Nerd News in Brief

This edition of NNIB finds itself a bit tardy because I have, once again, been sick. Such is the glory of parenthood; there’s always some exciting new pathogen making its rounds through the local schools and daycares, and it just can't wait to get home and nestle in the cozy innards of the rents.

Still, it did give me another chance to catch up on my movie viewing. This time around I watched Fido. It’s got Billy Connolly. And it’s about zombies. In an alternate 1950’s timeline. And Carrie-Anne Moss, probably for the first time in her career, doesn’t look severely anemic.

What I’m saying is you should totally put that shit in your Netflix queue.

• I come from a land downunder: Church found this very interesting piece from Australia’s The Age about the modern nerd and his importance in the overall societal framework. See? We’re fun and functional.
  
• The Spellah speaks: After the questions began to arise surrounding Baddd Spellah’s recent Inkling interview, I sought answers from the man himself. He was happy to tell me that MC Jomega is a new artist that came to nerdcore rap via the BC rave scene. BS goes went to say, “She was MCing at a local open-mic night that my friends' hosted. They got to talking and by turns she revealed being a fan of Frontalot; my friends said they knew me and we ended up trying out a recording session.” And so another nerd rap she-challenger appears from the northwest!
  
• Bigger=Better: Not content with the regular year-end Top 10 list, my boy Hex Warrior has decided to list 2007's top 100 nerdy artists. Last week he unveiled numbers 100 – 71, including everyone from mCRT to DJ Snyder to my man Glenn Case. Keep an eye on Hex’s MySpace blog for further developments.
  
• Color me excited: Not sure if anyone will flip the fuck out over this other than me, but LogicOne recently mentioned that he and Id Obelis were talking about working together on a project. I’m unsure whether it will be a single track or something on a larger scale, but anything that gets two such talented MCs with two such totally different styles together is a fine idea in my book.
  
• Cover story: Hot on the heels of his re-mastered Cover Fire Vol. 1, Able-X has just released Cover Fire Vol. 2. Able describes this second chapter as “6 tracks … I didn't write, some from bands you've never heard of.” Best. Tagline. Ever.
  
• The clock is ticking: If you’re planning to submit a track for the CAGcast theme song contest I mentioned a while back, time is growing short. The 100th episode of the Cheap Ass Gamer podcast is mere days away, so get to recordin’!
  
• The dozens: And speaking of time constraints, solid information concerning Doc Popular’s projected 12-hour music challenge has finally come to light. The project, dubbed Crate Digger Deathmatch by bastard pop royalty and all-around musical mad scientist TradeMark of The Evolution Control Committee, will take place on Saturday, January 5th of next year. The CDD challenges artists, musicians, and producers of every persuasion and caliber to create at least six 2-minute tracks from no more than $12 worth of music and permissible items purchased from thrift stores. And you gotta do it in only 12 hours. More info should be available for interested parties within the coming week.
  
• Everything I needed to know I learned from Star Trek: From my man Church comes a trio of Trek-related pieces. The first is a DOD-approved training module boasting the unlikely title Leadership, The Final Frontier: Lessons From the Captains of Star Trek. The second is about a Klingon adaptation of A Christmas Carol that was performed last week in Minneapolis. And lastly, we have the results from a Worth 1000 contest called If Trekkies Ruled.
  
• Better late than never: Matt keeps reminding me (and I keep forgetting) about Wizrocklopedia's 12 Days of Wrockmas. Essentially it's a new FREE Wizard Rock track every day for nearly two weeks from our friends at the 'Pedia. Be warned, though, the tracks are availabe for a very limited time.
  
• Words can’t explain: My gal-pal and all around freaky chick Buttnik sent me a Gizmodo UK link that’s left me perplexed and summarily amused. Two words: gadget bondage. Two more: the fuck?
  
• For the occultist who has everything: Denika and Dennis turned me on to Etsy a while ago, but I never imagined you could get Lovecraftian Christmas ornaments. Daddy needs an Elder Sign!
  
• The Great Old Ones: Also of interest to Miskatonic University alum is this fine selection of high quality MP3 albums from nerd rock icons The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets available at Kerf Music. CDs are for Deeps Ones.
  
• I am nerd of the week: I would like to accept the Vaguely Qualified Productions award for Nerd of the Week on behalf of all blogger nerds, and I’d like to… What? No actual award? Then fuck that noise!
  
  
  

Damn the man!

Last week I received an interesting press release from Shawn Who concerning a theme song that he and my pal Antisocial had done for an upcoming consumer advocacy podcast. I was planning to do a blurb about the song, but, after taking a look at the specifics concerning the overall project (particularly with regards to the special guests), I thought it might really be something y’all would be interested in.

Peep the knowledge:

Next Tuesday, Dec. 11, marks a historic moment in consumer e-activism: a one-hour call-in podcast, streaming live from ComcastMustDie.com. That's where you'll here the podcast theme Shawn Who wrote and rapped (with a slick chiptune beat from fellow nerdcore hip-hop artist antisoc ).

Guests Jeff Jarvis of Buzzmachine.com, Mona "The Hammer Lady" Shaw, Ralph Nader and comic Harry Shearer will talk about consumerism, net roots action and the frustrations of dealing with soulless corporate giants.

NPR's Bob Greenfield and Bart Wilson will take your calls and emails, and together they will present Comcast with an alternate view of the universe -- one in which consumers are not simply a cash drawer and a nuisance, but a priceless resource to cultivate and exploit. Just not in the way they've been exploited for decades.

Visit ComcastMustDie.com (the new, improved version, coming this week) Dec. 11 at 9 p.m. EST with your ideas, and your rage.

You know, that is, if your broadband is working.

And if you kids have one o' them MySpace dealies, you can check out Shawn Who Raps right here.

More Nerd News in Brief

Yesterday, while Church and I were goofing off via Gmail, he directed me to this story.

If anyone’s in need of another righteous “fuck you” to Jack Thompson, this is it. Gaming literally saved this kid’s life. And not just gaming: WoW. Yes, World of Warcraft, the crack cocaine of the videogame world.

It just goes to show you that you can develop real world skills practically anywhere. It also goes to show you that moose are dangerous.

Who knew?

• Renegade cowboy poet: Nerdcore icon Beefy and ‘terny rockers From the Dust (featuring Ryan St. Cameraman) recently appeared in some outtakes from a recent Atomic Town video interview. Somewhere within all this delightful tomfoolery, it was slipped that these two primal forces of the Tri-Cities music scene are toying with the idea of joining forces under the moniker LAN Party. There’s also talk of a song about Unicron. Make it so, sweet baby Jeebus, make it so!
• Be on Beef’s album: In other Beefy news, Mr. Thompson is currently seeking guest rhymes for a track called “Disconnect” on his forthcoming album Rolling Doubles. The track already features the great YTCracker, so if you’re gonna try and get in on the action, bring you’re A game. Further information can be procured here.
• Game Music 4 U: GM4A’s winter season compilation has, unfortunately, been postponed to Quarter 1 of next year due to circumstances beyond the control of Anthony and company. Ant says to the participants: “If you can still be part of the compilation, and if you have gotten any closer to a finished track definitely let me know.” Early, late, or right on time, I can't wait to hear this one.
  
• The most fun you could possibly have: Church just pointed me toward this piece on my man Baddd Spellah at the Inkling magazine Web site. It’s a very interesting, if brief, sojourn into Spellah’s inner sanctum. More importantly, it reveals that’s he’s currently working with a new artist, MC Jomega. Apparently Santa really did get my letter!
• RIP Pimp C: On a sadder note, rapper Pimp C, known in wider circles for his work with Jay-Z and to nerd’s as the cat on the hook of YTCracker’s “Shineback,” was found dead in his hotel room earlier this week. He will be missed.
• Nullsleep’s haircut pwns u: New York chiptune festival Blip Fest recently got some press from ABC News. Church came through with a link to the vid, which you can enjoy here.
• One of us!: The Wizard Rock community also got some more love from the mainstream this week when MTV released a year-end top 10 list of their favorite Wrock bands. The Wrock community responded with the type of lively (and ultimately fruitless) debate that you’d expect from our fellow nerds.
• One to grow on: Word also came from Devin of the Wrockers The Owl Post this week that some in the scene are expanding their source material to include other book series. Check out Matt’s recent post at Headphone Sacrament for more info.
• Another damn holiday: Church would like to remind you all that tomorrow is Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day. I plan to fall into the role of ZX409, an escaped test subject from the North Central Positronic Research and Development wing circa the distant future.
• Little Miss Can’t be Wrong: Today I’ll leave you with another installment of Little Miss Gamer. This time around she takes on StarTropics, meaning I now know a grand total of 1 person who played that game.

Def by DeeJay

Mixtapes are a lot like Christmas: you never know exactly what you’re gonna get. Sure, there’s stuff you expect – and more often than not the fat guy in the red suit delivers – but there are also surprises. Delightful surprises.

While nerdcore hip-hop has a predilection for compilation albums, the more classic mixtape formula is often overlooked. Thankfully, in recent months, artists like YTCracker, Dual Core, and Metamystiks, Inc. have done their part to bring mixtapes to geeky hip-hop, and they’re not alone.

When nerdcore producer nYgel first started kicking around the idea of making his own mixtape, I was intrigued. Though he was, at the time, fairly new to the scene, a familiarity with some of his previous work gave me faith in both his abilities and his artistic vision. When I was approached a few weeks ago about doing a write-up on the project, I was happy to oblige.

nYgel, you see, is far from your average producer, and the list of contributing artists attached to the project spanned the breadth of nerdcore as we know it. From the get-go, this album promised to be an entertaining and exciting experience. And then, of course, there were the surprises.

1. "Intro": Sparse, sharp, and commanding, the beat for this track really grabs your attention. The rhymes, unfortunately, while charming, are a little loose, but nYgel never claimed to be a rapper. This one serves its purpose; it gets you excited for what’s to follow
2. "Revenge (featuring Conyeezy)": Conyeezy, you talk too much! I kid the Conyeezy! ;) Seriously, though, ‘Yeez and nYgel work incredibly very well together, though I could have done with more of Con’s well-paced rhyming and less of the spoken interludes. This is one of nYgel’s beats that unapologetically strays from hip-hop cannon, which was an odd choice for such an early track, but it’s one of his best and the song helps to remind you that this is far from your average mixtape.
3. "Pretend (interlude)": This is one of those delightful surprises I was talking about. It’s an amazing take on Dance Hall Crashers “Cricket” that throws in what could have easily been an obnoxious house beat, but nYgel manages to make it fit. This is easily one of my favorite things on the album, despite the fact that something sounding suspiciously like the musical hook from Britney Spears’s “Toxic” wafts in a time or two. It’s a weird change of pace from last track, but still an amazing song that plays into the “anything goes” feel of the album.
4. "Friends (featuring funky49)": This boasts a smooth transition from the previous song, and an amazing beat that’s both exotic and relatable. My long-time home-skillet funky49 loses me a bit on the first verse and chorus (which includes some staggering in the background vox that’s a little distracting), but the second verse is structurally simpler and a lot of fun. nYgel’s subtle switch-up on the beat makes it more so.
5. "Entendre (featuring Able-X)": The overall tone of this track puts me in mind of the neon Babylon that is Las Vegas by night, which is oddly fitting considering that it features Able-X. The lyrics are well-written and amusing, with my only (minor) gripe being the slightly awkward vocal timing on the little bridge that occurs around 1:16 mark. But even that is more than made up for with the Able-X’s brilliant harmony in the outro. nYgel kept the beat simple, and it plays well against Able’s vocals. This track has a vastly different tone that most of the other tracks on the album, but, again, that reinforces the eclectic nature of the project.
6. "Def by Deejay (interlude)": Here we find another flawless transition. I’m not sure if nYgel was trying to create a signature track with this one, but that’s exactly what I think he did with this 2 minute wonder. This type of warm, danceable, poppy groove is exactly the kind of sound I feel to be synonymous with him as a producer. Perfectly paced, expertly edited, and really inspiring, I was almost floored when I realized he’d actually used a pitch-altered +44 sample as the basis for this track!
7. "Burnt Away (featuring Morningstar)": Another slow build-up that really pays off, this track features Morningstar, who are better known as Benjamin Bear and The Artist Formerly Known as Fanatical. Beautifully textured, wholly unexpected, and actually quite beautiful, this is the kind of song that would seem unthinkable on any other mixtape, and I applaud nYgel for taking a chance an including it. It’s an amazing effort from all parties involved.
8. "Frequency (featuring MC Gigahertz)": Honestly, this one’s a little too thin for my tastes, especially after the dense yet airy Morningstar track that preceded it. It sort of sounds at times as if Gigahertz’s lyrics are sitting on top of the music as opposed to being a part of a greater whole. Despite its visible seams and the fact that this isn’t Gig’s tightest flow, the song is really interesting, lyrically, and genuinely relevant to me as a listener.
9. "Ridikulous (featuring TG_2005)": TG’s flow is sarcastic and borderline obnoxious at times, but it certainly works, and while it seems a little rushed at times, this song bisects the album nicely. I was actually provided with an early demo of this track featuring another high-profile nerdcore artist, but it works very well in both cases. On the production end, this groove has a vaguely similar feel to the Morningstar track, and I enjoyed the recurring motif.
10. "Repeat Again (featuring Cyanide Soda and M.C. Shinagami)": This one struck me less as a hip-hop track (due a bit of unsteady meter and wordiness in the verses), but as a more than adequate musically accompanied piece of slam poetry. I’m a huge fan of dub, so the beat appeals to me on a lot of levels. Again, portions of the verses sound more like a poem to me than standard-meter rap, but I actually enjoy that element a lot. The kicked-up-snare-as-cicada sound that floats through from time to time also really interests me.
11. "32 Bars (featuring IllGill and killsaly)": The intro to this seems a tad long to me, but it really grabs the listener after the dubby wind-down of “Repeat Again.” This beat is a killer, and it boasts a slightly glitchy, almost electro feel that, truthfully, has killsaly’s fingerprints all over it. I instantly knew that this wasn’t nYgel’s production because of the departure, but it totally works within the structure of the album. I’m always a fan of killsaly’s nontraditional layering, and I felt it was a welcome addition to the mixtape as a whole. Gill’s flow only slips on a couple of occasions, but I found the hyper-compressed vocal effect to be a bit distracting. Still. “32 Bars” manages to have a sort of experimental, almost drone-rock vibe that makes it memorable.
12. "Radio Star (featuring Benjamin Bear)": Great. Really great. This is another instance where proper track placement makes a brilliant song even more so. nYgel fucks with a classic and Ben comes in rapping with that upper register bark that’s become his trademark of late. On an album of short tracks, this one flies by quicker than most, but I enjoy every second of it. I know this is one of nYg’s faves, and it’s one of mine too.
13. "Take it All Back (featuring Grandmaster Pink)": Strange, sad, haunting, and – dare I say – somber. This is one of the longer, slower tracks on Nature’s Outcasts, but nYgel’s skillful manipulation of the beat’s subtleties and Pink’s undeniable flow make it a fun ride, even if it does sound a bit like Pinky’s rapping to us from beyond the grave. Who’s the other MC? Why it’s my Carolina brother Projekt Zero, who’s not credited in the track title for some reason, but his contribution is admirable as well.
14. "The Wanderer (featuring Conyeezy)": This trails in expertly from Pink’s track. The song continually grows on me. I dug it when I first heard it, and now, a dozen or so listens later, I’m really in love with it. Admittedly, Conyeezy gets a little preachy (and he does a little more talking), but he really hits his stride vocally and manages to sound compelling, convincing, and concerned. On the production end, the Johnny Cash hook and the understated beat make for a thing of beauty. Despite minor gripes, this is another highlight. It could well have ended the album, but, since it didn’t, rest assured that it’ll end an edition of Radio Free Hipster in the not-too distant future.
15. "Until the Dust Settles (featuring Sir-Up)": Sir-Up, a man known up to this point for his penchant for rhyming about comics, gets political on this one, while nYg takes us on a musical journey that’s distinctly eastern. Not Ups best flow, but his lyrics are acerbic and undoubtedly unexpected. My only real complaint is the misuse of the word hung, but that’s just the English major in me. ;) [NOTE: Since the writing of this piece, the song's title appears to've been changed to "Operation Desert Rhymes."]
    
16. "Last Call (featuring Grandmaster Pink, Conyeezy, YTCracker, Beefy, MC Gigahertz, Sir-Up, funky49, Benjamin Bear)": What’s a mixtape without a posse track? Possibly nYgel’s most stirring and well-paced beat, and certainly the only competent hip-hop track I’ve ever heard that lifts a sample from Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” Pink and Conyeezy set the tone by starting strong. (This is probably some of Yeezy’s best rhyming to date; you can set your watch by this flow!) Nerdy South icons YTCracker and Beefy bring it just as hard as you’d expect, and MC Gigahertz more than makes up for any missteps in his previous contribution and proves himself to any naysayers. Sir-Up (who comes back with the social conscience) and funky49 (who comes in like the tracks biggest cut-up) bring that crazy Florida wild-style to the forefront, and, as always, they work well together in such close proximity. Ben Bear takes the track home in his own indubitable fashion, and ably caps what’s sure to be the new late-night nerdcore drinking anthem. nYgel manages to take all these lyrical flavors and make them work together in a greater context, even if the track terminates a little too abruptly. I’m not one for overly long songs, but this one keeps my attention and proves undeniably enjoyable.
17. "Outro (production notes)": nYg comes clean on the creation of the album and really has fun with it. It’s a great way to wrap things up, distinctly personal, and irrefutably good-natured. Not since the first Sublime full-length have I actually enjoyed listening to an album-ending series of stories and shout-outs. Most importantly, I have to thank nYgel for the love he gives to me and Hipster, please!, even if he woefully overestimates my readership!
    
18. "Entendre (redux)": In what has become the nerdcore tradition, nYgel’s album doesn’t stop just because it’s done. This weird, glitchy, and tempo-cranked rendition of Able-X’s “Entendre” is a bit more fun than the original, but mostly because even at hyperspeed, Able isn’t quite as fast as Wheelie Cyberman. :)
19. "In My World (featuring T.Y.T.)": T.Y.T. is nerdcore hip-hop’s answer to Bubba Sparxx, and if that sounds like an insult then you misunderstand me. With an accent, a cadence, a lyrical style, and a flow that’s like no other, the self-professed “the little engine that couldn’t but did it anyway” reminds me of the same simply fact as the great YTCracker: that nerdcore can easily have cross-over appeal. Autobiographical songs are always tough, as they mostly enable artists to wallow in misfortune and overhype their victories, but T.Y.T. tells it like it is, and does so skillfully. nYgel again displays his knack for finding the right beat for the right artist by matching T.Y.T.’s style impeccably. Is it wrong that one of my favorite songs from this album is a bonus track?
20. "Strongalactic (featuring Beastie Boys)": nYgel cut his teeth doing Beasties remixes, so this is a fitting place to end our musical journey. There are some sharp breaks in this track that I don’t quite understand, but overall it’s loads of fun and a really interesting note to go out on.

It’s incredibly easy to make a bad mixtape and oppressively difficult to make a good one, but nYgel and his rowdy team of musical contributors put in the exhaustive legwork necessary to create the latter. It’s stylistically eclectic, exquisitely produced, and a real joy to listen to.

If there’s an underlying theme or message to this collection, it’s that we, as nerds, are nature’s outcasts, and that all the variety you might find in the natural world is reflected in our individual styles and interests. While the mixtape is an artform that promotes diversity and encourages experimentation, nYgel and company have taken that principle to its logical conclusion. The album jumps effortlessly between hip-hop, house, bastard pop, and a myriad of other genres without so much as a batting the proverbial eyelash.

In doing so, it will surely lose some listeners along the way, but the beauty is that anyone who may feel momentarily disappointed with a verse or track will surely be rewarded for sticking around.

While many musical journeys are linear point-A to point-B affairs, Nature’s Outcasts is a scenic drive through the vast landscape of nerdy music. Sure, there may be the occasional rough detour or flat tire, but the listener will ultimately arrive at the final destination enlightened, refreshed, and alive with the promise of new aural possibilities.

Download the album and experience it for yourself.

“Like the last level on Punch-out, I’m destroying a Mike!”

Folk ewe

Though I make no bones about the fact that this is far from a personal blog, I do tend to wax poetic about the totally surreal experience of growing up in the rural south. With that in mind, I present you with this delightful slice of life.

While visiting my mother for Thanksgiving I saw this preposterous bit of graffiti on a stop sign in the old neighborhood. My little sister, who still lives on that same mill hill, was nice enough to snap a picture of it for me on her cell phone.

I can only assume the hillbilly hellraiser in question meant to scrawl the expletive “fuck” on the sign. Instead he wrote the significantly less offensive “folk,” which, I suppose, is a homophone if your accent is thick enough.

I weep for the American educational system.

Nerd News in Brief

It’s funny how you can live somewhere for years and somehow totally miss things that must be dreadfully apparent to outsiders. I, for example, have lived in the rural south my entire life, but this weekend I noticed something quite strange.

I spent the bulk of my weekend attending a series of local Christmas parades. I don’t like parades, and neither does the wife, but Li’l X. loves anything involving large groups of wheeled vehicles, so we made our way around the parade circuit strictly for his benefit.

Finally, yesterday, at my third parade in two days, I was struck by an odd realization. The event in question took place in one of our more prominent small towns, and, as such, it had around 100 to 120 floats. (Not bad for such a hillbilly haven.) Yet I noticed a wicked asymmetry with regard to the themes of said floats. Sure, a lot of them belonged to local churches (mostly Baptist), several featured “prominent” regional businessmen and elected officials, and a portion preached the civic pride (and/or football prowess) of area public schools. But somewhere in the neighborhood of 60% of these floats seemed to feature some manner of beauty pageant winner: often times from oddly specific pageants.

I’m talking, like, “Little Miss Junior Greater Podunk Best Smile/Most Photogenic 7th Grade” specific.

Only in the south.

• Calling all MCs: Church found this at the Wil Wheaton blog. Among other things, it contains 4 lines from a proposed Captain Picard rap. First, we need to lean on him to post the full lyrics. Secondly, one of you cats needs to record it. It's that simple.
• Midwestern Music Extravaganza: Nerdcore producer extraordinaire nYgel recently mentioned that The Attic in Plainfield, Indiana will play host to a number of geeky acts on January 4th. At 6:00 PM, Former Fat Boys, General Philip Legacy, Id Obelus, Coinslot, and several other nerdy-friendly hip-hoppers/indie rockers will gladly rock your socks for an extremely reasonable price. For $8.00 you get to enjoy all this musical goodness, or you can pay $15.00 and both get into the show and score an all-night pass to Mission Control Gaming Center (who’ll be hosting various gaming contests). Thankfully, nYg will be there to tape the event for those of us unable to attend.
• And sometimes Y: nYgel has also reminded me that his long anticipated mixtape Nature’s Outcast is slated for release tomorrow, December 4th. I’ve received a pre-release copy, and should be posting my thoughts on the disk shortly thereafter.
• Cover me: Also on the new release front is a fully remastered version of Able-X’s cover album Cover Fire Vol. 1. I missed the album the first time around (as I’d recently collapsed from exhaustion after compiling HP’s own covers compilation), but I’ve not made the same mistake this time. Check it out and relive the glory days of 80’s synth-pop in the nerdiest manner possible.
• VGM meets seasonal singles: If you’re in the market for a track that’s both game rock and uniquely appropriate for the holiday season, why not take a listen to The OneUps Christmas classic “Super Mario's Sleigh Ride” arrangement. When that fat Italian stereotype stuffs his Koopa-stompin’ ass down your chimney, you’ll be glad you did.
• Poor Chozo: In less cheerful news, nerdcore MC and INFO2k8 mastermind Chozo Ninpo recently returned home to find his studio sacked and his recording equipment stolen. According to Chozo, local authorities “believe they know who did it, but were honest and said they probably couldn't prove it.” Here’s hoping your insurance company comes through for you, brother.
• Back to the crunchy weirdness: The de facto queen of J-nerdcore, the incomparable Rai Kamishiro, has at long last established a presence on MySpace! She’s uploaded some demos from her new album (due late ’07 or early ’08) for fans to enjoy, and Matt also found this… um… interesting track linked from her LJ. I’d love to provide some context for this, but I simply can’t; I’m as in the dark as the rest of you. Juts chalk it up as another delightful oddity from Rai!
• The gift that keeps on giving: mc chris just announced that his December 28th show at Jackrabbits in Jacksonville, FL will be free thanks to “the folks at Agency Group and Tim.” While the details are a bitch sketchy at present, mc promises that up to 300 fans can see the show free-of-charge. What a bargain!
• All through Wayne Manor: And since we’re all entering the season of giving/perpetual shopping, we’ll wrap things up with a jewel that Church found called “Twas The Dark Knight Before Christmas.” Superhero angst and holiday cheer? Surely nothing can be more grand.

More Nerd News in Brief

When folks ask me if I make any money off this site, which happens occasionally, I laugh. I then go on to explain that to make money in ye olde blogosphere you need one of two things: A) enough regular traffic to court serious sponsors or B) a fanbase both expansive and dedicated enough to warrant some serious merch opportunities. In short, in order to sellout one must first have a brand worth selling.

That was my old answer.

My new answer is “None, and that’s why I can say and do pretty much what I want.”

As much as I’d love for writing to be my real job, I have certain freedoms, being the unapologetic amateur that I am, that more professional cats may not. Case in point.

If I don’t like something, I’m free to say so, but much more likely I’ll just ignore the offending product. That’s why my album reviews are so overwhelmingly positive, why my interviews are so unabashedly complementary. I have the liberty to focus only on stuff I like, and, all things considered, that’s a pretty good place to be.

• What’s the Christmas equivalent of Skanksgiving?: In other game-related news, Kotaku stumbled across a pair of very interesting eBay auctions. The lucky winners will receive copies of the PS3 or 360 versions of Rock Band, hand-delivered Christmas day by one of two Suicide Girls. Let the lewd jokes commence!
• Beefy’s Wii = best headline ever: If you’re looking for some love for the third major console, look no further than Beefy’s auction for a new Nintendo Wii and a copy of Wii Play. While he (probably) certainly won’t dress all tarty and deliver it to your house, he’ll be more than happy to include some Beefy swag and a pre-release copy of his forthcoming album Rolling Doubles, should a fan end up winning.
• I am also an italics thinker: Therefore, I support the One DS Per Child program. Church, Matt, and I had a pretty good laugh at this one. Is the humor misplaced? Probably, but when has that ever stopped me from blogging about something?
• ‘Tis the Season: And if gaming’s not your thing, how about scoring the rights to a Sufjan Stevens track for the holidays? No shit! As part of The Great Sufjan Song Xmas Xchange, you submit an original track of your own and, should you win, you and Mr. Stevens trade ownership of your songs. What would you do with the exclusive rights to a Christmas song by America’s foremost indie-folk superstar? If you answered “sell it to someone in the adult entertainment industry for use in holiday-themed pornography” you’re absolutely right!
• Sounds like electro-clash hip-hop to me: In non-holiday news, FL nerdcore MC Benjamin Bear is (erroneously?) included in a recent hardcore/metal/punk compilation from Carbon Drum. You can score this or any of three other genre-specific (maybe!) promotional albums for 12 bones apiece.
• My what?!: Comedy rap act Sudden Death just released a song about the Atari 2600 over at the Funny Music Project. If you weren’t planning on downloading it based solely on Sudden Death’s reputation for the delightfully ridiculous, allow me to state that it’s a Run DMC parody. Get to downloadin’!
• From the desk of Doctor Popular: Doc Pop’s got his own suggestion for your listening pleasure. So says the Doc: “My friend, and beat-making hero, Bomarr released his new EP Scraps today. The album, which is a compendium to his recent album Freedom From Frightened Air, is available online for free. Click here for the official album info and file.” I am downloading it even as I type this.
• The gig that was: Cali nerdcore scenester cupcake has a fairly expansive review of the Frontalot/STD show from earlier this month at the Knitting Factory. She speaks very complimentary of Schaff and of MC Frontalot, and apparently she was interviewed during the proceedings for a piece about nerdcore. Check out the full review at her MySpace blog, and don’t forget to peep this “fireside chat” with her and BOSSFIGHT’s IllGill concerning the show.
• Good news/bad news: The good is that those of us who’ve not had the opportunity to attend in person will get a chance to see a nationally televised performance of Video Games Live! The bad is that it’s for the Spike TV Video Game Awards.
• A new collectable: mc chris favored fans with a veritable fire sale on merch earlier this week. Unfortunately, some of it was slightly defective. Did any of you get one of these “mchris” messenger bags? I'd kinda like to see a better pic.
• My apologies to the Wrock constituency: Church just hit me with this link to a set of tranny action figures used to advertise drag night at a Manila gay bar. Not bad custom figs. These folks are no Sucklord, but they’ve got potential!
• BRB, OMG, LOL: And wrapping it all up today is another vid that Church turned me on to. It’s hexachordal with “Internet Love Song,” and I dig it the most.

Super Friends

There’s a lot of stress inherent in crafting a sophomore release.

Will it live up to the expectations of fans? Exactly how far can an artist stylistically depart from his premiere effort without seeming insincere or reactionary? Will it be a creative step forward that spreads the musical message further, or an aural disappointment that alienates the core audience?

Undeterred by such speculation, international hip-hop twosome Dual Core recently released the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Zero One. Never afraid to monkey with the formula, int eighty and c64 elected to make this effort, the heroically-themed Super Powers, more of a mixtape and invited nerdcore staples YTCracker, Beefy, ZeaLouS1, and MC Wreckshin to participate.

I’ve already shared with you my overall impression of the album, so, rather than linger over the details of the creation process, Dual Core agreed to participate in a less-than conventional interview. As this is their second album, Dual Core is still very much a new group. Though eighty and 64 have known each other for a while, Dual Core itself is a relatively fresh venture. They are, indeed, in what we might term their honeymoon period. As such, this seemed like as good an opportunity as any to get my Bob Eubanks on.

As such, this interview will be conducted Newlywed Game-style, with int eighty answering for c64 and c64 answering for int eighty. How well does this happy couple really know each other? Let’s find out, shall we?

---------------

[int eighty]

You live in the Cincinnati. Where does c64 live?

Westhoughton, Bolton, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.

What is his day job and does he enjoy it?

Graphic designer. I think he enjoys it, at least the paycheck part.

Could you describe c64's recording setup?

It's a vibrant room with a poster of the little green dragon from Bubble Bobble. He also has a computer, MPC 1000, CD-turntable(s?), record turntable, mixer, and studio speakers.

Who are his major musical influences?

Based on his beats, I would have guessed mid-90s underground hip hop from the east coast and midwest. However, I know he likes several east coast hip hop artists as well as some of the great drum & bass acts from the UK and Europe.

What did he have for breakfast this morning?

Cereal? I would say tea and strumpets, but that's later in the day I think.

Um, I think you mean crumpets. A strumpet is actually an immoral woman, and those are almost always best enjoyed after dark. ;)

But moving on, what was the first record (or cassette or CD) that c64 ever purchased?

Hmm... I would guess Ready To Die by Notorious B.I.G. Either that or something by the Beach Boys.

How long has he been making music?

Just a couple years; he's a fast learner.

Zero One is characterized by uniformly slick production, but also by a myriad of aural textures. What is c64's favorite track from the album?

He did particularly enjoy "War Games", as well as "Rule Them All." I'll go with "War Games."

In the future, with whom would c64 like to collaborate?

I know he likes Optimus Rhyme, as well as other artists we've worked with such as Beefy, YTCracker, and ZeaLouS1.

BTW, kudos on not ending the sentence with a preposition.

Thanks. I try.

If the choice was his and his alone, what would he call the next Dual Core album?

"c64 Presents: Dual Core! A c64 production starring c64, with music by c64. Never before heard c64 beat wizardry and c64 wax manipulation. New c64! Also int eighty."

The title of your newest release is Super Powers. Does c64 have any super powers of his own that fans should be aware of?

He has the powers of Iceman and the Human Torch. But both of his powers are always on at the same time, so they cancel out and he walks around like a regular person.

A hero is nothing without a villain. Who is 64's arch nemesis?

Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo, an extremely short-lived character from The Simpsons who was a patron of Moe's Tavern. One night, a stormy night at that, Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo was caught selling imitation c64 beats in a law enforcement sting operation (codename: Codename Operation Codename Usually There's Only One Codename But This Operation Is Just That Special, or COCUTOOCBTOIJTS for short). Joey Joe Joe pleaded not guilty in federal district court, and ended up being acquitted on a technicality. Following the trial, he disappeared; and to this day, nobody knows the origins of the haunted bridge at Mystery Lake. What was the question again?

It was actually “How many haunted bridges are their in the greater Mystery Lake area?,” but I’m afraid we have to move on.

Who is c64's favorite super hero?

Thomas Edison

He did invent the phonograph.

BONUS: Who would win in a fight between c64 and proto-nerdcore rap outfit Commodore 64?

Seeing as how Commodore 64 only released one album, and we are working on our 3rd, I'll go with c64 of Dual Core. Plus, it's c64; he is pretty much indestructible from what I've heard.

[c64]

Dual Core is an international duo with you located in the Manchester area. What city does int eighty call home?

Cincinnati, Ohio.

How many languages does he speak fluently?

I'd say 2 for definite - English and Nerd (if it isn't classed as an official language then it should be!). And possibly Spanish.

Throughout your debut album Zero One, int eighty demonstrates a careful, calculated flow and a truly solid grasp of songwriting. Which track from that album is his least favorite?

Least favourite is a difficult one, as the album is full of nothing but great songs. Maybe “Give Me Wings.” We initially weren't sure about putting it on the album as it deals with the subject of Red Bull and Vodka, which can of course be enjoyed responsibly by anyone over 18 in the UK or over 21 in the US. We didn't want to influence our younger fans and lead them into a world of alcohol, guns and drugs. But then we thought "don't be silly, it's a great song", and put it on the album.

Who are int eighty's favorite MCs?

Probably Jay-Z, Joe Budden, some underground hip hop guys, and MC Hammer.

Please, eighty, don't hurt 'em!

How long has he been rapping?

Our official answer would be 'Since a hotel party a year or two back where he got coaxed into freestyling, and did really well'.

Does he play any musical instruments?

He's amazing on the computer, and that is used to make music. So technically, yes.

How does int eighty feel about the designation of "nerdcore?" Does he apply the label to his music?

Indifferent? As Dual Core we just make music about whatever we feel, and if it falls under the definition of 'nerdcore' then that's cool!

What color are his eyes?

Brown, I think.

Does int eighty participate in any musical projects or collaborations outside of Dual Core?

Some. If I told you about them I would have to kill you.

When he performs publicly without you does he still bill himself as Dual Core?

That's what he tells me. So unless he's a dirty cheat then I'd say yes.

What would be int eighty's ideal super hero codename?

I think he'd keep it as 'int eighty', as you will hear on the song “Day's Work” on our new album! It's a fun song about a day in the life of an incompetent super hero.

Excellent plug.

In the halcyon days of his youth, what was eighty's favorite cartoon?

Probably Thundercats, He-Man or BraveStarr. For a better idea, listen to the song “80s” on our new album (another shameless plug)!

Indeed. Well played!

Spider-Man gained his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider and Green Lantern's spectacular abilities come from his ring. How did int eighty acquire the ability to flow so effortlessly?

I'm guessing his most spectacular flows also come from his ring...

BONUS: How tall is int eighty?

Shorter than me (like most people). Maybe around 5' 9”?

---------------

A sizable portion of my favorite modern hip-hop is crafted through the combined efforts of artists with little or no actual physical contact.

The masterful collaborations of Baddd Spellah and MC Frontalot for Front's seminal release Nerdcore Rising were crafted virtually, across the expansive breadth of North America. Likewise, the three-man powerhouse known as Metamystiks, Incorporated consists of Myf and Super Dragon X (who live on the east coast) and DJ Snyder (who lives on the west).

Still, pound-for-pound, it’s hard to outdo Dual Core. With MC int eighty living in Cincinnati and producer c64 calling Manchester home, their output is instantly impressive given the logistical concerns they must overcome just to get a track together. But when one considers the superlative artistic merit of that output, it’s nothing short of awe-inspiring.

This exercise, as ridiculous as it seems, really serves to prove a simple point: that the artistic prowess of this duo is not hindered in the slightest by their utter lack of geographic proximity. eighty and 64 are bandmates, but, more than that, they’re friends, and they share the same commonality as any friends, despite their physical distance.

The Dual Core experience isn’t fascinating simply because it represents the gestalt of two very different, very talented individuals. It isn’t enjoyable simply because they work so well together, but because of how they work so well together.

Just like Red Bull and vodka, when you mix them together you’ve got a good thing.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 35: The Precarious Adventures of Fair-Use Man

This is one of those episodes where I can't help but look back and think about all the songs that I didn’t play.

Superheroes and comic books mark fertile creative ground both within the bounds of expressly nerdy music and without. These topics can be approached seriously or with a distinctly playful air, nostalgically or with a more contemporary mindset. All things considered, it's pretty unique subject matter.

Whether you’re just some average joe on the street or a hardcore comic book guy, you recognize the logos. You know the powers. You appreciate their symbolism.

I probably take my funny books too seriously on a lot of levels, but in a world that’s bereft of the supernatural wonder of simpler times, don’t we need men who can fly?

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 35: The Precarious Adventures of Fair-Use Man (hosting provided by Antisocial) Size: 47.3 MB Running Time: 51:40

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – “Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)”
Baddd Spellah has laser vision, and Beefy can bend steel with his taint.

Track 1: Dual Core – “Day’s Work”
I could have simply played Super Powers start-to-finish and called it a day, but I didn’t. I did the hard work for you, of faithful listener.

Z’s 1st interlude: “Radio Free Hipster episode 34.”
I lied. This is episode 35. I just totally flaked for a minute there.

Track 2: LogicOne – “Paging Mr. F.”
There are few songs I can say this about, but there isn’t a single line in “Paging Mr. F.” that isn’t pure gold.

Track 3: Cars Can Be Blue – “Dating Batman”
This track comes to you compliments of my pal Matt from Stop Standing Still. I really should’ve credited him in-show. :(

Track 4: The Advantage – “Batman: Return of the Joker”
I feel I’ve been going a little light on the game rock of late, so I thought this track would make a welcome addition.

Track 5: Regurgitator – “Fat Cop”
Grandmaster Pink turned me on to Gurge and I have to say they’ve become a staple in my musical diet.

Track 6: Beatnik Turtle – “I.T. Department (Super Heroes of I.T.)”
Church suggested this track way back when I did my work-themed episode, but I decided to save it for this one.

Track 7: Shael Riley – “Captain S Theme (Blue Pigs in Heaven Remix)”
Don’t forget to support our friends at PBC Productions, the makers of The New Adventures of Captain S and other fine shows.

Track 8: Dr. Strangelove – “Superman… Is Dead.”
If Kenny sounds a little nervous in this piece, allow me to point out that this was recorded live at WOW Hall when he shared the stage for his first major gig with mc chris. You could say the pressure was on.

Track 9: Lazlo Bane – “Superman”
Lazloe Bane’s cover of the Men At Work classic “Overkill” really should make its way into your collection.

Track 10: Beefy – “I’m No Superman”
I can’t recall if it was Church or Matt that said it first, but Beefy is at this weird stage in his career where each new song he releases becomes the best Beefy song. It’s not a bad place to be, artistically-speaking.

Z’s 2nd interlude: “The Scott Pilgrim series.”
I know comparing it to The Watchmen may seem like a stretch to some, but Scott Pilgrim really is a modern classic, even if the videogame allusions remain jarring within the overall narrative.

Track 11: Stephen Lynch – “Superhero”
I’m not a huge fan of Lynch (or of musical comedy in general), but I thought this one fit in well.

Track 12: The Aquabats! – “Danger Woman”
I've always taken issue with the use of the word ska to describe the music of the ‘Bats, but that’s because I’m both a purist and a crotchety old bastard.

Track 13: YTCracker – “Super Super Hero”
There's something about the sound of this track that puts it miles away from most of YT’s other work, and I applaud him taking such a chance. It certainly worked out, as this song is brilliant.

Track 14: Felt – “The Two”
Felt’s another group that Pinky got me interested in. Slug and MURS really are fascinating cats, and I think they warrant your attention.

Track 15: Schaffer the Dark Lord – “Supervillian”
This one’s from Schaffer’s newest release Mark of the Beast. You should buy it.

Z’s final interlude: “I didn’t watch the last Spider-Man flick.”
I actually don’t watch most superhero films. I just find my quality of life is far superior that way.

Track 16: How it Should Have Ended – “He’s a Spiderman”
I hope you’ll find this at one least half as funny as I do.

As I stated at the end there, next episode will be the second annual holiday spectacular. My only regret is that I used “Give the Jew-Girl Toys” already. There are few songs that feel me with as much joy.

After that, I’m planning to wrap up 2007 with a big, geeky party music episode. So if you’ve got suggestions or requests for either, feel free to hit me up with ‘em.

Thanks, as always, for your time and attention. As you were, ladies and gentlemen, as you were.

Nerd News in Brief

Oh, the joy of the holidays! When we buy too much and think too little. ‘Tis the Season!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving. On my end, the family Z. overate, drove three counties away, and then overate again.

I’m neither proud nor ashamed of this dubious accomplishment.

Thankfully, the post-Turkey Day downtime afforded me the opportunity to do a little housework, pick up a number of new videogames on the cheap, and catch up on my movie watching.

Idiocracy – which I watched at JMIC’s insistence – comes highly recommended.

• Santa, baby: Dear Mr. Kringle, this X-mas I need more weird-ass, import videogame accessories. You know what I’m talking about.
• Stop with all that standing still!!!: My comrade-in-arms Matt has recently let me demo some of the second-tier features for his newest venture Stop Standing Still. While they are not yet available to the public (and while I’m unsure how much I’m at liberty to divulge), suffice it to say that band, genre, and location filtering are in the works, as well as some very interesting community features.
• SF Weakly: On the nerdcore tip, Church recently came across a review from MC Frontalot’s own native SF Weekly. While I didn’t dig Front’s recent Secrets from the Future with quite the fervor as his previous effort, this reviewer just didn’t get it. And that, apparently, is somehow Front’s fault.
• The creature stirs!: According to Shael Riley, the forthcoming album from geeky super-group The Grammar Club “is completely recorded and in post production.” Said album is slated to be released before December 14th, and, in preparation, the band’s Web site has recently been upgraded to include things like information. Sadly, there’s no word on Glenn Case’s proposed 24-hour dry-cleaning chain as of yet.
• The sneakiest otaku: While I was fighting off old ladies for $10 copies of Cooking Mama, Ultraklystron went and released his new album under the ol’ radar! Yep, Opensource Lyricist has gone gold and copies are available for purchase even as I type these words.
• The thunder from: The Ranger himself recently dropped a “grossly slept on” Down Underdogs track over at Rhyme Torrents. “Nerd Herders (Empire Mix)” is a sci-fi tour de force that is neither, half witted nor scruffy-looking.
• Like so much mana from heaven: In an answer to my earlier prayer, Random and Maja also dropped “The Halo Above Your Head (Metamystiks Remix).” Production for this cut was handled by another Sedgwick Avenue Alliance member, my man Myf. This release also marks the first track from the nerdcore super-group project dubbed The Cartridge Family. Life, as they say, is good.
• What I (don’t) like about you: Old school Michigan power-pop outfit The Romantics are suing Activision. Apparently, when the group gave Activision permission to make a cover version of their big hit song for inclusion in the game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the '80s, the band didn’t know the song would sound so much like their original. Say it with me now: what the fuck?!
• The shadows breathe: killsaly, a DJ/producer that is, in my own opinion, totally underappreciated, recently released a demo of his remix of “Burn” by mopey dorks The Cure. Those of you looking for a little geeky electronica with which to pass the time are encouraged to check it out. (And while you’re over there, be sure to ask why his superlative remix of “Super Shiny Metal” is conspicuously absent from his SoundClick.)
• Go ask Alice: While not nerdcore in the strictest sense, free-thinking heads might wanna check our MC Mega’s latest (free) release Escape From Wonderland. It’s a surreal hip-hop journey of alienation and braggadocio from a cat who’s vocally somewhere between mc chris and LogicOne and lyrically just left of center. I’d recommend it.
• Two-for-one: In the spirit of Black Friday, I’ll offer you a special: two closing vids for the price of one. The first is a how-to from my pal micomusician balmyjoey that tells you how to use your Rock Band drum kit as a MIDI controller. The second is a new project from my boy Church that exposes the underlying angst of … um… a… Cylon.

A-B-A-B-right-left-right-left-down-down-up-up

Hey, look who it is! It’s that other Z. Y’know, the cute one that doesn’t drink liquor around small children.

Yeah. That one! Little Miss Gamer.

And she’s got another retro game review for your collective ass. This one is for old school shmup Gyruss. It’s kind of a long one, which is fortuitous as I’ve just run out of words.

The Strangeness of Kinders

You’re all aware that the last few weeks have been a little rough for your old pal Z. – what with the teeth getting yanked out and whatnot – but it hasn’t been all bad.

There were the drugs, and those are always fun. Of course, I’ve also received an ample infusion of nature’s analgesic: swag. Nothing speeds up the process of convalescence quite like new tunes, and my dorky comrades have made sure to provide me with a nigh endless supply of new entertainment options.

Nerdcore producer nYgel, for example, was nice enough to give me a pre-release copy of his forthcoming mixtape Nature’s Outcasts. I won’t dwell to much on this at present, as I plan to give it a full write-up after its official release, but suffice it to say he brought his A game.

I also received a care package from the very bowels as hell (aka: New York) from none other than Schäffer the Darklord. Schäff provided me with both his debut release Meet My Maker and his new album Mark of the Beast. You’ve no doubt heard a bit of the material from the former, as I played the delightfully profane “Attack of the Clonefucker” on an edition of Radio Free Hipster. In case you missed it, let me sum up: Meet My Maker treads some magical line between the pomp of rap and the unbridled malevolence of metal without ever devolving into the unsavory potage that is rap-metal.

Consequently, Mark of the Beast takes everything that was right about its forerunner and builds on it. It’s more literate, more lyrical, and more lascivious. Plus the production value and overall flow of the album have really been ramped up.

I’m what you might call a comedy purist. Okay, I’m actually what you might call a douche bag, but I’m what I call a comedy purist, and as such I generally feel that musical comedy is only slightly more palpable than the dreaded prop comedy. Still, Schäffer manages to be both musical and comedic in turn without ever leading the listener to feel that one element is a tacked-on shtick meant merely to help the other go down smoothly.

What I’m getting at is that Meet My Maker is good. It’s fun and humorous and enjoyable and would be a welcome addition to anyone’s collection. Mark of the Beast, however, is a must-own. I know that STD has never fully been accepted by the nerdcore masses, but, as I’m sure anyone who caught him on tour with Frontalot can corroborate, he’s one of us. Come for the “Cat People,” stay for the “Nerd Lust.”

This brings us, of course, to ZeaLouS1’s newest offering The Living Epitaph. BOSSFIGHT’s own Dark Prince was nice enough to hook me up not only with a free copy of Z1’s newest masterwork, but one of the ultra-exclusive limited editions. Included in the slick black packaging was a pair of die-cut stickers (I love stickers!) and a logo pinback (I fuckin’ love pins!), as well as a signed copy of the disk itself.

The album is what you’d expect from ZeaLouS at this point in his artistic development, and that is in no way an insult. As the premiere BOSSFIGHT artist, Z1 has always been about quality, and The Living Epitaph takes that to a whole new level.

From the simple, poignant invocation that begins the disk to the last strains of the album’s closer, ZeaLouS1 takes you an a journey that’s equal parts sci-fi and real life, equal parts fact and fiction, equal part poppy hooks and fierce lyricism. It’s easily his most accessible work, but Z1 stays true to the nerd life just like long-times fans would expect. Tracks like “By Your Side” will both surprise you with delicate aural textures and waylay you with the one-two punch that is the next evolutionary step in ZeaLouS’s musical maturity.

I’m gonna assume that many of you reading this have already purchased this album. Those who haven’t should. It’s that simple.

I know I make a lot of suggestions about how you spend your hard-earned entertainment dollar, so I’ll sweeten the deal: if you’re not an early album adopter, just keep listening to my podcast. I can guarantee that you’ll be hearing a lot from STD and Z1 in upcoming episodes.

Nerd News in Brief

So I’m back. In a manner of speaking.

The good news is that the offending teeth have been dealt with. Dental retribution was both swift and, of course, bloody.

The bad news is that between the frequent antibiotics and the potent painkillers I am hazy at best and incoherent at worst. So please excuse me if this Nerd News in Brief is structurally confusing and verbally meandering.

• Homage vs. parody: Last week Monzy was once again called on to spread the good word of nerdcore, and Church was quick to find the piece and pass it on to me. As usual, Monzy manages to keep his expectations regarding the genre reasonable while at the same time letting his geek flag fly.
• The great racism debate, part XVII: Church was also kind enough to direct me to this piece about MC Frontalot in Northwestern University’s Medill's Journalism mag Medill Reports. It’s a pretty interesting read, but I especially like the authors’ simple summation that “Nerdcore was not created in a vacuum,” which plays oddly against the included criticisms of the Village Voice’s Tom Breihan. Take a gander and lemme know what you think.
• Long live Wrock: My pal Matt also recently passed on word that the Wrock EP of the Month Club is about to become an exclusive affair. With somewhere in the neighborhood of only 50 subscriptions left, if you’d like to snag 12 exclusive CDs featuring new music from Wizard Rock bands for the low-low price of 50 bones, you best act now.
• Ultra Magus: Matt also hipped me to the finalized dates for Wrock festival Magus 2008. Next June 20th through 22nd, Morgantown, WV will literally explode with Potter-related merriment. Be there or suffer the wrath of hundreds of rabid Wrockers!
• Why must you destroy all we hold dear?: WIRED magazine has a small feature – a featurette, if you will – on nerd culture Web comic xkcd. Just because I couldn’t find any glaring inaccuracies doesn’t mean there aren’t any. Consider the source.
• Note to self: Shoes not nerdy enough. Must buy these custom Reeboks.
• Geeky even by band nerd standards: In case you missed this when Jason blogged about it earlier, Kotaku has some crazy clips of the UC Berkley band’s videogame themed halftime show. The Tetris bit alone deserves your utmost attention.
• The WB: The gamer community known simply as Plat4mer recently posted an interview with geeky Canadian wordsmith the Wordburglar. The fake street lingo interview style is a bit grating, but Burg comes off as smooth as always. Plus, he admits to loving the DS, proving once and for all Wordburglar is the shit.
• I bet the icing is sharp and acrid: MC Router just announced the forthcoming release of her first full-length album. The First Lady of Nerdcore will be dropping 8-BIT CUPCAKE on us December 15th. How many references will Router make to PBR in the first track alone? I’m gonna guess a bunch.
• Straight Outta Winamac: On the subject of new music, last week, while in the aforementioned drug-addled haze, I was fortunate to make the acquaintance of Id Obelus via MySpace. Check out his profile for a taste of his clean, arty, challenging, and imminently nerdy rhymes, and for info on his new release flyourfavorite. I think you’ll dig it.
• I haven’t the words to describe it: And just to let you know the kind of stuff my friends have been funneling me in my altered state, let me wrap up today’s post with this vid. It’s both seasonal and surreal.