‘Boomtown’ can be considered Shotgun Marmalade’s magnum opus, at least so far. Their highest artistic milestone, an eclectic, cross-genre album that feels uplifting and bold, but also nuanced and measured. Packed with twelve long episodes, the album finds a functional balance between folk and rock-leaning offerings and more kinetic ska and punk moments. We are actually impressed by Shotgun Marmalade’s flexibility.
They feel at home in a variety of settings, switching from pop-punk to ska in the space of a verse (‘Boring & Complicated’). Throughout the album, such aural tension becomes a common occurrence, a quality that transforms the record into a fresh and cohesive offering, yet one that still feels familiar and nostalgic. Hailing from England, Shotgun Marmalade champions a deeply DIY ethos, adding to the project’s authenticity and songwriting honesty.
We particularly appreciate the lyrical goodness that hides behind ‘Boomtown’. Shotgun Marmalade constantly thread the fine line between playful imagery and hard-hitting political commentary. That’s what makes the band so relatable and raucous, and so energetic as well. As we are told: “The album includes the much-requested title-track, Boomtown, a reggae-driven anthem about the forgotten Black Country town of Coseley, as well as both of the current singles Fascist in the Workplace (a song beloved of subordinate employees everywhere) and The Ballad of Chairman Pat, another ska-punk soaked blast of observation and humour.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Boomtown’ now: