Boomin – Defying Gravity, Review

Boomin are Fun, Unpredictable and play Epic Rock n Roll from Wigan, UK. Their Debut album ‘Original Junkie’ and the reason I sit here writing this review today, went into the iTunes Rock chart at no. 22. Produced by Mark Wainwright (INXS) it was published via Townsend/Universal Records. For an unsigned band, the band’s reputation ‘oop North’ is exemplary. 

Their music genre is ‘pure pop rock anthems’. It’s stadium filling power pop with enough rock to keep even the most grizzled detractor tapping their feet to the music.

This album, for most rock fans at a first glance would suggest (shudder!) a pop album with the latest hits from the chart thing that people over a certain age no longer listen to. If, like me you’ve ditched BBC Radio One and Two in favour of independent stations like Absolute and Planet Rock in the hope that some decent music might be aired then read on. This is an album that offers rock covers (yes it’s a covers album but bear with me here…) of some classics from multiple decades. 

In the same way that music and movies are re-imagined, Boomin have re-imagined the “Classic covers…” format and the end result is part mash up and part homage to some absolute classics of our time. 35 artists are covered, some in medleys, some as perfect mash ups. Others are reworkings of classic songs and the end result is a perfect party album for rock fans who don’t understand what a party album should sound like. It’s the go to CD for when you have a BBQ and get moaned at for playing Master of Puppets whilst Nan is sitting on the patio. 

So how do you mix up 35 artists’ music into 16 songs over the space of an hour? How about “Smells Like Billy Jean”, blending Nirvana and Michael Jackson? How about “At The Movies” which mixes Kenny Loggins and ‘Danger Zone’ with the theme from Baywatch and Toto’s ‘Africa’ , pure class!