I just went over to RollingStone.com to read the whack 2-star review that replaced Ben Friedland's complimentary one. It ires me still to read this thing. But at least I have figured out the focus of my anger--that the reviewer makes the assumption that most people won't be able to get past Alex's vocals...did he do a survey or something? It's such an argumentative leap, such a discounting of people's ability to develop their own opinions, bah!

Anyway, the rebuttals are well-written and pretty hilarious. Read them HERE.

Everyone knows that Rolling Stone isn't what it use to be. This is just another reminder of that.

"Alex Ebert, singer-lyricist for the extremely caffeinated L.A. quintet Ima Robot, has perfected a jittery, shrill style of singing that you heard a lot in the early to mid-Eighties, from people such as Oingo Boingo's Danny Elfman, Missing Persons' Dale Bozzio and Sparks' Russell Mael. And despite the twenty-five-year-old Ebert's claim that he was raised on hip-hop, every tune on his band's debut is heavily indebted to the synthed-out wing of New Wave. Bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen and drummer Joey Waronker (formerly of Beck's rhythm section) work up a tremendous head of steam -- something Berlin or Men Without Hats could never imagine. But Ebert's voice is the most polarizing set of pipes this side of the Darkness' Justin Hawkins, and most listeners won't be able to get past it"

what an arse, has he even listened to the album?

rolling stone is crazy man. i said CRRAZZZY!

Uh, not that I would stoop to this level or anything, but it would be somewhat funny if Ben Friedland or a surrogate rebutted with his original review.

I saw that issue at a newstand, and didn't know they were in there, and not sure if it's still available, but I would like to read it. Anyway of posting it? If not, I will find it, and hunt down the writer... hahaaa j/k. I just want to read it. Someone I know just summed it up:

Just like with a lot of things, either you get it, or you don't. The Bot are making history in my eyes. Who can say they were there when The Doors were first playing the Whisky, and I'm sure there was some dork that gave them bad reviews. It's relevant. E=MC2 blah blah blah. Not everyone's gonna understand you guys just chill, and enjoy our lil elite space. And when you think about it Rolling Stone is corporate they're probably under pressure to make reviews weekly with a team of non-cool college journalist graduates with no artistic background whatsoever. I could go on forever, but just let me read that review. I'm going out tonite to get a picture of some big Bot Tag on Melrose that my friend saw, then hopefully give it to Phizzy to post, and look for that Damn issue with Dave Matthews on the cover(that should tell you something right there). I tell ya guys some of us are Cowboys, and some of us are Indians. Who are you?

That's my Philosophofee!:D

OK. I found it. I didn't really think his words were scathing at all. It's just the 2 stars I guess:

Alex Ebert, singer-lyricist for the extremely caffeinated L.A. quintet Ima Robot, has perfected a jittery, shrill style of singing that you heard a lot in the early to mid-Eighties, from people such as Oingo Boingo's Danny Elfman, Missing Persons' Dale Bozzio and Sparks' Russell Mael. And despite the twenty-five-year-old Ebert's claim that he was raised on hip-hop, every tune on his band's debut is heavily indebted to the synthed-out wing of New Wave. Bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen and drummer Joey Waronker (formerly of Beck's rhythm section) work up a tremendous head of steam -- something Berlin or Men Without Hats could never imagine. But Ebert's voice is the most polarizing set of pipes this side of the Darkness' Justin Hawkins, and most listeners won't be able to get past it.

Actually, I think he just summed up my previous reply. Basically saying that most listeners won't understand. I'm ok with it. Man, you had me thinking he was baggin' y'all.

Don't forget this is the westside, they don't understand the euphoria.