As one might get the idea from my ongoing Alternate Album Cover Art series (click here for the previous article of the type), I love looking at album covers! Despite the excess of these as an overall percentage of my posts on this site, something in recent weeks provoked me into covering more album covers … Continue reading Alternate Album Cover Art VIII
Yo! MTV Raps (Pro Set MusiCards)
Once again, it’s time to discuss some music trading cards, and today’s featured set is Yo! MTV Raps by Pro Set. For those that don't collect trading cards, Pro Set was a company that entered the trading card game as a maker of National Football League (NFL) cards in 1989, and eventually expanded to sports … Continue reading Yo! MTV Raps (Pro Set MusiCards)
Record Label Close-Up: ECM Records
ECM. My instincts after years of purchasing the label’s albums was always that the E would have stood for European, and the M stood for music. While I was half-right there, I had no clue as to what the C was for. I was leaning towards “continental” as I had thought the aim of the … Continue reading Record Label Close-Up: ECM Records
Developing a Taste for the “Extreme” (A Starter Pack)
“Extreme metal” is one of those labels that is in the eye of the beholder. To some people, bands like Cannibal Corpse or Deicide are too well-known to be labelled as “extreme”, with the shock factor of their lyrics and imagery having worn off decades ago and many metal fans have grown accustomed to the … Continue reading Developing a Taste for the “Extreme” (A Starter Pack)
Classic Lineup Cards: Slayer
If you’ve read a variety of my previous posts, you know that I’m a trading card collector. In my love of card collecting, I’ve mocked up some theoretical trading cards of my own, most often taking inspiration from existing sports card designs. That’s not the approach I’m going to be taken here. Today, I’m going … Continue reading Classic Lineup Cards: Slayer
The Production Pride of Canada
When I saw that July the 1st was approaching, I felt the urge to put something Canadian together. Canada Day could probably hold a more special place in my heart, but no matter what country you are born or raised in, you keep getting mixed signals about how much nationalism one is supposed to have. … Continue reading The Production Pride of Canada
Please Make My Album Cover! (Part 2)
It doesn’t take terribly long for me to find a visual artist that I appreciate. Seeing that I’ve got more comics than I can fit on my shelves, and shop frequently at thrift stores, flea markets, and toy conventions in further space-constricting hobbies, my eyes are always open and willing to spot something of interest. … Continue reading Please Make My Album Cover! (Part 2)
Al Di Meola Stars in… “Sequencer”
Am I the only one that loves it when musicians do the acting in their own music videos? The more outlandish the concept, the better! And if the musician can’t act to save his life, then that gets the chef’s kiss from me. It really shouldn’t because that’s more along the lines of what I’d … Continue reading Al Di Meola Stars in… “Sequencer”
Alternate Album Cover Art VII
No need for a grandiose introduction on this post. Given that I’ve gone down this road six times before (see volumes I, II, III, IV, V, and VI of this series), I’ll get right to the heart of the matter and go over five additional albums and their covers, continuing to explore various ways musicians … Continue reading Alternate Album Cover Art VII
Classic Lineup Trading Cards: Armored Saint
Everybody has a handful of musicians and bands that they’ll lean on when discussing those who were underrated or didn’t get a good enough break. Among those in the hard rock and heavy metal genres, Armored Saint is one of my go-tos in that regard. I truly feel that they could have been America’s answer … Continue reading Classic Lineup Trading Cards: Armored Saint
Keys To Enjoying A Concert (and Proper Etiquette)
If you’re at all like me, a new year leads to new concert experiences. As of today, I’ve got Depeche Mode, Enslaved / Insomnium, and Herbie Hancock shows marked on the calendar, and I highly anticipate seeing what other events sprout up in Toronto and the surrounding area in the coming months. While I maintain … Continue reading Keys To Enjoying A Concert (and Proper Etiquette)
The In-Betweeners: Jonathan Mover
Any fan of Spinal Tap will tell you that one of the biggest bits of the band’s lore is their problems with drummers. It does seem to be a notoriously difficult position in a band to keep consistent. While I would call a number of drummers irreplaceable in their respective bands (like Neil Peart was … Continue reading The In-Betweeners: Jonathan Mover
Armchair Maestro 