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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Fun, September 21, 2006
While not as caffeinated and brilliant as their debut album, it is still a great bunch of high energy and quirky rock/punk/electro and even rap tunes. So much better than the below average crap that passes for music nowadays. I will agree that overall, the "Search and Destroy" ep is more satisfying, I would not write this one off. I guess you could call it a more mature bunch of songs. Standouts are "Disconnected", "Happy Annie", "Stick It to the Man", "Chip Off the block", "Pouring Pain" and "Eskimo Ride".
As a side note, I think this album is a bit more "safe" than the debut, and from what I can tell its a label thing. In the "Search and Destroy" EP has liner notes Alex Ebert seems to hint that the label wouldn't let them be as experimental as they wanted to be, and thats why they released that label free experimenal record.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ima Robot continues to surprise and delight, October 4, 2006
I have been a Ima Robot fan since I heard them some odd years ago, and I've been a loyal follower and listener since. However, I noticed a re-occuring trend: either people love them or they hate them, there really is no middle ground. Their self-titled debute album in 2003 exposed the masses to Ima Robot, and their follow-up "Monument To The Masses" is a superb sequel.
The first 3 tracks, 'Disconnected', 'Creeps Me Out', and 'Cool Cool Universe' really set the tone for the album, but doesnt set the standard, since tracks like 'Happy Annie' and 'Lovers in Captivity' push towards the more abstract side. Tracks like 'The Beat' and 'Dangerous Life' remind veteran Ima Robot fans of the signature sound that got them hooked on the band in the first place. There isn't a dull moment amongst the 12 tracks. My personal favorite on the album is 'What Comes Tomorrow'.
Ultimately, "Monument to the Masses" really shows how Ima Robot has matured as a band. There are subtle things on this album that a trained ear can pick up, such as the use of shaker percussions on alot of the tracks, something different from the debute album 3 years ago. David Blendeth was the head producer on this album (different from Josh Abraham on the debute album), so obviously a new sound was going to be brought to the table. The lyrics on "Monument To The Masses" also possess more political undertones, which again is either a turn-on or turn-off for the listeners, but I truthfully dig it.
Loyal fans of Ima Robot can aruge some of their best stuff is the 'lesser-known' work, such as the PrinceHouse Records release "Search And Destroy E.P" (which includes stellar tracks such as 'Paint The Town Red', 'Tumbling Down', 'Good Girl'), or the B-Sides (such as 'STD Dance', 'I'm Your Bitch', 'The Beat Goes On' ect)...but the title of "Monument to the Masses" says it all. Ima Robot pulls off cross-over appeal, something fans of both the electro/rock clash movement (that seems to be present in both LA {Ima Robot's hometown} and the UK oddly enough) and fans of the present emo/punk/pop movement can appreciate. You can only push the envelope so far musically before its becomes a turn-off on either end of the spectrum, and Ima Robot falls right in the middle.
Some side notes: members of the band, such as the keyboardist/bass player Filip Nikolic and guitarist Timmy The Terror have side-projects in which they produce electro dance/rock music that has gained popularity internationally on the dancefloors under the pseudonym of "The Hammers". The former bass player Justin Meldal-Johnsen (who is the bass player for Beck and is also a producer/song-writer/session musician for numerous musical groups: Macy Grey, Garbage, Tori Amos, ect) was involved with the production of "Monument to the Masses", but is no longer touring with the group.
This album is a must own, not only for fans of Ima Robot, but also for anybody who claims to be a fan of the current punk/pop movement that is dominating the radiowaves and MTV.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
3 Years Was Completely Worth It, September 17, 2006
It's been about 3 years since IMA's debut album that was knockout quality. Finally this september I got to hear the new fix of one of the most addictive bands I've ever heard, and Monument to the Masses ended up being well worth the wait. This is one of the best bands out there.
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by Ima Robot. 
