Stephanie from eastcoastromper.com checked out Ima Robot's 10/7 show at Lupo's in Providence and these were her impressions:

HOT HOT HEAT / FRENCH KICKS / IMA ROBOT
10/7/03 LUPOS - PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

"At the last minute I scored tickets through Virgin Records to go check out their newest edition IMA ROBOT. The CD had put an off center youthful jolt of intrigument for the band, so I had to see what they brought forth. They went on first, the crowd was very minimal tonight but as the guys took the stage, it sounded like they had some fans or the kids were just happy to see a band going on stage.
IMA ROBOT look like they sound. They have this artsy, dorky element to them. They move on stage like robots and at times Justin (bass) would move like a seizure patient and then turn to his amp and side kick the stuffed Teletubby on it. One of the guitarist aside from his usual instrument jumped on keys also through the night. Singer Alex Ebert along with his flowing mullet swaggers on stage singing with his unique quirkiness and even found time to get behind drummer, Joey and do a jump over him back to the front of the stage. Between songs the talking was done by other members that led up to mostly introducing the songs. But when Ebert did speak, it was either non understandable or his comments were like he was questioning the crowd or maybe himself. This is what you call full on art or just a little off center. They did some of my favorite tracks off the disc like DIRTY LIFE and BLACK JETTAS where Ebert while being one with the music sat on a monitor and acted like he was changing gears and driving a car. Their single off the debut album DYNOMITE went over very well as did the funky self charge edge of A IS FOR ACTION. They ended their interesting set with the political theme for the band HERE COMES THE BOMBS.
FRENCH KICK who are tour buddies with HOT HOT HEAT, were just plain awful. The band knew like one beat to each song. The guitarist along with trying to play that was also on keys and this drum pad instrument of sorts. I think he needs to learn one at a time. The singer was tall and skinny and not really too charismatic for a front man and along with that he did more whining and LALALA"s then actually singing. I was totally not impressed and they really gave me a migraine.
They got off shortly but not soon enough. With a quick set change HOT HOT HEAT took the stage and did a good set. Mostly the whole MAKE UP THE BREAKDOWN CD, which pleased me. They did I think two older songs and ended the set with their single BANDAGES. Then as rock stars left stage right to only return for an encore and ended the evening with THIS TOWN.
The night was interesting to say the least, but I know I am done with keyboards in a band for at least another month or so."
by: Stephanie Stevens

wow. that's deep. Do you think she thought of that keyboard line all by herself?

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought French Kicks sucked...........BORING!!!!:P

Tell me you translated that from another language? What terrible writing! Though strangely, it's pretty accurate...

Stephanie also wrote up this nice album review. It reads a little better than the earlier offering:

from
Eastcoastromper.com

"You wanna talk a bit off center, then let's chat about IMA ROBOT, the LA based artsy, disco stylish, rock beat, electronic atmosphere that is captured in the band's debut self titled disc. It will make you continuously smile and laugh at moments uncontrollably. Think of the 80's band Devo on crack, the punk essence of Dead Kennedys and British pop fused together. Yeah, as peculiar as it sounds you get ten times that when making your way through each track. We start with the IMA ROBOT politics of HERE COME THE BOMBS, with its upbeat, psychedelic keyboard infused verses and the manic, rock vibe of the chorus will make you at least make it memorable. DYNOMITE has another catchy, bebop kinetic dance beats. A simply irresistible groove based funky chorus. Makes you want to dance infectiously. SONG #1 has a punk, British dance flair to it using straight forward guitar riffs, with energy drive drum beats and atmospheric keyboards. Along with the quirky vocal style and edgy flair, you'll be addicted. SCREAM holds a more subdued sentiment with modern rock flair, electronics that lightly embellish the rock vibe and it shows a more singing approach to the vocals. A IS FOR ACTION has an edgier, driven groove to it. It's darker and moodier than the rest of the disc. DIRTY LIFE has a dirtier vibe to it where sexuality oozes with grade A attraction. PHILOSOPHOFEE has a clear upbeat B52's attitude. WHAT ARE WE MADE FROM is the epic-ballad-esque ending to a bizarre undirected album but when you thought it was over the hypnotic, rappy, electronic bonus track BLACK JETTAS surrounds your eardrums for one last infectious melody. So IMA ROBOT is that band that will be your guilty pleasure. They are unique, diverse, funky, dancey and just a little off, but you can't help but like their all around sound."
by: Stephanie Stevens

yeah, i think i like this album review a little bit more. i like the smiling and laughing uncontrollably and the infectious dancing. i don't quite see the b52's connection. it was positive. where do you find this, drac? you must scour the outer reaches of the web for mentionings of the bot.