At last, a well-written piece from a college newspaper. I weep for the future. Thanks to Andrew Siegel at The Daily Northwestern for his combo preview/review of Ima Robot:

"Domo arigato in advance, Ima Robot-o


L.A. band hits the Metro this week
By Andrew Siegel
February 12, 2004



Hailing from Los Angeles, Ima Robot began making their idiosyncratic modern rock in the early '90s. Originally conceived as a project between Alex Ebert and Timmy Anderson trying to rap and make beats, the duo joined forces with electronics guru Oligee, drummer Joey Waronker and bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen. In their present incarnation, they share similarities with indie-rock groups like British Columbia-based darlings Hot Hot Heat, while their distinct synth patterns and sense of melody give them a style all their own.

Ima Robot played the The Big Fish Pub in Tempe, Ariz., on Jan. 5. At this particular "all-ages" venue, I was slightly disappointed to be surrounded by swarms of anxious high school girls in a town that Playboy once listed as the home of the second-most attractive college women in the country. Nevertheless, I was excited to see the main act: a synth-pop band with a retro-punk flair whose first full-length album caught my attention several months ago.

The band took the stage after an onslaught of sloppy openers, including a goth-rock band that was ejected halfway through their set, and quickly livened our spirits as they introduced "Song #1" with a few bars of synthesized chord progressions on the keyboard.

A series of layered power chords provided the background for Ebert, who, with a timbre that recalled David Bowie, belted out a punk manifesto: "We're soldiers/ We want to break free, break free!" The alternating verses in combination with seemingly drug-induced erratic movements created a high-energy atmosphere only heightened by Ebert's aggressive-looking striped mullet.

The rest of the concert showcased the remaining eleven songs of the album, and was an eclectic mix of lyrical themes and musical forms. The introduction of a ballad, "Scream," the fourth track off Ima Robot's self-titled LP, offered a refreshing change of mood. Over an airy, upbeat piano melody, the group's introspective lyrics speak of a profound love malady: "You were the best love I ever had/ You hit me high, you hit me low/ Time doesn't slow down for those who dream/ I wake only to hear this scream."

Even in an acoustically poor room that was unable to accommodate more than a few hundred people, Ima Robot managed to produce a crisp live sound that is a testament to their prowess as musicians. What made this funky hybrid so engaging was its dance-like quality; I observed the audience moving to the beat on several occasions.

Fresh from the success of this recent West Coast headlining tour, Ima Robot will grace Chicago this Tuesday, Feb. 17, as they open for The Sounds and Kill Hannah at the Metro. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets cost $12.

McCormick junior Andrew Siegel is a writer for PLAY. He can be reached at a-siegel@northwestern.edu"

this is my alma mater! oh this makes me so proud. i was a photographer for the daily. i am going to have to write this kid. i am happy someone is spreading some good stuff about imarobot at nu.