There are some bands whose records I really loved and enjoyed at the time I got it, but the moment it was drowned out by my next exciting purchase they fell off my radar. It has nothing to do with the band, I just moved on from their particular sound and felt no need to revisit it. Ima Robot is one of those bands. Four years ago, the Bean and I went to see the Von Bondies play, supported by Ima Robot. We thought they had an excellent band name, but we didn’t really expect much. The LA band, fronted by Alex Ebert, turned out to be very dynamic, oddly charismatic, and impossible not to love by the end of their gig. A month later on a very bizarre day – involving a strange record store clerk, a medical emergency on a tram, and Franz Ferdinand tickets – I came across their debut, which turned out to be the perfect soundtrack to that disturbing day.

I was surprised their nutty stage presence translated really well on CD. Their glammy, new wave synth pop is doused with a good helping of crazy. In spite of oddball lyrics and their equally strange high-energy, danceable sound, their songs are so damn catchy you’re gonna hear Ebert’s high-pitched, nervy voice for days after you’ve turned it off. Their second album came out two years ago and they have a new one on the way.

   Ima Robot – Philosophofee
   Ima Robot – Here Come The Bombs
   Ima Robot – Let’s Talk Turkey