CD Review: Powerman 5000 - "Builders of the Future" (T-Boy Records)

Let Builders of the Future serve as a lesson; a lesson that Powerman 5000 still possess the chops they did 15 years ago when they released Tonight The Stars Revolt! Well, for anyone paying attention, their 2011 covers album Copies Clones & Replicants proved that very same point. While the names and faces have changed (frontman Spider One is the only original stalwart remaining), the ability has not – the ability to pen easily accessible, infectious rock songs (“We Want It All,” “You’re Gonna Love It, If You Like It Or Not,” “Modern World,” “Live It Up Before You’re Dead”). While the pomp and circumstance doesn’t always fire on all cylinders (“Invade, Destroy, Repeat” and “Evil World” are somewhat lackluster bookends to Builders Of the Future), the high-octane lead single “How To Be a Human” is a standout as is the ballad “I Want To Kill You;” the latter of which employs a rarely seen dark side of PM5K. While Builders of the Future surely represents a 2014 PM5K, it definitely doesn’t represent a band on the decline, or even the down swing of their career.    

Grade: C+

Go Download: “I Can’t Fucking Hear You”