Search - Boomkat :: Boomkatalog One

Funky and Fresh Debut Album

Katie | Canada | 03/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was reading a magazine article one day about Taryn Manning and I discovered the fact that she was a singer. I knew she was an actress, appearing in 'Crossroads' with Britney Spears, '8 Mile' with Eminem, and 'Crazy/Beautiful' with Kirsten Dunst, but had no idea she had ventured into music as well. I became intrigued and purchased 'Boomkatalog.One'. Boomkat is a duo made up of Taryn and her brother, Kellin, and they don't fail to impress. This is a fun and funky debut, with awesome vocals and hot beats to back them up.



The album opens with 'Yo!Verture'. It a provides a strong introduction to the album and the brother-sister duo as a whole. The beats are fun, but also mysterious at the same time. Especially during the portion of the song where the two dedicate the album to their deceased father. After that it begins to speed up slightly with a kind of air-y feel. Taryn's vocals sound great. Then the track merges seamlessly into the upbeat 'The Wreckoning'. This was the first single from 'Boomkatalog.One', and with good reason. Taryn's vocals sound amazing, strong and drawn out in all the right places. I really like the lyrics. They're simple, nothing too spectacular, but they're full of power. After about two minutes, the song slows down for some leisured lyrics with intense emotion. There is also some bitter laughing from Taryn, before the track speeds up again to finish with a bang.



'Now Understand This' really introduces listeners to Taryn. It starts out really fun and energetic, and reminds me of classic TLC. Throughout it she makes use of Janet Jackson lyrics, twisting them around to suit herself, singing "My name is Taryn/Call me Miss Manning if you're nasty". However, my favourite lyrics from this song would actually be "Well I got kat class/And I got kat style/ I keep my nails sharp with my boomkat nail file". After a minute and 55 seconds, Taryn yells "Stop!" and the music almost ceases completely. However, it speeds up again slowly while Taryn sings some "la-la"s. The album slows down quite significantly with 'Wastin' My Time'. It's a ballad, and it sounds amazing. Taryn's vocals sound poignant and innocent, resulting in a haunting performance which leaves listeners with chills running down their spines. The lyrics are extremely simple, but that actually adds to the purity and beauty of the track.



'Move On' is probably the weakest song off of 'Boomkatalog.One'. It's a mid-tempo track with mediocre lyrics, and an average beat. There's nothing really interesting or moving to listen to, it's basically just filler. It does speed up after about two minutes and 20 seconds, but it's nothing spectacular and it's not enough to save the song from being average. 'B4 It's 2 L8' is a great track. Ignore the ridiculous use of numbers in the title, because the song actually has a strong message. It opens with the lyrics "I won't break/I might bend, but I won't break", then continues on before hitting the chorus, which has a sweet, uplifting tone to it. The second verse opens with strong lyrics again "I will try/I might lose, but I will try/'Cause at least I said I did it". Oddly enough, the chorus is actually the weakest part of this track. The verses are stronger both musically and lyrically.



The seventh track, 'Know Me', is a funky, upbeat song. Taryn is saying that it's important to her that a lover knows who she is, inside and out. She also states that she won't allow any guy to ruin what she's worked for so hard for. This track has an awesome beat, and I'm sure listeners won't be able to resist dancing along in their seats. 'Daydreamin'' reflects upon Taryn and Kellin's childhood. It's not quite a ballad, but not quite mid-tempo either. I really like the vocals on this one, very rough and sweet simultaneously. Things are reflected upon (such as "ice cream nights" and "road trips") and wanting to go back to before bills needed to be paid is also addressed.



'Crazylove' is the first song Kellin contributes vocals to, and his and Taryn's voices sound great together. Many people consider this the best song on 'Boomkatalog.One', but I disagree, even though I do think it's good. It's a cute song about appreciating everything in one's life. This is an upbeat, danceable track with fresh beats, and sweet lyrics. 'Look At All The People' begins sounding dark and mysterious, though fast at the same time. Taryn's vocals are haunting, especially on the chorus, which is spectacular. This is definitely a standout track, and one of my personal favourites. It's completely unique and stands apart from all the other songs on the album. About halfway through the music slows down and children can be heard chanting in the distance before it speeds up again. Though it won't get stuck in your head, this is a hard track to forget about.



'Bein' Bad' is a laid back, mid-tempo track. It starts out smoothly with a very calm feel. It's about hanging out with friends, letting off steam, and having fun. After about two minutes and twenty seconds, the beat changes and really speeds up, then Kellin jumps in for a quick verse, before Taryn takes over again to finish the track. 'What U Do 2 Me' is one of the best tracks on the album. This is a duet, and it's amazing. Taryn and Kellin's voices blend so perfectly together. They're both so unique, different, and recognizable. The hook is insanely catchy and I'd venture a guess in saying it's almost impossible not to get it stuck in your head, whether you want to or not. There are some lines from the Temptations which actually (surprisingly enough) blend perfectly into the song.



'Answers' addresses an ex-lover who asked what had happened to end the relationship. I really like the lyrics "What's your opinion on this break-up/And how's the view from your side of the story/So I don't gotta guess no more". This is a slow track, and Taryn's vocals are extremely powerful and they sound fantastic. This is a great song. 'Left Side/Right Side' is an amazing track, definitely one of the best on the album. It deals with regrets, longing, and differences between people, and is quite sad. It's a clap-along sort of anthem with great vocals and a simple beat. I find this to be a very inspiring, beautiful track, and a perfect choice for the last song on the album.



I'd recommend checking this album out if you're into pop music. I know that it's not for everyone, so I recommend that you listen to 'Boomkatalog.One' before you purchase it. It's definitely not an outstanding album, but it's a strong effort, and hopefully Boomkat will come out with another release that will be even better. Taryn and Kellin do have talent and definite potential, I know I'll be awaiting what they come up with next.



THE FINAL VERDICT: 80%"