The Music Room >> The Compulsives

The Compulsives

“Men profess to be lovers of music, but for the most part they give no evidence in their opinions and lives that they have heard it.” ~Henry David Thoreau

I was up one evening browsing through myspace trying to discover some good music. The funny thing about the conscious effort of actually clicking on random pages and hoping to be swept away by a great song is that more often than not, it just does not happen.

No offence to anyone but myspace is a hub for many undiscovered talents as much as it is for the mediocre to outright terrible artists. This can make it very difficult for those musicians who deserve to shine get their dues.

I digress. While I was at the end of my myspace musical adventure having found nothing to quell my hunger, I just clicked on some page and did not bother to stay and listen. I needed to satisfy a different kind of hunger by reheating last nights Indian takeout (aka curry chicken and Nan bread-good stuff!).

Then the song “Perverse Madonna” came on, and I knew I had to listen to more of this stuff, it was pretty good stuff!, great lyrics, great arrangment and great vocals need I say more about “The Compulsives” . Their sound is as a newspaper article put it:

“There is a new sound rising from the ashes of the north-west. It's the pulse of edgy alt-rock sung with unfettered power, stabbing hooks toughened by crunchy guitars, songs that burrow into your head and stay there. It's The Compulsives”

Need I say more?

I was lucky enough to interview these guys and here is an excerpt of the interview, be sure to check them out!!!


How did u guys get together?
Through a shared need to write and perform our songs.

Who are the singers, drummers, guitarists? (Name & origins)
Chris Compulsive (vocals/guitar) - Liverpool

Rob Gunning (guitar/b. vocals) - Liverpool

Ollie Phillips (drums) - Liverpool

Lewis James (Bass/b. vocals) - Manchester

How did u come up with the name compulsives?
We made a list of all the band names we had come up with and chose the name ‘Simon Said’. An hour before our first gig we realized that ‘Simon Said’ was a terrible name and chose ‘The Compulsives’ instead.

I've got to say that was a good decision (laughs). How do you classify your sound?
Disco drums, bouncing bass, glowing neon melodies and lyrics populated by mannequins, perverse madonna’s and hyenas; all in a short three city minutes!


Who/what are your influences, musically, artistically etc?
We all have different influences – some of mine are - The Police, Interpol, James Joyce, Bill Hicks, The Cribs, Queens of the Stone Age, Elliot Smith, Joy Division, The Smiths, The Pixies, Donnie Darko, Japanese Cars, Anything Neon, Concrete, Taxi Driver, Lou Reed, Benjamin Zephaniah, The way Donny Osmond pools all the resources in his body to smile convincingly for the camera but really looks like he is about to have a breakdown, South Park, The Zanzibar Club, Carol Ann Duffy, the 1st half of any episode of the X-Files, the 2nd half of the 2005 Champions League Final, Jobseekers Allowance, The Clash, public transport, Liverpool . . .


What has been your personal highpoint as a band?
There have been many, but doing a tour of Austria in August was definitely one of them.

How do u come up with song ideas?
By writing down the highlights of a consistently bitter internal dialogue that will eventually drive me insane!

Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Insane!

Where can fans get your music (websites, myspace, youtube)?
You can get hold of some of our songs from www.myspace.com/the compulsives - we will be putting up more to download soon.

Tours and tour dates?
We will be doing a tour early next year but the dates haven’t been set yet. We are playing in the Zanzibar in Liverpool on the 6th of December for the Liverpool Music Week festival. Joe Stathers (a lecturer from LIPA) is going to project some visuals on the band/stage as we play!

What do you enjoy doing when you are not jamming?
Gigging.

If you could change anything about the music industry what could it be?
The deception, conservatism, blandness and exploitation – but then it wouldn’t be any industry would it?

Record sales have been down recently throughout the industry, what do u think is the cause for this and do u have any ideas how to halt this slide?
Overpriced CD albums & a luddite record industry + the internet & people = a decline in record sales. The only way the slide will be halted is when the first two causes are fixed; because the second two causes are not going anywhere.

Among your contemporaries, who do you listen to, or like their music?
The Cribs, Interpol, Arcade Fire, Queens of the Stone Age . . .

What do you think about artists like Bono from U2 being involved
in "make poverty history" and such philanthropic issues?
It’s a two-way thing firstly he provides charities with much needed exposure which is obviously a great thing. Secondly it helps keep his massive ego afloat. Despite the hugeness of 2 it is completely justified by 1.

McDonald’s or Burger King?
Neither

Superman or Spiderman?
Batman

In our selection of T-shirts there are a few different kinds, which one do you like?
Noodle Soup

Any quotes or words of wisdom you live by?
What to do if you find yourself stuck with no hope of rescue: Consider yourself lucky that life has been good to you so far. Alternatively, if life hasn't been good to you so far, which given your present circumstances seems more likely, consider yourself lucky that it won't be troubling you much longer. – Douglas Adams

Last words?

Oh shit!

Mr Motley

Sam Sparro

More music