pearl-drum-man's Full Review: Transform by Powerman 5000
INTRO
Approximately two years ago, Spider One scrapped the release of Anyone For Doomsday? less than two weeks before it’s due date, despite the investment in advertising, a video, and numerous other promotional expenses. Spidey didn’t feel right about releasing the record; he had a different statement to make. Many (including myself) wondered if he would ever get to make it. After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, it turns out to have been the right decision (the album was due August 28th). The apocalyptic lyrics and overtones of Doomsday? wouldn't have seemed appropriate when similar images were being displayed on the world's televisions for real. Even so, with the huge amount of capital lost by the decision, certainly the band’s future was in some doubt. This was only emphasized when two of the original members quit within months of the album being pulled. With the appropriately named Transform, Spider One and the rest of the remanned, reformulated PM5K stretch out, offering much the same message, but in a more organic, dare I say accessible musical manner.
THE BAND
Spider One- Vocals
Mike Tempesta- Guitar
Siggy Sjursen- Bass
Adam Williams- Guitar
Adrian Ost- Drums
THE MUSIC
One thing that separates Transform from previous PM5K releases is the fact the band recorded as a band. In the past, technology and multi-layered tracking was the norm. The band sought to better recreate their live sound, and a more back to basics approach in the studio was what was required. The end result is a good solid sounding album, with far less electronic influence.
One of the major improvements on this album is the reduction of filler material, as the band offers by far their strongest writing from top to bottom. Theme To A Fake Revolution kicks off the record in thumping, crunching fashion. The first thing you hear is Spider One proclaim “I’m not a spaceman…”, surely this immediately notifies the listener that the bloated Sci-Fi image from Tonight The Stars Revolt is now history. Free is the first video/single, and is a strong mid-tempo rocker with an actual hook in the chorus that defines the band’s new overall approach. It’s a great first release. If “Good Times Roll” by The Cars and “Living Dead Girl” by Rob Zombie had an illegitimate child, it would sound like That’s Entertainment. Nevertheless, it’s a fun, if lowbrow song. Transform (the song) has a punchy vibe throughout the verses, and opens up into another hook heavy chorus, continuing the album’s overall theme. I Knew It is a powerful rocker that keeps with the band's wall of sound mentality. Hey That’s Right is by far the most like a “…Stars Revolt” track, mostly due to the ultra-crunch in the guitars, the robotic effect on the verse vocals, and the shouting of “Hey, That’s Right!” in the choruses.
Despite all the strong tracks mentioned above, the band still managed to miss the mark on a few tracks. Action carries a similar formula to “Free”, however lacks the same power and melodic sense. Song About Nuthin’ starts with mellow clean guitar, and heavy reverb on the vocals. To me, it sounds like a bad P.O.D. song, and the lyrics are really lacking. Despite my lackluster feelings for the previously mentioned, they’re not horribly bad songs, however Stereotype is! It’s the only song on the entire album I think should have been scrapped. Not even a decent bridge hook in the middle can salvage it!
TRACK LISTING
Assess the Mess
Theme To A Fake Revolution
Free
Action
That’s Entertainment
A Is For Apathy
Transform
Top Of The World
Song About Nuthin’
Stereotype
I Knew It
Hey, That’s Right!
The Shape Of Things To Come
BOTTOM LINE
Transform is by far the band’s strongest album, and I like the new direction. The more organic power rock sound definitely is much more preferable to the previous electronically decorated style the band embodied. Let’s hope that Transform can sell in numbers that will satisfy the brass at Dreamworks, and offset the debt from the Doomsday? fiasco. If not, this may be the final transformation of PM5K.
Along with thirteen all new tracks, the disc will also include a bonus Enhanced CD portion containing videos for the tracks FREE and ACTION , as well ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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