Freedom of Choice
While it was never determined whether those plastic things on their heads were flowerpots or collapsible drinking cups, the high-concept-minded Akron, Ohio, crew known as Devo had attracted mostly just the artsy new-wave crowd until this 1980 album brought them mass appeal. Way ahead of the video curve (they'd been making promo films since 1975), this band led by singer Mark Mothersbaugh and bassist Jerry Casale scored a huge hit with the jagged-rhythmed "Whip It," thanks in large part to a typically tongue-in-cheek video that MTV and dance clubs jumped on. The album also featured such cracked winners as "Girl U Want," "That's Pep," and the ever-caustic title track.--Billy Altman