Ima Robot, 'Ima Robot' (Virgin) Released 19/04/04

It’s a feisty lil’ number, this here self-titled debut from this LA quintet. Indeed, Ima Robot delightedly spike, scratch and squawk their way through 12 tracks of hi-energy staccato punk and super-cheap thrills.

And all with such a darned cheeky sense of humour. From singer Alex Ebert’s dubious Flymo shorn mullet, to the naughty electronic squiggly bits, Ima Robot are here to stamp some cartoonish mischief back into music. Imagine a goofy hybrid of Devo, Buzzcocks and Supergrass’ Man Sized Rooster, and you’ll get a good idea of their sound.

Trouble is, it all gets a bit exhausting at times; all that wackiness. And so it is that amongst all the rascal behaviour, that it’s actually the slower, more considered tracks that shine. Tracks like Scream, with it’s thoughtful piano playing, and Lets Talk Turkey come as welcome relief -- and give the band members the chance to demonstrate their fantastic musicianship. (Bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen and drummer Joey Waronker are veteran session musicians in Beck’s band).

Elsewhere, you can imagine that the energised, more frenetic tracks would be phenomenal when played live. In the context of this album however, they oddly manage to be immensely poppy without being terribly catchy. Which, much like the band themselves, is utterly weird.