MUSIC COLUMN: DEAR GODS OF POP MUSIC...

Why Isn't Boomkat Huge?!

By: Kelly Wiles

February 13, 2009

Dear Gods of Pop Music,

You know I love you, but let’s be honest: I bust my ass for you guys. Who sat writing diligent notes in the middle of a ba-jillion screaming Zac Efron fans during High School Musical 3 at El Capitan theater? That would be me. Who pimped out new albums from Katy Perry, Lily Allen, Hall & Oates, and Dido? Me again. Who analyzed your greatness at an event called “Pop Universe,” and who, just last week, became Facebook friends with The Veronicas? Once again, the answer to that question is me, your loyal servant, doing everything I can to spread your gospel of radio-friendly hooks and accessible quirks to the neon converse-wearing masses.

I think you would agree that I have done a lot on your behalf, Gods of Pop Music, and I don’t expect a lot in return. Pretty much the only thing I’d like from you guys is one answer to one simple question that has been plaguing me since 2003:

WHY ISN’T BOOMKAT HUGE?

Why? Please tell me why. Is it because you decided that Taryn Manning was successful enough as an actress and didn’t need the added props for putting out some of the freshest electro-pop music since new wave’s resurgence? Is it because you thought Taryn’s brother Kellin Manning was too out-there random with his keytar synth thing? Is it because Taryn and Kellin pull off the white-trash-meets-high-fashion thing better than all the hipsters in Silver Lake and Williamsburg combined?

Please tell me why Boomkat never made the cover of Rolling Stone. Why none of those insane songs on Boomkatalog.One never had a huge Billboard hit. Why? In the video for “The Wreckoning,” Taryn rode on a wrecking ball in a junkyard and sang, “I came, I saw, I kicked some ass.” Um, excuse me, Gods of Pop Music? That was your cue, guys! It was your responsibility to make that credo a reality for Boomkat, and you failed miserably.

Everyone I know who has heard of Boomkat agrees with me. I can get names if you want. There aren’t many because you made sure that no one found out about Boomkat, but I can e-mail you a petition signed by some Boomkat fans. Or, when the new Boomkat album, A Million Trillion Stars, comes out on March 10th, you guys could do your job and give this band the recognition it deserves. It’s up to you.

Love,
Kelly