It was one of the band's biggest hits, but my initial reaction was, "This is creepy and off-putting. It isn't what this band is supposed to do." That was how Styx's "Mr. Roboto" struck me on first hearing it in early 1983.
After hearing the song a few times, however, I thought, "Maybe I should consider this from the band's perspective. If you keep writing and singing the same types of hooks for years, don't you want to try singing something new, at some point?"
Admittedly, I'd much rather hear "Crystal Ball," "Lorelei," or "Mademoiselle" than "Mr. Roboto." I don't look to Styx for a cold, dark revelation of Kilroy. I have to respect the band, however, for wanting to stretch.
