Nerd News in Brief

In one of our daily bullshit sessions – our regularly scheduled bullshittery, if you will – Matt directed Church and me to this article.

For those too lazy to click, let me break it down: superheroes are among us.

Oh yeah.

Real. Life. Superheroes.

Now most of these cats aren’t packing the X-gene and I don’t imagine many of them have been bitten by a radioactive gopher or anything. By and large they seem to be training-/gadget-based heroes. Cut-rate Bruce Waynes.

But the important part is that they do good; not by brutalizing mugger (usually) but by volunteering their time and focusing on their civic duties. Sure the costumes may be a bit of a stretch, but I like to think of this as nerdy activism in its purist form.

• Cute and evil: Today’s edition of Geek Ink is brought to you by Matt, and it features Hello Kitty. And also Star Wars. At the same time!
• The Lasso of Truth: Do you have a problem that you just can’t solve on your own? Do you feel lost and in desperate need of some advice from a caring and responsible paragon of virtue. Then do what Church does; Ask Golden Age Wonder Woman!
• Technically that’s 12 eyes: This Sunday, January 20th, Cali geek garage rockers The Four Eyes will be playing at Thrillhouse Records Basement in San Francisco with Underground Railroad to Candy Land, Can of Beans, and The Blood Muffins. The show starts at 7:00 PM (and ends at or before 10:00PM), and the boys will be playing “second to last.” Show up and give ‘em some love.
• BBW BBQ: D-Form, the current King of the Crate Diggers, is offering remix kits from his group The Chubby Chasers’ 2007 release Mass Appeal. D says the Chasers would love to hear anyone who’s interested take a spin, and that if enough producers respond they might “make it a free mixtape style download from our site and everyone will get some love from that.” As nerds and plus-size ladies have a shared history, I’d love to see this project take off. So, get to mixin'.
• Even gayer: Also on the remix tip, my boy nYgel just dropped his remix of The Grammar Club’s “My Gayest Shirt.” In addition to all the nerdy goodness already inherent in the track, nYg also added a special verse by the Former Fat Boys. Dig it!
• Not a cover: Nerdcore MC Able-X has released a teaser track from his forthcoming album. It is funky. Quite funky. You should listen to it.
• Brat on the beat: Matt directed me to this amazing online reproduction of the original Roland TR-909. Yes, it’s fully functional. The machine that launched a thousand geeky techno artists is alive and well. And now it lives on the Internets.
• Not just trivia – International trivia!: Hearty congratulations go out to Harry and the Potters for what has to be Wrock’s oddest honor; they were just informed that the band is the answer to a question in the Swedish version of Trivial Pursuit. And with that, the nerd cred scale has been crushed to a fine powder.
• Feed the tree: In other Wrocking news, The Whomping Willows has posted a song-by-song breakdown of his new album. Take a gander and get a real artist’s-eye view of the project. Thanks to my bro Matt for pointing me toward this one!
• The gift that keeps on giving the whole year: Matt also hipped me to new info concerning this year’s installment of the Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club. Apparently the response was so great last year (the club generated $13,000 for the charity First Book through sales of these EPs) that the project is going to continue in 2008. If sixty bones for a dozen EPs sounds like a deal to you – and it definitely should – check out subscription information here.
• Too weird not to be true: An all-geek dating site? Yep, it exists. And Church found it. Sweet On Geeks is the place “where Gray Matters,” and, while it doesn’t do old domesticated bastards like us any good, you might be able to find the nerd of your dreams. Check it out, and let me know if it works.
• Future shock: Apparently, at this year’s MAGfest, future Glenn Case came back in time to prevent present-day Glenn and Shael from performing a substandard version of The Grammar Club’s “Bank Holiday.” I know that sounds a little suspect, but why would Glenn lie? I mean, somebody had to pull that fire alarm. For more on these sinister dealings, as well as a look at all of the many delightful occurrences at MAGfest VI, peep the following vid from the fine folks at PBC Productions.

Snark Trek: A Musical Journey

As I mentioned last week, Church and the GF took in a bit of culture on Saturday as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presented its Sci-Fi Spectacular. Not only was this event resplendent with reimaginings of the music from some of everyone's favorite sci-fi and fantasy franchises, but it was also narrated by Sulu – or, if you prefer, Kaito Nakamura – himself, George Takei.

In the grand tradition of Church doing my work for me, he was nice enough to share their impressions of the event: the good, the bad, and the snarky. He also included some pictures, which, I am assured, are worth several thousand words.

Read on to find out exactly how much the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall looks like the Imperial Senate, how severely the venue gouges thirsty patrons for a glass of wine, and who hasn’t seen E.T. (Hint: It ain’t Church.)

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Sci-Fi Spectacular with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerhoff, 2008-01-19:
Jack Everly, Principal Pops Conductor
George Takei, Sulu
Mike Eldred, Broadway Guy
Kristen Plumley, Vocalist Girl
Old Line Garrison, 501st Legion, Security

Sad commentary on the times: we were running late (GF's fault) and split up to do coat-check and find our seats. The GF got confused and asked someone in uniform if they worked there, only to realize that it was a Death Star Officer. Perhaps appropriate, since we realized that the interior of the Meyerhoff somewhat resembles the Imperial Senate.

Main Star Wars Theme
As we were running late, we had to wait outside while this played. I've heard it at a bunch of Pops concerts while, oddly, the GF never had. It's the Star Wars theme. 'nuff said.

Lost in Syndication (Various TV Themes)
A medley including Space 1999, BSG, and The Jetsons theme. If you haven't heard The Jetsons arranged for Symphony and Choir, you haven't heard it. Kudos for not being snarky about it. It's so much more decadent to hear it straight. Also, first violin was cool. He was very much into playing this (which I guess is why he's first violin.) The GF was impressed by the Outer Limits closing theme. They took all the pathos and creepiness of the Outer Limits and channeled it through the string section. The Stargate theme is even awesomer live. John Williams-esque, but without the conceits. The GF thought they also included some incidental SG-1 music.

Adventures on Earth: ET the Extra Terestrial
The GF has never seen this movie. (So she's the one.) Music was OK. Not my fave.

Superman March
Broadway guy sang ret-conned lyrics. Interesting, because this version of the lyrics was from Supes' perspective (it's usually from Lois'.) I thought he was starting meekly and then growing into the part. The GF thought he was out of tune, but then found his way. She's probably right.

Star Trek through the Years.
Introduced by Takei, who cruelly teased us by introducing a 'lieutenant' who turned out *not* to be Nichelle, but the vocalist girl in a red TOS uniform. This show opened in Bethesda (Rockville, really) and they apparently weren't aware that they weren't in Baltimore, so they had acted as if they were. Hat tip to them for not only owning up to it, but making it part of the act (they blamed it on faulty transporter coordinates.)

Thank fraking gods they didn't do the Roddenberry lyrics to the original theme. I was really worried about that. Nope, vocalist girl did a bang up AHHHHHH-AHHH job. They fucked up the DS-9 theme (or, arranger Calvin Custer did.) There's a chord change in the first half that was missed, according to the GF. I'm no musician but I noticed it too. It's the part that really grabs you.

Intermission
I got some pix of the 501st while the GF got some wine. Unfortunately, getting a seven dollar glass of Gallo took the entirety of Intermission so we waited outside during:

Theme from 2001 ("Also Sprach Zarathustra")
The GF thought that there were more interesting parts of that score that they could have done, but I reminded her that it was a Pops concert, and Pops is short for Popular.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Nice, although the GF missed the Mashed Potatoes theme, while I wanted a bigger 5-note theme. (Take note, Jack.)

Enterprise Theme
Sung by Broadway Guy.
I hated it.
The GF loved it.
Chicks...

Hedwig's Flight
Awesome. We're not sure what the dinky-piano is (I had always thought it was a glockenspiel or something) but we love that they used it.

About here (it's not in the program notes) they broke into "When You Wish Upon A Star" which was a bit odd. Probably because it gave the vocalists something to do.

Somewhere in Time
Nice and lush. More typical of a Hollywood score than most of the rest of the concert, but that's not a criticism. As the GF says, it *could* have been the theme to Dr. Zhivago; it's not as obviously a genre piece.

The Day The Earth Stood Still Suite
Absolutely the opposite of the previous piece. Genre to its pointy ears, although it was rescored by conductor, so the strings were standing in for theremins. It worked really well. The vocalist was contributing to some parts, oddly stationed behind the percussionists. Takei contributed the closing speech by Klaatu, in that singular Takei way. Also, Bernard Hermann was the shit.

Duel of the Fates/The Throne Room/End Credits (Star Wars I and IV)
John Williams goes Choral! Huzzah! This was the best use of the lasers in the show. It made me realize how hard it is to pull off a laser show (for people who aren't stoned.) They are by nature very binary, while music is usually not.

Inevitable gripes: No Firefly? C'mon! If you can rearrange The Day The Earth Stood Still, you can rearrange that. No "Imperial March"? The 501st is in the Fraking Lobby!! How cool would it have been to end playing that with them marching down the aisle? (Very cool is the answer.)

I wanted to chat with the 501st afterwards, but they were trying to clear out the place (I'm guessing people don't normally hang out in the lobby after a concert.) They had to limit 'getting picture taken with' opportunities to staff at that point.

All in all, a very fun concert. We were seriously considering going back to see the Sunday show, but those tickets weren't cheap (or readily available.)

Press and Release

Just yesterday I received a nice email message from my pal int eighty of Dual Core. In addition to exchanging our regular pleasantries and giving me an update on a couple of special tracks he and c64 are working on - yes, Dual Core will be appearing on the next Hipster, please! compilation, though not likely how you'd imagine - eighty also included a press release concerning the group's next album.

Since he seldom writes press releases and I seldom receive them, this seemed like just the thing to pass on to you. Behold:

It's official. The production on the third Dual Core album is in full swing. Dual Core's next album will be titled Lost Reality and is packed with all sorts of fresh goodness, new hotness, c64 beats, and int eighty nerd raps. While the work on the album has been rather low-key as usual, the few snippets that have leaked so far have been "extremely impressive," to quote one person's feedback.

Some people have asked how to prepare others who have not yet heard any Dual Core music. The answer is simple: do what MC Frontalot recommends and put it in the queue for examination (http://www.frontalot.com/index.php/ -- 12.21.07). Considering the roster on the album, it's quite possible other overclocked nerdcore artists will recommend it as well.

Dual Core has been rather busy in addition to their album efforts. The group played shows at Defcon and the Google after-party at Ohio Linux Fest in the second half of 2007. Now in 2008, they are playing a show at the sold-out ShmooCon in Washington DC in February, Notacon in April, and Nerdapalooza SE in July. They also provided the official soundtrack for the Blockparty invitation (http://demoparty.us).

Dual Core plans to release Lost Reality at Notacon 5, in Cleveland (April 4th through 6th).

More Nerd News in Brief

Yesterday saw the season’s first snow in my corner of the deep south. Now, it wasn’t snow as most of you would recognize it. It was southern snow. That is to say that it was snow-like, but not the kind of fluffy powder that most of you enjoy. Our snow is icy and slushy, and, no matter how little falls or how much advance notice we have, we are wholly unprepared for it.

This means I got a nice day at home with Li’l X. Unfortunately we’re in the midst of potty training, so there was still work to be done. Dirty work.

• I won a Gold at the Geek Olympics: This week SUNYIT celebrated Geek Week, and Hipster, please! was there. Actually it wasn’t, but Church was. Okay, Church wasn’t there either, but he did find this nice little rundown of the week’s events. That’s worth something, right?
• For real this time: Church (and that delightful lady known solely as the GF) will be attending a nerd-friendly event this Saturday. Yes, the BSO SuperPops is gonna get their Sci-Fi on! Costumes are encouraged, so let’s hope they return with lots of photos and other hyper-geeky documentation.
• Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: My friends at The Grammar Club enjoyed their initial album release so much that they decide to do it again. Twice. These two new versions of Bremelanotide both boast new artwork and liner notes. One has a bonus track, lossless CD quality encoding, instrumentals in addition to the normal vocal versions of each track, and costs $5 (with the proceeds going to Child's Play.) The other one is still free. They also have some fancy new fliers for all your flier-related needs.
• Number of the geek: The Grammar Club has recently reached a benchmark at music site The Sixty-One by hitting the number 10 spot on the hip-hop leader board: a geek music first. For those of you unfamiliar with this music marketing phenomenon, check out Doc Pop’s excellent explanation of the service.
• Long live Wrock: My bro Matt hipped me to a new entry at the WizRocklopedia stating that the Schuyler twins have crossed the finish line with their Wizard Rockumentary. The finished film will be shown at Portus 2008 in Dallas, Texas this July. There will be movie merch available for purchase and, of course, much Wrockin’.
• Hipster (girl), please!: MC Lars has just dropped a new video for his latest single “Hipster Girl.” You can read about the project at Lars’s blog, and you can even download a version for your iPod (and me for my Zune) here.
• Collectively known as their genitals: Florida’s funky49, Redvoid, mCRT, MC Wreckshin, Sir-Up, and Betty Rebel recently came together to make a cover of Mickey Avalon’s “My Dick.” It’s not for the faint of heart, but it does make for a damn fun track. And Betty’s closing couplet will make it hard for you to ever look Willie Nelson in the face again.
• New digs: My friend and fervent support Antisocial has a new Web site, and just because I’m too lazy to update the navbar today doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check it out. Go. Check.
• The bad decision club: Conyeezy joins me as a new inductee into the Holy Fuck I’m Gonna Be Walking Around With This Thing My Whole Life Union with his new Metroid Tattoo. It is a Tattroid, if you will. Behold its glory.
• Spread the word: Church and the Ranger both hipped me to two different instances of the near-canonization of the word “nerdcore.” Apparently both in Australia and the States the term is becoming… well, I wouldn’t say relevant. Recognized. Becoming recognized.
• One final LOL: I know everyone by me is probably getting a little tired of YTCracker's new meme, but they aren’t writing this blog. And thus, Tanner’s remix:

Wii Are the Champions

My pal Doctor Popular has just released the newest edition of his yo-yo centered vlog The Popcast, and I think this one will appeal to fans of all stripes. You see, while Doc talks shop and wows us with some more of his unbelievable yo-yo stylings, this time around he also spotlights the work of Nonpolynomial Labs' Kyle Machulis. Kyle’s done some fascinating things using a Wii-mote and a yo-yo.

(No. Not those kinds of things!)

But anyway, peep The Popcast, and then go check out some of the work that Johnny Lee is doing with the Wii technology. There are less nerdy ways to spend your time, but they aren’t near as entertaining.

Nerd News in Brief

Last weekend I had my fist bubble tea. I imagine this event would be the equivalent of baptism within our Cult of Rai, and I have to say that it has brought me a greater understanding of Her Holiness.

After slurping down all that green tea (not to mention a half a box of Pocky) I achieved an almost Rai-like level of weirdness myself.

Her will be done.

Now, as it’s been a while since I favored you with a proper round of nerdy news, here’s NNIB.

• How monsters are created: Since the release of YTCRacker’s latest hit “LOL Money,” a veritable cavalcade of artists have added their own spin to the track. The latest installment in the LOL Wars is Ultraklystron’s “LOL Moe,” which is simply brilliant. You’ll also want to check out Antisocial’s “LOLMoneyCats” mash-up. This meme will bury us all.
• Long gone: In other news from the Karl Olson camp, his first nerdcore album Revision4920 is now completely sold out. In Ultraklystron’s own words, “Should any ever turn up, I’ll auction ‘em off for Child’s Play. Don’t get your hopes up though.”
• Gold Five to Red Leader: I drive a Scion xB, which (coupled with my fuzzy D20 rearview danglers) is pretty dorky. And yet, as Church pointed out with this link, the nerdy automotive world has so much more going on.
• Smack-a-baby: Last week mc chris announced that he had both booked this year’s Warped Tour for all 42 shows and that he’s providing a guest verse on a Talib Kweli track. More info on the Warped engagement is forthcoming, but recent confirmation leads me to believe that mc recorded his stuff for that project yesterday at 5:00. Cool no?
• Down by the river: In what can only be described as less interesting news, mc is also selling his old tour van. I mean, I’m sure it’s a great van, but it sort of pales in comparison to Talib.
• Toys!: Matt hipped me to these custom-made 19th century Justice League figures, and I was astounded. Then Church countered with this collection of custom mini-figs, and I truly began to grasp how totally uncreative I am. :(
• Obey: Andre the Giant has a Posse and The Grammar Club has a flyer. Much like the stickers emblazoned with the former, you are also encouraged to plaster the latter all over any flat surface in plain sight. Do it for the team.
• Exploding MPFM: My Parents Favorite Music’s Steffo recently hipped me to a lot of very interesting new developments on the MPFM front. First and foremost, the Wheel o’ Exgirlfriends album has been reprinted and should be available for purchase within the next two weeks. The new album Testing the Waters is approximately 75% done with a projected April release. Steffo and company will be performing at the Middle Tennessee Anime Con along with the likes of Random, Peelander Z, Kenny Wisdom, The Slants, The Man Power, and Chickenbox, and this event will (hopefully) serve as the release party for the new album. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly: a lineup change. Longtime MPFM member Stellar is no longer a part of the group; instead, we welcome new member Jeremy Breedlove (AKA: J48, AKA: Aggro-crag.)
• Big Ran: And speaking of Random, be sure to check out the free-to-download mixtape Napoleon Mindstate presents Meaningfull Music Vol 1. Ran is featured on track 16, “Twice Over.” You can also watch a really nice “behind the scenes” video for the Random/Maja track “Halo Head” on last week’s Maja Monday.
• A fun ship cruise: In my quest to find interesting, fun, and geeky music, I am prone to overlook some real gems. Thankfully, many of these artists acknowledge my superlative slackitude and instead opt to come looking for me. I recently had the good fortune to become acquainted with The Rivercrest Yacht Club, a hip-hop outfit that not only drops fairly dorky rhymes, but also employs an eclectic cast of MCs ranging from gauchos to anthropomorphic gorilla dentists. Suffice it to say, they’re worth a listen.
• What is this nerdery?: If you’re looking for something with a bit more of a singer/songwriter slant, may I humbly suggest the delightfully English Dan Plus Add. You can check out Dan’s first release Of FNARs and ZINGs free of charge from his site, and you can hear some cuts from his forthcoming follow-up album on his MySpace. Tell him Z. sent you!
• A love of tasty sandwiches: But let’s say you want something with a bit more jazz flair. In that case, you’ll definitely want to check out Evil Giraffes on Mars. “Fueled by a deep respect for all things musical,” EGoM combines element of jazz, rock, funk, punk, hip-hop, classical, world beat, and that love of sandwiches I mentioned earlier. The band also features the sax styling of Jamaal Sawyer, whom you should remember from Hipster, please! favorite Foxhound.
• Meet Me at the Arcade: While I was resting on my laurels in early January, my pal Anthony from GM4A was reviewing the highly anticipated new album from UK chiptune artist Pixel8. Peep Ant’s review of The Boy with the Digital Heart and be amazed.
• Poorly concealed secret project: As I mentioned previously, early ’08 is scheduled to see the release of a second Hipster, please! compilation. While I’m not yet ready to divulge the full meat of what this album entails, I will say that – on paper, at least – it marks a blissful intersection of nerdcore hip-hop, Wizard Rock, VGM, and geek rock. The artist roster is fast coming together, and thus far I’ve secured favorable interest from everyone from our own Baddd Spellah to Shawn Phase to Dumbledork (also known as Coma Boy, DJ Bentelli, and under a wealth of other names.) Stay tuned for more info.
• The power of Wrock: A recent article by the Young Adult Library Association – found by Church, of course – outlines a few really interesting (and nerd-friendly) music trends to look out for in ’08. Most fascinating to me was the role of Wizard Rock in retooling libraries into music venues. If that ain't a boon for geek artists, I don't know what is!
  
• "Fuckin' tall as shit!": To promote the new DVD Lords of the Rhymes: The Untolde Tale, your favorite Hobbits have posted some little teaser vids on YouTube. This one features Morgoth the Suck Lord... espousing the plans for the greatest of his sinister mechanizations.

A winner is you.

During the initial conference call in which the Crate Digger Death-match came to life, I was offered one of two very disparate positions; as an “early adopter” of the project, I could either choose to be a participant in this initial round or I could aid in the judging. I opted to help out as an officiate first and foremost because I felt it suited my skill-set a bit better. I also thought it would be easier than trying to cobble together an album in half a day using only thrift store finds.

I was wrong.

Judging the Crate Digger Death-match is arguably as difficult as participating. It’s not a chore, mind you, but it is a weighty task.

I guess I just assumed that, while a fair number of our participants would make it across the finish line, most would do so dragging atrophied and bloodied limbs behind them. I figured most of the guys would complete the mission, but that their submissions would show the type of road wear inherent in rapid-fire artistry. I imagined myself listening to the submissions and finally striking upon, perhaps, a single artist who had managed to beat the odds and pull off a real album; saying to myself, “well, such-and-such managed to polish a turd.”

Again, I was wrong.

What the other judges and I received from our seven finalists weren’t rushed pieces of ephemera, nor musical flotsam and jetsam connected by nothing more than happenstance. What we heard when we cracked open folders and zip files was unadulterated talent, pure and simple.

While I hate to get all cliché and say that everyone is a winner, I’ll be damned if it ain’t true. Each one of our Crate Diggers managed not just to complete a project, but to craft an album. A real album. With nothing but the barest of resources.

As I mentioned before, I was not the whole of the judging body. I was joined by a most impressive array of creative minds, and each found a number of submissions to be imminently pleasing. Famed nerdcore producer Baddd Spellah graded our submissions on production value, podcaster extraordinaire Tim (of Radio Clash fame) critiqued the albums’ listenability, and experimental musician Bart Hopkin judged on the nigh incalculable criterion of creativity. We each had our favorites – and widely dissimilar favorites they were – but we all agreed on one thing; D-Form and his submission Up or Down succeeded on all levels.

So it’s with great pride that I join Doc Popular in announcing D-Form to be the King of the Crate Diggers. He now wears the (totally imaginary) crown and wields all the (relatively insubstantial) power that goes with it. But in order to continue his reign he must again meander onto the field of battle. Tentative plans for the second round of the CDD place it in early April, and in order to retain the title D needs to come in with guns a-blazin’.

Sincerest congratulations to D-Form and to all of our ‘Diggers. And a most heartfelt thank you to my fellow judges. At the risk of sounded just plain silly, I honestly feel enriched by this entire experience. It has shown me that there is both a place where ingenuity and experimentation can thrive and be recognized and an ever-growing community of talented, supportive musicians with legitimate interest in capturing the fun and spontaneity of the creative process in their songs.

I am embiggned by you all.

That's my boy right there!

Ever wonder about the story behind how Doc Pop became a professional yo-yoer? Ever wonder what the fuck a pro yo-yoer actually does?

All these questions (and so many more) are answered in the following vid.

What’s That Sound?

There’s an old joke about a devout Catholic limo driver who is tasked with delivering the Pope from the airport to his hotel on one of his many trips to the US. After picking up His Holiness, the chauffer is so overcome by the experience that he faints. Concerned for the man’s well-being, the Pope places the unconscious driver in the back of the limo to rest and sets about trying to drive himself to his lodging. Along the way the Pope gets lost, accidentally runs a red light and is pulled over by a state trooper. The cop radios in to let the station know he’s pulled over a limo, and then, seconds later, radios back in to tell them he did not write a ticket. When asked why chose to let the driver slide he simply replies that the limo held a very important person. When pushed as to who this celebrity is the cop finally exclaim, “Look, I don’t know, but the fuckin’ Pope is his driver!”

The moral, of course, is that you are often judged by the company you keep. I’ve reflected on this simple truth myself recently, and, though I choose to see many of my own minor connections to some pretty impressive people as mere happenstance, there really is an air of legitimacy to the proposition.

In that regard, all you really need to know about Whore Moans' recent release Episode II: Attack of the Moans is that it features beloved nerdcore icon MC Frontalot. All other facts and suppositions are pretty much unnecessary. And yet that won’t stop me from stating them in my own indubitable fashion.

1. “Opening Salvo”: Apparently I’m not the only one who dislikes weak intro tracks. Whore Moans starts the album off with a bang, dropping his hyper-literate rhymes over a minimalist beat. His brazen demand for other rappers to innovate may come off as idle braggadocio, but even in the span of this two-minute track he proves his lyrical mettle.
2. “Don’t Feel a Thing”: Moans easily secures his nerd cred by rhyming over a glitchy beat based on the Yoko Kanno penned “Rain.” (Yes, I do own a Cowboy Bebop OST. You can stop looking so surprised now.) Steve Conte’s pained vocal delivery plays nicely against Whore Moans’ flow, which manages to sound deliberate and measured even when he occasionally stumbles over an extra syllable. He also displays his unique gift for slipping in the slightest hints of political commentary at the least obvious of times. My only real complaint about this song is the chorus; don’t get me wrong, it continues Moans’ already established motif of lyrical sarcasm, but it comes off a little thin and kind of uninspired.
3. “Critical Damage (feat. Jonathan Toth from Hoth)”: This one marries another round of non-traditional instrumental backing with some genuinely creative hip-hop, but seems to falter a bit on the early bridge. Whore Moans somehow manages to keep his annunciation crystal clear, even when his flow shifts into hyperdrive. This is another super-short track that charms without overstaying its welcome.
4. “Be Impressed”: Four tracks in, Whore Moans really hits his stride with “Be Impressed.” With a beat and accompanying lyrics so saturated in echo as to make Black Sabbath blush, Moans calls out friends and family who have totally missed the boat on the nature of his smart and playful rhymes. Taking the piss out of mainstream rap by enumerating its shortcomings is neither a new concept within the bounds of nerdy hip-hop nor a particularly difficult feat, but Whore Moans manages to do it beautifully with the help of the sing-along chorus that you’ve been looking for this whole time.
5. “Miss Midwest”: “Miss Midwest” marks a drastic, not to mention dangerous, change in tone from the preceding tracks. It’s almost as if Whore Moans decided to intentionally throw us a curve after five songs of good-natured ribbing and subtle self-reflection. This track describes that girl we all know: the one who’s been emotionally beat down by a few dozen too many bad experiences with heartless men. While the beat is genius and the chorus well constructed (if a little distracting), the real beauty of this track is Moans’ delicate storytelling.
6. “F(r)iend”: Short and anything but sweet, Whore Moans explores the rigors of drug abuse in a one-sided dialog with a friend who’s gone too far. Lyrically, it’s not his tightest joint, but it’s so emotionally resonant that anyone who’s been involved in a similar situation will come away a little surprised by his lyrical honesty.
7. “Where I Stand on One Night Stands”: This track is almost tailor-made for people who enjoyed Gym Class Heroes’ “Sloppy Love Jingle.” Less rap than wildstyle poetry, it eschews musical hooks for Whore Moans’ own simple recitation. It works.
8. “Catchy Chorus”: Boasting another guitar-based beat and a groove that damn-near forces you to move, “Catchy Chorus” only falters on – wait for it – the chorus. While not bad, per se, it fails to live up to the power of a song like “Be Impressed.” Still, there’s enough going on to keep you from skipping it, including another jibe at the bloated American Right.
9. “Mecha Mechanics (feat. MC Frontalot)”: Fun, quotable, and ridiculously geeky, “Mecha Mechanics” is a jam for hardcore anime fans as well as those of us who used to play Voltron at recess blissfully unaware of its nation of origin. More avant-garde backing and a killer verse from Front are sure to please, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t commend Whore Moans on a chorus that’s both poppy and memorable. The musical change-up at the 2:25 mark was a risky production move, but the gamble paid off as it really enhances the track.
10. “Pizza Pie Drive By (feat. B-Smooth)”: Much like lyrical indictments of the state of rap, songs about how work sucks are a dime a dozen; this one, however, is well worth your time. The verses are a snarky warning to anyone who’s ever gypped the Domino’s guy, and the chorus is borderline Wesley Willis. B-Smooth adds an interesting secondary texture to the vocals. If this song was food, I would devour it.
11. “Heart”: Otherwise known as “Whore Moans Raps the Broken-Hearted Blues.” A meditation on infatuation that lyrically slips occasionally, but any missteps are more than made up for by an amazing flow that never fizzles.
12. “What’s That Sound (Feat. Less & Essince)”: A fierce beat and a pair of contributors who truly hold up their end of the track makes “What’s That Sound” the perfect canvas on which Whore Moans paints his tribute to the Midwest underground. A song that is unapologetically hip-hop from top to bottom despite the album’s tendency to mix the genre’s chocolate with the peanut butter of everything from J-pop to straight-ahead rock, this one was made to remind folks just where Moans is coming from. Geographically and otherwise.
13. “Silence”: Musically haunting and lyrically poignant, this one caps the album in a most unexpected way. While most MCs would end on a club banger, Whore Moans elaborates on themes that he’s thus far only hinted at – those of loss and loneliness – in a manner that’s both personal and universal. Yet, after two minutes the track ends, and I have to say it left me wanting. Thankfully, after a near interminable couple of minutes of… um… actual silence, Moans comes back with what is either a semi-conceptual continuation or a hidden track. Either way, it slakes the thirst. Bringing back the sardonic style that the album has so expertly established, this one seems a bit off-the-cuff, which suits the track perfectly. Ambient background sounds and Whore Moans patented motor-mouthery form a striking contrast that takes Episode II home.

Why it’s easy to think of rap as a beast wholly its own, it is, like all music, part of a greater evolutionary whole. With strong roots in Jamaican toasting, which, in turn, is an outgrowth of the verbal tradition of the classic griot, the lit nerd in me will always see rap as an amazingly compelling part of mankind’s predilection for poesy.

Yes. Rappers are poets.

While many would argue that the type of contemporary rap with which we are presented daily (by the likes of MTV and Top 40 radio) has lost sight of this aspect, I’m not deluded enough to think that I can bring anything more to that conversation. So let me just say that, in a world where hip-hop lyricism is sometimes only as important as a soundbite for a ringtone, Whore Moans is unafraid to embrace his inner poet.

Stylistically somewhere between the surreal slant of Busdriver and the slice-of-life musings of Travis McCoy, Moans is literate without always being literal. It’s an interesting combination that may not work for everyone, but, at least with regard to nerdy heads, it surely hits more often than it misses.

His flow, though practiced, is by no means perfect, and his lyrics, while interesting and relatable, do occasionally seem forced, but his vocal contributions are superlative overall. There are also some issues on the production end, mostly due to the wholly independent nature of album, but these minor flaws help to reinforce a lo-fi aesthetic and DIY ethic that makes Episode II: Attack of the Moans stand out.

If you’ve ever geeked out to Sage Francis, explored the far reaches of sci-fi space with Kool Keith, or wished Beefy had never quit working at Papa Murphy’s, then this is an album for you.

“In your head like a CAT scan.”

Nerd News in Brief

Ah, the Crate Digger Death-match. Even now, I look back at you with a quiet fondness.

Even now, when I should well be spending my time dissecting the delicious albums you fostered with a team of gentlemen far more qualified to make such judgments than I am. A team that includes a bona fide experimental music god, geeky hip-hop’s premiere source of quality beats and catchy hooks, and my own favorite podcaster.

And me.

Because every band needs a Michael Anthony.

Let me dwell no longer upon your glorious majesty, oh Crate Digger Death-match, but before I return to my judging duties, allow me slip in a little Nerd News in Brief.

• My shiny metal ass: The beer brewing Bender that Church hipped us to back in August is finally complete and fully functional. And it is a thing of beauty. Congratulations, New Zealander Simon Jansen, you win the Internet.
• Okay, one more reference to the CDD: Don’t’ forget to make your way over to Doc’s Drown Radio site to cast your vote for best single in round 1 of the Crate Digger Death-match. At present, Bomarr is in the lead, but D-Form and Snake Eyes are building steam. If I say "Rock the Vote" will it seem too trite?
  
• I can haz tribute song?: Last week I neglected to mention that the good Doctor had released a brand new nerdcore track. This one is dedicated to the noble lolcat, and it’s not to be missed. You cans dowanlode it naow.
• Sweet merciful fuck!: It would appear that Doc’s song came a bit too late. Lolcats, it seems, are out. And so begins the age of the lolmutant.
• For all you Cheap Ass Gamers out there: My pal Brüx directed me to this TIGsource BBS post concerning the greatest freeware games of 2007. These games are great. They are also free. I can’t imagine you need anymore information than that.
• Even more deluxe than originally anticipated: Super Deluxe so loved Beefy’s cover of “Be Aggressive” from his new release The Adventures of Beef Thompson: Private Dick, that they posted an unflattering picture of him. I’m just glad to know that someone under the age of 30 can tie a necktie.
• Join the Nerd movement: His Beefyness just so happens to be splitting a bill with game rockers Press Start to Rock and fellow nerdcore artist MC Gigahertz next Wednesday at Seattle’s Jewel Box Theater. It’s 5 bones at the door, and cheap at twice the price!
• ATM is the greatest: YTCracker has a new video up on YouTube. He says of this groundbreaking track, “[I’ve] been trying to emulate a lot more mainstream rap so this is like my crossover track. [I] think my lyrics are on point.” It’s hard to argue with that.
• Finally, the condoms make sense: My brother funky49 just turned me on to an up-and-coming Internet musical phenomenon known as Raymond Loves Jen. “Play with my Wii Remote” is destined to become the nerd sex jam of 2008.
• Luke Skywalker, terrorist: Church has also alerted me to a recent blog post from Sweden’s (or Ireland’s, depending on how you look at it) _Paddy K_ outlining the terror tactics of the Rebel Alliance. And with that, the Axis of Evil goes multi-galaxy.
• The finer points of Wrock: Matt would like to direct your attention to the brand-spanking new Wizard Rock FAQ created by those delightful ladies at the WizRocklopedia. It’s a primer for newcomers to the scene as well as new bands looking to garner a little Wrock clout. Take notes ; I will likely spring a pop quiz on you later.
  
• C is for cover song: Today we’ll end on another jewel that Church dredged up on one of his daily YouTube raids. I have long suspected that Chris Barnes is, in fact, the Cookie Monster, and now I know for sure.

The mother of invention

As previously announced here at Hipster, please! (and at a number of other, more reputable sites), last Saturday marked round 1 of the music competition/scavenger hunt that is the Crate Digger Death-match. I reckon there are a number of questions on the mind of the casual observer, the most obvious being: Well, how the hell did it go?

While my perspective on the events that transpired is probably a little skewed – as I wasn’t down there “in the trenches” – I’m gonna go ahead and say that the experiment was a success. Sadly, only seven of our dozen Crate Diggers were able to complete the monumental task within the time allowed, but, like life itself, this wasn’t all about the destination; it was also about the journey.

We had, for example, a disproportionate number of contestants from California’s Bay Area, which on the days leading up to the competition was damn-near underwater. Still, these Crate Diggers crossed their fingers, and, on the day of the competition, found that they had not only survived the inclement weather with their sanity intact but also their electricity.

To celebrate this good fortune, Doc Popular took some great pictures of himself and TradeMark G. foraging for supplies at their local Community Thrift. TradeMark even went so far as to audio blog his findings when he returned home to the lab.

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TradeMark went on to complete and deliver his submission, while, unfortunately, the good Doctor was KO'ed by eleventh hour hardware failure. But the Crate Digger Death-match, despite its gruesome title, is a friendly competition; TM, Tanner, and the other competitors all but demanded that, despite the fact that his album wouldn’t be eligible for the judging portion of the competition, Doc still share his efforts with the rest of the class. Just this morning, Doc Pop unleashed Drown Radio’s codfresh upon the world. You owe it to yourself to take a listen. It’s a thrift shop masterpiece.

Another competitor who failed to make the deadline but no less favored us with some A class material is producer and sound engineer Larry Legend. Though Larry’s logged studio time with some hip-hop heavy hitters, he was thrilled at the opportunity to get his hands dirty in the CDD and really push himself to explore the world outside of the “musical and technical boxes” in which he normally confines himself. Larry’s story is perhaps my favorite of the contest, as he admitted that he was so caught up in harvesting samples and exploring the wonderful world of circuit bending that he failed to adequately budget his time.

Read that again folks: he was having so much fun that he literally got sidetracked by his own work. If there’s any indicator that the goal of the CDD – to inspire artists to create outside their comfort zone and (hopefully) genuinely learn a little something – was met, then that’s it right there.

Larry did submit one song for our enjoyment. (Though, again, it can’t be part of the actual contest.) This is what a dude who’s genuinely having fun with his music sounds like.

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But enough about the contest itself, let’s talk about the finalists.

On Saturday, our Crate Diggers awoke to find a friendly email from your truly stating that, in addition to the already restrictive cash, time, and technological constraints, they were also obliged to include within their projects three artistic motifs. They were as follows:

• Motif #1: "Made in the 80's."
  A minimum of one thrift store item that you purchase with your allotted $12 must have been created in the 1980's. Unlike albums, things like electronic devices may not have an easily discernable release date. In this situation, use your best judgment.
• Motif #2: "Bent over backwards."
  At least one song on your album must include either A) a prominent musical element, movement, or sample that is played backwards or B) a prominent musical sound or element that is generated by a circuit bent or otherwise altered electronic device.
• Motif #3: "Country House."
  Each album must include either a country song or a dance track. Again, I leave what does and does not qualify as "country" or "dance" up to your own judgment.

These seven gentlemen managed to make the most of their meager thrift store finds, maintain a strict timetable for proper completion, include the three aforementioned and wholly arbitrary elements, and cope with a wealth of individual hardships and setbacks to complete the first round of the Crate Digger Death-match.While our honorable judges (and I) scrutinize the finished albums and our crack technical crew prepares their single submissions for open online voting, why not check out the artists on the roster? One of them will shortly be named the King of the Crate Diggers... and if you ask nicely maybe they’ll even let you score a copy of their submission albums!

Antisocial
Hails from: Bedford, TX
Album title: Old Toys and Broken Tapes

Bomarr
Hails from: Oakland, CA
Album title: Crate Digger Death-match

D-Form
Hails from: Torrance, CA
Album Title: Up or Down

Evolution Control Committee
Hails from: San Francisco, CA
Album title: A Dozen Bucks a Dozen Hours Cut-and-Paste Super Powers

Snake Eyes
Hails from: Toronto, ON
Album Title: True Tales

Tanner4105
Hails from: Fort Worth, TX
Album Title: God Bless You and Best Wishes! (Love, Shelly Knapp)

Tyler2000
Hails from: Huntsville,AL
Album title: ndzyeht

Nerd News in Brief

I’ve spent years writing about nerdy music and culture, and I’ve met with moderate success. My readership isn’t overly broad or anything, but I’ve got a solid collection of regulars who are passionate about music and perfectly comfortable within their own geeky skins. I’ve been involved in some projects that’ve gotten some decent press, I’ve interviewed some really interesting people, and I’ve been party to some truly great endeavors.

So who the hell would’ve known that the thing to push me into the lower echelons of Internet celebrity would be a ridiculous tattoo?!

The Web is truly a weird and wonderful place.

But my fifteen minutes seem to have come to an abrupt close, and now, as I breathe a sigh of relief that my tiny arms will no longer be the topic of discussion among the geek elite, I’d like to thank everyone who talked my D20 up with little or no snarkiness. I’d also like to thank Church for setting off my brief brush with geek-fame. But mostly I’d like to thank Emily Hulme from AMNY for acknowledging that this is actually a music blog. :)

And now, because a week without nerd news is like a week without sunshine: NNIB.

• Like Highlander, but with music: The Crate Digger Death-match is set to kick off tomorrow, and we had no problem at all filling our dozen artist slots. Shit, we actually had to turn people away after a point, which was both unexpected and a bit of a downer. Still, this looks to be a competition for the ages, and I implore you all to keep your collective ear to the ground as musicians of all stripes beseech the thrift store gods to bestow upon them a bounty of workable sound sources.
• Part of this nutritious breakfast: This round of the Crate Digger Death-match is sponsored in part by Rap Snacks, the only cheese puff made with real Yung Joc. No. Not really. I’m lying. About the sponsorship. I can, however, neither confirm nor deny that any Yung Jocs were harmed in the production of this snack food.
• Nerdcore folk-rock?: Long ago when the earth was a simpler place, Doc Popular launched a campaign to not only get MySpace to include nerdcore as a selectable artist genre for musician and band accounts, but also to adopt the term as a catchall classification for nerdy music. Church discovered this recent Computer and Videogames interview with Jonathan Coulton that leads me to believe that Doc was ahead of the curve with this idea.
• Gift-wrapped up in plastic: Myf is one of my favorite MCs. Here’s why: over my lengthy holiday break, the Metamystiks rhyme-smith dropped a new demo over at Rhyme Torrents. It's simply called “110 Bars,” and it was actually recorded in a single take. A full version of this track is set to appear on the forthcoming MMI album The Nanking Mixtape Vol. 1, but don’t act like you don’t feel it even in this raw form! EDIT: Snyder even made a YouTube fanvid for the track.
• When tiny, Aussie B-girls attack!: In other YouTubery, The Ranger posted a clip of his daughters dancing to LogicOne’s “Give ‘Em More.” Kids love the Logic. They also love leaning with it and/or rocking with it.
• To seek out new life and closer parking to the food court: Let’s counteract all that cuteness with some hardcore nerd tech. Church found this Star Trek air horn for use in your car, boat, or spacecraft. The price seems a bit excessive, but it’s still a real geek gem.
• World of Nerdcraft: Apparently Dennis and Denika aren’t alone; nerdy crafting has officially become a thing. Toronto’s The Globe and Mail has a pretty interesting little piece up on the phenomenon that actually sums up the nerd mentality really well.
• Most valuable scenester: Dan (of Nerdcore For Life fame) has put together his second annual Nerdcore MVP thread over at RT. Last year, High-C was a scene favorite, but who made the biggest impact in 2007? Head over to the forums and speak your piece.
• Deals so good they’re INSANE!: Random’s label RAHM Nation has decided to give fans a break for the New Year. For a limited time, all 2007 RAHM releases (like the pivotal Mega Ran album) are only $3.99 and 2006 albums like Ran's The Call are only $2.99. But this is offer's only good for a bit longer, so get ‘em while you can.
• “If we cannot be free, at least we can be cheap.”: So said Frank Zappa, and I’m not about to disagree. This quote could well be motto of computer music blog This Is Not A Label, the perfect place to go for reviews of free and inexpensive music and recording applications. It’s also got a ton of great music news, information on topics like fair-use, and other such crunchy goodness that’s both entertaining and informative.
• The year in mash-ups: Now that’ you’ve finished reading all of the mandatory year-end blog wrap-ups, it’s time you turn your attention to the obligatory year-end mash-up compilations. The Best of Bootie 2007 CD continues the fine Bootie tradition of wrapping all of your favorite dance tracks up in one simple package. Mashup Town has also released it’s take on the year in bootlegs called, aptly enough, MashupTown Best of 2007. (Trust me; you want this one too.) And this year DJ Earworm decided to do a totally different take on the subject by mashing up the 25 most popular songs of the year into one meta masterpiece.
• They tried to make me go to Wii-hab: Straight from the pages of Joystiq comes news of a CNN story about the Wii’s use as a physical therapy device in places like Ohio State University Medical Center. But mostly I just wanted to use that headline.

The Nerdy Dozen

They say you can tell a lot about a man by the company he keeps. If this is true, then perhaps I’m a bit more relevant than I give myself credit for. You see, I’ve had the pleasure of helping Doctor Popular, TradeMark G., and Tanner put together an event for the ages: The Crate Digger Death-match!

The CDD challenges artists to create an album’s worth of music in a mere 12 hours using only $12 worth of materials purchased on the day in question from thrift stores. Compelling, no?

The challenge is scheduled to take place Saturday, January 5th, and all submissions must be turned in to yours truly by 8:00 AM the following morning. The albums will then be judged by a panel of 4 experts – well, 3 experts and me – but a showcased single from each disc (picked by the artists themselves) will be posted publicly for online fan voting. On the following Saturday, the results of the judges scores and online voting will be tallied, and the first King of the Crate Digger Death-match will be crowned.

The event is capped at a maximum of 12 participants, and the good Doctor, T-Byte, and TradeMark have already been joined by the likes of nerdcore producer nYgel and beatsmith extraordinaire Bomarr. Suffice it to say this is going to be one to watch.

But why just watch when you can take part? The clock is winding down, but slots are still available. So if you’d be interested in challenging yourself to create something memorable from the most mundane of sources, take a gander at these handy rules and regulations and throw your hat in the ring. There can only be one King of the CDD, and it could very well be you.

Draw the line

It’s December 31st, ergo I am honor-bound to write a year-end wrap-up post.

I’m serious. It’s blogger law.

Last year around this time I enumerated our many triumphs as well as our missteps of 2006. Moreover, I challenged readers and artists not to focus too much on the uncertain future, but instead to concentrate on the now. I wrote – and it’s always odd when you have to quote yourself – "This is the golden age, and whether we rise or fall, we have this moment. Today we are all stars." I stand by that statement.

But we didn’t fizzle out in 2007. We grew bigger and brighter and we commanded just as much attention as the year prior. Nerdcore hip-hop (as well as many other delicious flavors of nerdy musical goodness) was seen on MTV, written about in Esquire, and even mentioned by the BBC.

mCRT put together the first successful nerdcore-centered festival with Nerdapalooza SE, Beefy became the first 2nd gen nerdcore artists to take the stage at PAX, and mc chris rejected, adopted, and then once again rejected the genre.

It was a big year, and, yes, once again we were stars. But that’s all. We were stars, but stars are very much islands in the sky.

While other nerdy scenes continued to coalesce into communities, nerdcore maintained its status quo as merely warring factions with fragile alliances.

A while back, I received the following communiqué from nerdcore artist Luzid outlining just that:

Yo, Z.

I wanted to ask your opinion on something that's been troubling me recently - the crumbling community that is nerdcore, versus the explosion of the wrock community.

Considering that the entirety of wrock could be absorbed into nerdcore due to its subject matter, it's odd that (at least in my view) the latter has a very thin fanbase and community, while the former seems to be growing in scope. It's particularly telling that wrock is not being held back by its limited vision (i.e. mostly being about Harry Potter), while nerdcore - for all its vast horizons (so many geeky topics) - doesn't feel like a cohesive community.

Your thoughts? Am I just seeing it differently due to not being into the wrock scene?

-Luzid

My (abridged) response was as follows:

Interestingly enough, this is exactly the kind of thing I've been discussing with my two chief conspirators Matt and Church for some time now. Why is it that something as conceptually thin as Wrock manages to flourish while the promise of nerdcore remains mostly unfulfilled? No one can know for sure, but, after weeks (Hell, months!) of deliberation, I think I'm beginning to get down to some glimmer of truth. And I reckon it's pretty simple, now that I spell it out.

In short, Wrockers - both fans and artists - seem to have a genuinely honest interest in community building.

Matt pointed this fact out really early on, but it wasn't until recently that I finally realized that this summation, as simple as it is, is what it all boils down to.

Unfortunately, that leads us to yet another question: why?

Why them and not us? Aren't we all just nerds expressing ourselves musically? Why do those of us on the nerdcore side seem to suffer from this odd disconnect that the Wrockers tend to be able to avoid?

This one's a lot deeper, but I think I have some ideas.

First and foremost, it seems to me that nerdcore fancies itself as being created in a vacuum. From the earliest, we've had artists creating in solitude. MC Frontalot, YTCracker, mc chris, MC Hawking: these cats got their start with very little outside input, with very little outside involvement. It wasn't until Rhyme Torrents (when High-C made a legitimate effort to build bridges) that anyone even considered pinning Front's ample label on all these obviously related artists.

Wrock, on the other hand, got its start with bands. Harry and the Potters, Draco and the Malfoys, et al are all natural artistic mini-communities in and of themselves. There was already this social aspect to what they were doing. By and large it wasn't one guy in front of a computer; it was a group of friends making music together.

But does that make them instantly more community-minded than nerdcore artists? Not necessarily.

So maybe it's the inherent personalities in question. mc chris is obviously more interested in mc chris as an individual than in mc chris as the de facto spokesperson of a musical community, and that's certainly understandable. Frontalot, though far more personable in this aspect than mc, is really more passive than one might anticipate with regard for nerdcore as a genre. He lets other folks use the term - gladly, I might add - but he has his own livelihood to worry about; this is also perfectly reasonable.

But do these examples speak to our root cause? Let's examine further.

On the other hand we have the bigger names in Wrock: the aforementioned HatP, The Remus Lupins, and The Whomping Willows, just to name a few.

These cats are really down there in the trenches. They seem to speak reverently of Wrock itself, like it's a force greater than the sum of the bands that everyone recognizes. For whatever magical (I made a funny!) reason, these guys see what they're doing as a community effort as opposed to a one-man, or one-act, show.

They are, in short, in it for the team. They - the big guys - are down for the movement.

But again we arrive at that dreaded word: why. What makes what they're doing so different?

Regarding this I also have a rough theory.

What we see from Wrock is, not to put too fine a point on it, an indie spirit. A punk rock spirit.

Maybe it simply has to do with what we do as much as who we are and how we do it. Rap is very often aggressive, confrontational. It thrives on beef and diss tracks. Rock, at least in regard to the truly independent kind, seems less absorbed with such trivialities. That's not to say there's not a fair measure of back-talk and animosity in independent rock circles, a fact to which Nursehella can surely attest, but maybe - just maybe - nerdcore simply inherited a megadose of the get-them-before-they-get-you spirit of hip-hop proper.

In the end, I think that each of these plays a part, but none truly answer the question at hand. Why nerdcore lacks the strength of community that's found in Wrock, or, for that matter, other rather nerdy styles like game rock, micromusic, or bastard pop, is a mystery, but it probably has roots in some combination of the personalities involved and maybe even the actual art created.

Or perhaps it's simpler still. Maybe Wrockers connect on the base level that is a love of the source material itself. Whereas nerdcore has DGs, CS gangstas, comic shop kings, hardcore gamers, and anime enthusiasts, Wrock simply has Wrockers: lovers of the preternatural world that JKR created.

Maybe what nerdcore lacks - or, more likely, simply tends to ignore – is true common ground.

So, while we are stars, we are not constellations. We are disparate yet related. We are similar yet disconnected. What we need, my friends, is lines.

And it wasn’t until I sat down to pin these words that I realized we had found them.

Back in October, news of artist T.Y.T.’s father’s illness began to make the rounds. T.Y.T. wasn’t looking for a handout; he was merely looking to use the skills and avenues he had at his disposal to raise some money to help his father get a liver. And the nerdcore community responded. Everyone from The Awful Show crew to a cavalcade of artists old and new stepped up. And when the topic of a benefit album was broached, no one was concerned about who was or was not nerdcore enough; folks just wanted to help.

On Christmas Eve, just days after receiving his transplant, T.Y.T.’s father passed. I don’t know much in the way of details, and even if I did I wouldn’t share them. A man’s grief is a very personal thing, and I’ll not pretend to understand what he is going through. But this event led to continued outpouring of emotion. Of support. A genuine sense of a community responding to the misfortune of one of its own.

T.Y.T.’s ordeal showed us unequivocally that we could be civil to one another, that we could be supportive and genuinely invested in our community both as artists and as individuals. The trick is remembering that lesson and applying it to our everyday interactions. That's not to say that we can't critique, that we can't, on occasion, clash; that's part of being a community too. It's just saying that maybe we should remember that we have an underlying commonality and use that as a basis for a little mutual respect.

2007 saw some amazing albums. It provided some fantastic gigs and birthed some phenomenal projects. But, in my mind, it will be remembered as the year we came together, if only for a minute and if only under the worst of circumstances.

So pick up a pen and draw some lines, people. They might not fix what’s wrong, but they may just see us through to another year.

New ink and hard-boiled detectives

So inspired was I by today’s release of The Adventure’s of Beef Thompson: Private Dick – an album, coincidentally, that I helped name – that I celebrated the event by getting a tattoo.

Okay, that’s actually bullshit. I mean TAoBT:PD did drop today and I did get this snazzy D20 tat, but these events were linked by nothing more than the silver strings of coincidence.

Still, many delightful occurrences did conspire to make this day a perfect storm of geeky goodness, and for that I must thank the many fine people who contributed.

Heartfelt thanks to my friend Denika for putting together the original flash for me.

Sincerest appreciation also goes to Hans, a gentleman that is, in my opinion, easily one of the finest and most talented tattoo artists in The Queen City. (He is also likely Charlotte’s tattoo artist that most resembles the cartoon incarnation of Ghostbuster Egon Spengler, but that’s neither here nor there.)

Much love goes out especially to my best friend Josh (A.K.A.: Seamonkey), for giving me the most kick-ass Christmas present ever.

And, of course, I gotta give a shout-out to my boy Beefy for providing the soundtrack to today’s festivities.

If you haven’t already, I’d suggest you download Beef’s latest release immediately. It’s a welcome addition to any collection.

I’d also suggest getting a bold, line-art tattoo that hearkens back to the golden age of tabletop roleplaying. But be forewarned: there is some mild discomfort involved.