Tonight the Stars Revolt!

Tonight the Stars Revolt! is the second major label studio album by American rock band Powerman 5000. It was released on July 20, 1999 by DreamWorks Records. Having sold over one million copies and achieving platinum status, this would become the group's most successful release and featured such hits as "Nobody's Real" and "When Worlds Collide."

Tonight the Stars Revolt!
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 20, 1999
Recorded1998–99 at Sunset Sound, Sound City, The Chop Shop, and Music Grinder
Genre
Length39:09
LabelDreamWorks
Producer
Powerman 5000 chronology
The Blood-Splat Rating System
(1995)
Tonight the Stars Revolt!
(1999)
Anyone for Doomsday?
(2001)
Singles from Tonight the Stars Revolt!
  1. "When Worlds Collide"
    Released: July 1999
  2. "Nobody's Real"
    Released: November 2, 1999
  3. "Supernova Goes Pop"
    Released: 2000
  4. "Tonight the Stars Revolt!"
    Released: 2000

Album information

Although it doesn't tell a specific story, the songs have a cohesive theme, primarily oriented around campy science fiction reminiscent of the 1950s, coupled with nihilistic, apocalyptic messages, and paranoid, cyberpunk imagery.

Music critics and fans alike compare PM5K frontman Spider's fixation on bygone science fiction with older brother Rob Zombie's obsession with B-movie horror themes. Both seem to share an affection for campy entertainment that influence their musical output, though Spider has since abandoned science fiction as the inspiration for Powerman 5000's sound and image. The CD booklet of Tonight the Stars Revolt! is also composed with science fiction imagery and text, similar to Zombie's horror-themed Hellbilly Deluxe, released the year prior.

Musically, the album bears similarity to Rob Zombie's industrial metal sound with catchy riffs and electronic elements. However, it also includes a cover of The Cars' "Good Times Roll" and "Watch the Sky for Me," a moody, lounge song with its entire melody taken from the track "One More Kiss, Dear" by Vangelis for the Blade Runner soundtrack.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert Christgau[2]
Rolling Stone[3]
Yahoo! Music(favorable)[4]
  • CMJ (7/19/99, p. 3) – "...tighter than a barbed wire noose wrapped around your neck...[TONIGHT] relies on sci-fi imagery and memorable hooks that are sharp enough to catch more than a few big, heavy fish".[5]

Awards

The album won the Boston Music Awards for "Album Of The Year" in 2000, while "When Worlds Collide" was nominated for "Single Of The Year".[6]

Media appearances

Track listing

All lyrics by Spider One and all music by Powerman 5000, except "Good Times Roll" by The Cars.

No.TitleLength
1."An Eye Is Upon You (featuring Malachi Throne)"0:51
2."Supernova Goes Pop"3:14
3."When Worlds Collide"2:58
4."Nobody's Real"2:54
5."System 11:11"0:48
6."Tonight The Stars Revolt!"2:42
7."Automatic"3:22
8."The Son of X-51"2:58
9."Operate, Annihilate"3:48
10."Blast Off to Nowhere" (featuring Rob Zombie)"3:45
11."They Know Who You Are"2:33
12."Good Times Roll" (featuring DJ Lethal)"2:33
13."Watch the Sky for Me" (featuring Ginger Fish and Malachi Throne)"5:22
  • The song "Watch the Sky for Me" ends at minute 3:50. After 30 seconds of silence (3:50 - 4:20), begins the hidden track "The World of the Dead".

Personnel

  • Spider One – vocals
  • Adam 12 – guitar
  • M.33 – guitar
  • Dorian 27 – bass
  • Al 3 – drums

Credits

Chart positions

AlbumBillboard (United States)

Year Chart Position
1999 Billboard 200 29

SinglesBillboard (United States)

Year Single Chart Position
1999 "When Worlds Collide" Mainstream Rock Tracks 16
Modern Rock Tracks 18
2000 "Nobody's Real" Mainstream Rock Tracks 18
Modern Rock Tracks 23

References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. Robert Christgau review
  3. Rolling Stone review
  4. Yahoo! Music review
  5. "Powerman 5000 - Tonight The Stars Revolt! CD Album MP3". Cduniverse.com. July 20, 1999. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  6. "POWERMAN 5000 FAN ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER". Archived from the original on 2000-12-10.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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