bicyclelegs

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Defending KISS: Psycho-Circus with Peter Kerr and bicyclelegs

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode

Episode 163: Defending KISS: Psycho-Circus with Peter Kerr and bicyclelegs

Mike is off for a couple more weeks, so this Friday, Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation is taking over!

30 years ago, the original Kiss reunited for the tour of the year.  Of course, the very next question fans had was:  will you make a studio album?  Kiss dodged that for a while, before they announced their reunion album with Canadian producer, Bruce Fairbairn, who resurrected Aerosmith from the dead.  But was he the right kind of producer for Kiss?

Psycho-Circus erupted in fall of 1998 and fans were split.

Tonight, Peter Kerr and his special guest bicyclelegs will defend Psycho-Circus from all the hate.

It’s not a small task.  The album has issues including minimal Ace and Peter, glossy production, ballads, and plagiarism.  I don’t envy these two men.

At the end of the show, Peter will graciously allow me to say a few words about Harrison and the future of Grab A Stack of Rock, and 50 Years of Iron Maiden.

Tune in tonight for what may prove to be an impossible task.  Let’s see what the fellows have to say about one of the most controversial Kiss albums of all time, and that’s saying a lot!

 

Click above for the link to our streams.

Friday Oct 9 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

VIDEO: CRETIN CLASSICS: 2005’s Best Songs (Top Twelve)

I was honoured to be invited onto Cretin Classics, for my debut on Davey Cretin’s excellent channel.  I was joined by Davey, bicyclelegs, and John Alapick (formerly: the Music Nut).

Before we watch, I would like to address a former Grab A Stack of Rock cast member who accused me of making posts like this in order to “boast” about being on bigger channels.

While I am very proud to be on quality shows like Cretin Classics, this isn’t a boast.  I post these shows for two reasons.  One:  to promote the show for my friends who host them.  Two:  To keep track of all my appearances.  If I don’t blog them, I will forget over time what episodes I have done.  It’s that simple.

Cretin Classics has listing been Top 12 Songs from each year, and 2005 was an interesting one for me.  It was my final year at the Record Store and filled with music I had bad memories of.  Or not?  Is that true?  Let’s go through the list and find out!

Enjoy the show!

Album Battle! Angine de Poitrine – bicyclelegs talks music

I always enjoy talking music with people who are more musically scholarly than I am. Me? I can tell you what I enjoy about a song or a band. I can recite lyrics and I can mimic solos and riffs that I enjoy. bicyclelegs, on the other hand, helps us dive a little deeper.

Join us for the premiere today of Album Battle: Angine de Poitrine!

You’ve seen and heard all about this bizarre microtonal duo from Quebec (actually, from space). They have gone viral and have recently re-pressed their albums Vol.1 and Vol.II (yes, we talk about that annoying difference!), and we have both acquired our copies.  After numerous listens, we report back with our findings.  Spoiler:  the albums are very different though still unmistakably Angine de Poitrine.

Check out the show!

Saturday July 11 at 8:00 AM EST

🅻🅸🆅🅴: Lenticular Cover Art collections with bicyclelegs talks music

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode

Episode 143: Lenticular Cover Art collections with bicyclelegs talks music

When a new release is announced with a “lenticular” cover edition, do you always jump at the chance?  Harrison does.  Harrison loves those “three-dimensional”, moving images in his music collection.  So does Mike, and bicycelegs!  Together we will show you just about everything we have in our music collections with lenticular cover art.

Lenticular art is nothing new.  For centuries before its invention, humans have been trying to create moving images.  Lenticular art involves taking two or more images, interlacing them, and presenting them behind a piece of glass or plastic with ridged lines throughout.  The result is a moving, three-dimensional image.

Tonight we’ll look at some items that you’re familiar with, and many that you are not.  From newer releases to old classics from the 1990s, we have a variety to show.  Please join us tonight for this fun and educational episode!  We will be live, and we love interacting in the comments.

 

Click here for the link to the live show

Friday April 17 at  7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

Bicyclelegs: Marillion – The Sequel To Success: Clutching At Straws (w. Mike Ladano)

As promised, I have returned to Bicyclelegs’ excellent YouTube channel for a THIRD round of Marillion.  Last year, we discussed our favourite songs from each studio album from 1983 to 1995.  Then, we covered the rest! This time,we take a deep dive on what some consider to be the best of the original Marillion four:  Clutching At Straws.

This episode is available now!

 

Welcome to The Sequel To Success! In this series we will be looking at the album that came after a huge album for an artist and discuss whether the follow up was a success or failure both artistically and commercially. Today Mike Ladano from Grab A Stack Of Rock joins me to discuss Clutching At Straws by neo-prog legends Marillion. This was the follow up to their platinum selling (in the U.K.) album Misplaced Childhood which had also produced the hit singles Kayleigh and Lavender. We go through the album track by track, analyse where it succeeds (and maybe where it doesn’t) and discuss what came after (in this case, quite a lot!).

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 12: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son with bicyclegs

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 12:  Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

With special guest bicyclelegs talks music

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #102

BONUS:  Click here to read an amazing 1988 interview with Bruce Dickinson, transcribed from Music Express Magazine by Jex Russell.

Please welcome back bicyclelegs, from the YouTube channel bicyclelegstalksmusic!  He is the first guest to make a return visit to 50 Years of Iron Maiden.  He got to talk about two of his favourites, Powerslave and now Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.

It’s another historic Iron Maiden album.  Not just songs with common themes about topics such as “time”, but this time Iron Maiden completed their first and only full concept album.  The topic was quite esoteric:  a seventh son of a seventh son.  Such people, born from an unbroken line of seventh sons without daughters in between, were rumoured to posses powers of healing or foresight.  What if such a character found himself a pawn in a game of power between good and evil?  Not every song on this album is a sequential part of the story, but together we try to walk you through the plot and the twist ending.

Musically, Iron Maiden were using keyboards, which caused some controversy.  Though Bruce Dickinson was back in the game and contributing songs and lyrics for the first time in four years, it was a time for change.  One member of the band found himself unhappy on tour, and the band’s longtime cover artist was also frustrated with his artistic expression.  We cover all this tonight on the show.

Not only that, but as usual you can count on us to cover all the B-sides* (and one unique A-side).  Physical product will include an original Seventh Son vinyl, a multitude of singles including a shaped picture disc, and of course CD.  As per our custom, Harrison will walk us through the setlists for the tour.

Can I Play with Madness?  Scream for us, YouTube, and enjoy this comeback episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden.

*The only B-sides we will not include in this episode are the tracks from “Infinite Dreams”, which were all re-released on Maiden England, a future live episode.

 

Airing Friday May 9 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 9: Powerslave with bicyclelegs talks music

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 9:  Powerslave

With bicyclelegs talks music

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #97

‘Twas a cool day in both Australia and Canada when three of us braved the scorching desert sands of Powerslave!  Joined by the legendary bicyclegs, Harrison and I took a deep dive into all eight tracks and all four B-sides.  Each time, our guest has picked a personal favourite album and bicyclelegs’ passion for Powerslave is obvious.  Join us for some deep insight into the songs, the lyrics and subject matter, the musicianship and of course the artwork!

As for physical product, we’ll see the vinyl and the new zoetrope vinyl too.  There are some special Reaction figures by Super 7 relevant to the album, and some singles too.

Taking the wheel at the end, Harrison will tell us of the tour, the setlists, and the songs that were played and how frequently.  Harrison is a musical tour encyclopedia, and this is always a highlight of the show.

Don’t miss this awesome episode, and be sure to like and subscribe if you haven’t already.

Friday April 4 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

Past episodes:

Bicyclelegs: Marillion – Favourite Song From Each Album – Pt. 2: 1997 – 2022

As promised, I have returned to Bicyclelegs’ excellent YouTube channel for a second round of Marillion.  Last year, we discussed our favourite songs from each studio album from 1983 to 1995.  Now, we cover the rest:

  • This Strange Engine
  • Radiat10n
  • marillion.com
  • Anoraknophobia
  • Marbles
  • Somewhere Else
  • Happiness is the Road Part 1:  Essence
  • Happiness is the Road Part 2:  The Hard Shoulder
  • Sounds That Can’t Be Made
  • Fuck Everyone and Run
  • An Hour Before It’s Dark

As usual, I changed up some songs at the last minute.  This started as an easy task, but ended with more difficulty as there are albums that just didn’t hit me and others that I haven’t spent enough time with.  But here they are, and here are the songs I liked best.

Welcome to another episode of Favourite Song From Each Album. In this series we look at the catalogue of an artist and pick our favourite song from each studio album chronologically. Today Mike Ladano from Grab A Stack Of Rock joins me to talk Marillion. Last time we picked our favourite songs from the first 8 studio albums (link below). Today we come back to cover the rest of the catalogue (1997 – 2022). Enjoy!

Top Five Marillion Christmas Tunes featuring Todd Evans and the Debuts of bicyclelegs and Davey Cretin on Grab A Stack of Rock

Merry Christmas from Marillion! A happy Christmas present:  all the way from New Yawk City, Mr. Davey Cretin joins Grab A Stack of Rock as surprise guest!  Davey comes aboard with an already epic cast:  bicyclelegs, also in his debut, and the returning Todd Evans.  Together we broke down our favourites from a large pool of seasonal Christmas songs by Marillion.

Bicyclelegs has 26 Marillion Christmas releases, dwarfing my 19.  More Christmas albums than studio albums.  Though there was a little bit of repeat on some favourite tracks, there was also one clear winner.  You’ll have to watch to see which one.  There was also a bit of a discussion on a certain Christmas song made famous by Mariah Carey.  Who did it better:  Carey, or Marillion?  I’m sure you can guess my preference.

From carols dating back to the 1600s, to drunken covers and originals, we ran the gamut of styles.  Though there was levity, there was also clear passion for this band, their musicianship, and what they mean to each of us.

Next week, there will be a special live presentation of three older Grab A Stack of Rock shorts, with new intro and outro by me.  I hope you will check it out.  I even included an easter egg for you to find.  Meanwhile, I’ll be busy recording a super-fun episode with Peter Kerr at Rock Daydream Nation.

Check out the Marillion show below:

Marillion Christmas: Top Five Christmas Tunes by Marillion, with Todd Evans & bicyclelegs

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 81:  Top Five Marillion Christmas Songs with Todd Evans & bicyclelegs

Todd Evans is back to talk Marillion once again!  He brings with him Australia’s own bicyclelegs, with whom I’m covering favourite tracks from each studio album on his channel.  These two progressive rock professors will be joining me to discuss our favourite Christmas songs performed by Marillion.  The band have recorded both covers and originals, and tonight we’ll brief you on what we think are the cream of the crop.

I have 19 Marillion Christmas albums in my collection; for the physical media buffs, I will show you each one.  For simplicity’s sake, one could also use the compilation A Collection of Recycled Gifts, which in its extended format has 15 songs to choose from.

Please join us live in the comments section tonight for some progressive rock Christmas fun.  There may even be surprises.

Friday December 6 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!