The Compound

Over the course of their new album, "Say It Again Now," Ontario-based trio The Compound adopt a mélange of different sounds and styles, hitting everything from the classics (the ever-present Beatles influence), to rootsy rock 'n' roll (The Band), to more modern rockers. The bluesy moments of the Thrice discography come to mind numerous times (especially on the second track, "When I'm Away"), while singer and bassist Tommy Lowe sounds eerily like the ghost of Jeff Buckley on a few tracks. Add in the reference to Weezer's "Say it Ain't So" on "Feels So Good," a slow-burn of a blues song that contrasts that 90s hit in almost every way imaginable, and you've got a band that clearly adores the vast musical history that surrounds them as much as they love adding to it.

"Say It Again Now" is a hard record to pin down precisely because of the plethora of influences on display, resulting in a collection that, while only eight songs and 25 minutes in length, is far more diverse thank your average modern rock rock album. The aggressive guitar lines of the first two songs (the propulsive title track and the aforementioned "When I'm Away") morph into the southern rock drawl of "Memories," a song with a riff so sweepingly familiar that I swore I'd heard it before. "Memories" is the immediate stand-out on the record, a song that is at once both classic and remarkably fresh, and that it builds to a remarkable showcase for guitarist Simon Talevski (who also fills piano and synth duties, among others) doesn't hurt either. Lowe gets his own shining moment on "Turning the Tables," laying down some impressive bass licks, in addition to sounding his most innately Buckley-ish on vocals, a compliment in and of itself for those familar with the late singer. Album highlight "Blues (Has Got Me By the Balls)" sounds like a Paul McCartney outtake, with a thumping piano line, dreamy back-up vocals, and some bluesy guitar accents straight out of the '70s. The Beatles influence is felt just as strongly on "Feels So Good," which builds from a softly ambient intro to a brilliantly soulful bridge, while "Holiday Heartache" lands somewhere between "I Want You/She's So Heavy" from "Abbey Road" (my favorite Beatles record) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers: believe me when I say that the combination is more successful than it sounds on paper.

The only problem with The Compound's shapeshifting sound is that "Say It Again Now" ends up feeling like a record distinctly lacking in any semblance of flow. That the album closes with "Enjoy Your Summer," an entirely instrumental track, proves this point perfectly. While they write terrific songs and have undeniable chops (nothing proves this more than the closer, which gives all three members showcases for their talents), The Compound seem like a band more tailor made for the live concert experience than for the album listening one. But ultimately, despite the fact that "Say It Again Now" does not equal more than the sum of its parts as a record, it's still a stellar collection of songs without a discernable weak point, and it still represents the work of three musicians with talents that should absolutely not be ignored. And since the entire record is available for free download, in high quality, directly from the band, I can see no argument for not checking it out and spending a half hour with these three gentlemen and their bevy of influences: there couldn't possibly be a better price to discover one of the best unsigned bands I've heard in ages. - Rockfreaks.net

Over the course of their new album, "Say It Again Now," Ontario-based trio The Compound adopt a mélange of different sounds and styles, hitting everything from the classics (the ever-present Beatles influence), to rootsy rock 'n' roll (The Band), to more modern rockers. The bluesy moments of the Thrice discography come to mind numerous times (especially on the second track, "When I'm Away"), while singer and bassist Tommy Lowe sounds eerily like the ghost of Jeff Buckley on a few tracks. Add in the reference to Weezer's "Say it Ain't So" on "Feels So Good," a slow-burn of a blues song that contrasts that 90s hit in almost every way imaginable, and you've got a band that clearly adores the vast musical history that surrounds them as much as they love adding to it.

"Say It Again Now" is a hard record to pin down precisely because of the plethora of influences on display, resulting in a collection that, while only eight songs and 25 minutes in length, is far more diverse thank your average modern rock rock album. The aggressive guitar lines of the first two songs (the propulsive title track and the aforementioned "When I'm Away") morph into the southern rock drawl of "Memories," a song with a riff so sweepingly familiar that I swore I'd heard it before. "Memories" is the immediate stand-out on the record, a song that is at once both classic and remarkably fresh, and that it builds to a remarkable showcase for guitarist Simon Talevski (who also fills piano and synth duties, among others) doesn't hurt either. Lowe gets his own shining moment on "Turning the Tables," laying down some impressive bass licks, in addition to sounding his most innately Buckley-ish on vocals, a compliment in and of itself for those familar with the late singer. Album highlight "Blues (Has Got Me By the Balls)" sounds like a Paul McCartney outtake, with a thumping piano line, dreamy back-up vocals, and some bluesy guitar accents straight out of the '70s. The Beatles influence is felt just as strongly on "Feels So Good," which builds from a softly ambient intro to a brilliantly soulful bridge, while "Holiday Heartache" lands somewhere between "I Want You/She's So Heavy" from "Abbey Road" (my favorite Beatles record) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers: believe me when I say that the combination is more successful than it sounds on paper.

The only problem with The Compound's shapeshifting sound is that "Say It Again Now" ends up feeling like a record distinctly lacking in any semblance of flow. That the album closes with "Enjoy Your Summer," an entirely instrumental track, proves this point perfectly. While they write terrific songs and have undeniable chops (nothing proves this more than the closer, which gives all three members showcases for their talents), The Compound seem like a band more tailor made for the live concert experience than for the album listening one. But ultimately, despite the fact that "Say It Again Now" does not equal more than the sum of its parts as a record, it's still a stellar collection of songs without a discernable weak point, and it still represents the work of three musicians with talents that should absolutely not be ignored. And since the entire record is available for free download, in high quality, directly from the band, I can see no argument for not checking it out and spending a half hour with these three gentlemen and their bevy of influences: there couldn't possibly be a better price to discover one of the best unsigned bands I've heard in ages. - Rockfreaks.net

New music is always around every corner, but it's the unique and interesting ones that get noticed - and The Compound are just that.This three-piece rock/pop/progressive group, hailing from Georgetown Ontario, worked under less-than-idealistic conditions to film their first ever music video.

After weeks of editing they're finally ready to unleash their new video for the song “Something Like That”, featuring Sarah Evans, onto the internet. “Something Like That” is the second single off The Compound’s sophomore album, titled “It Is What It Is”, available on iTunes as well as on their website.
Recorded Second Album with Producer Greg Dawson

Simon Talevski (Lead Vocals, Keys, Guitar), and Kevin Farmer (Drums) hit the studio at BWC Studios in Toronto to record their second album, "It Is What It Is" back in May. Due to their bassist leaving earlier in the year, Talevski took on the extra task to get the job done. Bassist and friend Tommy Lowe joined the band soon after and the group has been thriving ever since.

Recording songs such as "My Subconcious Mind (I Can't Wake Up), "I Found Out", as well as their new single. Working with Producer/Engineer Greg Dawson (owner of BCW Studios), who has worked with other bands such as The Arkells and Moneen, they were able to create a mix of "progressive instrumentals to rock ballads."

“He [Dawson] was a joy to work with because he brought out the harder side of the band, which added ’more balls’ to the recordings. Greg also helped us re-arrange and perform a couple of songs on the new album,” says Talevski . He also adds that “as a band with a new line-up and a new album, we were very proud of our latest work and [are] pumped to get performing and working hard once again.”
The Compound Ready to Tour and Looking for GTA and Area Shows

The Compound has played at historical Toronto venues such as The Horsehoe, El Mocambo and The Reverb and are currently looking to book more shows in and around the Greater Toronto Area. As well as their online launch of their new video, they are also kicking off December with a show at the Poor Alex Theatre on Dec 4th, as well as a showcase at Rebecca Sushi's Pub in Orangeville.

To keep an eye on updates involving The Compound, be sure to follow them on Twitter and add them on Facebook.

Read more at Suite101: New Music: The Compound Releases Their First Music Video http://www.suite101.com/content/new-music-the-compound-releases-their-first-music-video-a304854#ixzz1C9A0kKCC
- Suite 101

New music is always around every corner, but it's the unique and interesting ones that get noticed - and The Compound are just that.This three-piece rock/pop/progressive group, hailing from Georgetown Ontario, worked under less-than-idealistic conditions to film their first ever music video.

After weeks of editing they're finally ready to unleash their new video for the song “Something Like That”, featuring Sarah Evans, onto the internet. “Something Like That” is the second single off The Compound’s sophomore album, titled “It Is What It Is”, available on iTunes as well as on their website.
Recorded Second Album with Producer Greg Dawson

Simon Talevski (Lead Vocals, Keys, Guitar), and Kevin Farmer (Drums) hit the studio at BWC Studios in Toronto to record their second album, "It Is What It Is" back in May. Due to their bassist leaving earlier in the year, Talevski took on the extra task to get the job done. Bassist and friend Tommy Lowe joined the band soon after and the group has been thriving ever since.

Recording songs such as "My Subconcious Mind (I Can't Wake Up), "I Found Out", as well as their new single. Working with Producer/Engineer Greg Dawson (owner of BCW Studios), who has worked with other bands such as The Arkells and Moneen, they were able to create a mix of "progressive instrumentals to rock ballads."

“He [Dawson] was a joy to work with because he brought out the harder side of the band, which added ’more balls’ to the recordings. Greg also helped us re-arrange and perform a couple of songs on the new album,” says Talevski . He also adds that “as a band with a new line-up and a new album, we were very proud of our latest work and [are] pumped to get performing and working hard once again.”
The Compound Ready to Tour and Looking for GTA and Area Shows

The Compound has played at historical Toronto venues such as The Horsehoe, El Mocambo and The Reverb and are currently looking to book more shows in and around the Greater Toronto Area. As well as their online launch of their new video, they are also kicking off December with a show at the Poor Alex Theatre on Dec 4th, as well as a showcase at Rebecca Sushi's Pub in Orangeville.

To keep an eye on updates involving The Compound, be sure to follow them on Twitter and add them on Facebook.

Read more at Suite101: New Music: The Compound Releases Their First Music Video http://www.suite101.com/content/new-music-the-compound-releases-their-first-music-video-a304854#ixzz1C9A0kKCC
- Suite 101

Georgetown band The Compound has recently released their second album entitled “It Is What It Is” along with their latest YouTube video for the song “Something Like That”.

Haven’t heard of The Compound? They’re a genre defying power trio, influenced by bands like The Beatles, Rush and Edwin. From folk to metal, there’s no sound they can’t incorporate.

Their newest video features the band playing in what appears to be a park, soaked in a crisp fall morning. As the guys play, a young couple (the male role played masterfully by guitarist Simon Talevski) takes a reminiscent, romantic stroll through the woods.

“We wanted to keep it fairly simple and to have a straight forward message.” Said Simon “It’s all about relationships or rather, the story behind a relationship. A little of it is based off personal experience of course, but we did take a few artistic liberties.”

“ ‘Something like that’ seemed to be the song that people liked most off the new album.” The guys all agreed “It’s not like we’re trying to sell out or anything like that, but it made sense to satisfy the fan base.”

It’s not as easy as it sounds though. Contrary to advertisements, you can’t just shoot a music video on your cell phone.

“In terms of production, it was defiantly a matter of finding the right person for the job.” Said Simon “Stacey, the band’s manager, who got in touch with James of VDW Media and after seeing some of his work we knew we wanted to work with him.”

“The video was shot in Ancaster over 6 hours with a nice 7am shoot time. Said bassist Tommy, “rain held up the production for a little while, but we got lucky later on in the morning. If you look close enough in the video, you can still see a few rain drops on some of the gear.”

“Getting to this point has been a while though,” commented Simon, “we have two albums out now and we were really looking to grow the fan base beyond what we already have. YouTube is such a great way to promote ourselves so it seemed like the appropriate next step.”

Simon also elaborated on the new album; “there’s defiantly a lot more variety. We didn’t want to restrict ourselves in terms of what we could write. The rhythm sections, for instance, went through some big changes”

The percussion section has changed quite a bit to,” said drummer Kevin, “with the addition of new pieces like tambourines; it really gave more freedom to experiment.” He added, “the words ‘that doesn’t fit the band’ were never spoken.”

“Recording with Greg Dawson made a huge difference also,” said Simon, “his influence really helped some of the songs change for the better. The overall goal was to just not have anyone skip a track.”

The guys are currently trying to “open for Justin Bieber” but if that doesn’t work out, then they plan to continue making great tunes and great videos.

You can check out The Compound at www.thecompoundband.com to stay tuned for new music, videos and show dates. - Travis Magazine

Georgetown band The Compound has recently released their second album entitled “It Is What It Is” along with their latest YouTube video for the song “Something Like That”.

Haven’t heard of The Compound? They’re a genre defying power trio, influenced by bands like The Beatles, Rush and Edwin. From folk to metal, there’s no sound they can’t incorporate.

Their newest video features the band playing in what appears to be a park, soaked in a crisp fall morning. As the guys play, a young couple (the male role played masterfully by guitarist Simon Talevski) takes a reminiscent, romantic stroll through the woods.

“We wanted to keep it fairly simple and to have a straight forward message.” Said Simon “It’s all about relationships or rather, the story behind a relationship. A little of it is based off personal experience of course, but we did take a few artistic liberties.”

“ ‘Something like that’ seemed to be the song that people liked most off the new album.” The guys all agreed “It’s not like we’re trying to sell out or anything like that, but it made sense to satisfy the fan base.”

It’s not as easy as it sounds though. Contrary to advertisements, you can’t just shoot a music video on your cell phone.

“In terms of production, it was defiantly a matter of finding the right person for the job.” Said Simon “Stacey, the band’s manager, who got in touch with James of VDW Media and after seeing some of his work we knew we wanted to work with him.”

“The video was shot in Ancaster over 6 hours with a nice 7am shoot time. Said bassist Tommy, “rain held up the production for a little while, but we got lucky later on in the morning. If you look close enough in the video, you can still see a few rain drops on some of the gear.”

“Getting to this point has been a while though,” commented Simon, “we have two albums out now and we were really looking to grow the fan base beyond what we already have. YouTube is such a great way to promote ourselves so it seemed like the appropriate next step.”

Simon also elaborated on the new album; “there’s defiantly a lot more variety. We didn’t want to restrict ourselves in terms of what we could write. The rhythm sections, for instance, went through some big changes”

The percussion section has changed quite a bit to,” said drummer Kevin, “with the addition of new pieces like tambourines; it really gave more freedom to experiment.” He added, “the words ‘that doesn’t fit the band’ were never spoken.”

“Recording with Greg Dawson made a huge difference also,” said Simon, “his influence really helped some of the songs change for the better. The overall goal was to just not have anyone skip a track.”

The guys are currently trying to “open for Justin Bieber” but if that doesn’t work out, then they plan to continue making great tunes and great videos.

You can check out The Compound at www.thecompoundband.com to stay tuned for new music, videos and show dates. - Travis Magazine

The Compound, a three piece rock/pop/progressive band hailing from Georgetown Ontario, have just released their new video for the song “Something Like That” featuring Sarah Evans. “Something Like That” is the second single off The Compound’s sophomore album, titled “It Is What It Is” which is a follow-up of their 2009 self tilted debut album release.
CHECK IT OUT HERE:





The Compound who have played venues such as The Horseshoe, El Mocambo, and the Reverb, are currently booking shows in the GTA. The band is kicking off December with not only an online launch of their official video, but shows confirmed for Dec 4th at the Poor Alex Theatre in Toronto and a showcase in Orangeville at Rebecca Sushi’s Pub.


-------------------------------------------
I had the chance to ask the guys a few questions:
JE: Where did the name "the Compound" come from and how did you decide on it ?
TC: Some band names have no meaning whatsoever, but there are few with amazing stories behind the name. Unfortunately "The Compound" doesn't have a great story or meaning behind it. Basically it was my birthday (Kevin) and we had been struggling to find a suitable name. After a few drinks, someone suggested something like "The Composite." Due to having had a few drinks, we can't quite recall how it became "The Compound." And that is the story.

JE: Do you feel like it is harder a band from Outside Toronto, and not from Toronto to "Break" Into the industry?
TC: We all live in Georgetown, Ontario, which is a smaller town about a 40 minute drive to Toronto. We have played many shows in the GTA, but since we are not directly from Toronto, we initially found it hard to grow a fan base in Toronto. Most bands would start out by bringing their friends to their shows, and then their friends friends, but since we don't live downtown it was a challenge to get a good draw to our gigs.

JE: Whats the best part about making the new video and is there something you learned about video making that tyou didnt know before?
TC: Shooting the video has certainly been one of the highlights of being in the band. The early morning start wasn't a lot of fun, but spending a day with friends, and meeting new people was definitely the best part. It was a new experience for all of us in the band, and we enjoyed the process and can't wait to film the next one!
JE: How did you come up with the concept for the video?
TC:It was Simon's concept from the start. The song tells a love story, which is what the video is all about. It is a simple concept, but turned out great (in my opinion) and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as we do!

JE: Best part of being in a band?
TC: There are so many great things about playing in a band, From being with friends and making music that we all love, playing live and interacting with the audience to the long days in the studio laying down the tracks. We love what we do, and hope it continues for years to come!

JE: Since 2010 is coming to an end.. what would you guys as a band like to accomplish by the end of 2011?
TC: We are looking to expand our fanbase, and evolve as a band to reach a bigger audience. We have yet to play outside of Ontario. We would love to do a full North American tour! - Zebra Print Sky

The Compound, a three piece rock/pop/progressive band hailing from Georgetown Ontario, have just released their new video for the song “Something Like That” featuring Sarah Evans. “Something Like That” is the second single off The Compound’s sophomore album, titled “It Is What It Is” which is a follow-up of their 2009 self tilted debut album release.
CHECK IT OUT HERE:





The Compound who have played venues such as The Horseshoe, El Mocambo, and the Reverb, are currently booking shows in the GTA. The band is kicking off December with not only an online launch of their official video, but shows confirmed for Dec 4th at the Poor Alex Theatre in Toronto and a showcase in Orangeville at Rebecca Sushi’s Pub.


-------------------------------------------
I had the chance to ask the guys a few questions:
JE: Where did the name "the Compound" come from and how did you decide on it ?
TC: Some band names have no meaning whatsoever, but there are few with amazing stories behind the name. Unfortunately "The Compound" doesn't have a great story or meaning behind it. Basically it was my birthday (Kevin) and we had been struggling to find a suitable name. After a few drinks, someone suggested something like "The Composite." Due to having had a few drinks, we can't quite recall how it became "The Compound." And that is the story.

JE: Do you feel like it is harder a band from Outside Toronto, and not from Toronto to "Break" Into the industry?
TC: We all live in Georgetown, Ontario, which is a smaller town about a 40 minute drive to Toronto. We have played many shows in the GTA, but since we are not directly from Toronto, we initially found it hard to grow a fan base in Toronto. Most bands would start out by bringing their friends to their shows, and then their friends friends, but since we don't live downtown it was a challenge to get a good draw to our gigs.

JE: Whats the best part about making the new video and is there something you learned about video making that tyou didnt know before?
TC: Shooting the video has certainly been one of the highlights of being in the band. The early morning start wasn't a lot of fun, but spending a day with friends, and meeting new people was definitely the best part. It was a new experience for all of us in the band, and we enjoyed the process and can't wait to film the next one!
JE: How did you come up with the concept for the video?
TC:It was Simon's concept from the start. The song tells a love story, which is what the video is all about. It is a simple concept, but turned out great (in my opinion) and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as we do!

JE: Best part of being in a band?
TC: There are so many great things about playing in a band, From being with friends and making music that we all love, playing live and interacting with the audience to the long days in the studio laying down the tracks. We love what we do, and hope it continues for years to come!

JE: Since 2010 is coming to an end.. what would you guys as a band like to accomplish by the end of 2011?
TC: We are looking to expand our fanbase, and evolve as a band to reach a bigger audience. We have yet to play outside of Ontario. We would love to do a full North American tour! - Zebra Print Sky

I see it only fitting that my 1st post BACK IN ACTION, be about a new up and coming band from Georgetown Ontario, THE COMPOUND.
The Compound is a three piece rockie pop band who just released their new video for the song “Something Like That” featuring Sarah Evans. “Something Like That” is the second single off The Compound’s sophomore album, titled “It Is What It Is” which is available online on both iTunes and The Compound online store!!! - The Burning Stage

I see it only fitting that my 1st post BACK IN ACTION, be about a new up and coming band from Georgetown Ontario, THE COMPOUND.
The Compound is a three piece rockie pop band who just released their new video for the song “Something Like That” featuring Sarah Evans. “Something Like That” is the second single off The Compound’s sophomore album, titled “It Is What It Is” which is available online on both iTunes and The Compound online store!!! - The Burning Stage

Georgetown band, The Compound, has released its second album, It Is What It Is.

The 10 tracks were recorded at BWC Studios, recorded and produced by Greg Dawson. The album’s genre has more of an upbeat “rock/pop” feel throughout with some twists and turns. There are also hints of blues, country, progressive rock and rock ballads.

Band member Simon Talevski started writing demos last year after the band had released its first CD, the self-titled, The Compound.

“We began to record the new music in May 2010 at BWC studios again where we felt really comfortable working with Greg Dawson. He now knows what sounds we are looking for and has a great ear for arrangements,” said Talevski.

“The recording process went very quick. It took roughly eight and a half days to lay down all the tracks and about a day and a half to mix and master. We are still surprised at how much power and emotion are in each song, considering the short amount of time we had to record them.”

The band has already released two singles: Until That Day Has Come and the newest, Something Like That, a duet featuring Georgetown’s own Sarah Evans.

“Having another lead singer in the studio was a really good experience for both us,” said Talevski. “I really love how Sarah’s voice mixes with mine. Another additional performance was by Greg Dawson laying down rhythm and lead guitar tracks for some songs on the album. There is a great feel throughout the entire 35-minute album.”

Prior to the recording bass player Shawn Gruszka left the band to focus on other priorities.

Without a lot of time to find a replacement, Talevski finish the bass tracks himself. After completing and releasing the album Talevski and Kevin Farmer (drums, percussion, sampling and backing vocals) asked a close and local friend, Tommy Lowe to join the band. Now again with three members the band is ready to tour and promote the album.

“We are very proud of our latest work and we can’t wait to start performing it,” said Talevski. “The Compound wants to thank all the support they have been given since 2008, our families, the inspiration for the music we create and of course all of the Georgetown fans who keep us going.”

Tour dates are still in the works and will be announced as soon as possible. Find out more info on the band by checking www.thecompoundband.com or become a fan on facebook: www.facebook.com/thecompoundband.

You can purchase the album online from www.thecompoundband.com, iTunes, Amazon.com, Cd Plus (Milton) and personally from band members for $10. - InsideHalton

Georgetown band, The Compound, has released its second album, It Is What It Is.

The 10 tracks were recorded at BWC Studios, recorded and produced by Greg Dawson. The album’s genre has more of an upbeat “rock/pop” feel throughout with some twists and turns. There are also hints of blues, country, progressive rock and rock ballads.

Band member Simon Talevski started writing demos last year after the band had released its first CD, the self-titled, The Compound.

“We began to record the new music in May 2010 at BWC studios again where we felt really comfortable working with Greg Dawson. He now knows what sounds we are looking for and has a great ear for arrangements,” said Talevski.

“The recording process went very quick. It took roughly eight and a half days to lay down all the tracks and about a day and a half to mix and master. We are still surprised at how much power and emotion are in each song, considering the short amount of time we had to record them.”

The band has already released two singles: Until That Day Has Come and the newest, Something Like That, a duet featuring Georgetown’s own Sarah Evans.

“Having another lead singer in the studio was a really good experience for both us,” said Talevski. “I really love how Sarah’s voice mixes with mine. Another additional performance was by Greg Dawson laying down rhythm and lead guitar tracks for some songs on the album. There is a great feel throughout the entire 35-minute album.”

Prior to the recording bass player Shawn Gruszka left the band to focus on other priorities.

Without a lot of time to find a replacement, Talevski finish the bass tracks himself. After completing and releasing the album Talevski and Kevin Farmer (drums, percussion, sampling and backing vocals) asked a close and local friend, Tommy Lowe to join the band. Now again with three members the band is ready to tour and promote the album.

“We are very proud of our latest work and we can’t wait to start performing it,” said Talevski. “The Compound wants to thank all the support they have been given since 2008, our families, the inspiration for the music we create and of course all of the Georgetown fans who keep us going.”

Tour dates are still in the works and will be announced as soon as possible. Find out more info on the band by checking www.thecompoundband.com or become a fan on facebook: www.facebook.com/thecompoundband.

You can purchase the album online from www.thecompoundband.com, iTunes, Amazon.com, Cd Plus (Milton) and personally from band members for $10. - InsideHalton

More classicly rocked up beats and rythums are also joyfully springing out of Georgetown Ontario. The Compound are the nations slightly more upbeat classic rock threesome who's debut album is full of highly polished and professional riffs, leads, breaks, bass, drums and vocals. Instantly accessable and with a radio friendly edge, The Compound have a definate advantage with their catologue of rocking songs that will be instantly appealing to music fans of all styles- but tdon't think the tracks are in any way softened or watered down as they can stil pack a hard rocking riff punch thats strong enough to knock the adrenalin right out of your blood cells and send it racing round the body at just the right moments..We've included their home made video's for 'Take a Stand' and 'Fight To Disagree' along with a link to their MySpace from where you can order their perfectly crafted debut album too.The Compound are definately a young band with a very big future ahead of them so keep a very sharp eye out for future dates and new releases in the very near future. The Compound are...
Kevin Farmer on Drums and Vocals, Shawn Gruszka on bass and vocals with Simon Talevski on vocals, guitars, pianos and synths. - TheRyanO'Riain

More classicly rocked up beats and rythums are also joyfully springing out of Georgetown Ontario. The Compound are the nations slightly more upbeat classic rock threesome who's debut album is full of highly polished and professional riffs, leads, breaks, bass, drums and vocals. Instantly accessable and with a radio friendly edge, The Compound have a definate advantage with their catologue of rocking songs that will be instantly appealing to music fans of all styles- but tdon't think the tracks are in any way softened or watered down as they can stil pack a hard rocking riff punch thats strong enough to knock the adrenalin right out of your blood cells and send it racing round the body at just the right moments..We've included their home made video's for 'Take a Stand' and 'Fight To Disagree' along with a link to their MySpace from where you can order their perfectly crafted debut album too.The Compound are definately a young band with a very big future ahead of them so keep a very sharp eye out for future dates and new releases in the very near future. The Compound are...
Kevin Farmer on Drums and Vocals, Shawn Gruszka on bass and vocals with Simon Talevski on vocals, guitars, pianos and synths. - TheRyanO'Riain

The Compound's debut self-titled album has a song for pretty much everyone. If you like rock there is a song for you , if you like Metal there is a song for you. The Guns N Roses Use Your Illusion Synth Rock Sound again there is at least two songs that you can relate to on this album.

The members of the Compound are Kevin Farmer on Drums and Vocals, Simon Talevski on Guitar, vocals and Piano, and Shawn Gruszka on bass guitar and vocals.

The first song on the self-titled album is probably the longest intro song that I have ever heard before. What makes the intro song a little more interesting is the fact that the entire song is a instrumental song. The opening riff into the song is a somewhat generic opening sequences I have heard similar opening riffs a few times before. After listening to the song a few times I tried to figure out how lyrics would fit into the song and I just couldn’t really find any place to dub in lyrics. The entire intro song sounds and is played as if it is a large break between verses in a larger song. If I had the chance to place the song on the album I do not believe that I would have placed the song first on the album rather near the end of the album either as the last or second last song.

“Take A Stand” is the second song on the album, this song doesn’t take anytime at all to get into the lyrics. The synchronization between the drums, the lyrics and the guitars is key for this songs success on the album. Near the ending of a couple of verses all three participants come together and make a good standing out to the listener. The song somewhat falls into a generic Indie rock song following, the song is a good sit down and listen song but it doesn’t carry the get up and go attitude as some rocks songs contain. What is also interesting about this song is the twist that it the song takes with about two minutes left. The original song finishes and there is a slight pause, yet the song picks up again but with a total different sound and is basically a new and different song all together. I have heard of adding pauses in songs before but never have I heard the song become a new song after the pause before.

When “Sudden Death” comes on for the first time I thought that the cd stopped playing and I was back to listening to the radio again. Compared to the other tracks the song comes on fast and heavy. The guitars are what makes this song grow on the listener. The song is not like anything else on the album. The guitars have a steroid injected Red Hot Chilli Peppers mixed with the deepness of Rage Against The Machine. This song is also pretty much a instrumental song, where the word go and a fast count is only yelled out once throughout the song. What adds to the guitars in this song is the speed of the drums, they are fast and also match with the guitars. This I find is hard to come by with the guitars and the drums sounding as if they are playing the same song, usually the two instruments sound as if they are playing two completely different songs all together.

What I liked the most about the album is the mix of all the songs on the album. There really is a song for a wide variety of listeners. “Addicted” is where I take the Guns N Roses reference from the most because of the piano and how the winding guitars come into play in the background of the song. I am still taken by surprise how Sudden Death came to be on the album. After listening to the other songs on the album before Sudden Death you do not see this song coming at all. The album finished out heavy as well which again listening to the first part of the song your not expecting the drums and the guitars to finish out as heavy and fast as they do.

You can pick up your copy of the The Compound self-titled album by visiting their myspace and by following the links www.myspace.com/thecompoundband.

Matt Hartwick
m.hartwick@partyinkingston.com - Partyinkingston.com

The Compound's debut self-titled album has a song for pretty much everyone. If you like rock there is a song for you , if you like Metal there is a song for you. The Guns N Roses Use Your Illusion Synth Rock Sound again there is at least two songs that you can relate to on this album.

The members of the Compound are Kevin Farmer on Drums and Vocals, Simon Talevski on Guitar, vocals and Piano, and Shawn Gruszka on bass guitar and vocals.

The first song on the self-titled album is probably the longest intro song that I have ever heard before. What makes the intro song a little more interesting is the fact that the entire song is a instrumental song. The opening riff into the song is a somewhat generic opening sequences I have heard similar opening riffs a few times before. After listening to the song a few times I tried to figure out how lyrics would fit into the song and I just couldn’t really find any place to dub in lyrics. The entire intro song sounds and is played as if it is a large break between verses in a larger song. If I had the chance to place the song on the album I do not believe that I would have placed the song first on the album rather near the end of the album either as the last or second last song.

“Take A Stand” is the second song on the album, this song doesn’t take anytime at all to get into the lyrics. The synchronization between the drums, the lyrics and the guitars is key for this songs success on the album. Near the ending of a couple of verses all three participants come together and make a good standing out to the listener. The song somewhat falls into a generic Indie rock song following, the song is a good sit down and listen song but it doesn’t carry the get up and go attitude as some rocks songs contain. What is also interesting about this song is the twist that it the song takes with about two minutes left. The original song finishes and there is a slight pause, yet the song picks up again but with a total different sound and is basically a new and different song all together. I have heard of adding pauses in songs before but never have I heard the song become a new song after the pause before.

When “Sudden Death” comes on for the first time I thought that the cd stopped playing and I was back to listening to the radio again. Compared to the other tracks the song comes on fast and heavy. The guitars are what makes this song grow on the listener. The song is not like anything else on the album. The guitars have a steroid injected Red Hot Chilli Peppers mixed with the deepness of Rage Against The Machine. This song is also pretty much a instrumental song, where the word go and a fast count is only yelled out once throughout the song. What adds to the guitars in this song is the speed of the drums, they are fast and also match with the guitars. This I find is hard to come by with the guitars and the drums sounding as if they are playing the same song, usually the two instruments sound as if they are playing two completely different songs all together.

What I liked the most about the album is the mix of all the songs on the album. There really is a song for a wide variety of listeners. “Addicted” is where I take the Guns N Roses reference from the most because of the piano and how the winding guitars come into play in the background of the song. I am still taken by surprise how Sudden Death came to be on the album. After listening to the other songs on the album before Sudden Death you do not see this song coming at all. The album finished out heavy as well which again listening to the first part of the song your not expecting the drums and the guitars to finish out as heavy and fast as they do.

You can pick up your copy of the The Compound self-titled album by visiting their myspace and by following the links www.myspace.com/thecompoundband.

Matt Hartwick
m.hartwick@partyinkingston.com - Partyinkingston.com

Georgetown band, The Compound, released a self-titled CD on Saturday that according to lead singer Simon Talevski, “is three guys getting together and doing what we do best.”
The band just completed a tour of 10 shows in Greater Toronto Area including Horseshoe Tavern and El Mocambo. While the band itself has been together only for a year, the three members have been playing, performing and writing music for more than 10 years.
Besides being lead vocalist, Talevski plays guitar, piano and synthesizer. Kevin Farmer is the drummer and provides vocals and Shawn Gruszka plays bass and also chimes in with vocals.
The CD, The Compound, consists of seven tracks “in which we truly believe in,” says Talevski. It is the first professional CD released by the band, recorded at BWC Studios and produced by Greg Dawson.
“We always hate labeling ourselves due to having to stick by that specific genre,” says Talevski, who was reluctant to specify the band’s music genre. “There is a lot of variety. There is an overall rock feel with a mixture of pop melodies, instrumentals, ballads and up-tempo songs. You can definitely hear our influences as well throughout this album.”
Some of these influences include The Beatles, The Police, Rush, Megadeth, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, and Sam Roberts.
When Talevski began writing demos last year, he didn’t really have a specific theme or inspiration for the album. He had had three early versions of Take a Stand, I Won’t Lie and Fight to Disagree when he and Gruszka formed a group and begin “making these songs our own.” Later Farmer joined and together the trio began working on the songs until they had seven strong ones to record.
“It is basically three guys getting together and just doing what we do best,” says Talevski. “I guess lyrically the theme is ‘first person’ experiences. Things that I have gone through or experienced in the last year or so.
“These are songs we truly believe in. We are very pumped for it. Every note counts. In other words this album won’t be the last— we are definitely here to stay. We hope everyone can enjoy this album and relate to it considering it is very varied. Thanks to everyone who has supported us since the start. We really appreciate it.”
The album is available at CD PLUS in the Georgetown Market Place for $9.99 or can be purchased online at www.thecompoundband.com.
With its first CD now released, the band is ready to start a new tour in support of it. Check out their website for future bookings and shows. - InsideHalton

Georgetown band, The Compound, released a self-titled CD on Saturday that according to lead singer Simon Talevski, “is three guys getting together and doing what we do best.”
The band just completed a tour of 10 shows in Greater Toronto Area including Horseshoe Tavern and El Mocambo. While the band itself has been together only for a year, the three members have been playing, performing and writing music for more than 10 years.
Besides being lead vocalist, Talevski plays guitar, piano and synthesizer. Kevin Farmer is the drummer and provides vocals and Shawn Gruszka plays bass and also chimes in with vocals.
The CD, The Compound, consists of seven tracks “in which we truly believe in,” says Talevski. It is the first professional CD released by the band, recorded at BWC Studios and produced by Greg Dawson.
“We always hate labeling ourselves due to having to stick by that specific genre,” says Talevski, who was reluctant to specify the band’s music genre. “There is a lot of variety. There is an overall rock feel with a mixture of pop melodies, instrumentals, ballads and up-tempo songs. You can definitely hear our influences as well throughout this album.”
Some of these influences include The Beatles, The Police, Rush, Megadeth, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, and Sam Roberts.
When Talevski began writing demos last year, he didn’t really have a specific theme or inspiration for the album. He had had three early versions of Take a Stand, I Won’t Lie and Fight to Disagree when he and Gruszka formed a group and begin “making these songs our own.” Later Farmer joined and together the trio began working on the songs until they had seven strong ones to record.
“It is basically three guys getting together and just doing what we do best,” says Talevski. “I guess lyrically the theme is ‘first person’ experiences. Things that I have gone through or experienced in the last year or so.
“These are songs we truly believe in. We are very pumped for it. Every note counts. In other words this album won’t be the last— we are definitely here to stay. We hope everyone can enjoy this album and relate to it considering it is very varied. Thanks to everyone who has supported us since the start. We really appreciate it.”
The album is available at CD PLUS in the Georgetown Market Place for $9.99 or can be purchased online at www.thecompoundband.com.
With its first CD now released, the band is ready to start a new tour in support of it. Check out their website for future bookings and shows. - InsideHalton