In response to the thread about the staggering number on .net vs. the number of active people and relevant posts, I've been thinking...maybe, just maybe there is a shortage of relevant things to discuss and happenings with ima robot that are bringing everyone together, here. I feel like for every thread actually related to ima robot (discussion or releases and recordings), there are 10-15 threads and a world of follow-ups in the "Let's talk turkey" forum. Maybe that explains why people on imarobot.net aren't posting. I personally think the energy and optimism present on this website is really special. I think it far outweighs the output of energy and productivity of ima robot themselves. no shit. I feel like this community is starving for something to talk about, whether it be a makeover of the set (incorporating some of the songs that got things going originally), a second single, something. It frustrates me that for some reason, this energy and dedication I am speaking of is not resonated on a large enough scale nation, or even worldwide, for Virgin to really invest in this incredible band. And yes, we know all that is in the works. Maybe we are at fault for not being pro-active enough? But I don’t think that’s the problem or cause of the boards being slow and tangential.

I see that people don’t post, and I feel like I see some of the reasons why. I've noticed that many of the people on here that are very dedicated to this band have been seeing and listening to ima robot well before the signing/release. The songs that bred our collective desires to NEED more robot shows and recordings, on a very elementary level, are what created the buzz about this band in LA in the first place. For a variety of reasons, the album that was released was simply different, both in arrangement and style, but also in overall feel. I love both periods, all the songs, but the lasting power of this album I feel is a clue as to the strength of song selection when you consider that songs we don’t hear EVER, that are NOT on the album, provided the foundation for this band, and .net as well. It’s amazing thinking about how long .net has remained strong, but with so little to work with in terms of experiences, news, rumors, etc. to draw upon here. If all the newbots could hear the 20+ songs from before, or even people who only vaguely remember “that one song from the fall, Dynomite”, I remain confident that this band go really go places. This body of work is authentic and beyond any individual contribution to the band. It is brilliant. It is ima robot…I know it’s a stretch, going from a lack of material (the right material) available, to the reasons why people aren’t constantly posting about new happenings, but it makes sense to me.

-col.

I agree. This board might not be here, if it weren't for the old material. The question at hand is, even if they wanted to play it, is it right for the Warped tour? Or something better thrown in during their own shows, which are on hold for a while? I personally am looking forwars to new stuff that refers strongly to that dark sensibility in a completely different way.

I admit I haven't had time to post much--doing a med rotation that is insane. Did manage to get to Prince last night, one of the best shows I've seen in a good long time.

I think the proof is in some of Drac's posts, and how excited we all get when she posts things like "Ima Robot has the 25th most popular song on WKRP in Cincinnati!" or whatever.

ok, so maybe the community isn't so energetic about this. What so and so had for breakfast seems to be of more importance.

a bagel w/ cream cheese

Quote:

Originally posted by seacaptain I think the proof is in some of Drac's posts, and how excited we all get when she posts things like "Ima Robot has the 25th most popular song on WKRP in Cincinnati!" or whatever.

haaaaa

Digging that stuff up actually takes some time, which I don't have right now. If anyone is interested in mining out minutia like "STD Dance Background Music In Colonial House" or "On Glenn Close's iPod" type announcements, please U2U me and I will share my top-secret search strategies with you.

Quote:

Originally posted by TurtleEnterprises a bagel w/ cream cheese

Rice Krispies.....

:P

banana nut muffin and coffee... yo' col' man... I kinda feel ya... ...but I think you are slighting one key elemental result here in that ...maybe it's how awesome the band is and how they've touched and attracted people to the site that may be of like mind in some way or another. I really love this band and had never been so compelled to blog post on any other kind of band site... there are no pretensions here...no one dogs to confess how they know so much more and it truly is an 'exchange post'... don't forget that there are 'people' here were talking about... you know, real lives ...it's truly like a web that branches off of Ima and connects somehow to...bagel's with cream cheese !! ...just ask poobs!...hahaha and Turtle...sheite, I bet one of the boys had a bagel with cream cheese just today...and popped it out just like the rest of us... imean some of us just might be sorting out the science of sanity here my friend and if that's part of it...so be it... but yeah, just in the last few weeks I had notions like... man this next record's gonna be incredible and have been listening to the S/t in my car, like it was brand new...i can't say that about many albums, so the sensation is truly lasting... man if I'm willing to shell out 30 bucks for four of their songs on a 12" vinyl bagel with cream, then I think talking about both is just what this nurse feels is the cure...word

Word...I agree.....

All of us on this forum have connected in a way that is truly amazing....and the Bot knows that the people who are on here all the time would do anything to support their efforts in touring and record sales...so on the down time we all need somewhere to go....we're just wasting time waiting for their new stuff to come out so we can talk about it...or the reviews from the Warp shows!

i appreciate the responses. I don't think I stressed enough in my first message how I think the dedication of the .net community FAR outweighs the effort of the band, bagel & cream cheese posts and all. And honestly, and this is something I feel comfortable voicing with any of the members of the band, so I dont feel bad voicing it here, out of their direct presence. I think over the past 6 months their enthusiasm has waned to be replaced by a certain "going through the motions" and jadedness. While I do not think this is pervasive, or deteriorating the band, I do think they could be trying harder, when they are active, and Virgin could certainly try a lot harder, when they are not "active". Although, i am not really sure when a good, hardworking band is EVER inactive, even off the road. Thats why I tried connecting all this to the set and overall song selection on the album as a cause. I dont mind tangential posting, that's why we have separate forums, please dont think I am trying at all to hinder this. I guess I am really knocking the band, and specifically the everyday management, which I will not be naming....So let me add this depth to the boards, an honest, well informed criticism of our band.

Dont mean to ramble, thanks for reading. dont take drugs.
col.

Interesting.

Trying harder in what way, do you think?

darn i wanted to post before Justin, I knew he would bet me... oh well

Not to be rude, or defensive just because I love ima robot. But I think that’s slightly ignorant.
I don’t think you have ever been in a band before,(maybe) but it’s MUCH harder and takes MUCH more out of you then most can see. And to tour, is very hard. Plus I don’t think Ima has slacked at all. They are bringing us some new music and in think they work very hard, harder then a lot of bands. I won’t rant on and on to avoid sounding rude, but I just though I would add in I disagree.







[Edited on 18-6-2004 by happysmilely]

...oh, sheite...hey JmJ...those posts just don't jibe with me, on review...good lord...col. ahhh...are you in this band?... or what...

Honestly, I'm just curious. No biggie at all.

JMJ, when I say try harder, I think that implies a lack of quantitative effort uncessarily on my part. That's not really what I am saying, in fact, I said above, that this band is working as hard as ever in terms of touring, that cannot be disputed.

However, as a very careful observer and advocate in all senses for this band, though, with this effort, I just dont see the same enjoyment resonating RECENTLY. Perhpas it was being in adverse environments, coupled with bands that maybe weren't the most strategically beneficial. What I have begun to see, and I said very carefully, was that the past 6 months, I feel like ima robot is trying hard, but going through the motions more and more and coming off as somewhat jaded. Not everyone sees it like that, and that's cool. I dont mean shows are sucking, or even segments of shows. Ima Robot could be drawing 10,00 people a night, 4 nights a week and that doesn't mean they are happy and satisfied with things. Thats why I tried to attribute this to the repetitive set, which is reality, a grueling schedule, and adverse environments (where we aren't the focus draw). Now being someone who doens't see every show, but a bunch, there is obviously a lot that I personally dont see. I see that.

Mentioning Virgin is problematic, but from a fan's perspective, fair. I dont know what they do, nobody does, but I see what their efforts translate to in the everyday world. That's why I referenced the lack of a second single, increased airplays, bigger promotion, different tours, etc. Maybe this is just about needing a second album to satisfy the new appetitites created recently. That's fine. But as someone who has seen this band as much as anyone, in several different states, I think the material I was speaking of in terms of drawing us together, and the passion, and energy it evokes, however dark in tone, or SEEMINGLY unmarketable, or whatever, is lacking from the current state of the set.

Yes I am being fairly analytical, but thats a complement in my mind to the band, that I, and many, have paid enough attention, following along in all sorts of ways to form opinions that aren't just "ima robot rocks" and "ebert is so cool" however much you agree or otherwise.

It is easy to point out a problem or issue. I did very candidly in terms of the lack of content and substance on this site, the foundation of the ima robot fan base. What's not easy is point out the causes and solutions. Doing that from a lay persons perspective is even more difficult. But I am willing to take the time thinking about it, because of how much i love this band, and more importantly, how I DO NOT think their full potential is being realized.

Debate is healthy.

"Debate is healthy"
haha I agree :D
and as I said, it's not that I'm jumping on defense because I like IMA, I just feel most don't see how hard bands are trying, even on there down time...
I'm not angry at your post. I feel your point is relevant I just don't feel the same, simple
:D

Well, this is a tough thing to get a handle on without having any information about what is going on behind the scenes with the label, future plans, vision, etc. But since we're thinking in the abstract here...one thing I always hoped for the band is that they would lead a lot of other bands onto a higher plane...almost be movement-starters, with something that could almost be called an L.A. "sound."

The problem is, a lot of critics immediately pegged them as being similar to the many New York new-new-wave out there, and the concept of their being a wholly original entity was lost on a lot of people. And L.A. got no cred, despite the fervor many of us witnessed in person at some of the Ima Robot gigs in the past year (Henry Fonda and the El Rey coming to mind).

So the opportunity to build something that could have potentially been huge was in a way sabotaged by the eagerness of some writers to lump them into a category that they probably didn't belong. These writers, of course, only knew Ima Robot by their very limited releases thus far.

Not to mention the fact that they are almost inimitable. This is probably tough for other bands that want to achieve a similar sound, yet retain some originality of their own. I guess maybe The Moving Units are sorta in the realm, but it's tough to name another local band that could join this theoretical movement. The idea of collaboration between Ima Robot and other like-minded musicians is, for some reason, really exciting to me, not only for what could potentially be produced, but for the chance for the guys to start something larger than what they are as a band.

This doesn't have much to do with your original post, Col, but I just wanted to add something constructive and concrete, as concrete as it can be to wish vaguely for an evolutionary shift in music as we now know it.

I really like what you have to say here. I feel like what you are describing is what has kept a lot of us so enthused, for so long. That is the notion that Ima Robot is not definable on today's standard for the simple reason that people do not want to take risks these days. Whether it be critics, label executives, or promotors and agents. I can very clearly see a place for ima robot, either as spearheads to a genre if you will, or just as themselves, existing in the landscape, but on a large scale. But for that to happen, as I think you were saying, critics, and others need to take a risk on backing this band, on many levels. That's why I threw my 1 cent in about the virgin side of all this. Unfortunately, people are taking what they are being exposed to, smack in the middle of the box, and right now, for whatever reason, I feel like ima robot, is not being exposed either a) enough, or b) in ways that I, just a fan to be clear, feel are not the optimal.

just read that again, the first part there...the "spearhead the genre" comment, I fully meant that. Many genre/movement leading bands were initially received as "not definable" as you put it.

:o:o:o:o:o:o:o....oh my.........All I want to say is I Love Ima and I hope they stick it out for the long run...put out another awesome album...tour (in Baltimore of course) and make lotsa money! I will say it again...when I first saw "Dynomite" on FUSE I about pooed my pants...I was in love! They have such a unique thing going that I'm sure is hard for them to break through all of the Good Charlottes and such...but.....I just hope the record label doesn't bump them or anything...I would be very sad.....or try to turn them into Good Charlottes and such.......

justin?

good talk.

:yawn:

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Originally posted by TurtleEnterprises :yawn: