Videos

Youtubin’: Strange Fruit – “The Flame Still Burns” from the film Still Crazy

I think it’s safe to say that the 1998 British film Still Crazy is my favourite movie about a fictional band.  Yes, that means I like it better than the “big one”.  I definitely prefer it to Rock Star.  It’s just plain better, from story to performance to music.  I never cried during Rock Star, but I do weep during Still Crazy when guitarist Brian makes his triumphant return to the stage during “The Flame Still Burns”, as sung by Jimmy Nail.

Foreigner later recorded “The Flame Still Burns” in 2017. It was co-written by Mick Jones.

I live a life that’s surreal
Where all that I feel I am learning
My life is like an ever spinning wheel
Fueld by a fire that’s still burning

And in time, it’s all a sweet mystery
When you shake the tree of temptation
Yeah and I, I know the fear and the cost
Of a paradise lost in frustration

And the flame still burns
It’s there in my soul, forever I know
And the flame still burns
From a glimmer back then
It lights up again in my life

Ooh I, I want my thoughts to be heard
The unspoken words of my wisdom
Today as the light starts to glow
Tomorrow who knows who will listen

But my life has no language of love
No words from above are appearing
But in time, in time the fire will grow
With a reason for hope and believing

And the flame still burns
It’s there in my soul, forever I know
And the flame still burns
From a glimmer back then
It lights up again in my life

Oh, keep rolling, keep that flame still burning
Keep on rolling while the world keeps turning
Ah, keep rolling
Yeah, keep rolling
Ah, yeah, ooh

And the flame still burns
It’s there in my soul, it’s there in my soul
And the flame still burns
Yeah, it’s there in my soul, forever I know
And the flame still burns
From a glimmer back then, oh yeah

And the flame still burns
Oh, it’s there in my soul, oh, it’s there in my soul
And the flame still burns
From a glimmer back then
Oh, it lights up again in my life
In my life

Jex & the Gang Unbox Stuff, Talk About Stuff, and Rock About Stuff!

Sorry about the technical difficulties, and thanks to Harrison, John, Tim & Jex for holding down the fort!

Tonight we talked about Alice Cooper (a lot), made some jokes about Journey, held some Spoons while we Needed To Breathe, and plugged a PDF!  It was a great, casual and fun night full of music and stories.  It was a pleasure finally talking to Jex Russell face to face for the first time.  This was his first ever live show, and I messed up the start with technical issues!  Thanks for putting up with me Jex.

Ask Harrison returned this week after a long hiatus, with a question from Tee Bone and one from my parents.  Meanwhile,@marriedandheels had her picture taken with Eddie Van Halen’s Frankentrat!  We took a close look.  How cool is that?

 

Thanks for watching, see you next week!

 

Grab A Stack of Rock is Back with Jex Russell!

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK…with Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 15:  Welcome Jex Russell!

There has been a heck of a lot going on here lately.  We need reset the show back to basics, back to the original intent.  That always was just hanging out with no plan!  So that’s what we’re doing.  Showing off whatever music they have lying around will be Harrison, Tim Durling, John Snow, and new arrival Jex Russell!  You might be familiar with the Friendly Frenchman from his stints on Scotch on the Rocks and Tim’s Vinyl Confessions.  Tonight he’ll grab a stack of rack with us and have a good time doing it!

Friday February 24 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T.  Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook.

 

NEXT WEEK:  March 3, 3:00 PM E.S.T. / Noon Pacific

Landings Unboxed! Grace Scheele joins Grab A Stack of Rock to talk about her debut cassette EP!

A blast (-off) was had yesterday, taking a look at Landings, the debut EP by electroacoustic harpist Grace Scheele!  It’s a concept EP about the Apollo 11 mission.  If you like science fiction, space, the moon, chilling, or not chilling, this cassette is for you!  Chromed plastic, sleek packaging, bonus tracks, what more could you ask?  And a small quantity is still available if you’d like your own copy!  You can get it at Bandcamp, and I’m getting a second copy while I still can.  Why?

  • Supporting independent artists is important.
  • Each tape comes hand-sealed in silver foil, with a sticker on the seam.
  • Cassette-only bonus tracks on the B-side!
  • Sensational packaging; chromed cassette shell.
  • Music that is truly out of this world.

Grace joined me on an impromptu short episode of Grab A Stack of Rock on Sunday afternoon, where she explained the creative process, the art, and other details.  Why cassette?  You’ll love the answer.  Also, find out what to do with an ornamental electric harp thingy if you want to have some fun with hacking!  Seriously!

Great little mini-episode!  Thank you Grace for sharing your time with us!

Pick up Landings on Bandcamp!

 

REVIEW: Grace Scheele – landings (2023 – side one)

GRACE SCHEELE – landings (2023 EP – cassette side one, and download)

I’m a sucker for a pretty tape.  This has to be the prettiest tape I’ve ever seen! Limited to 75 copies, I was very happy to participate in a Kickstarter from electroacoustic harpist Grace Scheele.  It’s called landings and, well, I think Grace says it best on her bandcamp:

“landings” centres on the real and imagined experience of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon; wielding bowed harp, electronic fx, and sampling from speeches, newsreels, mission audio, and NASA’s own interviews with those present at the historic newscast.  Ranging from the ethereally ambient to grinding, jarring industrial noise, the seven tracks across this debut EP represents an imagined journey into the darkness of space.

I’d call it a concept EP, based on that alone.  It’s a real listening experience, with elements that remind me of Pink Floyd, Star Trek, and War of the Worlds.  Some of the speeches and dialogue will be familiar, others will be novel.  There are sounds that, in my limited experience, I didn’t know you could make with a harp.  At 22 minutes, landings is easy to digest in a single sitting, and the download comes with a “gapless version” that enables just that.  The layers of harp, samples, and electronic sound build paint a sonic picture.  You can feel the tension of the launch!  I bet this sounds great with headphones.

The track “pomposity” has been getting some exposure, so if you only check out one track, try “pomposity” for a taste of what this is like.

Of course, the cassette itself will be fun once I have it out of the box, and will include three bonus tracks.  You know me and bonus tracks — Can’t wait to hear those!

I can’t wait until I get this tape unboxed, for which I will be joined on a live stream by Grace herself.  We’ll talk about the music, the artwork, the Kickstarter and of course the cassette itself.

Music like this is hard to rate, because I think it’s art, and what’s the point of rating a piece of art?  It either resonates with you or it doesn’t.  I find landings to be an innovative listening experience, unlike anything else in my collection, and I am looking forward to checking it out in different listening environments.  Headphones next, and then this summer, on the front porch of the cottage at sunset.

4.5/5 stars

Youtubin’: PS Audio – High end heavy metal

Here comes Paul McGowan with a question for you audiophile metalheads!

As a non-audiophile, this will never be my bag, but it’s interesting anyway. “Wall of sound” – that’s what I want. He’s right that most of those albums are loud and compressed. Here’s how to maximize the sound of your heavy metal.