shadders online - Rob McCulloch Interview

He looks rather smart is from Bolton (and not Manchester!) and knocks out a mean tune, he is Rob McCulloch. Here we review his rather smart debut album and then put twenty questions to the man himself.

Album Review - Escaping times (Gladrag Records)

Intro – You may not have heard of Rob McCulloch yet but we do mean yet as the North West’s has produced another songwriting talent who will make people sit up and take note. Burning out of Bolton with thirteen self-penned tracks that ouse a pop quality that belies his years. According to his myspace page he gave away 100 copies of the album to his myspace ‘pals’ those lucky few being the first to give it a spin. Music – He claims influences from sixties mod sounds through The Jam to latter-day Oasis and we’d wholeheartedly agree with these adding northern pop starlets The Lightening Seeds, Weller’s solo outings and also just a touch of the Arctic Monkeys evident briefly too. Rob has the smart new mod look down to a tee, just look at the pics on the inner album sleeve for evidence of this and his look does indeed follow through the music too, very much an English album by an English singer. Opener ‘Something Abuse’ sets the pop standard and it just carries on throughout the full album, nothing too heavy just nice guitar pop. ‘Doing One’s bit’ has a nice relaxed acoustic feel whereas ‘Six of one’ is a shiny pop tune of the best order. ‘Internal Paradise’ tempts that there may be something darker inside but it’s straight back up-tempo with ‘Cinnamon sticks’. Highs and lows – There’s plenty of good old fashion pop songs, he has a good knack of knocking out a decent tune. ‘Six of one’ is a belter along with ‘Something abuse’ too. It’s a shame that Rob’s darker side can’t come to the fore more often and that’s the major gripe. Minor problems are that it does sound a little naïve in places but it’s a debut album so that is usually the case. Verdict – Those hundred myspace punters got a real bargain for this is a champion album, Rob isn’t the finished article yet and it does have it’s little flaws but none the less it’s a good listen. File Under put on the old Fred Perry and get ready for some northern guitar pop!

Questions for Rob McCulloch

1, Firstly who is Rob McCulloch?

A songwriter.

2, Where you from and where you at?

I'm from Bolton and live in Bolton.

3, You've just released your debut album 'Escaping Times' on Gladrag Records, what can people expect and why should they buy it?

They should expect a varied style of songs, they sort of pair up, like to think there's somethin for everyone on their, nearly every song's been picked out as a favourite of someone's, just depends what you're listenin out for.

4, Who are Gladrag Records and did you have any interest from the 'big boys' to sign you?

There's been a few bits of interest, phone calls letters and that, there's also been claims of cloak and dagger antics, and the independent’s a cover up for a big label, which is bollocks. The main thing is I don't want a major so it’s irrelevant. Gladrag is me and my manager, the name came from a list we both made of five names each and it was on both our lists

5, What's this we hear about you sending 100 copies to fans and asking for donations of what they thought it was worth? What was the smallest and largest amount you received!

Just an idea I had to let some of the people who've been supportin it get a listen first and see how much they'd pay if the price weren't already stuck on for them, the smallest amount was a fiver biggest were twenty five.

6, What's you favourite song on the album and why?

Probably something abuse. It's the fist one I wrote for this album and it's the first time I'd completely got what I wanted to across then as soon as I finished it. It pointed me in the right direction for how the rest of the songs should go, that's why it's the first one on there

7, The album is pretty poppy, are there any songs that show a darker side to your songwriting?

They all have a dark side, if you listen close they aren't all sunshine and socks off cos it all happened, but I wanted them enjoyable so put them up beat. Some odd little bits like a soup with a hair in it, not great but it happens, it's not the end of the world and it's summert to talk about.

8, Who would you say are the biggest musical influences and was there any one band that made you want to pick up a guitar?

Oasis, more specifically Noel Gallagher on that MTV performance, I was always impressed by acoustic music and him performing like that when he's not the front man made me instantly respect him as a writer and singer. Paul Weller's days of speed taught me the most guitar I recon.

9, What were the last three records (or downloads) you bought and why? Were they any good?!

I'm not into the downloads thing, I can't help but think, that computer's gonna bust a long time before that cd breaks then that's all my music gone. I've got an ipod but I haven't updated it for about two years cos I loaded all my cd's onto that itunes, then the computer broke, I weren't happy, but a lot happier than if I didn't have them all on cd! Anyway... I got the 45rpm jam singles box set, I like proper actual records, dunno why but it seems better than a cd to me even though you have to change the thing every five minutes. The La's BBC sessions, the actual La's album I got about five years back and it’s been a favourite ever since, now I just buy owt that says La's on it. I am kloot's BBC sessions, cos when I was recording this album the producer kept puttin this song on every time there were a fag break or food in or summert, absolutely brilliant, song called proof, I bought three of their albums on the strength of that one song. beltin albums, just need to see em live now, and get the others.

10, If you had to pick five songs to put on a 'desert island' disc, could you chose them and if so which five would you go for?

Some of these change day to day, some are always in there. Proof by I am Kloot. Liza Radley by The Jam, Big River by Johnny Cash, The Irony Of It All by The Streets, Son of A Gun by The La's.... for now!

11, From the cover artwork of 'Escaping Times' you always look very well turned out, do you wear a suit around the house?! Seriously though how would you describe you look / image and how important to you is it?

Pretty important, I like to look smart, do my hair and that, I'm not into jeans that look like I've just fallen of a bike, and they don't really suit me as it is. I wear trainers and jeans and that but the battered lookin business just cos I'm not into it.

12, What's the best and worst thing you've ever seen written about you?

Worst thing were some article claimin I were from Manchester, not happy with that. Best thing is when the song's understood and they get the point of what it's about when they listen to the lyrics then push it that bit further themselves.

13, You had a bit of a pop at music journo's on your myspace page recently what was that all about?

It weren't much of a pop, I just got some good reviews from the hundred who had the album, and by good I don't mean kissin my arse, I mean actually thought out and good points either positive or negative they were valid. But then I'd send it to someone being paid to do the same as their job and they'd write sounds like Echo and the Bunnymen, a band I've never fuckin listened to and sounds like nothin I do. So can only assumed they've gone with the name stuck on the cd and written it with ear plugs in, either that or say it sounds like summert else, or this band, or that band. I just got bored of em comin back with a list of bands instead of a review, both for my music and readin reviews of other people's music. Point is that's their job and a lot aren't doin it

14, How many friends on myspace have you got? (It’s not a competition obviously but we just like to know!). What can people find on there & have you a website too?

Dunno the exact figure cos it changes day to day but it's summert like 4500, there's songs, the video for six of one, sometimes pictures I've drawn or some throw away poem just for a cheap laugh, and you can draw a mate for my mate. I do have a website its robmcculloch.com.

15, If you were to go on some X Factor / Fame Academy type show which song / cover would you love to have a stab at?

I'd have a stab at the other contestants.

16, Ever thought of giving these reality shows a spin, would be nice to see somebody on there who could sing for a start!

No, I'm not into it, I've had a problem with it for a while, it's not reality for a start it's experiments innit? Big Brother said that for the first one they did it was cuttin people off from real life to see what happens I was interested. I watched the first two then couldn't be arsed with it all, cos they were just windin em up so they'd have a do at each other, then all they do is shout not listenin to each other. Can't be arsed with arguing and double can't be arsed watchin two people I don't know who aren't very bright arguin. Just find it pointless, like them two monkeys Paris and Lionel Richie’s daughter, that kind of thing, that's just two birds with a lot of money smashin other peoples stuff up and pretending they didn't do it on purpose, what's the point of that? If they wanna do it fair one but I'm not gonna watch it. Big Brother, I think I'd just be bored in there, the times I've flicked through and gone past celebrity Big Brother and they're just rattlin on about what they used to do and there’s nothing to do, I'd go fuckin mad. I watch documentaries, and to be fair I'd say that actually IS reality TV, but people tell me I'm borin or an old man or summert! But I'd rather watch Fred Dibnah dancin on a hundred-foot chimney over some Scottish bird rootin through fat people's shit any day of the week!

17, You play plenty of gigs round the north west, what's the chance of a full UK tour?

Suppose that's the next step, it's just puttin all the pieces together

18, What's you favourite ever gig and on the flipside you worst and why?

Favourite was a festival in Leicester, just a great atmosphere, we'd had a good time there the day before and that, the crowd were just up for listening and I was up for playing. Worst was a festival as well but in London, we had to start on time which was fair enough, but they hadn't opened the gates on time, so we're playin to a security guard and a sound man, then people start filing in as we're on our last song. Brilliant.

19, What football team do you support and what do you think that says about you?

I support Bolton Wanderers, I've no idea what that says about me, I'm from Bolton I suppose.

20, Finally in no more than 50 words please write your own press release (and swearing is allowed!).

On a first listen you might think I'm here to say life's a bag of shite, not the case, I’m sayin it's not that bad, funny bits, sad bits, ridiculous scenes, serious situations. You get angry, sad, have a laugh or a cry, it's yours do what you will with it, I just made the thing.