reference to the brain was perhaps an irony to fans left underwhelmed at the time, yet over the years this album has become warmly regarded a hardcore fan favourite, especially among those who were there to witness this record mirror an end to the excessive Eighties. Whether you're a true believer or have just come to your senses, Smooth Noodle Maps will show you the way.Inspired by the concept of chaos theory, a theme inherent in de-evolution itself, Smooth Noodle Maps paralleled the bands own dissolution of order, yet the albums tight conceptual elements (the artwork featured animations of chaos motion developed by an actual laboratory) and arthouse pop make this a record hard not to love. Though it may have foreshadowed a hiatus for DEVO, Smooth Noodle Maps is a joyous enigma, a record demonstrating a stronghold of captivating tunes such as 'Stuck In A Loop' and "A Change Is Gonna Cum', undoubtably hits in another time and space, whilst simultaneously playing off the arch humour and observation found on 'Jimmy' and 'Post Post-Modern Man', all dusted with the intelligent foresight always expected of the band.This year, FUTURISMO give every truly discerning DEVO fan the out of print release they've been been craving, the follow up to last years Total Devo Deluxe - a limited pressing of Smooth Noodle Maps Deluxe Deluxe. Each gatefold LP set includes 2x180g limited edition coloured vinyl in the choice of 'Brain Drain', 'Postmodern Chaos' or 'Donut Glaze' as well as a 2xCD gatefold digipak version. Included alongside the original album are remixes, demos and unheard tracks unearthed from the archives. The records come in a die-cut gatefold sleeve that enables an interchangeable cover, it contains a huge double sided poster with unseen pictures and new liner notes by Gerald V. Casale, plus a sheet of cut-out finger spinners.DEVO's Smooth Noodle Maps Deluxe is an essential addition to the collection of any spud stuck in a loop! This March it's time to get smooth... only while stocks last!
P**N
A must for this Devo Fan!
As a person who owned the original Smoothnoodlemaps on Cassette tape I was so happy to receive this deluxe 2 record set (several weeks earlier than anticipated no less) The extra LP with remixes, demos and instrumentals were a great listen and it was fun to revisit the original album which I felt the public and some spuds even slept on the first time around. The packaging is a work of art. If you already bought into this fine album, the extras are gilding the lily but very very appreciated!
C**M
Overlooked album that is as good as any of their previous ones.
Great album. Too many people forget that they made more albums than what came out in the eighties.Devo Has Feelings Too, Stuck In A Loop and Post Post-Modern Man should have gotten as much airplay as Whip It.
T**2
Underrated, better than its reputation
As usual, Devo's latter albums of the 20th century aren't quite as good as their 1970-1984 era. But the reputation of the latter two albums isn't as good as the music itself.Devo's latter two albums have one thing in common: Their 2nd tracks ("Disco Dancer' (for "Total Devo") and "Post Post-Modern Man" for Smooth Noodle Maps (SNM)) were singles when other songs should have been picked. As with "Baby Doll" for "Total Devo", "Stuck in a Loop" is the song on SNM that needed to be a single. It's got a catchy beat, but unlike "Baby Doll", which is more mainstream, "Loop" is classic Devo right out of the box.Post Post-Modern Man is indeed a great song. Loved the video as well, which consciously brings up Devo's own past (as microcosm) as part of the song's point. But "Stuck in a Loop" edges out for me."Morning Dew" - definitely another must-listen-to track. It's the first song since "The Fourth Dimension" (Shout, 1984) to feature a riff from another song, whereas "Day Tripper" was used in "4th Dimension" to great effect, but for "Dew" the riff occurs after the line about a newborn baby is sung. With harpsichord to really sell a gloom and doom feel juxtaposed against noticing the shiny happy newborn baby! I don't know the name of the song but the tone and riff involve death. Chances are you' ll recognize the riff even if you don't know the song it came from.Upon research, "Morning Dew" was Devo's cover of a Grateful Dead song involving nuclear Armageddon. TBH, the Devo cover is one of the best, has aged far better, has the right pacing and tempo, and the Grateful Dead original also lacks the riff. Devo's take on "Morning Dew" simply has to be heard. And it makes for a great return to Devo innovating when compared to 1998's "Don't Be Cruel".The Big Picture, Dawghaus, and Devo Has Feelings Too are fun little ditties.The other tracks are hit and miss that depend somewhat on individual expectations and tastes. But are definitely Devo.A shame this would be their final album. Listening to their 70s and 80s works and how they were influenced by and how they influenced the industry, the 1990s might have been a lot more interesting with Devo around. Glad they came back in 2009...So until 2009, SNM would be the last new Devo album. Sales were probably low at the time but there's clearly life left in the band.
M**I
Truly Spud Boys!!
DEVO's CD 'Smooth Noodle Maps' is a great departure from their early recordings of the 1980's. The Big hit on the CD is a song Called 'Post,Post Modern Man'.Even thought the CD cost a few extra bucks, it was truly worth every Pennie.For you see,it is out of print and none of the music stores yet carry this out of print product.The songs are very creative.DEVO even covered Elvis's 'Don't Be Cruel'.If you want to hear how the band has progressed and matured,it's truly worth picking up.
R**Y
oh no its devo
glad finally tracked down some of the tracks of the album great sound
C**H
Would buy from again!!
Got it in perfect condition!
L**E
Great obscure Devo gem
Another stellar production. All you spuds need this in your tool belt.
A**S
an underappreciated gem in the Devo catalog
This album is a huge step up from Total Devo. I like Total Devo, but it's easily the band's worst album. This one has better songs, better flow, and better production. It actually feels like a Devo album. If you think Devo went downhill after Freedom of Choice, you may not like this CD much, but the rest of you will find something to like here. Devo Has Feelings Too is actually one of my favorite Devo songs, so I recommend this for that song alone, but the rest of it is pretty good too.
