Edward Sharpe is the alter ego of Alex Ebert, former Ima Robot front-man, who has seen God — or something similarly uplifting — and metamorphosed into a bearded, robed, faux messiah. He’s surrounded himself with a flock of disciples who seem equally keen to plough through the doors of perception by means of sheer willpower. Nominally LA-based, Sharpe and the Zeros, inspired by Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters, have been touring the States in a multi-coloured school bus. They sing, clap and testify to the joys of being, with the gospel harmonies of the Edwin Hawkins Singers and the psych-folk wide-eyed wonder of the Polyphonic Spree.
All of which might be a tad irritating and shrill were it not for the fact that, beneath the surface of cosmic glee, there lurk songs of real power, depth and sometimes darkness. The arrangements are busy and emotive, and as the album progresses the group offers horn-charged funk rhythms and even a couple of tracks (“Carries On”, “Black Water”) which might be old demos of Roy Orbison songs written for him by U2.
From the euphoric opening surge of “40 Day Dream” — with its Arcade Firing arrangements and witty, mystic lyrics (“She got sunset on her breath/ I inhaled just a little, now I’ve got no fear of death”) — it’s clear that the group doesn't care for small strokes. Sharpe’s voice swoops from declamatory prophet to achingly romantic falsetto, and there’s barely a second where he’s treading water. The record brims with life. “Jade” relaxes into mellow summery folk; elsewhere, there are anguished semi-autobiographical confessionals. “Desert Song” builds, with impeccably-gauged guitar dynamics, into an atmospheric epic. “Come in Please” pulls off the challenging task of name-checking The Catcher In The Rye without stalling its gorgeous blue-eyed soul. And just as the centrepiece “Home” risks tilting over into a zealous parody of a Salvation Army marching tune, Sharpe breaks off to tell his backing vocalist that he fell deeply in love with her when he saw her smoking a cigarette in the back of an ambulance. She seems touched by his candour, and you will be too.
Boasting a beautiful, bright immediacy and a complex, troubled undercurrent, this is one of the most magnificent, multi-layered debuts of the summer.

it bugs me that everyone just assumes that ima robot is no longer together if alex has another band. other than that, some pretty nice things to say.

Quote: Originally posted by imarob2

it bugs me that everyone just assumes that ima robot is no longer together if alex has another band. other than that, some pretty nice things to say.

I know...theres plenty of people who are in multiple bands, and they do have their cd release scheduled (eventually >.o)...But im glad they're getting good press in the meantime.

Quote: Originally posted by imarob2

it bugs me that everyone just assumes that ima robot is no longer together if alex has another band. other than that, some pretty nice things to say.

yeah, but lets face it.
there's a big chance that IMA is over.

whaaat.

says who.

didnt alex say something like the band is "very much" still together (or something to that effect) in a recent interview?

Quote: Originally posted by neckbeard

Quote: Originally posted by imarob2   it bugs me that everyone just assumes that ima robot is no longer together if alex has another band. other than that, some pretty nice things to say. yeah, but lets face it. there's a big chance that IMA is over.

you STFU!!!!!! dont you ever utter those words again!! some of us have feelings!!!

well, come on.
i LOVE IMA ROBOT! they're my FAVORITE BAND!

but they keep delaying the album.
and delaying it....

and eddie is going on somewhat huge tours everywhere.
i don't know.

i remember asking alex about it, and he said Eddie is the main thing in his life now....
so i have no idea.

(sorry Eblue.hahaha)

[Edited on 7/16/2009 by neckbeard]

Quote: Originally posted by elblueblazer

Quote: Originally posted by neckbeard   Quote: Originally posted by imarob2   it bugs me that everyone just assumes that ima robot is no longer together if alex has another band. other than that, some pretty nice things to say. yeah, but lets face it. there's a big chance that IMA is over. you STFU!!!!!! dont you ever utter those words again!! some of us have feelings!!!

Ditto..

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh man


i dont know.
maybe IMA goes through phases like this.

i havent been a member for as long as poobs or someone like EVIl or something.


[Edited on 7/16/2009 by neckbeard]

hey!!! ive been here for a long time toooo


i just registered the elblue name later!!!!!

hahahaha

Quote: Originally posted by imarob2

whaaat. says who. didnt alex say something like the band is "very much" still together (or something to that effect) in a recent interview?

Yes, I remember that.

They are just on kind of a hiatus right now.

Even with the success of the Zeros right now, theres always still time to get back together in time with Ima. But yes, i dont wanna see them go away just yet...

Just be happy they graced us with their music for awhile. But people move on and grow. I remember when all my favorite bands used to be my obsession. But then i got in my own band and that took over. Writing music is very fun. Everyone who has musical ability should try it,