Playing With Power

Ever since my boys MadHatter and Tha Mike started singing their praises last month, I've entertained a number of inquiries regarding my thoughts on Wichita-based synth-punkers POWERLIFTER. But since that ain't exactly the kind of thing I can properly explain in 140 characters, I've held my full comments until I had time to put together a proper blog post on the subject.

In case you missed the obvious, this is such a post.

For those of you unfamiliar with the band, let me first explain what POWERLIFTER is not. They aren't an 8-bit metal act (like Norrin Radd), nor are they a chip-rock outfit (a la I Fight Dragons). Hell, they aren't even a part of the intriguing but poorly named "Nintendocore" movement. In fact, though POWERLIFTER could both easily and accurately be showcased alongside the LSDJ-driven aggression of HORSE the Band, they actually share little more than superficial earmarks with the aforementioned.

Instead, think of them as an unholy amalgam of the hardcore sleaze of Fear and the industrial grind of 90s-era Ministry. Now add to that the performance energy of Andrew W.K., replace the guitars with DMGs and melt it all together under a strobe light.

It's an elaborate equation, but a fairly apt deconstruction of the trio's overall sound, if I do say so myself.

Since I've gone to such great lengths to describe the guys, it probably goes without saying that I am, as they say, buying what they're selling. And I am. What POWERLIFTER is doing with chip music certainly isn't stylistically unheard-of, but there's an underlying element of their specific approach that genuinely speaks to me.

You see, while the music of videogames itself is moving toward the concert hall, POWERLIFTER seem intent on dragging it back to the basement. Kicking and screaming if need be. Their music seems less about exploring the minimalist sonic palate of an 8-bit sound source, and more about shoving that sound source right down your fucking throat.

It's body music with poor impulse control. Party music that only gets louder after the cops show up. The overall sound is noticeably hostile, occasionally crude and a far cry from the universal appeal of a Super Mario medley.

In short, it's a gamble. It's a niche. But it's a good niche.

Since hearing is believing, I all but insist that you head on over to Scrub Club and cop POWERLIFTER's new freebie 1 ("Arctic Submarine"). And pay close attention to the opening track, "DOOM__GIVER." It's pretty indicative of the ride ahead, so if you don't feel that then simply back away from your iPod. Slowly.

If, however, you find yourself intrigued, continue on through the subsequent levels. But may I suggest drinking a beer and a shot and taking a Powerglove punch to the scrote before proceeding. You know, for the full effect.

Nerd News in Brief

This Nerd News in Brief was set to drop yesterday. But then, a cold!

Still, I'm cutting myself some slack. I mean, at least I'm putting 'em out on an almost regular basis again.

So I got that going for me. Which is nice.

At any rate: NNIB!

• The Rising Phoenix: This Memorial Day weekend, geek rockers Kirby Krackle will be appearing at the Phoenix Comicon from May 27-30. They'll be performing Saturday night at 8:30 and you can see them throughout the event at table T-8, so definitely head out to catch 'em. Just, y'know, bring proof of citizenship.
• The Return of the King: Just in time for E3, my pal Anthony and the Game Music 4 All crew have planned the triumphant return of their West Coast Wigout event. WCW2 goes down on June 15th at Gallery Nucleas in Alhambra, CA and features The Megas, Mega Ran, Evilwezil, Tanuki Suit Riot and more. Check the event's official page for full details and hit up Gallery Nucleus for discounted early bird tickets. 
• Comical: This week's edition of web comic W-A-S-D featured something a little different. Okay, four things a little different – MC Lars, YTCracker, MC Router and Mustin. See for yourself. 
• I'm with JoCo: This just in – Jonathan Coulton will be presenting new material from his forthcoming album at live dates throughout July. Also, he is slightly neurotic. These are the reasons we love him so.
• Confirmed Bacheler: Big ups to Harry and the Potters' Joseph DeGeorge who is now a Bachelor of the almighty Arts thanks to his time at Clark University. The Potters will be playing throughout the northeast in the month of June, so head out to a show and congratulate him yourself. 
• Very Metal: Congratulations are also in order for VGM masterminds Powerglove. The guys were just signed to record label E1 Music, home of both Swedish melodic metallers In Flames and the Sesame Street catalog. I think they'll fit in nicely somewhere between the two. 
• The Lass That Loved Starfleet: Y'know what we don't have enough of around here? Talk of sci-fi musicals. Thankfully, Church came through with this story concerning a H.M.S. Pinafore/Star Trek mash-up. The best part? It's playing throughout June at LA's Crown City Theatre. 
• Unquantifiable: This week's celebration of Geek Pride Day sparked lots of talk within our community. One particularly interesting piece that came out was this missive from AOL's Tony Deconinck. It starts strong, reminding us that we don't need our own fake holiday to be who we are, but ends with a whimper and a whine. In this case more "if you don't know all this shit you're not one of us" foolishness. 
• Nerd Words: Church supplements this with a link to Technologizer's astute (and timely) investigation into the origins of the term "fanboy." Oh, the power of words! 
• Klingon as a Second Language: In case you somehow missed the buzz surrounding this piece, here is the finest geek parenting story of all time. It is truly a viktorious read. 
• Strike Quickly and Fade Into the Shadows: Somewhere in Australia, there is a pack on ninjas protecting German exchange students. I don't know if this exactly plays into the whole nerd culture slant of the post, but it is pretty fucking awesome nonetheless. Also, if this were Twitter I would be honor bound to hashtag it #krondorkrew. Just so you know. 
• Betty Rage: For those of you with oddly specific fetishes, Church found this collection of NSFW retro 50s-style D&D pinups. My opinion? Needs more Halflings. 
• A Famicom Affair: Let it be known that Mega Ran/K-Murdock masterpiece Forever Famicom is presently available for pre-order. Pre-ordering nets you a physical CD (upon release), an instant download of the album and a fine selection of bonus tracks. Music get! 
• A Massively Useful Thing: Earlier this week, on Towel Day to be precise, my boy Antisoc dropped his new album Future Hop. I've already said my proper piece about it, but let me reintegrate that you need to add it to your collection immediately. Oh and Beefy, give Mark his goddamn shirt! 
• Rumble Pack: Also on the new release front is an ambitious and imminently satisfying mash-up project that combines hip-hip a cappellas with beats cribbed from classic N64 tracks. It's 15 joints of geeky gamer genius from PK Mao, and it's free! 
• Six Shooters: Another amazing freebie comes to us from epic comic book rockers Americans UK. Their newest single, "John Loves Wayne" has just been made available. The song also ties into the band's newest 40-page comic anthology, available from Indy Planet. 
• Horses With Fake Legs: Our musical allies from netlabel Pterodactyl Squad have just released their 25th album! It comes to us from chip-rockers Noisewaves. And, like all the fine music from the Squad, this instrumental 5-tracker is freely downloadable. 
• Bringing the Heat: The last few weeks have also seen an interesting crop of new music videos. The White Shinobi T.y.T. is back with a new collab with Savannah-area rapper Darkchild entitled "C-port 2 Tokyo." Meanwhile, Shael Riley's new video for Double Ice Backfire banger "Publishing Rights" is on fire. Literally. I couldn't decide which to end on, so I've elected to give you both. 'Cause I'm sweet like that.

Radio Free Hipster Special Edition: I Wanna Parsecs You Up

First off, I wanna say thanks. Once again I scored a proper nomination in the "Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast" category of the 2010 Parsec Awards. I truly appreciate all who took the time to spread the word about my little show.

This renegade project of mine isn't exactly the kind of thing that tends to win awards – and it's certainly debatable whether I'll fare any better this year than last – but it's nice to be recognized, especially by the nerd community at large.

Since I try to function with a certain amount of transparency, I figured I'd once again share with you the mini-cast I presented to the judging panel. Putting together a short retrospective is a fun affair for me, and doubly so when I get to include a trio of my very favorite songs from recent memory.

So give it a listen and lemme know what you think. And maybe light a candle for me around Dragon*Con time.

Download Radio Free Hipster Special Edition: I Wanna Parsecs You Up (2010 Parsec Awards Sampler) [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 9.15 MB Running Time: 9:58

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
I still feel bad talking over the theme music. I mean, Spellah and Beef do a fine job rockin' the thing up without me drawling all atop it.

Track 1: Kirby Krackle - "Ring Capacity"
As much as I love the new releases from Beefy and MC Frontalot, I still have to say that E for Everyone is my early front-runner for album of the year. It's up there with Hell Bent for Letters, Scarred for Life and Bremelanotide as near-flawless contemporary geek rock classics.
Originally included in Radio Free Hipster Ep. 70: Pajama Jams (July 2009)

Track 2: John Anealio - "Rachel Rosen"
John's Sci Fi Songs was sort of my pick for sleeper hit of 2009. I mean, I knew I loved his songwriting style and fantastic choice of subject matter thanks to his blog of the same name, but the album really managed to bridge this gap between modern nerdy guitar rock and classic filk. I've yet to hear another artist truly accomplish that.
Originally included in Radio Free Hipster Ep. 82: The Voight-Pop Test (January 2010)

Track 3: Supercommuter - "Itty Bitty Pigeons"
My love for Optimus Rhyme is well known and my disappointment over their passing well documented. But between the amazing array of post-break-up EPs and the nerdcore/chip-hop juggernaut that is Supercommuter, I have managed to keep my weeping and tormented wailing to a bare minimum.
Originally included in Radio Free Hipster Ep. 71: Lullabies from the Underground (August 2009)

And now, with this ticked off my list, I return to editing Radio Free Hipster Ep. 89. For anyone who forgot, it's another Wil Wheaton mixtape. Excited? You should be.

Expect it in early June. Consider it my last hurrah before the sweltering summer months.

Temples of Boosh

By this point, practically everything that can be written about Beefy's wildly successful new LP With Sprinkles has been written. Of course, shit like that never stops me from saying my piece.

Heralded by critics as a nerdcore must-own and celebrated by fans as a new high-water mark for the venerable Keith A. Moore, With Sprinkles has generated buzz on par with what it actually deserves. And that's a rarity in any musical community.

Still, there are a couple of interesting points about the album that haven't, to my mind, been properly expounded upon. At least not yet.

And so I will break it down for you. Old school track-by-track style.

1. "Up, Up, and Away"
   Beefy's newest kicks off with a joint that has Dual Core producer c64's fingerprints all over it. And this is a good thing. Bright, snappy and soulful, it's an intro track that does what it should; it starts the album off with a bang and lets the listeners know that this is no ordinary nerdcore affair. Lyrically, it's solid but not flashy. Yet it allows Beef to demonstrate a flow more cleanly polished than ever before. Admittedly, the Heath Ledger love seems a little out of place, but it works within the confines of an incredibly strong number.
2. "None of Your Business"
   "None of Your Business," with its heavy 60s psychedelia guitar drone and sharply layered vocals, is as much a departure for Beefy as it is for producer tanner4105. The flow is lightening fast, the vibe infectious, and, though I have minor issue with the vocal mix, it's a definite keeper.
3. "Duh-Nuh Nuh-Nuh Nuh-Nuh"
   The same can be said for swinging debut of the album's third rotating producer, Mustin of The OneUps. It pushes a well-known Koji Kondo movement into distinctly soulful territory. Beefy's lyrical focus shifts from nerd pride ruminations to braggadocio and into the blissful realm of the nonsensical hook. It caps the album's intro triplet well and prepares you for the wild ride to follow.
4. "Game Store Girl"
   An understated transition leads us to an album track that was long ago leaked but still remains imminently charming. "Game Store Girl" is a musical tribute to Beefy's real life lady, and it plays up his penchant for the relatable narrative. It's not his best showing on the album, but it's amazingly groovable and boasts a phenomenal chorus.
5. "Geek Out"
   Five tracks in we hit the album's recent single "Geek Out," a high-energy jam that marks the third Mustin-produced track in a row. Like its predecessor, it's not at all unsatisfying, but also far from the album's strongest material. Beef again shows off his rapid-fire flow with some rather dated references and a simplistic lyrical hook that's reminiscent of his earlier work. If nothing else, it serves to remind us that the old Beefy is alive and well.
6. "Ones & Zeroes [f. YTCracker]"
   One-third of the way in, we hit With Sprinkles' first unequivocal stand-out. Beefy and his Nerdy South cohort YTCracker rap with ones and zeroes – much to the contrary of what Beefy said in the album opener – and both MCs have never sounded better. Above Tanner's cut-up ragtime hook, the duo demonstrates impeccable swagger as they preach the gospel of the Spam God.
7. "Join My Guild"
   Switching things up is a tribute to MMOs in general and web sensation The Guild in particular. Mustin's take on Don Schiff's theme riff is nothing short of inspired, and Beefy's rhymes are like honey. Sweet and potentially sticky.
8. "Different Language"
   Beefy returns to the familiar subjects of nerd pride and keeping shit geekily real in "Different Language." With call-backs to nerd culture touchstones as well as his previous work, it comes off without a hitch and elicits proper head-bobbing along the way. The beat is another Mustin masterpiece with added violin by Elaine Li, which goes a long way in making the song pop even among this treasure trove of top-shelf material.
9. "Player [an interlude]"
   At the half-way point, Beefy and tanner4105 revisit the motif they employed in Rolling Doubles' "Clueless," but manage to turn a simple interlude track into a veritable gamer anthem. A two-minute powerhouse, it hits the spot after a pair of beautifully understated songs.
10. "Press Start [f. Dual Core]"
    "Press Start" keeps things in the gamer vein with the help of both members of Dual Core. Beefy and int 80 sound great, but the true star of this one is c64's breezy beat and flawlessly overlaid scratches.
11. "Bestestist (Mustin Mix)"
    "Bestestest" is one of those tracks that's been in my collection for what seems like forever, but Mustin's new mix is another triumph. It's warbly, wet and wonderful, and the keyboard solo before the final chorus is nothing short of gold!
12. "Give Me My Gun [f. Dr. Awkward]"
    Before Awkward ever makes a proper appearance on this track you sense his presence. Like a temperamental ghost or a fart in an elevator, it is a weighty, serious, commanding energy that makes you take notice. Beefy incorporates Doc's own style – that intoxicating blend of take-no-prisoners hip-hop and flawless rock 'n' roll hooks – to great effect for a match made in heaven. Interestingly, just as Beefy tweaks his flow in a slightly more aggressive manner, Dr. Awkward softens his a tad to compensate. An amazing showing from both artists, and another albums highlight.
13. "Smiles Times [f. Epic-1 & Schaffer The Darklord]"
    Combining three of my favorite MCs from a trio of nerd rap hotspots – Florida, New York and, of course, the Pacific Northwest – "Smiles Times" is a party anthem packed with perfect (and illegally used) samples. And also weed. In short, it's a summertime memory in the making.
14. "Feature Creep"
    Remember "Movie Girl" from Beefy's Whitesican EP? This track focuses on the male equivalent of the protagonist from that skit. From the old dick-in-the-popcorn routine to in-theater spoilers, "Feature Creep" is a douche bag highlight reel with funky accompaniment. The flow is another return to classic Beefy style, but you won't mind as it also showcases his engaging storytelling.
15. "Sidekick"
    Another fantastic showing by Beef Thompson and c64, "Sidekick" reps nerd culture's favorite second bananas. Giving Luigi and Tails props is clever enough, but the final verse, which pays proper respect to one Dick Grayson, is the track's true haymaker. Perfectly layered and expertly executed on both ends, it starts the album's inevitable wind-down in style.
16. "One of These Nights"
    Playing to Tanner's strengths – his bootleg remixes are the stuff of legend – this track cuts ups the Eagles classic of the same name and pairs it with a proper backbeat. Beefy plays off that backing as he riffs on classic rock, hard living and harsh self-realization. In spite of my deep-seeded hatred of all things Don Henley, this one is an undeniable keeper.
17. "Uncanny [f. MC Lars]"
    Recently unveiled during the April podswap on my very own podcast, "Uncanny" sees Beefy and longtime pal MC Lars waxing nostalgic about the 90s X-men cartoon. The original theme song is nicely retooled by Mustin, and Beefy's one man call-and-response chorus is a winner. I take minor issue with its placement – this sounds much more like a mid-album cut to me – but it's still a fun ride.
18. "So Far Gone"
    Albums have to start strong and finish stronger, and Beefy and 64 accomplish this by closing out With Sprinkles with what is possibly the project's best track. Atop another crystal clear beat, Beefy holds nothing back. He celebrates the good times and looks toward a bright future, all the while repping his nerdcore forbears MC Frontalot and (more obviously) Optimus Rhyme. While Beefy assuming the Autobeat mantle of leadership in verse may seem a little presumptuous, it's nothing less than what Wheelie himself commanded. And, after hearing With Sprinkles, it's an honor that he's most certainly earned.

Critiquing your friends work is, as I've said in the past, a fool's errand. You're either going to hurt someone's feelings or be called out for being too soft. In both regards I have been rather fortunate thus far
Still, once in a while an album comes along that genuinely fulfills an artist's true potential. At that point, all that trepidation goes right out the window.

I expect a lot from Beefy. Artistically-speaking, I mean. In fact, it could be rightly said that I hold him to a higher standard than many more successful and well regarded nerd rappers. A number of which, I know for a fact, Beef looks up to himself.

This is because, due to our lengthy working relationship, I have had the good fortune to hear the man at his best. I know what he's capable of, and this, my friends, is it.

With Sprinkles is not a perfect album. It's got some holes, as does any release, but it is a beautiful effort. A work of art by a cat who can't help but step his game up with each successive release. Though topping this one will be a most treacherous uphill climb.

Not only does Beefy bring it on every track, but his contributors, from his trio of top-rate producers to the veritable who's-who of nerdcore elite that add their own distinct vocal flavors to the proceedings, do as well. (Okay, admittedly Lars sounds a little lackadaisical at times, but that's sort of his shtick.)

With Sprinkles is a Beefy album like none before. It shows a fascinating depth of lyricism and an almost overwhelming dedication to artistry. It is, in short, a personal triumph from Mr. Thompson, and that more than accounts for its numerous accolades from the nerdisphere and beyond.

More importantly, it's a nerdcore album like no other, and with its release Beefy truly joins the ranks of the Frontalots and the Dual Cores and the Optimus Rhymes of the world. He has surely made his own indelible musical mark.

For me, though, the album stands out simply by capitalizing on four of my favorite things: hip-hop, nerd life, uncleared samples and, of course, the big man himself.

Just go buy it. Now.

"Other rappers are the corn flakes; I'm the prize that waits inside."

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 88: Doubly Blessed

I have established drop-dead dates for releasing these fortnightly podcasts. They are, for those keeping score at home, the 1st and 15th. (Feel free to make a joke about unemployment checks and my trailer park upbringing in relation to those dates if you so desire.)

This month, however, I let things slide. Let's face it, you were too busy Saturday to bother downloading a new show, and releasing it on Sunday, when you were recovering from the previous night's escapades, wouldn't have been ideal either.

So instead you get a brand new RFH a couple days late, of course, but just in time to start your workweek. It's a good 'un - if I do say so myself - so I think you'll find it worth the wait.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 88: Doubly Blessed [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 43.7 MB Running Time: 47:44

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
Lucky you; you get to hear the theme song again!

Track 1: HDNinja – "Carformer"
HDNinja are the cellar-dwelling mutant brother of the EMPulse Records family. And I couldn't love them more for it.

Z's 1st interlude: "Some of the newest tracks to hit my inbox over the past couple of months."
There's a lot of great new shit in this episode. I do not doubt that some of it will be to your liking.

Track 2: Computerization – "Pity is Popular"
There are very few songs in which your narrator wishes for catastrophically failing health. This is one of them.

Track 3: Go Home Productions – "Carpenters Wonderwall"
I just love the way this one trails in after "Pity is Popular."

Track 4: Being Human dialog / Schaffer the Darklord – "Goddamnit"
Because sometimes we all need swearing lessons.

Track 5: Matt Ryd – "Annabel Scheme"
If you aren't on Matt's mailing list (or at least following his Twitter), you are cheating yourself out of a lot of fantastic music.

Track 6: Mutherpluckin' B – "Turtle Funk"
Anthony's been singing the praises of the Mutherpluckin' B for a while now. In case you're wondering, he hasn't been overselling him.

Track 7: Random & K-Murdock – "Epoch"
Originally I had "Dream Master" picked out for this episode, but I changed it at the last minute. Such is the power of the listener request.

Z's 2nd interlude: "And it just ain't Radio Free Hipster without background music."
This time around it was supplied by Nathan Meunier: writer, chip musician and all around nice guy.

Track 8: Ultraklystron – "Go Nerd"
Karl did one of those make-an-album-in-a-day projects. It's quite good. You oughta cop it.

Track 9: The Late Late Late Show – "Dissolve into the Night" / Home Movies dialog
If I didn't lose the one musical bone in my body in a freak boating accident, I would totally get in on the Doubles' Dash action.

Track 10: The ThoughtCriminals – "Pledge"
Much love to Mikal kHill and the rest of the TCs, my hip-hopping neighbors to the north.

Track 11: Marc with a C – "No London in Brazil"
It's hard for me to pick a favorite Marc with a C song, but this one is easily in the running.

Track 12: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe sample / Smixx – "Blackest Night"
With production by my longtime internet homeboy Larry Legend.

Z's final interlude: "And the fact that it name drops my own blog certainly didn't hurt its chances."
Giving me an in-song shout-out might not be a surefire way to get yourself included on the podcast, but it definitely increases your chances. ;)

Track 13: Dale Chase – "Wordpress (feat. Dual Core)"
It's hard to express just how amazing the stuff Dale's currently spitting really is. Moreover, he somehow manages to up his game with each new single. Which come out with alarming frequency.

Within the next week or so I will begin in earnest with my next Wil Wheaton mixtape. Which brings me to the obvious question; has anyone extracted the audio from Wil's PAX East keynote yet? If not, I reckon it's up to me.

I'll also be putting together a 10-minute mini-sode for the Parsec Awards judging panel. I've already pegged songs by John Anealio and SuperCommuter for inclusion, and I am currently narrowing down a third. If you have a favorite from the past year's shows – particularly one with a speculative fiction slant – please let me know.

And with that I return you to your regularly scheduled Monday. May this music help you navigate safely through it.

Blankety Blank

That time has come once again, my friends. A time when a young man feels himself nudged ever southward. When the music nerd inside us all is drawn toward Florida. The Sunshine State. The House of the Mouse. America's Wang.

Call it what you will, the simple fact is Nerdapalooza season is fast approaching and, thus, a trip to Orlando, FL is imminent. With this year's festival slated for July 17th and 18th, you still have a little over two months buy your tickets, make your travel plans and pack up your wordly belongings.

Sadly, for some of our dorky brethren, that's far easier said than done. With the global economy, well, I believe the proper phrase is in the shitter, it's difficult for many fans to make this annual pilgrimage. And it is equally hard for many of the potential performers.

To help remedy this, our friends at Game Music 4 All along with Lo Tech (of The Geek Peek Post) established a fundraiser called Get _______ to Nerdapalooza. Sure, it's not the most compelling of project names, but it's proper accurate.

This year the duo is again re-launching the Get _______ to Nerdapalooza effort complete with fabulous raffle prizes, and the artist chosen to benefit from the generated funds is none other than nerdcore's finest palindrome Dr. Awkward.

Now, if I have to tell you what Awkward is all about, you're obviously new to both this blog and the world of studious indie hip-hop, but I will humor you…

Rocketing onto the scene with his debut EP Next Gen, Dr. Awkward easily impressed nerdy heads with his blend of clever lyricism, tuneful hooks and geeky swagger. Joining forces with the Scrub Club collective, the good Doctor continued to ply his craft both around his own California stomping grounds and beyond. (Including a stellar showing at last year's Nerdapalooza.)

His newly released Unlimited is a hip-hop powerhouse with a sharp focus on girls, games and nerd life, not to mention being one of the strongest releases of 2010. Dr. Awkward has continued his hot streak with a number of stellar guest spots, most recently on Beefy's With Sprinkles. (Which came out today; get on that shit!)

Also, Doc got me a signed comic from my idol Jim Mahfood at the Space City Nerd kickoff party in Houston, TX, and if that don't sound like the kind of delightful muthafucker deserving of a little financial assistance to travel cross-country, I don't know who does!

With all that said, the dealio is as follows:

Head over to the raffle page at Geek Peek Post. There you can purchase virtual raffle tickets for a mere $10 a pop for your first ticket, with additional tickets only 5 bones. Not only will each donation get Doc closer to this year's Nerdapalooza, they'll also put you in the running for sweet-ass prizes from the likes of MC Frontalot, Schaffer the Darklord and Marc with a C.

Oh, and there are also two – count 'em: 2 - $100 Visa gift cards up for grabs!

So give some scratch to help Awkward make it to Orlando, and maybe even score some cool shit for yourself.

I believe they call that a win-win.

Nerd News in Brief

It's been quite a while since the last installment of Nerd News in Brief. In that time, much has changed. The world has moved on.

A pair of nerdy engagements were announced and Nerdapalooza 2010 has taken shape, complete with an adjusted date, a new venue and a stellar lineup. Oh yeah, and I flunked out of my own Pokewalker Fitness Challenge.

Stupid head cold!

• Nerd Love: For those marriage-minded dorks, may I suggest one of these fine microchip rings? Seriously, though, if your special lady actually wants one of these, I suggest you make it official quickly.
• Um… I Mean Geek Love: Syracuse's The Daily Orange published a piece last month on the Geek2Geek online dating service. And as if that's not shameful enough, the site's founder, Spencer Koppel, also splits hairs regarding geeks and nerds. Which can't be good for business. 
• Semantics: Heidi Costello of Australia's Tweed Daily News asks if it's better to be a nerd, a geek or a dork. More importantly, she pokes holes in the accepted definitions for obviously malleable terms. Give it a look.
• Share the Wealth: Nerdapalooza isn't the only even relying on Kickstarter funds to help get it off the ground. Chiptune aficionados are also encouraged to contribute to the new 8 Bit Weapon/Computeher Disko Apocalypse tour. Every little bit helps.
• Better at Rapping: Speaking of tours, MC Frontalot's current cross-country undertaking seems to be going well for him and the boys. Check out this video interview from The Naked Gamers to see how our hero fairs on the lonely road, and peep this handsome mini-review of his newest musical offering from ReMixed Magazine.
• White Now: Which, of course, brings us to this Supreme Magazine piece pointed out by our own Church H. Tucker. It concerns the fall of the white rapper, and touches on, among other things, nerdcore's inability to cross over. It's an interesting piece, and you should give it a read.
• Split No More: From my buddy Matt comes news that prolific minimalist Wizard Rocker Split Seven Ways has elected to step away from that echelon of geek rock. More music does seem to be in the works, however, in what may well be a less despondent vein.
• Leia Lady Leia: And from Church comes news of recently announced project Her Universe. It's the first Star Wars clothing line specifically for the ladies. Please hold your "Yellow Laser Beams" jokes until the end of the show.
• Gigs in Space: With the earth destroyed by a massive explosion, the human race has retreated to a pair of dueling space stations. If you just found yourself thinking "That sounds like a great premise for a rock opera," you are not alone.
• Yeah, But What's His THAC0?: This little gem also come compliments of Church. And it reminds us that in-depth statistical analysis is the quickest way to nerdy-up professional sports.
• I Want Candy: This edition of nerd ink, is sponsored in part by Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. You know how we do.
• Six String Sorcery: On the new release front, my blogging brother Nathan Meunier has dropped his debut chiprock EP. Snag The Beacon for free from his site, and maybe toss him a dollar or three for his trouble. 
• Haste Makes Taste: A string of amazing new tracks also comes to us compliments of last weekend's Doubles' Dash songwriting competition. These 8 mini-masterpieces are also supplemented by another stellar set from the follow-up "encore round." 
• One Day at a Time: Not to be outdone by that ol' YTCracker, Seattleite MC Ultraklystron has just dropped a new mixtape that was recorded in a single day. It's a pretty hot little 9-tracker that's provided free of charge.
• Roll the Tape: Meanwhile, Florida's Marc With a C has been busy hatching a contest. To coincide with the July vinyl-only re-release of his RetroLowFi collection, Marc is giving away a rare test pressing of the album. To enter, simply prove to Marc your undying love for said test pressing… uh, I mean your undying love for him via a clear visual manifestation. The entry deadline is Monday, May 31st, and further details are available over at his site. 
• Brand New Super Powers: And taking us out this time is the brand new video from Beefy's (shortly) forthcoming new LP With Sprinkles. It's for the track "Geek Out," and it all but commands you to do so.

That Ninja's Crazy

Believe it or not, I still have two album reviews on my plate from last year! Yes, friends, in my infinite slackitude I find myself quickly approaching mid-2010 with more than a little important business of old still in need of attention. Thankfully, with the Scrub Club re-release of Krondor Krew's 2009 EMPulse Records banger The 6th Rotation of the House of the Chaos Star, I can elegantly work in a long overdue critique whilst still remaining topical.

Go me.

Explaining the Krew to the uninitiated is a bit of a daunting task. How does one properly describe a nerdcore clique with undeniable heavy metal roots that's stage show encompasses oversized weaponry and full-on kung-fu aerobics? In truth, you can't.

Thankfully, The 6th Rotation ably illuminates the band's overall aesthetic.

Kicking off with the vaguely Schwarzeneggerian (and oddly Zen) battle anthem "Terminated," a jam that adds some heavily aggressive energy to familiar musical backing, the duo sets the stage with its transmutation of anger into creativity, a theme that is prevalent throughout the bulk of the album. This simmering fury colors follow-up "Baby Drama," a well conceived if occasionally lyrically simplistic tribute to troubled relationships, that then gives way to fantastical dungeon-crawler "Adventure," which somehow manages to marry D&D and g-funk in a manner that it both convincing and enjoyable.

From there, Shinobi Onibocho and Masurao slow things down with the introspective and philosophically challenging "Still Day," which fully employs the delicately sung chorus structure only hinted at to this point. "Threshold," however, is a literal cry for blood that, when contrasted with "Still Day," helps to define the odd musical mixture of violence and serenity exemplified across the breadth of the release. In fact, the brilliant transition between these two disparate examples is so striking that I also have to pause to compliment HT, EMPulse's producer-in-residence who helped mold the sound of the release.

"Juice" pays an obvious debt to the band's metal heritage (as well as their penchant for partying) and is a musical standout even when the lyrics go for low-hanging fruit. Similarly, "Darkness" doesn't exactly boast the band's best rhymes, but it still manages to be musically satisfying. "In the Pants" is an ogre war-chant that unceremoniously transforms itself into a little nerdcore lovefest, and, after a rather comical lead-in, "Not Like You" cuts up Portishead's "Sour Times" to great effect, easily proving itself to be a solid highlight.

The 6th Rotation begins its final descent with the driving drum track and growled, rapid-fire delivery of the eerie "Death Trap" and the dangerous ninja rhymes of "Sneaking," which boasts a beautifully complex chorus structure. "Talisman Attack" brings the funk back (coupled with some combat-ready sound effects) before ultimate closer "Ninja Masters" restates the band's musical mission statement with a distinct eastern flair.

At 13 tracks, The 6th Rotation of the House of the Chaos Star delivers the goods without overstaying its welcome. More importantly, it showcases the duo's most enjoyable joints to date while at the same time capturing just enough of the frenetic energy inherent in their live performance. (Which is, if I may be so bold as to state the obvious, where the guys shine.)

It's easy to write off a group like Krondor Krew, with their keikogi and oversized swords, as a novelty act. Still, while there is an obvious, functional, self-aware gimmickry to their over-the-top stage personae, the truth is that Sninobi and Masu have a genuine passion for music. The 6th Rotation is a tangible statement to that, and, while it may or may not silence haters, it serves as the perfect introduction to their unique style for new fans. 

Thanks to the Scrub Club re-release, the album is now freely available, so go give it a listen. It should easily suit all ninja rap needs. And then some.

"Thing will never be the same / My only constant is change / The life you had is rearranged."

What's Real

I have officially become that guy. I am now that blogger who talks about shit well before its actual release.

This means I am, at the very least, an abject tease. And I apologize.

Today, for example, I am going to drop a bit of knowledge concerning an album that is – get this – a full month away. A month! That's, like, forever in internet time!

Still, I'm gonna talk it up because it deserves the hype, and maybe not for the reasons you think.

This week Random and K-Murdock released a pair of singles from their long-awaited Forever Famicom album, and, unsurprisingly, they've been incredibly well received. Both "Dream Master" and "Epoch" are indicative of the stuff you'll hear on the full release come June 1st, but if you're just head-bobbin' to beats built on the music of Little Nemo: The Dream Master and Chrono Trigger you might be overlooking the genuine beauty of this project.

Don't get me wrong; Forever Famicom is certainly the brand of chip-hop you're expecting. (Hell, I'd go so far as to call it chip-hop at its finest, but that's neither here nor there.) The difference is that the mechanism isn't the message. Allow me to explain.

Through his wildly popular Mega Ran releases, Ran caught the ear of gamers everywhere, not to mention garnered the favor of Capcom itself. Both Mega Ran and Mega Ran 9 were finely focused concept albums that drew both musical and lyrical inspiration from the Blue Bomber's elaborate mythos. Like the series that inspired it, the Mega Ran project proved itself to be, on every imaginable level, a rousing success. It got Ran a performance spot at Comic-Con, a write-up in Nintendo Power and even helped to push his work into film and videogames. Still, despite their inherent genius these are concept albums, and the concept album, by its very nature, has an intentionally limited scope.

I've remarked in the past that the original Mega Ran album wasn't merely an artistic departure, but a fairly brave gambit by Random to boot. This is a cat who, I might remind you, was already established in the underground thanks to stellar efforts like his 2006 debut The Call. Stepping back from more introspective, personal work into the allegorical skin of a robot hero was a risky move, but it succeeded both because of the strength of the concept and the skill of the MC himself.

In that regard, Forever Famicom is the perfect marriage of the lovably nostalgic Mega Ran and the straight-talking street poet Random. It at last bridges the gap between those sometimes contradictory aspects of his artistic persona.

Still, as much as I'd love to lay the strength of this new album at Ran's feet, it owes just as much to the virtues of K-Murdock. Yes, the musical end of the project is built upon beats inspired by the NES titles you know and love, but somewhere early in the album's intro – a breezy little number that wryly references Random's other 8-bit endeavors – that quickly stops seeming like a crutch.

Yes, Ran and Murdock could've simply tossed another straight-up Mega Ran album at us and we would've gobbled it up. But they didn't. They innovated. They flipped the game. And the results are astounding.

In back-in-the-day cuts like "Forever" and the aforementioned "Dream Master," the chiptunes that power the musical movement blend in seamlessly with Random's own brand of personable, enlightened lyricism. Rather than clash, they coalesce.

The word I'm grasping for here is transcend. It can't be easy to balance misty childhood memories and hard lessons learned with digital escapism, but Forever Famicom does it. And it does it flawlessly.

You see, just as Boogie Down Productions colored hip-hop with dancehall and A Tribe Called Quest melded rap and jazz, Ran and K-Murdock have turned the novelty of chip-hop on its ear. The songs don't sound like cash-ins and they don't sound like sonic experiments and they don't even sound like fan service. They just sound relevant and genuine. And beautiful.

Joints like "World Tree," with its rapid-fire namedropping of eighties TV shows, "Drop the Load," which laments the shortcomings of modern games via intentionally stilted vocals delivery, and convention anthem "CONtact" definitely play up the nerdy pop culture angle, but tracks like "The Girl with the Make-Up" and "Galaxies" come off as brilliantly earnest as any more traditionally produced hip-hop, even though their musical beds are deeply rooted in familiar, minimalist blips and bloops.

You can subdivide any musical movement into more minute elements, and in that regard we can color a specific artist or project as chip-hop or nerdcore or grime or death rap or gangsta. But at the end of the day songs succeed by leveraging whatever musical minutiae they employ to the proper end; by being engaging and, yes, transcending.

And in that very important regard, Forever Famicom is simply another delicious flavor of true hip-hop.

Those of you lucky enough to receive the same media leak that I did can back me up, but I'm afraid the rest of you will simply have to wait until June. At which time, I guarantee, you'll see how right I am.

"Haters call you addicts, but I just know you just passionate."

Move Somethin'

Like the turning of the tides and the shifting of great tectonic plates, the clockwork of the universe is at play even here at Hipster, please! While the blog itself will appear unchanged, my longtime friend and selfless host Antisoc has just migrated the various and sundry media files (specifically stuff like albums and podcasts) to a shiny new server.

What this means for me is countless mind-numbing hours of checking and updating reference URLs. What this means for you is… well, hopefully nothing. The idea is that you won't notice anything and the site will function exactly the same on the front-end. But, as SLI was quick to point out, those are famous last words from the IT set.

So, now that my back alley workings have been laid bare to the harsh light of day, please be so kind as to let me know if I fucked anything up. If you click on a link (either here or over at the dedicated podcast blog) expecting to download some free entertainment but instead find yourself faced with the dreaded 404, just shoot me a message to let me know.

You are my eyes and ears in this matter.

And, while I'm taking a moment out of my regularly scheduled blogging to address these potential technical issues, let me also use this opportunity to once again thank Antisoc for putting me up rent-free for lo these many years. Anytime you check out a new ep. of Radio Free Hipster or share Old Nerdy Bastard with a friend, you're helping to burn through his bandwidth.

To steal a line from the great Wordburglar, I can't make a move without that guy; he's my legs!

Y'all give it up for him, please.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 87: Wonkerjawed

At the risk of sounding like a total douche-nozzle, I will call this the long-awaited new episode of Radio Free Hipster. Because it is. At least to me.

The April Podswap is always fun, but the process tends to play hell with my regular podcasting schedule. As a result, this ep. is a little late and I am a little rusty. Hopefully your good nature will provide me a bit of leeway with regard to both.


Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 87: Wonkerjawed [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 47.7 MB Running Time: 52:05

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
These lads are always on time.


Track 1: MC Frontalot – "A Little Bit Broad"
Zero Day is pretty phenomenal from start to finish, but this is an easy standout.

Z's 1st interlude: "Now that I've made my first scatological reference."
Because all good things start with a poop joke.

Track 2: Go Home Productions – "Virgin O'Riley"
A Who mash-up. You know how I do.

Track 3: I Fight Dragons – "Money (Klopfenpop Remix)"
"Money" was probably my least favorite track from the IFD debut, but I gotta give it up to Klopfenpop for this bomb-ass remix.

Track 4: Kirby Krackle – "On and On"
Wolverine gets more than his fair share of love from geek rockers, but this musical tribute actually has legs.

Track 5: Ash – "Kung Fu"
For my homeboy GeekDad Curtis, who is a big fan of the Northern Irish alterna-rockers.

Track 6: Norrin Radd – "Proton Decay"
Chiptune death metal. Fuck. Yeah.

Track 7: Sinister Six – "On the Black or White Hunt (MasDaMind's Michael Jackson Mashup)"
The Negative Zone Remix album is a fine addition to any collection.

Z's 2nd interlude: "Loose and funky… like a well-worn gym sock."
I had a pretty bad cold while I was recording this episode. This is around the time when my meds kicked in. The more you know!

Track 8: Scrubs dialog / Kevin Figs – "BedRock (Rock Remix)"
Kevin makes rock remixes of radio rap joints. They are awesome. Listen to them.

Track 9: mc chris – "Twin Peaks"
mc's April Fools release for this year. It also includes a Ghostbusters reference.

Track 10: Teleidofusion – "Soft Illusion" / Listener request voicemail
I highly approve of listener requests. Especially for amazing chip rock tracks.

Track 11: Parry Gripp – "Young Girl Talking About Herself"
Parry gives away a free song a week. You should download them.

Track 12: Insane Ian – "(Love Theme From) Asteroids (The Motion Picture)"
Herein Ian channels both Aerosmith and Parker/Stone. In equal measure.

Track 13: BC – "Raptor Song"
"I'm a dinosaurus."

Z's final interlude: "Another nerd pride anthem from the good Doctor."
I can't say enough good things about Doc Awk. But I will never stop trying.

Track 14: Dr. Awkward – "DualShAwks" / Klopfenpop voicemail
Big ups to Klopfenpop for the lyrical love note. Even if he was a tad drunk.

I've been gauging audience interest in another Wil Wheaton PAX keynote mixtape, and folks seem to dig the idea. I'm'a try to work that one out for late May.

The next episode, however, will likely be another theme-free affair. I've gotten a ton of fantastic new albums over the past few weeks, and I couldn't possibly fit all of them into this show.

Requests and voicemails are, as always, highly encouraged.

Monday's Child is Fair of Face

Over on the Twitters there's a little thing called Music Monday, or, more accurately, #musicmonday. (We do so love the hash-tags!)

It's our own regular occurring faux holiday that focuses on sharing music. Suffice it to say that I wholeheartedly approve.

And since my selections for this week are solidly in the nerdy music vein, I figured I'd share the pair here for those who may be Twitter-deficient.

The first, which was teased in the comments of last week's new album post, is from Radio Free Hipster mainstay killsaly. Though ks expends most of his musical energy at present on his full band project Campaign Trail 72, he has just released his final (for the time being) solo effort, a mixtape dubbed Warrior Class.

Covering everything from shoegaze to glitch to chiptunes to VGM to nerdcore, killsaly remixes his way through a veritable cornucopia of dorktastic tropes, all the way tying it together with clever samples and sharp transitions. It includes a track or two that you may have heard before, including his DBZ-tinged mash-up of Frontalot's "Braggadocio," as well as a ton of newer material in its 23 track expanse. For fans of the bootleg remix, it will surely prove to be an hour and 40 minutes well spent.

Also fresh out the proverbial box is the debut from my new homey Jonny Nero Action Hero. Like killsaly, Jonny's no stranger to Radio Free Hipster and you no doubt heard his Cybermen anthem "Cyber Octicks" on my newest comp.

With its six-song length and sharp focus on chiprock, Experimutations is a wholly different affair from Warrior Class, but it's certainly no less enjoyable. It's a name-your-own price EP from Bandcamp, so head over there to sample Jonny's full-fledged musical unveiling, and maybe kick him a little donation if you feel so inclined.

Hopefully, these two releases will keep you entertained until the much-delayed return of RFH later this week.

Book It!

Apparently it is shameless plug week here at Hipster, please! But then again, when is it not shameless plug week around here?

I plug things. Shamelessly. It is my only skill.

Please humor me whilst I ply my trade.

As those who follow the happenings over at my other primary project, the Wired GeekDad blog, already know, our fearless editor Ken Denmead has recently written a book. This book is slated for release early next month – May 4th, to be exact – but it's already available for something you kids call "pre-order."

Which involves ordering an item. Preemptively.

Essentially, it's a lengthy kid-centered project book with a nerdy slant, so if you have children of your own and are looking for some cool activities to bust out during the summer doldrums it may be advantageous to snag a copy. The current Amazon price is under $12, so it's not like a huge investment or anything.

Give the product page the once-over and peep its recent write-up in Wired proper to see if it's for you.

Oh, and if you're over there pre-ordering stuff anyway, you might also wanna peep this retro "red box" edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Essential Starter Set.

I never tire of helping you spend your money!

Under 18 Parsecs

It's Parsec Awards nomination season again, folks, and for the second year in a row the Parsec steering committee has elected to include a category for Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast. This award exists to recognize excellence in podcasts "where original music with a speculative fiction theme is presented."

You may remember that last year I was not only nominated for this award, but made it all the way to the final selection process. Where I was unceremoniously crushed beneath the heel of the comedy/music juggernaut that is the mighty FuMP.

So yeah, I lost, but it was a bit of a boost for both the show and me, your humble host, to be recognized as a standout amongst my peers.

I'm honestly not sure what my chances are this year, but, should you feel inclined to nominate Radio Free Hipster, I would be most grateful.

Again, no pressure, but if you were to decide to give some love to RFH, you might want to use the following format on the nomination form: 

Name of Podcast: Radio Free Hipster
URL: http://www.hipsterplease.com or http://radiofreehipster.blogspot.com/
RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RadioFreeHipster
Author/Creator's Name: Z.
Podcast Contact Email: hipsterplease@gmail.com
Category: Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast

There's also a comment field. Feel free to write your own little spiel about how RFH is a bi-weekly podcast that celebrates nerd culture and showcases fantastical musical storytelling or whatever the hell it is that I do that makes you think I may actually deserve a shot at this thing. Just be honest. And literate.

And while you're at it, maybe you'll wanna nominate some other great 'casts in this and the Parsecs various other categories. Just my opinion, of course, but I think shows like StarShipSofa and Pottercast both deserve some accolades. Not to mention last year's winner Brilliant Gameologists, though the Best Gaming Podcast category seems to have been rolled into Best Speculative Fiction Fan or News Podcast (General) this time around.

So there you go. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to nominate some people for some stuff. And things.

I can't make it any clearer than that.

Whachulissninto?

There was a time when that question was proposed to me almost daily. Now? Not so much.

I mean, between my two podcasts and the near constant stream of music-related nonsense I spout via Twitter, I reckon most of you know what I am digging at any given time. Of course the Cardinal app [plug] which is currently available for free [/plug] has streamlined that process by letting me tweet my song-of-the-moment directly from my iPod, but that's neither here nor there.

Because, you see, while I can very easily tell you what particular track or artist I am listening to/singing to myself in the can, it's a bit harder to elaborate on all the songs currently vying for my mental real estate.

I'm serious, kids; it's fuckin' nuts in there with all these albums vying for the prized position at the top of my dome!

So, in an effort to make the voices stop alleviate this particular problem, I'm going to give you a proper rundown of my current picks. Don't worry about taking notes, as everything is all hyper-linked for your convenience.

Zero Day
Obviously I am presently enthralled by Front's new release. My cohorts at Wired called it his nerdiest album yet, and I concur. If you've digested the long-ago leaked "Your Friend Wil" or sampled the current tour set (which includes new shit like "Jacquelyn Hyde" and "Spoiler Alert"), you've heard a little of what Zero Day has to offer. But there's more. Oh, so much more!

"Disaster" further refines the posse cut genius of his classic "Nerdcore Rising" while taking a cue from Dual Core's epic "Fantastic Four" and kicking the cross-MC-give-and-take up a notch and "First World Problem" puts a conscious spin on his own geeky brand of lyricism. And there's also "Better at Rapping," which boasts some of Frontalot's most fearless instrumentation to date. (Goddamn banjo!)

Between an even more refined sound and a number of standout guests stars, it's not an album to be missed.

Oh, and for the record "A Little Bit Broad" pretty much answers all questions/criticism concerning nerdcore as a style. So there.

E for Everyone
In my GeekDad review, I called the new Kirby Krackle album the year's first must-buy, and I stand by that statement.

While painting themselves as a comic book rock band, Kirby Krackle are actually more broadly defined as all-purpose geek rockers. With an album that kicks off with a highly groovable joint about Fallout 3 and closes with a touching ode to con life, it's sort of hard not to love them.

From broad conceptual pieces that deconstruct notable archetypes ("Henchman" and "Secret Identity") to good natured lampooning of everyone's favorite loser superhero team ("Great Lakes Avengers"), E for Everyone is 11-tracks of awesome wrapped up in a Jim Mahfood cover.

And you just can't fuck with that.

Unlimited
News from the Scrub Club tends to come out in these veritable eruptions. I mean, there's the odd solitary happening now and again, but more often than not it is one bombshell after another in brilliant succession. A recent trio of big items from the Club includes news of a shift in ZeaLouS1's stylistic direction, the recent acquisition of Florida ninjas Krondor Krew and the release of Dr. Awkward's first full-length.

While the former are interesting developments, the latter is what's really grabbed my attention. Awk's Next Gen was the perfect hip-hop EP; it satisfied without overstaying its welcome. It was, at the risk of getting all cliché, all killer and no filler.

At 15 tracks, Unlimited isn't quite so cleanly pruned as its predecessor. Still, it amazes start-to-finish.

Even on those rare occasion when I found minor faults, Unlimited sounds amazing, and Doc takes his entire aesthetic, from his unique blend of sharp flow and smooth sing-alongs to his soulful musical presentation, to the aforementioned next level.

Pound for pound, "DualShAwks" is the track most indicative of the strength inherent in the good Doctor's newly polished release – and I'm not just saying that because I inspired a tiny bit of it – but the whole thing is required listening for studious hip-hoppers.

It's free, and cheap at twice the price.

Anomaly
And while I'm talking about cats breaking new ground, Norrin Radd's recent Pause release Anomaly is a fucking beast. While there are a number of important acts integrating the spirit of thrash and death metal into VGM (Year 200X and NESMETAL to name but two), Radd's new album emulates the style to a tee.

A chiptune opus concerning an unfortunate protagonist who finds himself face-to-face with the existential horror of infinite space, Anomaly apes everything from the downtuned leads and double bass to the guttural lyrical delivery.

Okay, admittedly that's not gonna appeal to everyone, but I urge readers with the slightest inclination toward heavy music to give it a go.

It's really the kind of thing that needs to be experienced to be believed, so head over to Pause Music for a free download. And maybe consider ponying up the ten bones for a physical copy if the spirit moves you.

Shit That Ain't Even Out Yet
I try not to tease y'all with stuff you don't yet have access to, but the final pair of albums in my current rotation are pre-release goodies from some friends of mine.

You've already heard a new selection from Antisocial's forthcoming Future Hop release – assuming, of course, that you've downloaded my recent Doctor Who tribute – but he was nice enough to give me the whole thing early.

Antisoc is an artist that I've been fortunate enough to follow since his most tentative steps into nerdcore hip-hop, and as a result I've seen him evolve firsthand. This album is different, however, in that it at long last fully realizes his musical potential. Antisocial is a guy doing geeky rap who comes from a very industrial/futurepop background, and, while his previous efforts have seen a mix of dark instrumentals scattered amid more typical nerdcore fare, the aptly named Future Hop finally combines them into a genuinely amazing sonic soufflé.

Look for it this Towel Day.

And lastly, a copy of Beefy's long-awaited With Sprinkles also recently made its way into my inbox and… well… DAY-YUM!

Beefy's another guy that I've been following for a long time, and between his recent work with The Grammar Club and some amazing guest spots on other artists' albums it's become apparent that he is mining a pretty powerful musical vein at present.

With Sprinkles exploits this issue to the fullest. With some new tricks (as yet unheard-of flows, sharper lyricism and some dazzlingly bright production from cats like Mustin and c64) and all the stuff you've come to love (hijacked samples and smart-assery abound), it's easily my most anticipated release of the coming year!

And now you know that.