THE COMPULSIONS (feat. Bumblefoot) – Dirty Fun (2015)

THE COMPULSIONS, the critically acclaimed New York City rock ‘n’ roll band founded by Rob Carlyle that also featuring GUNS N’ ROSES drummer Frank Ferrer & guitarist Richard Fortus, and former HANOI ROCKS / NEW YORK DOLLS bassist Sami Yaffa, released their 2nd effort “Dirty Fun” five years ago. It has been requested, and certainly it’s a worth to track down album.
While Yaffa and Fortus have departed from the group before this recording, they have been replaced by the equally exciting bassist Alec Morton and upper echelon guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal – and it’s always great to hear “Bumblefoot” rocking n’ kickin’.

While Guns N’ Roses front man Axl Rose demands that Google take down his chubby pics, Rob Carlyle & the Compulsions have the edginess that Rose once possessed. ”Dirty Fun’ rocks, showcasing lingerie-clad legs and font that’s a nod to the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers album cover.
If you miss dirty, true American rock & roll, opener “Hellbound Babies” is your jam. The southern rock anthem is complete with harmonica, guitar solos, two soulful back up singers, and starving artist lyrics scratched on a bar napkin.

“Silly Little Woman” has some amazing retro sounding effects and is heavily influenced by “Tomorrow Never Knows,” by the Beatles with its backwards and sped up guitars and a drone sound via an electronic tanpura.
The fourth track on the album, “Lucky,” has an intro reminiscent of “Beast Of Burden,” by the Rolling Stones. Although, Rob tells me that the entire track was a homage to Keith Richards in general.

Other highlights on “Dirty Fun” include “House Of Rock”, which paints a vivid picture of the seedy musical underworld that inspired the album
The Compulsions pay homage to one of rock ‘n’ roll’s earliest and most iconic heroes with a cover of Little Richard’s 1956 classic “Long Tall Sally”. But this ain’t no typical bar band version. Carlyle & Co. update “Sally” with a raunchier edge of their own and a whopping kick up the ass that lands the tune squarely in the 21st century.
Carlyle has a slightly smoky voice that’s perfect for shading songs like ‘Evil Bastards, while ‘I Still Got the Hots for You, Baby,’ is a barrelhouse rocker that mashes up the Stones with ZZ Top.

What’s great about Rob Carlyle & The Compulsions is that they are real musicians who not only are masters of their instruments, but also know that changing it up is key. Not every song sounds the same on ”Dirty Fun”, in fact, tunes range from an up-tempo classic rock numbers to dusty, beer swillin’ biker vibes.

If the Sticky Fingers-era Rolling Stones had come from New York City, they might have sounded something like The Compulsions. While there’s more hard rock in their music than anything else, they approach the stuff with a strut and swagger that recalls the New York Dolls, and their attitude comes straight out of punk rock, even if their music doesn’t.
By far one of the greatest indie, uncompromising, true rock n’ roll bands of our generation.

01 – Hellbound Babies
02 – Silly Little Woman
03 – Evil Bastards
04 – Lucky
05 – House of Rock
06 – Long Tall Sally
07 – The Feel
08 – I Still Got the Hots for You, Baby
09 – Stay Eazy
10 – Buzz Awhile

Rob Carlyle – vocals, guitar
Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal – guitars
Alec Morton – bass
Frank Ferrer – drums

BUY IT
www.amazon.com/Dirty-Fun-Rob-Carlyle-Compulsions/dp/B00W3XPE3U