"Oh, No! It's Devo" is the fifth studio album by the American new wave band Devo, released in 1982 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded over four months, from May to September 1982, at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and was produced by Roy Thomas Baker.
The album features a greater reliance on programmed synthesizers and drum machines compared to its predecessor, New Traditionalists. This minimal use of guitars contributes to a metronomic, roboticized feel, as noted by DJ Pangburn of Reverb.com.
Lead vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh explained the title Oh, No! It's Devo by stating that many people react with dismay when they learn the band is releasing another album. Gerald Casale, Devo's co-founder and bass guitarist, indicated that the album was influenced by critical reviews that labeled the band as both "fascists" and "clowns." In response, they aimed to create an album that explored what a record by "fascist clowns" might sound like.
The song "I Desire" sparked controversy due to its lyrics being taken directly from a poem by John Hinckley, Jr., who had attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan to impress actress Jodie Foster. The band found the poem compelling despite its origin, and while Foster approved its use, the FBI issued warnings to the band. Another track, "Big Mess," was inspired by letters sent to a game show host by someone using the name "Cowboy Kim."
For this album, Devo adopted a new look, wearing black T-shirts and slacks with white "Spud Ring" collars, complemented by energy domes and other attire during performances. The LP jacket featured a cutout stand, allowing it to be displayed like a picture frame.
To promote the album, Devo embarked on a North American tour and produced three music videos for the tracks "Time Out for Fun," "Peek-a-Boo!" and "That's Good." These videos moved away from Devo's previous narrative style, opting instead for basic performance visuals. The video for "That's Good" faced censorship issues on MTV due to its risqué imagery, leading to a conversation between Casale and MTV co-founder Les Garland, where they discussed the double standards of video content. Ultimately, significant cuts were made to the video, which Casale later regretted as the song's chart performance declined.
