Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A new wave cover of the Allen Toussaint classic about coal mining labor, transformed by Devo into a quirky, mechanistic anthem with their signature jerky rhythmic style.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: energetic, intense, playful, rebellious
Traditions: cover, new wave
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: present. This song uses surprise as a feature. For focus or background listening, it's likely to pull your attention away; for active listening, that's often the point.
Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: dynamic vocals.
Where this sits in Devo's catalog
We have 18 songs from Devo in the library. Of those, 0 are rated Safe, 12 Moderate, and 6 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.7, making it the #6 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from New Traditionalists
We have 4 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.
- Beautiful World — moderate DR 6
- Through Being Cool — moderate DR 7
- Peek-A-Boo! — moderate DR 7
1981 context
Released in 1981. We have 194 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1980s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-15. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Working in the Coal Mine"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Working in the Coal Mine" by Devo?
"Working in the Coal Mine" by Devo rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, moderate sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Working in the Coal Mine" — what is its dynamic range?
"Working in the Coal Mine" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Working in the Coal Mine" have sudden or surprising changes?
Yes. "Working in the Coal Mine" uses surprise as a compositional feature. Expect unsignaled transitions.
What is "Working in the Coal Mine" best for?
In our library "Working in the Coal Mine" is recommended for: deep listening, energy, movement. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Working in the Coal Mine" released?
"Working in the Coal Mine" is from 1981, on the album "New Traditionalists". It appears in our 1980s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Working in the Coal Mine"?
We tag "Working in the Coal Mine" as energetic, intense, playful, rebellious. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Working in the Coal Mine"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Should I listen to "Working in the Coal Mine"?
"Working in the Coal Mine" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
What this song means to people
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