I Robot

Amazon.com essential recording
The second of former Beatles/Pink Floyd engineer Parsons' long string of prog-rock concept albums was also his commercial breakthrough, spawning an unlikely but catchy hit in "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You." In addition to that tune are other Project faves such as "Breakdown," "Don't Let It Show," and "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On." The ambitiously elaborate 1977 album--according to the liner notes, a meditation on "the rise of the machine and the decline of man"--boasts the sonic wizardry and immaculate musicianship that would become the Project's trademark through the '80s, and features an array of guest vocalists, including Hollies frontman Allan Clarke and Cockney Rebel leader Steve Harley. --Scott Schinder

I Robot,Alan Parsons Project,Arista,Album Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

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I Robot

Average customer rating: Album With Sci-Fi Title Actually Has Cautionary Message Great Remaster Picture a memory of days in your life Junto con el de Tales, el mejor... Excelente tributo a la obra de Asimov Progressive Rock Robot

I Robot Alan Parsons Project Manufacturer: Sony Legacy ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Eye in the Sky Vulture Culture Pyramid Tales of Mystery and Imagination The Turn of a Friendly Card ASIN: B000JLQSW4 Release Date: 2007-03-20

Tracks:

1. I Robot
2. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
3. Some Other Time
4. Breakdown
5. Don't Let It Show
6. The Voice
7. Nucleus 05
8. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)
9. Total Eclipse
10. Genesis Ch. 1. V. 32
11. I Robot (Boules Experiment)
12. Breakdown (Early Demo of Backing Riff)
13. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You (Backing Track Rough Mix)
14. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (Early Stage Rough Mix)
15. The Naked Robot (Early Stage Instrumental Mixes)

Customer Reviews:

Album With Sci-Fi Title Actually Has Cautionary Message.......2007-07-12

I ROBOT, the Alan Parsons Project's breakthrough album, has a title that was inspired by Isaac Asimov, and was originally supposed to be a concept album based on his writings. However, unbeknownst to Parsons and Eric Woolfson, Asimov had given exclusive permission to someone else to use his stories, and so the band were forced to keep the title (without the comma), and use a different concept, namely the tendency of people to act in a robotic fashion and to believe everything that advertisers and the business community says. This interpretation has inspired me to hang up pictures of pretty actresses as a deterrent to believing the commercial world that certain products are good for me when, in fact, they're not. This is a CD which every serious progressive rock fan should own.

Great Remaster.......2007-06-20

The sound on this new remaster blows away the original Arista cd release, but still can't touch the MFSL version (which is no longer available, and used copies go for $100+). Probably the second best APP album (after Tales Of Mystery and Imagination) this should appeal to fans of Pink Floyd and science fiction.

Picture a memory of days in your life.......2007-04-08

A musical meditation of the "Rise Of Machine and The Decline Of Man," the second Alan Parsons Project album hit all the notes that "Tales Of Mystery and Imagination" missed. For starters, this was a straight forward rock album, without the debut's classical pretensions. It was also where Parsons perfected his atmospheric instrumentals, opening the album with the (precursor to electronica) title track and then ending with the moody "Genesis Ch 1 V 32." You do get the jarring soundtrack climax of "Total Eclipse," which I always guessed was where man got terminated from the scene.

For an album that dealt with the fall of the human race, "I Robot" is a surprisingly human affair. The slow beat disco of "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" and the dance floor paranoia of "The Voice" are anything but mechanical. The ballads of loss, "Don't Let It Show" and "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)" could be about any typical heartbreak. Even Pat Benatar could spot the drama inherent to "Don't Let It Show," including it on her debut.

It wasn't just the drama and the sci-fi that made "I Robot" so interesting. It was the musicianship. Not as pretentious as ELP and bringing the acrobatics of Yes down to bite size nuggets, Parsons had no difficulty in constructing pop that was progressive, meticulously produced and built up like the studio architect that he is. The Alan Parsons Project recording an album in the period of the seventies this pristine when disco's big boom was steamrollering everything in its path was a pretty bold statement then. Because of Parsons' attention to detail overriding any urge to make music of the moment, "I Robot" still holds up almost 30 years later.

Junto con el de Tales, el mejor... Excelente tributo a la obra de Asimov.......2007-04-06

He sido lector fanatico de los cuentos de asimov, desde la saga de los robots, pasando por el imperio y terminando con la saga de las fundaciones, Isaac asimov desarrolló un mundo de ciencia ficción, que hace que las guerras de las galaxias parezca un cliché de un cuento de hadas espaciales. Este cd, inspirado no solo en el libro de yo robot, si no en los demas cuentos de asimov (por ejemplo Dont let it show relata el sentir del robot R. Daneel en fundacion y tierra). este disco, junto con el de Tales, son los que mas me gustan, debido a que son discos conceptuales basados en historias que me parecen espectaculares, y ademas, reflejan lo que sus autores escribieron. por eso cuando digo que este disco le hace justicia a los cuentos de asimov, me refiero al disparate filmatografico de holywood titulado con el mismo nombre.

Sin suda alguna, para mi, este es uno de los discos que mas me gusta de APP, (todas sus canciones). Estoy esprando que me llegue la nueva edicion que tiene nuevas canciones ineditas para seguir disfrutandode buena musica.

Progressive Rock Robot.......2007-03-28

Re-mastered release from 1977 with extra songs. The album is loosely based on the Isaac Asimov science fiction book "I, Robot". This album to an extent looks at questions and whether we may or may not be pre-programmed and act in a robotic fashion; also dangers of uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence. The I Robot album was released the same week as the movie Star Wars was released - a very fortuitous time. This remastered version celebrates the 30th anniversary of the original release. The most interesting of the extra songs is The Naked Robot - 10 minute medley of early stage mixes of instrumental pieces on the album. I thought the title song of the album, I Robot, should have been used in the movie I Robot, but Alan Parsons was never contacted about it. To me the song I Robot has a feel of mystery and intrigue. It is my favorite Alan Parsons Project song, and another song on the album, I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You, is my second favorite.

Average customer rating: A Still Relevant Classic I ROBOT IS ALAN PARSONS' BRILLIANT MASTERPIECE! A Milestone For Seventies Rock... Vintage Alan Parsons. Still hits the spot What about the DVD audio ???

I Robot Alan Parsons Project Manufacturer: Arista ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Tales of Mystery and Imagination Pyramid The Turn of a Friendly Card Eve Ammonia Avenue ASIN: B000002VC5 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. I Robot
2. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
3. Some Other Time
4. Breakdown
5. Don't Let It Show
6. The Voice
7. Nucleus
8. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)
9. Total Eclipse
10. Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32

Amazon.com essential recording

The second of former Beatles/Pink Floyd engineer Parsons' long string of prog-rock concept albums was also his commercial breakthrough, spawning an unlikely but catchy hit in "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You." In addition to that tune are other Project faves such as "Breakdown," "Don't Let It Show," and "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On." The ambitiously elaborate 1977 album--according to the liner notes, a meditation on "the rise of the machine and the decline of man"--boasts the sonic wizardry and immaculate musicianship that would become the Project's trademark through the '80s, and features an array of guest vocalists, including Hollies frontman Allan Clarke and Cockney Rebel leader Steve Harley. --Scott Schinder

Customer Reviews:

A Still Relevant Classic.......2007-03-07

Yes, still relevant after all these years and well worth adding to your CD collection to replace that dusty LP. If you are too young to know what an LP is, then you should buy this disk to find out what good music is about. Alan Parsons is a giant in the music industry (albeit mostly as producer), and this is unquestionably the Project's finest hour.

I ROBOT IS ALAN PARSONS' BRILLIANT MASTERPIECE! .......2006-12-23

I will be writing a review on the legendary brilliant masterpiece CD album simply entitled "I ROBOT" by a very multi talented musician and his band who call themselves THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT! This album was originally released on vinyl/LP and cassette in 1977 on the Arista Records label. I purchased this album on CD in the ORIGINAL MASTER RECORDING series format which is manufactured by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. The matrix or ID number is MFCD 804. If I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary album, I will edit this review so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

In my opinion, "I ROBOT" is an outstanding album! If you love Pink Floyd's "DARK SIDE OF THE MOON," you will love "I ROBOT!" Listening to "I ROBOT," one can not help but think that this album sounds alot like a typical Pink Floyd trademark album. Despite that, This album was beautifully brilliantly made and well arranged and recorded. In a way, Alan Parsons and Pink Floyd have something in common with The Beatles. First of all, all three bands had the urge and desire to do something different with the music. Second, Alan Parsons was one of the main engineers during the recording of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band in 1967! Coincidently, Alan Parsons also engineered the recording "The Dark Side Of The Moon" in 1973! With all this great background experience, Parsons wanted to record a new album in the same direction The Beatles and Pink Floyd were heading with the intentions of further advancing and modifying the Digital recording technology process. With that in mind, Parsons did just that with "I ROBOT." Every single song track in this album is beautifully brilliantly made and well arranged and recorded.

I will list and briefly review all song tracks in their original exact running order as follows: (1.) "I Robot," (Outstanding! Brilliant! The Synthesizer age has begun! This is a great song with many great special sound effects. I love this song!) (2.) "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Another great song! I love it!) (3.) "Some Other Time," (Outstanding! Brilliant! A beautifully well arranged and recorded song. This song makes you feel like you are going into a different time and place! I love this song dearly!) (4.) "Breakdown," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Another great song!) (5.) "Don't Let It Show," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Breathtaking! Listen to the lyrics closely! These lyrics are so strong and powerful, we can all relate and apply them in our lives today! I love this song dearly!) (6.) "The Voice," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Another great song! I love it!) (7.) "Nucleus," (Outstanding! Brilliant! I love the way the synthesizers blend together in this song!) (8.) "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Another beautifully recorded well arranged song! I love this song!) (9.) "Total Eclipse" (Outstanding! Brilliant! This song could have very well fitted into Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon!" This is another special sound effects that should have been simply titled "Eclipse Part 2.") (10.) "Genesis CH. 1 V/:32.' (Outstanding! Brilliant! Another beautifully well arranged song! I love this song dearly! What a great way to conclude this legendary album.) Every single song in this album is extraordinary and nothing less than outstanding!

As you can see, this is an album definitely worth purchasing that he or she should definitely own as part of his or her music collection. This album will definitely be enjoyed and cherished for many years to come, NOW AND FOREVER!

In closing, Alan Parsons is not only a great innovator, but a great songwriter, musician and engineer! I don't think that we have seen the last of Alan Parsons yet. Alan Parsons is very talented indeed! Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. Long Live Rock n' Roll! Rock out always and take care. Forever in Rock, J.L.

A Milestone For Seventies Rock..........2006-11-10

Alan Parsons' claim to fame is probably a tossup between producing Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, one of rock music's defining albums, and his own impressive catalog under the somewhat deceptive title of Alan Parsons Project (this was more than a bunch of session buddies getting together). Among the Project albums, I Robot is arguably the most original and fully realized. With an all star cast of talent, it couldn't help but be successful and stands as one of the more if not most significant rock albums of the late seventies. Every song is insidiously memorable and the album as a whole flows beautifully from beginning to end. Parsons followed this formula on subsequent albums with mixed results. For better or worse, they tended toward predictability even if they were still immensely enjoyable (The Turn of a Friendly Card and Eye in the Sky are excellent albums), but I Robot had the advantage of taking everyone by surprise as did Pink Floyd's masterpiece. On that level it's hard to separate the two. If you own one of them, chances are you own the other. If not, you should.

Vintage Alan Parsons. Still hits the spot.......2006-11-05

I had this on vinyl (it's still in the basement) and decided that the Alan Parsons Greatest Hits CD just didn't have every thing I wanted to hear. At this stage in my life, "Wouldn't Want to be like You" is an anthem toward corporate greed. Whether Alan Parsons intended it that way or not is superficial to me. Good clean recording. I'm probably going to go after all the other APP cds now. This was the god (thats God with a little g ) of studio groups in the late 70's to the 80's. The only reason I give it 4 instead of 5 is that, like so many others that made the transition from vinyl, it's just to darned short a recording. Oh well...

What about the DVD audio ???.......2006-06-09

Ok, the question is: since this is only a STEREO DVD audio, would you need to upgrade, if you own the CD already?.
The answer is YES, for TWO reasons.
1) We haven't been favored with a REMASTERED version of the Parsons catalog (with the exception of the first record, 'Tales of mystery and imagination'). The GREATEST HITS package did improved the songs through remastering, but the individual CD's, like this one, are still as they were first released almost 20 years ago. So little attention has been put on them by the record company, that it was really a miracle that these records were released as CD's at all.
2) Even the remastered version wouldn't compete with the final product contained in this DVD Audio. Since it's a DVD, it's meant to bring a higher quality of sound than the CD could ever possible deliver.
This DVD is double sided. One side plays on DVD AUDIO players, the other on normal DVD players. If you don't know the difference, it's just that originally, the DVD AUDIO was designed as a special product to be played by specific players that could read a higher standard of audio, just like Super Audio CD's are designed to be played by special players.
To hear the quality of this DVD (or any other DVD audio available) at its best, you'd need a DVD AUDIO player. You'd notice that the improvement is amazing. The sound is clearer. The treble is polished, the bass and drums enhanced (David Patton must be very happy that his bass is more distinguishable here). The overall effect is a sharper and fuller sound that you won't ever be able to get from a CD.
If you own a conventional DVD player, the effect will be of a lesser quality, but still a great improvement over the conventional CD sound.
Both sides present PCM stereo sound (not encoded Dolby Digital) which ensures a purer, unaltered sound.
That it's not multi channel might be a put down for some, but I guess that would be only for those who haven't had a chance to ever hear how a stereo DVD sounds. Whatever, it's what's available now, until something better comes out, if ever.
Unlike other DVD Audio's available, the format of this one is very simple, not including videos or special materials, just a screen showing the song that it's being played.
The booklet includes the lyrics and original information of the album, spread in 8 colored pages, more faithful to the original LP album art. As simple as it is, it's more presentable than the one page booklet that originally accompanied the CD.
NOTE: in this DVD AUDIO format, "Turn of a friendly card" and "Eye in the sky" were also issued.

Average customer rating: I'm Impressed... VERY Impressed... I, robot rocks Mixed feelings decent, functional score BELTRAMI quickly becoming a favorite composer!!!!

I, Robot (Score) Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hellboy Batman Begins Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines The Chronicles of Riddick Underworld: Evolution ASIN: B0002IQI3S Release Date: 2004-07-20

Tracks:

1. Main Titles
2. Gangs Of Chicago
3. I, Robot Theme (End Credits)
4. New Arrivals
5. Tunnel Chase
6. Sonny's Interrogation
7. Spooner Spills
8. Chicago 2035
9. PUrse Snatcher
10. Need Some Nanites
11. 1001 Robots
12. Dead Robot Walking
13. Man On The Inside
14. Spiderbots
15. Round Up

Amazon.com

Prolific sci-fi author Isaac Asimov first penned the foundations of what would become one of his most acclaimed books in the 1940s, eventually adapting I, Robotto screenplay form in the 1970s. It would take Hollywood another three decades to hammer the author's vision into CGI-fueled, would-be summer blockbuster -- yet give composer Marco Beltrami a little over two weeks to compose and record its score after the project's original scorer bowed out. Given such constraints, it's no surprise to find the composer leaning on the same dynamically bi-polar, orchestral/electro-metallic palate that colored his music for Terminator 3 with such broad, sweeping strokes. What passes for melodic motif here (i.e. the main title's brief, descending minor key riff) are largely beside the point; Beltrami never gets the chance to do much other than build suspense via moody atmospherics or underlay the film's copious action with serviceable musical boilerplate. His Hellboy score is a better measure of Marco's true artistic range; this one showcases the shrewd, less-as-more constructs of a craftsman on a tight schedule. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

I'm Impressed... VERY Impressed..........2005-08-13

When I heard that "I, Robot" was finally going to be translated into a movie, my first thought (after the usual musings about casting - can't go wrong with Will Smith as the lead, right? - and director) was who was going to compose the orchestral score. I was somewhat familiar with Marco Beltrami's other film scores ("Scream" series, "T3" and "Hellboy"), but I have to admit, I wasn't sure whether his score would do justice to the movie, especially when I learned that he was, quite literally, a last-minute replacement...

Well, I'm so glad I was wrong... this score is so emotional and powerful on so many levels ("Spooner Spills" and "Dead Robot Walking" are two of my favorite cues), and it fit the mood, tone and theme of the flim so well. I'm very impressed with this powerful, emotive score, and I think Marco Beltrami will take his place alongside John Williams and the new generation of film music composers...

I, robot rocks.......2005-06-28

With the passing of Jerry Goldsmith, the composer world needs another man to rise in his place and take his side by John Williams. I believe that man is Marco Beltrami. The I, Robot score is so beautifully rendered that even in the midst of watching the movie, one can still hear the wonderfully scoring throughout. The end credits are the best, and for those looking to see the best part of the scoring, I recommend that section.

Some may know Marco for his scoring of the second Triple XxX. Yes the movie was terrible, but the music was superb. The man is a genius with notes. If you enjoyed the soundtrack for Triple XxX, State of the Union, I'm sure you'll love the I, Robot score.

Enjoy

Mixed feelings.......2004-09-04

I loved Marco's scores for the Scream series and I thought that T3 was a bit underwhelming. But this score shows he is one of the best of the young guns out there although the overall feeling of the score was that it is just not that memorable. I think we have yet to hear the best from Marco Beltrami. I look forward to his next score.

decent, functional score.......2004-08-01

the score did its job, so it's a total success from that point of view . it seems like there isn't a lot of room for innovative musical exploration within this genre of film; however, i felt that the action-type sequences were over the top, while the romantic, "emotional" material could not be developed as much. (which appeals to viewers and definitely supports the picture well.) i respect beltrami, and, again, the score is an admirable action score with occasional flourishes of emotion.

BELTRAMI quickly becoming a favorite composer!!!!.......2004-07-27

I'm very saddened by Jerry Goldsmith's death, but I think Marco is taking over as the next wonderful action and great themes composer!!
I am awed and inspired each time I listen to his work!

Average customer rating: great compilation, but originals are a must

I Before E Carissa's Wierd Manufacturer: Sad Robot Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Songs About Leaving New Moon We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank Shut Up I Am Dreaming Big Come Up ASIN: B00065GI4G Release Date: 2004-11-09

Tracks:

1. Phantom Fireworks
2. Die
3. Blue Champagne Glass
4. Heather Rhodes
5. One Night Stand
6. Drunk With The Only Saints I Know
7. Brooke Daniels' Tiny Broken Fingers
8. Bathtile Green
9. September
10. Ignorant
11. Blankets Stare
12. Fluorescent Light

Album Description

Before deciding to take an indefinite break, the group recorded three new songs they played live but never recorded and added those to nine songs taped at their farewell shows to create "I Before E". The studio recordings sound different than previous efforts, reflecting the band's increased confidence and maturity. Vocals are placed front and center in the mix of lovely orchestral pop. The live tracks are delicate, beautiful, and haunting.

Customer Reviews:

great compilation, but originals are a must.......2004-11-20

I am afraid of the Carissa's Wierd 'empire' beginning to resemble the whole Jeff Buckley situation. Keep sprewing out as much unreleased/live stuff as possible, no matter how bad or how poorly recorded (see Jeff Buckley - "Mystery White Boy"). Keep giving the fans more, as much as possible, to keep the memory of this amazing band alive. I really hope this does not happen with Carissa's.

Needless to say, this is a wonderful collection of live stuff (namely "Brooke Daniels' Tiny Broken Fingers" and "September"). They portray the band as is, and perfectly depict the amateur perfection that makes Carissa's Wierd the best indie band to exist today. The new tracks are wonderful - "Die" is a total gem, and perhaps the most rewarding track on the album.

This recording is essential for existing fans, but newcomers should move to other releases, with "Songs about Leaving" being the most accessible. Although Sad Robot plans to reissue "Ugly but Honest" and "You should be at home here", who knows when this will happen. Random original copies pop up on EBay once in a while but go for about $80US. Carissa's Wierd is a band that should NEVER be overlooked by anyone who's tastes are based in the ever-growing category that is indie rock. They are the best band you have not heard.

Average customer rating: lovely sounds Evoke feelings you never knew you had. The Thinking Person's Electronica Prozac for the soul Why isn't this kid famous?

Grace Days I Am Robot and Proud Manufacturer: Catmobile ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Goth | Industrial Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Electricity in Your House Wants to Sing Plays Pajama Pop Pour Vous Body Riddle Finally We Are No One Yellow House ASIN: B0000C8YMK Release Date: 2007-07-16

Tracks:

1. Grace Days
2. Mood You're In
3. Winter at Night
4. Friction on Teeth
5. Mexico City
6. List of Things That Quicken the Heart
7. Quick Life
8. Her Version
9. Learn from Mistakes

Album Description

I Am Robot And Proud is the name Shaw-Han Liem works under to create his singular brand of hypnotic, beguiling electronic pop music. LTM. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

lovely sounds.......2005-04-20

lovely sounds for lovely people. pleasant and warming: friendly electric music that is good for listening to in many different situations. if you like music, especially electric music, try this. if you like the postal service or any band that sounds like the postal service, try this (unless you find vocal-free music horrible, because there are no words in any of these songs). if you like beeping, you'll like this album because there are some fine beeps. Good job Proud Robot!

Evoke feelings you never knew you had........2005-03-06

Breathtaking creation of ambient sounds that will leave you mesmerized. I am robot and proud gives us an album packed with sounds to awaken your senses. I highly recommend to all that can open their mind to receive such a wonderful gift.

The Thinking Person's Electronica.......2005-01-12

Tired of most of the current bunch of tedious knob twiddlers collectively known as electronica? Then try I AM ROBOT AND PROUD. Every track exudes either an inspired mellowness or a clever uplift drift. The tracks are so wonderfully produced that they have the ability to, at once, become the most exquisite background music or, when "viewed" through headphones, reveal their aural gems! A proud robot indeed.

Prozac for the soul.......2004-10-08

Electronica has become a recollection field for the maladjusted singer/songwriter. The one who used to sit with his acoustic guitar on his little chair and sing his broken songs about how misunderstood he is in this cold, shallow world. (Then he'd have a couple of beers with the cutest girls in the audience after the gig and be all happy again)

Artists like Khonnor and Cyann & Ben are devils in disguise. They have noticed that the singer/songwriter-cliché has gotten tiresome, and headed for alternative ways of expressing themselves. The key terms for the narcoleptic bedroom troubadour are no longer "acoustic guitar" and "wooden stool", but rather "Pro Tools" and "drum patterns". Many have tried to merge electronic aesthetics with folk influences in order to, I suppose, create "organic sounding" electronica. Why, I'll never understand. What you typically end up with is the worst of two worlds. A dull song is a dull song, no matter if you cloak it in epic sonic landscapes.

For I Am Robot And Proud to be lumped together with these dilettants has to be a gross insult. Shawn Han-Liem is not interested in providing the soundtrack for your lying passed out on the bed at 2 am with a wet towel against your aching head and a couple of fragrant incenses burning on the desktop. He'd rather make sprawling, bloopy music that evokes tender childhood memories like that old children's program you used to love, sliding down the helter-skelter or hanging upside down from monkey bars. Dropping standout tracks would be pointless - they all shimmer with the same bouncy, carefree bliss. Yet, for all its joyfulness, "Grace Days" constantly manages to stay clear of the overly happy-go-lucky, which makes it passable for repeated plays.

In days like these, when chilly autumn winds howl and darkness falls in the afternoon, "Grace Days" is like a Prozac prescription. Only slightly more addictive.

Why isn't this kid famous?.......2003-12-04

Grace Days is Toronto-based Shaw-Han Liem's full-length follow-up to his November 2001 debut album The Catch. His brainchild, I Am Robot And Proud creates hypnotic, winsome, indie electropop in the neighborhood of Boards of Canada, Mouse on Mars, Buffalo Daughter, Solvent, Plone and Yellow Magic Orchestra. As the name suggests, I Am Robot And Proud makes bloop-bloop music that layers mechanical rhythms with warm melodies through a combination of dusty old keyboards and electric pianos, bloopy computer samples, humming bass, and voices from both past and future.

Grace Days expands on the lilt,sparkle, and color of The Catch. The nine tracks on this album have even warmer, deeper melodies than I Am Robot and Proud's previous release, with the harmonies on Her Version evoking a future in which robots will not only have emotions, but will sing about them. The title-track opener marries acoustics and electronics so perfectly that you will marvel that they were ever separated. The abstract form of tracks like Friction On Teeth and Mexico City will draw you deeper into a trance until you can't imagine how you got along before this album.

Average customer rating: Soothing, intricate electronica Simple, childlike, relaxing Recently featured on NPR's all songs considered

The Electricity in Your House Wants to Sing I Am Robot and Proud Manufacturer: Darla ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Goth | Industrial Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Grace Days Plays Pajama Pop Pour Vous Body Riddle Before the Dawn Heals Us Finally We Are No One ASIN: B000CCD0BW Release Date: 2007-07-16

Tracks:

1. Electricity in Your House Wants to Sing
2. When I Get My Ears
3. Work
4. Save Your Neck, Save Your Brother
5. Scholars and the Travellers
6. Neil Lake
7. Me vs. Heidi
8. Good Sleep
9. Man That Runs Too Fast
10. Places We're Trying to Find
11. Center Cities

Customer Reviews:

Soothing, intricate electronica.......2007-04-10

On "The Electricity In Your House Wants To Sing", Shawn Han-Liem crafts cerebral, melodic music in a similar vein as his previous album, "Grace Days". All of his signatures are here: contrapuntal interplay between various synthesized melodies, immaculately tight drums, and a smattering of sampled pianos, brass and other instruments. While Liem doesn't break much new ground, he is in top form, creating some of his most lovely and memorable work to date. The album opens with a brief piano solo, sampled elements of which resurface throughout the first track, an uptempo piece filled with swirling beeps that rise, fall, and bend. The highlight of the album is "The Work", which weaves together intricate melodic lines and textures into a wonderfully conherent whole. The album closer "center cities" is another high point, recalling the themes of the title track opener. There is an organic quality to this music that belies its mechanical precision.

Simple, childlike, relaxing.......2007-03-12

This is a great CD to relax to. Simple, childlike songs, clear, uncluttered production, good piano, good subtle beats. Reminds me of the music of ISAN (of whom I am a big fan) crossed with Ryuchi Sakamoto's piano works. The kind of IDM that tickles your brain a bit, makes your feet move without making you jump out of your seat. Enjoy.

Recently featured on NPR's all songs considered.......2006-06-03

From NPR's review: "I Am Robot and Proud is otherwise known as Shawn-han Liem, an instrumental electronic musician from Toronto. His intricate electro-pop is gentle, melodic and warmly organic."

Average customer rating:

I Am a Robot. I Am Talking Like a Robot. I Am a Robot. Kitty Kat Dirt Nap Manufacturer: Wonka Vision ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000057ZM2 Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

1. (If I Had a Purse I Would Carry) Breath Mints (In It Too)
2. Adrienne Barbeaubot (With Chainsaw Hands. BZZZZZZ)
3. (Cookie Blocking) Java Scripts
4. (Sometimes I Doubt Your Commitment To) Sparklemotion
5. (Getting Caught Enjoying) Phil Collins
6. (Hold Me Closer) Tony Danza
7. Minivan (Halen)
8. (Lolly) Gagger
9. Theme (Song)

Average customer rating:

Catch/Spring Summer Autumn Winter I Am Robot and Proud Manufacturer: Darla Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000MGBTSY Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

1. Catch
2. Read & Re-Read
3. Saturday Afternoon Plans
4. James's Equation
5. Eyes Closed Hopefully
6. Heart of Things
7. Satellite Kids
8. Julie's Equation
9. Vendredi le 30 Mars
10. When We Were Together
11. September Argument
12. Last Day of Winter

Average customer rating:

I Robot [MFSL] Alan Parsons Project Manufacturer: Arista - Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus Breakfast in America ASIN: B000EAB0NC

Product Description

I Robot - Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Silver CD; Tracks: 1. I Robot (instrumental) 2. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You 3. Some Other Time 4. Breakdown 5. Don't Let It Show 6. Voice, The 7. Nucleus 8. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) 9. Total Eclipse (instrumental) 10. Genesis Ch.1 (instrumental)

Average customer rating:

I Am a Robot I Am Talking Like a Rob Kitty Kat Dirt Nap Manufacturer: 3d ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000BR2MQ2 Release Date: 2005-12-12

Tracks:

1. If I Had A Purse I Would Carry (In It Too)
2. With Chainsaw Hands, Bzzzzzz
3. Cookie Blocking
4. Sometimes I Doubt Your Commitmnet To
5. Getting Caught Enjoying
6. Hold Me Closer
7. Halen
8. Lolly
9. Song
10. I Date A Picture Of
11. Ya Mean
12. Song (Japanese Version)

Rap Music:

1. If I Could Only Remember My Name
2. Junkie Faithful
3. Kiko
4. Lightbulb Sun
5. Live at The Gorge (CD & DVD set) [Enhanced] [Live]
6. Long Time Coming
7. Lost Souls
8. Man at Work
9. Messenger [ENHANCED CD]
10. Michael Bolton - Greatest Hits 1985-1995

Rap Music

rap music

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Undercover