Whip It and Beyond: Ranking Devo’s Greatest Tracks
From rubbery riffs to satirical synths, here are the essential Devo cuts—ranked.
Devo 101: Satire, Synths, and Safety Goggles
Devo didn’t just make music—they deconstructed it. A band as much about philosophy as sound, Devo built their identity on “de-evolution,” using satire, plastic jumpsuits, and synth-heavy hooks to challenge the norms of pop music and American culture. Sure, “Whip It” is the track everyone knows, but there’s much more in their catalog. With Devo set to perform at this year’s Kilby Block Party, it’s the perfect time to revisit (or discover) what made them so essential—and so weird. Purchase tickets from S&S. Check out the full lineup below:
Here’s a ranking of their sharpest, strangest, and most influential songs, blending hits with deep cuts for the full Devo experience.
10. “Jerkin’ Back and Forth”
Album: New Traditionalists
Release Date: 1981
Achievements: Minor dance hit; performed on American Bandstand
Devo gets funky—well, Devo-funky. The synths are cold, the vocals are twitchy, and the lyrics feel like a manual for social awkwardness. It’s a perfect window into their early ’80s sound, when the band was leaning harder into new wave but never losing their edge.
9. “Be Stiff”
Album: B Stiff EP
Release Date: 1978
Achievements: Released by influential UK label Stiff Records
A short, angular anthem of obedience. This track encapsulates Devo’s early mission: minimalism, detachment, and a refusal to conform by… conforming too hard. It’s pure early Devo—abrasive, catchy, and concept-driven. Stream “Be Stiff” on Youtube.
8. “That’s Good”
Album: Oh, No! It’s Devo
Release Date: 1982
Achievements: Charted on Billboard Hot 100; music video briefly banned by MTV
A deceptively sweet synth-pop song that quickly reveals its warped core. The chorus hooks you, but the unsettling video and subversive lyrics remind you this isn’t your typical love song. Devo shines when things feel just a little “off”—and this track is peak uncanny valley pop.
Want more Devo? BOB FM has Uncontrollable Urges all day.
7. “Gates of Steel”
Album: Freedom of Choice
Release Date: 1980
Achievements: Fan favorite; often performed live
Equal parts punk energy and new wave gloss, “Gates of Steel” is one of Devo’s most empowering tracks—though even here, empowerment feels laced with irony. The band’s mission of resistance through submission runs strong in the pounding rhythm and cryptic lyrics.
6. “Uncontrollable Urge”
Album: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Release Date: 1978
Achievements: First track on their debut album; staple of their live shows
This is how Devo introduced themselves to the world: jerky guitars, manic vocals, and relentless momentum. The “urge” feels primal and robotic all at once. A perfect encapsulation of their early energy and confrontational weirdness.
5. “Secret Agent Man”
Album: Duty Now for the Future
Release Date: 1979
Achievements: One of their most twisted covers
Taking the 1960s Johnny Rivers spy theme and running it through a dystopian filter, Devo turns the song into something paranoid and unsettling. What once sounded like swagger now feels like surveillance. It’s a cover only Devo could pull off—and make feel like an original. Stream on YouTube.
4. “Freedom of Choice”
Album: Freedom of Choice
Release Date: 1980
Achievements: Title track of one of their most successful albums
An ironic anthem if there ever was one. The title promises empowerment, but the tone suggests something darker: choice as illusion, individuality as performance. Its clean production and catchy hook mask a heavy message. Devo at their smartest and slickest. Stream here.
3. “Mongoloid”
Album: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Release Date: 1977 (as a single), 1978 (on LP)
Achievements: First-ever Devo single
This track introduced Devo’s brand of musical discomfort to the world. It’s bouncy, bizarre, and loaded with social commentary. It walks a strange line between offensive and satirical—and that’s the point. It makes you laugh and squirm in equal measure.
2. “Whip It”
Album: Freedom of Choice
Release Date: 1980
Achievements: #14 on the Billboard Hot 100; Gold-certified single
The one that broke through—and confused just about everyone. Most people took “Whip It” as a novelty or motivational anthem, missing the underlying satire of Reagan-era optimism and toxic productivity. Still, it’s undeniable: the synth riff slaps, the visuals are unforgettable, and Devo landed a true hit on their own terms.
1. “Beautiful World”
Album: New Traditionalists
Release Date: 1981
Achievements: Acclaimed music video; lasting critical praise
It starts off sweet, almost naive—until it doesn’t. As the song builds, it slowly reveals itself as a bitter critique of inequality, war, and superficial culture. By the end, the chorus “It’s a beautiful world… for you, not me” hits like a gut punch. It’s Devo’s most emotionally complex track, and arguably their most timeless.
The De-Evolution Will Be Playlist-ed
These songs show Devo wasn’t just about being weird—they were intentional, razor-sharp, and often eerily ahead of their time. From jerky punk beginnings to cold synth satire, their legacy goes way beyond red energy domes and novelty hits.
Whether you’re rediscovering them or diving in for the first time, Devo’s catalog rewards curiosity—and keeps getting more relevant.
And again, don’t miss your chance to see this legendary band at the 2025 Kilby Block Party. Read about another Kilby Block Party artist: Weezer’s The Blue Album.
