Here's an album review from the Santa Clara Scene. Does anyone want to take some time to discuss the difference between the reviews that seem to get Ima Robot and those that don't? I think the main distinction is that some reviewers take it as verboten that a retro sound is a negative thing, while others accept the premise and judge the record based upon its ability to accomplish what it set out to do.

I think this is one of the good ones:
Santa Clara Scene Review

Thursday, September 25, 2003


Ima Robot...Oh, really? Me too!

"The meeting of music and fashion is a tricky one. Some mergers launch the end result to prominence, as in the Hives, while others come across as bogus screams for attention, as in the Smashing Pumpkins’ waning glam-goth days.

Ima Robot’s thrift-store class should soon fall into the former category, but only because their self-titled debut album represents a similarly risky mishmash.

Combining punk guitars with new wave beats and keyboards, Ima Robot shows no fear of blending styles. And according to recent press photos, lead singer Alex Ebert also shows no fear of shaving deep lines into both sides of his head and sporting a mullet.

But Ima Robot is above art for the sake of art. Their sound is an excellently executed callback to the Cars and the Buzzcocks, as if these unlikely partners would ever appear in the same place at the same time. While the band’s interesting aesthetic and cartoonish album art certainly compliment the overall experience, the twelve tracks on the album proudly speak, if not shout, for themselves.

Less noisy and grating than the sonically comparable Hot Hot Heat, Ima Robot focuses more on rhythm and beats and spits more dynamic and intelligent lyrics. Ebert was actually raised on hip-hop groups like Run-D.M.C. and N.W.A., contributing to his unique lyrical style.

Also gracing the Ima Robot roster are established musicians Joey Waronker and Justin Meldal-Johnson. Waronker has drummed for Beck, R.E.M., the Vines, and Johnny Cash among others, while Meldal-Johnson’s most significant spot was as Beck’s bassist for eight years.

Bonus track “Black Jettas” concludes a solid 40 minutes of music as the most poppy and synthesized song on the album. “They’re so popular you can’t get away,” laments Ebert in the chorus. Hopefully we’ll never have that problem with Ima Robot, but their distinctive threads and tunes would do the mainstream music scene well.



Grade: A-"