What Critics Say About "Robotboy"

June 13, 2010

Electrique: Robotboy
Album #18
Release Date: May 2010

01 Goldfrapp - "Rocket"
02 Holly Valance - "Naughty Girl"
03 Steps - "Happy Go Lucky"
04 Alphabeat - "Heart Failure"
05 La Roux - "Bulletproof"
06 Sophie Ellis-Bextor - "Get Over You"
07 Sugababes - "Ace Reject"
08 Natalie Imbruglia - "Want"
09 Jessica Folker - "How Will I Know (Who You Are)"
10 A-Teens - "Firefly"
11 Kesha - "CUNx Tuesday"
12 Kylie Minogue - "All the Lovers"
13 Robyn - "Robotboy"


"Robotboy" has a very promising concept of fusing futuristic music with sentimental lyrics and it succeeds flawlessly in songs like "Happy Go Lucky", "Firefly", "Rocket" and "Want" but the other songs are palpably (and disturbingly) not at par with these four, making the album sound like a typical commercial pop album made up of "hits 'n' filler".
-All Music Guide

Unripe for release, "Robotboy" undoubtedly could have been Electrique's best album if it was not released as a summer album. Seven or eight weeks is simply not enough to put the shiny bits and pieces of "Robotboy" together. A frustrating move for Electrique since we know that (so far) it has never released a Part 2.
-Los Angeles Times

"Robotboy" excitingly dabbles its fingers in this and that new genre, but ultimately stays grounded in its poppiest-of-pop roots. Its listeners will find it hard not to wish that Electrique was as bold as "Rocket" and "Bulletproof" all throughout the album.
-Slant Magazine

At 13 tracks, Electrique may have broken free from its penchant for maximizing the 80-minute capacity of a CD but "Robotboy" amazingly still needs some disciplined trimming. The album would have been almost perfect thematically if a couple of songs (near the start and near the end) were left in the shelves.
-The Guardian

The first five tracks hurl the listener with the speed of light but "Robotboy" shines its brightest when its slower tracks like "How Will I Know", "Firefly" and "Blind" kick in.
-Boston Globe

Insanely catchy like "Runaway" but sensitive and sensible like "Heart Like A Wheel", Electrique combined the best parts of its two previous albums but somehow, instead of producing its best effort for AY 2009-2010, the result was only above average. Only slightly better than "Runaway" but inferior to "Heart Like A Wheel".
-Dot Music

One couldn't shake the feeling that "Robotboy" is a mere collection of songs and not a cohesive album, even if 11 of the 13 tracks all sing about false love. From the 80's electronica of Goldfrapp to the bubblegum pop of "Steps", the range of genres does not help in making this album sound whole even if the lyrics do. Truth be told, "Robotboy" is more cohesive than say, "Heart Like A Wheel", but at 13 tracks short, this flaw is exponentially amplified.
-musicOMH.com

The construction of "Robotboy" feels rushed, and even the casual listener may be able to identify the faulty (song) connections.
-Spin

In spite of "Robotboy's" failings, Electrique's fans will be forever thankful for such beautiful gifts of a song like "Firefly" and "Happy Go Lucky". Memorable songs which will cling to the listener's heart for months, if not years.
-Entertainment Weekly

Listening to "Robotboy" is like immersing your ears in mint, which is much needed after the relentless and fiery barrage which was "Runaway".
-New Musical Express (NME)

This 18th album could have used its shorter running time to deliver its message with a metallic reverberating clang but it spent too much time dithering, trash talking and "good riddance" in one song then foolishly holding on in another, such that by the end its listeners will be split between those sympathizing with the confusion of "Robotboy" and those who feel that he deserved what he got.
-Rolling Stone

Electrique should have realized that it is able to succeed more in analyzing the "boy" part than the "robot" part. More of the theme, and less technicalities.
-The New York Times

Good songs? Absolutely! Good album? Not very much.
-Drowned in Sound

To be fair, it is a measure of Electrique's increasing success in album-making that albums like "Robotboy" fail to impress. There is room for improvement, but Electrique was able to avoid most pitfalls of this "happy-sad" theme.
-NOW Magazine

Aptly-titled, "Robotboy" is an android of an album. It tries to take you to outer space but leaves you in the stratosphere. It tries to move you to tears but leaves you feeling confused.
-Chicago Tribune