Radio Free Hipster Ep. 65: No Foolin’

After the unmitigated surprise of the previous podswapped episode, I’m afraid this edition of the show is strictly more of the same. Of course, I guess I can assume - if you’re a regular listener, at least - that more of the same is exactly what you’re looking for. In which case, have I got a deal for you!

Episode 65 hits on some recent high points, new stuff from Hidari and Beefy and Sticks Downey, as well as some older material that has recently resurfaced, like the nerd-tastic Twin Sister and the mysterious Mark VII. It’s wholly devoid of theme, but I do linger on the topics of Japan and Star Wars for a bit, so hopefully that’ll give it some much needed cohesion.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 65: No Foolin’ (hosting provided by Antisoc) Size: 44 MB Running Time: 48:04

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
Beefy and Spellah are like the nerdcore Wonder Twins.

Track 1: The Browncoats – "The Hero of Canton"
Church has been on a Browncoat rock tear as of late, and I have greatly benefited from his recent obsession.

Z’s 1st interlude: "Any man ever got a statue made of him was one kind of sumbitch or another."
Mal Reynolds is a genius.

Track 2: Sticks Downey – "These Monitors Are Frigid"
Sticks Downey is a Portland trio that has completely charmed me with their new full-length When the Belt Changes Hands. "These Monitors Are Frigid" is an excellent example of its unique style.

Track 3: Hidari – "Maybe Baby"
Hidari’s Wine and Chocolate is another fine collection of Japanese language power pop. This track in particular boasts one of my favorite (understated) guitar solos of recent memories.

Track 4: Random Arts Project – "Tokyo"
R.A.P. features my boy id obelus, and its clever productions style takes his free-association flow to a new level.

Track 5: Selfhelp – "Zentraedi (feat. Wordburglar)"
Max Sterling is a personal her of mine. I'm just sayin'.

Track 6: Ultraklystron – "Girugamesh"
Karl’s Desu Desu Desu mixtape is a must-own. Thankfully it’s also a freebie.

Track 7: Yold – "It's Bigger than a Prayer (Dead Prez vs. Bloc Party)"
"If I feel it I feel it, if I don’t I don’t / And if it ain’t really real then I probably won’t."

Z’s 2nd interlude: "Because Japan is fucking weird."
Truthfully, Justin of Hidari (who’s the cat that put together my press kit) is American. But this does not erase the fact that Japan is fuckin’ weird.

Track 8: Beefy – "About Damn Time"
Beef Thompson is no longer a hard-boiled detective. Now he is a space man!

Track 9: D&D Podcast – "Punch Him in the Dickhole!" / Mark VII – "Spherical Rhymes"
Something new and ridiculous meets something old and infectious.

Track 10: Xoc – "Beetlejuice Town"
Xoc’s Cinema 80s collection is pure genius.

Track 11: mc chris – "IG88's 57 Chevy"
Rumor has it that every edition of the Part Six saga will feature another bounty hunter on a vehicle.

Track 12: Twin Sister – "We Don’t Serve Their Kind Here"
It’s like if Blind melon wrote songs about Star Wars.

Track 13: XMark – "Still Alive"
Everyone has their favorite cover of the Coulton classic. This is mine.

Z’s final interlude: "Sort of an odd choice, actually."
As if there is any rhyme or reason to my song selections!

Track 14: Dan Mei & Marc Johnce – "My Life on the Crazy Train Sucks (So What?)"

The magic of the mash-up is its near alchemical gift for making gold out of lesser elements.

I’ve got a lot of residual show themes left over in my notes from last year. One in particular keeps jumping out at me every time I return to the well.

As such, May will kick off with a tribute to the female voice; it will both celebrate this unique musical instrument and focus on women’s very genuine, very important contributions to nerd culture. We exist in what is traditionally a boys club, and while there’s still some truth in that it certainly doesn’t make the ladies involved in the scene any less important.

Should you have any suggestions or requests for this gynocentric episode, don’t hesitate to hit me up with ‘em!