John Clauser

🅻🅸🆅🅴 GOOD FRIDAY AFTERNOON! New Music Mania with Ash Geisler and Johnny Metal

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 99:  Good Friday Afternoon – New Music Mania with Ash Geisler and Johnny Metal

A Good Friday tradition:  For the third time, Grab A Stack of Rock goes LIVE this afternoon with special guests and special music!  We have a ton of new music here to discuss at Grab A Stack of Rock HQ.  You’ve heard all about the new Darkness album Dreams On Toast?  Well now it’s my turn.  I have SEVEN COPIES (six physical and one digital) to get all the tracks, and I will be discussing my impressions.  I also have the new Rock N Roll Party Tonite EP by Mystique, and some vinyl from Dan Chartrand from OfftheCharts to unbox!  What could be inside?  You’ll be electrified.  Time permitting, I may also show off my massive haul from a forthcoming video on a big, BIG purchase.

We’ll see how much we can get through, because joining me will be Ash Geisler and Johnny Metal, with their own new musical scores to show off.  What could be new in southern Australia and the state of Alabama?  We’ll find out this afternoon!

The Good Friday afternoon episode is a tradition now in its third year (see below).  Sadly, Jex Russell could not be with us this time, but Ash and Johnny should be up to the task, even if the time zones make it tricky.  Remember, this episode is LIVE so join us for the fun and let us know in the comments that you’re with us!  See you this afternoon to Grab LOTS of Stacks of Rock!

Friday April 18 at 3:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 4:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

Good Fridays Past:

Good Friday Afternoon April 7 2023:  @MarriedandHeels and Jex Russell began the tradition for a special episode celebrating California music, Easter manicures, and shiny silver boots!  Our first Good Friday afternoon episode, we did it at this time slot to enable @MarriedandHeels to join us from California.  It was a fun afternoon, and look how shiny those boots are!

Good Friday Afternoon March 29 2024: Top 5 Albums From Our Birth Years with Jex Russell and Uncle Meat.  This was a special episode!  Jex and I wanted to continue the Good Friday tradition, but this was a special reunion for Meat and I, who had not done a show together in a year and a half.  Jex surprised me – and my surprise is in the thumbnail image!  A blessed good show!

NEXT WEEK:  OUR 100TH EPISODE!  A LIVE MIX TAPE WITH JEX, HARRISON AND JOHNNY METAL!

 

The Contrarians Live: Eyes Without A Face

UPDATE:  Show is cancelled

 

A topic from Martin this week:  Album covers featuring eyes, but not the full face!  This was a fun one to do, and I look forward to seeing what the other guys bring tonight.  My list has a lot of obvious picks, but as usual, Tim beat me to some good ones.  It feels like a race to get your list in every week!

Watch tonight and witness!

THE CONTRARIANS – Eyes Without A Face – Wednesday April 16 –  7:00 PM EST

 

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Nicknamed Album Covers
  2. Minimalist cover art
  3. Brown album covers
  4. Yellow album covers
  5. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  6. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  7. This Album Cover is Hell!
  8. Toys & Games
  9. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  10. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  11. They Swapped Covers!
  12. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  13. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  14. It’s A Piece of Art!
  15. Compilation Kaos!
  16. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  17. Amped Up!
  18. Packaging Fails
  19. Where’s the Band?
  20. Slippery When Wet
  21. Greetings From New York
  22. Done With Mirrors

The Contrarians Live: Done With Mirrors

Tim Durling came up with this topic, a nice simple one!  Album covers with reflections on them.  Could be mirrors, could be polished metal, or water!  Whatever the cover may be, if it has a reflection, it’s fair game for tonight.

Tune in live!

THE CONTRARIANS – Done With Mirrors – Wednesday April 9 –  7:00 PM EST

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Nicknamed Album Covers
  2. Minimalist cover art
  3. Brown album covers
  4. Yellow album covers
  5. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  6. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  7. This Album Cover is Hell!
  8. Toys & Games
  9. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  10. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  11. They Swapped Covers!
  12. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  13. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  14. It’s A Piece of Art!
  15. Compilation Kaos!
  16. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  17. Amped Up!
  18. Packaging Fails
  19. Where’s the Band?
  20. Slippery When Wet
  21. Greetings From New York

 

 

The Contrarians Live: Greetings from New York

From the mind of Martin:  Album covers with that “New York” vibe.  Picturing the city, or just putting out that New York vibe.  One of my picks went so far off the beaten track, you won’t believe it.  Off by about 2000 years.  Any guesses?

Tune in tonight!

THE CONTRARIANS – Greetings from New York – Wednesday April 2 –  7:00 PM EST

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Nicknamed Album Covers
  2. Minimalist cover art
  3. Brown album covers
  4. Yellow album covers
  5. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  6. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  7. This Album Cover is Hell!
  8. Toys & Games
  9. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  10. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  11. They Swapped Covers!
  12. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  13. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  14. It’s A Piece of Art!
  15. Compilation Kaos!
  16. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  17. Amped Up!
  18. Packaging Fails
  19. Where’s the Band?
  20. Slippery When Wet

 

 

VIDEO: Harrison Unboxes Some Metal CDs! (Ode to Jake Not From State Farm)

Readers may not be familiar with Jake Not From State Farm, so let me introduce you.  If you tune in to John Clauser’s channel My Music Corner, he’s done several great videos with Jake.  Additionally, Jake will be joining us later this year for some albums on 50 Years of Iron Maiden.  It turns out that both Jake and Harrison love Blaze Bayley.  And so, they became friends.

Jake had a batch of duplicate CDs that he donated to Harrison’s collection, two of which I want!  That damn Harrison keeps ending up with more and more CDs that I want for myself.

Joining us for this unboxing episode is the man who introduced us to Jake in the first place, Mr. Johnny Clauser.  Mostly, we let Harrison do the unboxing, and lots of show and tell.  Enjoy this short episode.

The Contrarians Live: Slippery When Wet

My 20th Contrarians Wednesday Live Stream is upon us!

This was a fun one to do:  Album cover featuring boats and/or bodies of water.  I think Tim came up with this topic, because I accused him of using it as an excuse to show off more Kansas!  My list will include a local legend, and some big metal stars.  Canadian content guaranteed!

THE CONTRARIANS – Slippery When Wet – Wednesday March 26 –  7:00 PM EST

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Nicknamed Album Covers
  2. Minimalist cover art
  3. Brown album covers
  4. Yellow album covers
  5. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  6. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  7. This Album Cover is Hell!
  8. Toys & Games
  9. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  10. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  11. They Swapped Covers!
  12. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  13. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  14. It’s A Piece of Art!
  15. Compilation Kaos!
  16. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  17. Amped Up!
  18. Packaging Fails
  19. Where’s the Band?

 

 

The Contrarians Live: Where’s The Band?

Last week I felt like I needed a break.  I wasn’t feeling well and I dropped out of the episode.  Then Jamie had a fire in his basement and I decided to come back.  So, I’m back again this week too.

Courtesy of Martin Popoff, this week features album art with only partial band lineups!  My list is dominated by a certain “band” from New Jersey that often features only one band member on their covers.  Not my most interesting list this week, but I’m present ready to complain about this band that I used to love.  Let’s see what the other guys bring this week!

THE CONTRARIANS – Where Is Everyone? – Wednesday March 19 –  7:00 PM EST

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Minimalist cover art
  2. Brown album covers
  3. Yellow album covers
  4. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  5. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  6. This Album Cover is Hell!
  7. Toys & Games
  8. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  9. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  10. They Swapped Covers!
  11. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  12. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  13. It’s A Piece of Art!
  14. Compilation Kaos!
  15. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  16. Amped Up!
  17. Packaging Fails

 

 

My List – The Contrarians Live: Packaging Fails

Here was my list:

Kiss – You Wanted the Best – Unseen photos from the archives?  I call BS!

Kiss – The Box Set (guitar case version) – CDs fall out of top flap every time you open it, as demoed on last show.

Alice Cooper – Old School (box set) – Top of “desk” curls up over time.  Due to shape and fragility of box set, it is hard to flatten safely.

Ozzy Osbourne – 1995 remasters – The postage stamp sized art and the circular song titles on back are an epic fail.

Kick Axe – Rock the World (reissue with the really bad cover) – The brilliant original cover was replaced in 2005 with something far uglier.

Marillion – Marbles – campaign edition 2 CD digipack – Discs pop out and the little foam things that hold the discs in, come unglued with time.

Pearl Jam – Vitalogy – Known to fatally scratch discs.

Kim Mitchel – Itch – People think the album is actually “self titled” due to messy cover art.

AC/DC – PWRUP lightbox – Mine ripped, trying to get all the stupid tape off the box set.  Ripped on day one!

Twisted Sister – Live at the Marquee – Rhino limited edition – Doesn’t file nicely anywhere, doesn’t stand up straight…a straight fail!

Packaging fails!  Cover art that’s too small, discs that fall out, packages the scratch the precious CD inside…we’ll cover lots of them tonight on the Contrarians Live.

There will be a variety of “fails” tonight, from the usual suspects.  Unfortunately I may have to start skipping these Wednesday night shows.  With spring now here, I no longer need to occupy my evenings in front of a screen.  We will see what the future holds.  I had a great run – 17 shows in a row without missing a single one.  Only Grant can say he also hasn’t missed a single show of the last 17.  We’ll see how it goes.  It’s bittersweet.  I’d like to continue doing this every week, but when the sun is shining outside and the air is warm, it’s hard to sit at a screen.

Watch live and comment!  Martin always tries to address the comment section.

THE CONTRARIANS – Packaging Fails – Wednesday March 12 –  7:00 PM EST

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Minimalist cover art
  2. Brown album covers
  3. Yellow album covers
  4. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  5. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  6. This Album Cover is Hell!
  7. Toys & Games
  8. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  9. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  10. They Swapped Covers!
  11. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  12. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  13. It’s A Piece of Art!
  14. Compilation Kaos!
  15. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  16. Amped Up!

 

 

The Contrarians Live: Packaging Fails

Packaging fails!  Cover art that’s too small, discs that fall out, packages the scratch the precious CD inside…we’ll cover lots of them tonight on the Contrarians Live.

There will be a variety of “fails” tonight, from the usual suspects.  Unfortunately I may have to start skipping these Wednesday night shows.  With spring now here, I no longer need to occupy my evenings in front of a screen.  We will see what the future holds.  I had a great run – 17 shows in a row without missing a single one.  Only Grant can say he also hasn’t missed a single show of the last 17.  We’ll see how it goes.  It’s bittersweet.  I’d like to continue doing this every week, but when the sun is shining outside and the air is warm, it’s hard to sit at a screen.

Watch live and comment!  Martin always tries to address the comment section.

THE CONTRARIANS – Packaging Fails – Wednesday March 12 –  7:00 PM EST

 

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Minimalist cover art
  2. Brown album covers
  3. Yellow album covers
  4. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  5. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  6. This Album Cover is Hell!
  7. Toys & Games
  8. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  9. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  10. They Swapped Covers!
  11. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  12. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  13. It’s A Piece of Art!
  14. Compilation Kaos!
  15. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  16. Amped Up!

 

 

The Contrarians Live: Amped Up!

This fun subject is courtesy of Martin.  Amps, microphones, tape decks…whatever goes into making music, if it’s on the album cover, it counts!  I will be bringing out some big heavyweight albums for this special episode tonight.

What are some of your favourite albums with amps and recording equipment on the cover?  Or perhaps in some cases, the entire packaging?  Stay tuned!

Watch live and comment!  Martin always tries to address the comment section.

THE CONTRARIANS – Amped Up! – February 26 7:00 PM EST

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Minimalist cover art
  2. Brown album covers
  3. Yellow album covers
  4. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  5. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  6. This Album Cover is Hell!
  7. Toys & Games
  8. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  9. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  10. They Swapped Covers!
  11. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  12. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  13. It’s A Piece of Art!
  14. Compilation Kaos!
  15. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!