Gerald Casale’s five favourite albums of all time
Gerald Casale has a fantastic musical mind. His talent doesn’t just stop at his primary instrument; he is responsible for DEVO’s lyrics, composition and direction of most of their music videos.
Casale’s ability to apply himself to music so broadly will stem from an inner talent and a wide-reaching group of influences. Every good musician listens extensively when working out the kind of artist they want to be, and it won’t come as a surprise to learn that Gerald Casale is no exception.
He confesses that his music collection currently has a lot of dust and a few fingerprints, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most essential things in his life. He took the time to go through five of his favourite albums that he confesses he couldn’t live without.
This list will summarise those albums and how they influenced Gerald Casale’s career.
Gerald Casale’s favourite albums:
Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits
Compilation albums get a bad reputation. Many people turn their noses up at them as they prefer a collection of work from a specific period in an artist’s life that is consistent and cohesive. Whilst that makes sense when you have a catalogue as extensive and varied as Bob Dylan’s, one of the best ways to enjoy it is through a greatest hits album.
“Why not start at the top?” said Casale, “Bob Dylan is the most important poet of the 20th Century, camouflaged as a recording artist. His poetry is the dark matter that binds us together in our iteration of the Multiverse.”
The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico
“The best music was always created by artists using sound-producing instruments,” said Casale, “The Velvet Underground’s debut album was a ‘hammer drop’ taste test separating the cool crowd from the square.”
Released in 1967, the album underperformed in sales, given its unconventional sound, and the lyrics were considered controversial. However, it has since become one of the most influential albums in rock and pop, with many modern musicians citing it as a turning point. “This was ‘the shit’, as they say, and it sounds just as dangerous now as it did in 1967.”
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix is arguably one of the most prolific musicians ever to pick up a guitar. Word of his ability spread quickly due to the power of his live shows, which propelled him to fame. Even though he was amazing live, his studio albums also sold incredibly well, with one of his most famous being Electric Ladyland.
“I loved all things Jimi Hendrix from the moment I dropped the needle on ‘Foxy Lady’ in 1967. He was Robert Johnson on acid, and he gave hope to a generation of rebellious youth taught to ‘duck and cover’ and die in Vietnam by transporting them to an alternate reality.”
David Bowie – Diamond Dogs
David Bowie’s albums varied in sound but very rarely in quality, making it hard for a lot of people to pick their favourite record of his. For Gerald Casale, though, it’s easily Diamond Dogs, an album so good he considered quitting music altogether. “I was stunned and put in my place,” he said. “I thought about giving up.”
“Shortly after, I saw David’s live ‘Diamond Dogs’ show in Cleveland, Ohio. Beyond jealousy or envy, that show rose me from the dead and gave me my marching orders to raise the bar on Devo in a do-or-die effort.”
The Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole
The albums so far have been predominantly rock, so it is exciting to see something that leans more towards electronic music on Casale’s list. Dig Your Own Hole was the second studio album by Chemical Brothers, released in April 1997. There are several guest spots on the album that blend genres in a cohesive and inventive way.
“When I heard Chemical Brothers ‘Block Rockin Beats, ’ I heard what Devo should have been doing and failed to embrace,” said Casale, “this was symphonic music meets electronica in dynamic, immersive compositions driven by the best studio-birthed sonics in decades.”
