Customer Reviews

Transform

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I'm sure we all know the whole Powerman 5000 transformation story. Band chooses theme, releases successful album, band plans to release a second album under the same theme, band changes mind and rethinks what they've been doing, band changes line up a little, drops theme, makes new album, yada yada yada. I'm glad that they made the decision to change. Finally you can see what Powerman 5000 is capable of accomplishing as a band. You get some great lead guitar licks, and solos. Also, without worrying about the task of creating a space atomosphere musically, these guys can take you away with some really great melodies and riffs. Vocally, this has to be one of the catchiest albums on the face of this planet. You will be singing along to this before you know it. The songs differ considerably. You get quite a few variations in music. For instance some songs have a bit of an industrial feel, some have a bit of a punk feel, and others are very straight foward rock. If you pick this up, expect something different, as a matter of fact, try and think of this as a different band if you are only familiar with "Tonight The Stars Revolt". This shouldn't be so hard to do with Powerman, considering the drastic change they went through before "Tonight The Stars Revolt." Before TTSR they were a sort of funk, rap-metal band. I believe since that change was so greatly accepted, this one should be as well. To sum this all up, this one sounds good to the ears, and shouldn't be missed. I think that everyone should pick this up.

After several creative changes, a break up, and a reformation with a drastically altered lineup (bassist Dorian27 and drummer Al13's departure from the group no doubt played a significant role in the delay), the much anticipated new album from Powerman 5000 has finally arrived on record store racks. As it's title might suggest, Transform marks the end of one chapter in band's career and opens another. There are no sci-fi references or alien conspiracies to be found in Transform, but rather challenges made against society and lyrics of a vaguely political nature. PM5K have executed a complete artistic 180 since the release of 1999's 'Tonight the Stars Revolt'. Transform's variety is arguably the album's best aspect: mandatory headbangers like 'Free' and 'Action' are present and accounted for, but so are more innovative tracks like 'Song About Nuthin' and the Marilyn Manson-esque 'That's Entertainment'
which deviate from the traditional definition of what nu metal is. In lieu of this creative reformation, PM5K chairman and Billy Idol clone Spider One has evidently decided to remove the original single, 'Bombshell', from the album, forcing loyal fans to buy the Freddy vs. Jason soundtrack (or if you're evil you can just Kazaa it). The bottom line? Transform is a fairly enjoyable record, indeed different from the band's past offerings, but not to the extent of fan alienation.

Being a fan of PM5K and their CD "Tonight the Stars Revolt!" I couldn't wait until Transform came out.

1.Assess the Mess(10/10)- I love this beginning, very cool and weird.
2.Theme to a Fake Revolution(9.5/10)-This song does sound a little like his brothers(Rob Zombie) Dragula. I like everything about it.
3.Free(8/10)- A little on the light side but still a awesome track.
4.Action(7.5/10)-Pretty good song.
5.Thats Entertainment(10/10)-One of my favorites on this cd. I love the lyrics, chorus, and his voice sounds similar to Marilyn Mansons.
6.A is for Apathy(8/10)-This song is really fun to listen to also.
7.Transform(9/10)-Song is awesome and listen to the end with the guitar solo,really cool.
8.Top of the World(8.5/10)-One of their heavier songs on the CD and it is really good.
9.Song about Nuthin'(9/10)-One of my favorites, this song isn't anything PM5K's ever done before, you'll know what I mean if you listen to it. Slow, sad, then picks up and gets heavy.Awesome.
10.Stereotype(8/10)-Good song to listen to and shows his lyrical creativity.
11.I Knew It(10/10)- Also a favorite, I love the guitars and drums in this song and the chorus is really awesome.
12.Hey, Thats Right!(10/10)-Another favorite,uses the electronica voice, which sounds awesome and probably the heaviest song on the CD, which rocks!Oh yea, listen to the end of track 12 as it starts track 13.Its weird.
13.The Shape of Things to Come(9/10)-A good ending to a very good CD.

PM5K surprised me with this CD, they lost their spacesuits and a bit lighter with a few tracks, but they stay consistant through the whole album, and I still love these guys music.

Weeks before the release of Powerman 5000's "Anyone for Doomsday?" the band scrapped it because the "Rob Zombie style didn't fit the direction they wanted to head." 2 years later, and 4 years since their last full album, the wait is over! Transform is the new album by Powerman 5000. Well my friends, the wait was WELLLLLLL worth it. The CD starts out with a 30 second intro entitled "Assess the Mess" which is a poem that Adam 12's father wrote and recorded. The lyrical value of "Transform" is immense. The songs have gone from the outerspace type that was heard on "Tonight the Stars Revolt!" and "Anyone for Doomsday" to real down to Earth lyrics. Living so free is a tragedy/ When you can't be what you want to be. Is a sample from the song "Free," which also includes a tribute to Joe Strummer in the bridge. "Thats Entertainment" is a song about how dumb the music industry has become. Spider One calls the line in "Lets see who's the biggest whore" a song inspired by Christina Aguilera's Dirty. "Transform" is the title track of the album, and in a way, represents the CD. It says your window of opportunity opens and closes really fast, in all points of few, so just do what you can when you can. "Hey Thats Right" is a version of Elvis Costello's "Radio Radio." It is the sister song to "That's Entertainment." My favorite tracks off the album are "Free, Action, A is for Apathy, and A Song about Nuthin." There is only one song I am not fond of and that is "A Theme to a Fake Revolution." PM5K have made a drastic change in their music, and it is for the better. I highly recommend this album, for almost anyone.

if you're expecting the same old Powerman 5K that is full of bass tones and hardly change tone at all, then you will be surprised when you hear this CD. they actually sing! not that i don't like their past albums, i do, but it's different from what they have made in the past. i love listening to "when worlds collide" and "drop the bombshell" for playing video games and such, but these new songs actually have me singing along, and a lot of the tunes stay in my head. "A is for apathy" was the first one i heard from 'Transform' and i thought it was an okay song, but it was "Free" that sold me on the CD. the refrains are catchy, and i know that a lot of you PM5K fans are not used to singing along to catchy refrains with these guys, but i like this new style along with the old stuff, i don't think this is a permanent change in their genre or style, but they wanted to try and reach out to more fans, and none will be left behind. i wont call this a "must have" album, but a "must listen to"

They were supposed to release "Anyone For Doomsday?" but changed their mind in the last minute and released "Transform" instead. I love "Tonight The Stars Revolt" & "Anyone For Doomsday?" but don't really care much for "Transform". I wish they released "Anyone For Doomsday?",I always listen to that album over & over again (I had to download it) but I can't get into "Transform". "Bombshell" & "Danger Is Go!!!",my 2 favorite Powerman songs are on the Album they'll never release,instead I got stuck with "Transform". This is a decent album but not as cool as "Anyone For Doomsday?". I loved the sci-fi theme that they don't wanna keep anymore. Oh well,whatever!

I've only listened to this a couple times, so maybe I will change my opinion, if i do i will edit my review. In the mean time, I think this is a good radio album, but if your expecting the heavier edge of Powerman, its not here. Other than being more mainstream, I also thing he needs to stop getting help from brother rob, there is 2 songs on this album that sound like Rob's "dragula", and "boogie man" songs. I have always loved powerman 5000, but some of the songs on here i could really do without. They are walking a very fine line between hard rock and pop right now!! If you like songs like "nobodies real" or "worlds collide" then you probably will not like this

Transform marks the return of Powerman 5000's pre-Star's Revolt days. Yes, it seems the band has lost the space-freak theme. Even though it was goofy, I liked the Sci-Fi image and sound found on their last album. It set them apart from other heavy metal bands in the genre. That's probably the reason why I didn't enjoy Transform as much as Tonight The Stars Revolt. Their music has also changed back into the same old alternative/metal, and there are barely any synthesizer sounds present anymore (the ones that are present are pushed into the backround). It's a shame...I really liked the electro/metal fusion idea. However, Transform is not without it's moments. Free is an excellent song, and I particularly like That's Entertainment for attacking today's foolish popular music scene. I guess the bottom line is: If you've grown accustomed to PM5K's sound on Star's Revolt, you won't like this release. If you're more of a fan of pure guitar and drum action, Transform might suit your tastes.

The band that brought the world 'True Force', 'Mega Kung Fu Radio!!', 'Tonight The Stars Revolt!'and the scrapped 'Anyone For Doomsday?' has finally released a new album. And it was worth the wait. This is an amazing album. I feel it's the best Powerman 5000 album to date. I've heard many whine and complain about them toning down the sci-fi stuff they had going on, and for the life of me I can not understand why. 'Tonight The Stars Revolt!' was a good album, but why so many 'fans' want to just hear them retred the same ground over and over again is beyond me. If a band wants to stay vital, they must continue to grow. And that is 'Transform'. 'Transform' is growth, something PM5K has always done. I can't wait to hear what they sound like 2 or 3 albums from now. Get this cd.

Powerman 5000 is a band that I enjoy, but won't ever put on my top 10 "Best Bands" list.

HOWEVER: I couldn't possibly have more RESPECT for this album. SERIOUSLY!!!! Spider was on the verge of temporary mega-stardom with "Anyone For Doomsday?" an album that, while it might have sold very well and made him tons of money, would have meant that he was making albums that people WANT to hear, but that he doesn't WANT to make. So he DUMPS IT!!!! LITERALLY WEEKS BEFORE ITS RELEASED!!! A guaranteed hit follow up to "Tonight The Stars Revolt!" that would've made him a very very rich man and he CANS THE ALBUM!!! IN IT'S ENTIRETY!!!

Because he doesn't wanna do the same thing over and over. He doesn't wanna do what everyone else thinks he SHOULD do... So he goes out and makes "Transform," an album filled with anti-consumerism, anti-conformity songs and releases it on Dreamworks Records, a HUGE label at the time (A case of "not practicing what we preach???" More like a band that is "biting the hand that feeds!!!").

A good album? Sure! Why not?! On this album, PM5K straddles the line between industrial and punk, making the drums and other instrumentation sound very much like they are being performed by humans instead of computers, but still featuring the bludgeoning, heavy, HUGE riffs of industrial music. The songs may not feature the most original chord sequences in the world, but they are HUGE sounding and the melodies and songs are hooky and catchy and all that, so you'll like it!

Its a truly good, heavy, rock album. Its honestly against consumerism and conformity. And while it sounds like it had a big budget and was released on a HUGE record label, I cannot give the band more respect for making THIS album instead of a "trend following" HIT album that they ALREADY COMPLETED AND COULD MAKE TONS OF MONEY OFF OF.

Spider, you got some serious stones, man. And I BOW to you for it.

You have my utmost RESPECT. You ROCK!!!