Florence and the Machine made another appearance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend, playing the standard two songs.

The performance of Shake it Out is worth watching.

The Eno Stipe Colbert supergroup.

Mega-producer Brian Eno stopped by the Colbert Report, marking the first TV talk show interview we can ever remember him giving.

Colbert is clearly a music guru, and maybe that’s why he booked the Roxy Music keyboardist-turned solo artist – turned producer of Ultravox/Devo/Talking Heads/Laurie Anderson/James/U2/David Bowie/Coldplay – turned multimedia installation artist.

Eno plugged his new installation, 77 Million Paintings…

We’re suckers for the synth-pop, and have been ever since the days of all those bands we mentioned above that Eno produced. Maybe that’s why we like the new one from The Big Pink, which has a killer OMD-meets-Flock of Seagulls hook and samples Laurie Anderson’s O Superman.

Makes us feel like kids again.

Hit the Ground (Superman) hits your desk in January…

Le Bon, Christensen, Crawford, Campbell, and Herzigova as Duran Duran

And while we’re on the subject of synth-pop that makes us feel like kids again, you have to love the new video from Duran Duran for Girl Panic.

The big budget mini-movie has 40-something supermodels Yasmin Le Bon, Helena Christensen, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Eve Herzigova playing the roles of Duran Duran, while the boys play bit parts.

Solid all-around, and even stronger given the slight self-mockery…

Devo has already made the case that de-evolution has indeed, finally occurred.

But by researching and focus-grouping every single aspect of their first studio album in 20 years release, their elaborate spoof of the music industry and consumerism is schooling just about everyone on how to best use the web to engage and entertain.

Jacob: Devo's Focus Group Facilitator and Research Analyst

Based on the results from a series of color studies, the band changed the color of their patented Energy Domes from red to blue. Further research honed Devo’s new silver and blue uniforms.

Now, based on demands from the corporate office, the band must trim its 16-song output of new recordings to just 12. And they’re asking fans to help make the cuts with an online Song Study.

As the band has noted previously, why make an artistic statement? No one has time for that. Let the wisdom of the crowd  decide! Participation is strongly encouraged.

Taking the Song Study at ClubDevo.com is worth the price of admission for the web piece alone.

And while we’re at it, spend a couple of minutes with the band’s asinine “Touch Test”:

And here’s a clip from a recent Jimmy Kimmel with Devo performing Fresh:

Last week we wrote about Devo, Inc.’s use of time tested research methodology to assist them in bringing new product to the market (here). This week Broken Bells, the group made up of The Shins’ James Mercer and Danger Mouse, use a similar tactic.

Watch Broken Bells work to find out what kids want:

And here’s the first set of results from Devo’s Color Study Focus Group from Los Angeles:

If you haven’t taken the color study (in which green is becoming a lead candidate), do so here.

30 years ago, watching Saturday Night Live, I saw this absolutely repulsive band in yellow jumpsuits perform as the anti-band. While rockers of the day were full of smooth and swagger, Devo was exactly the opposite — stiff and herky jerky.

I didn’t get it — at first. But ultimately I went out and bought that Brian Eno produced debut album, and have been a fan ever since.

Last night they returned — at the Olympics no less — as a self declared mainstream act. In fact, Devo, Inc. is now using fans to focus group every move they make.

While the band back then warned of a mob mentality as humans de-volved, now they simply announce the arrival of the storm they forecast, telling the LA Times “We’re the house band on the Titanic.”

Not only is America, especially Corporate America ripe for a send-up, but with music returning to a synth-pop 80’s feel, Devo feels right for the times.

Enjoy the corporate videos, take the Devo Color Study, and check out fan video of Devo’s performance at Whistler for the Olympics.

Click the icon to participate in Devo’s hilarious Color Study

And check out the band’s new look, focus-grouped for the Olympics in this fan video of the classic Gates of Steel: