Keeping it Local

For years I have sought my own hip-hop home team, a cadre of nerdy rappers that are suitably close to my uniquely rural locality. Little did I know that such a clique was available a scant hour away in the nearby hub of Charlotte, NC.

I was lucky enough to make the acquaintance of The ThoughtCriminals, fronted by my boy Mikal kHill on MC Frontalot's last tour. With a full band setup that employs everything from biting guitar leads to homebrew DS blips and triple-teamed lyrics centered on subjects like the Ninja Turtles, it was clear fairly early on that these fellow Carolinians were indeed the droids I was looking for.

Last week the guys performed a benefit for the same venue that introduced them to me, The Milestone Club. And as cool as the concept of the band trying to help out one of the South's historic dives truly is, the most fascinating thing to come out of the show was the announcement of their forthcoming "tour."

Note the quotation marks.

This isn't a tour in the traditional sense, but rather an interesting variation on the theme. Rather than taking their show on the road, The ThoughtCriminals are instead bringing the rest of the country to NC as part of their Standing Still 2010 Tour.

Every date of the tour will take place at Charlotte's Milestone, and each performance will pair The TC's regional flavor with amazing rap acts from across the US. Though full dates have yet to be announced, the following have already been confirmed:

• July 11th w/ Forever Famicom (Mega Ran & K-Murdock) & Florida's Bleubird
• July 28th w/ Cincinnati's Mr. Dibbs
• August 13th w/ Rhode Island's Prayers for Atheists (Jared Paul/SFR) & Balto's Height
• September 24th w/ the incomparable Dual Core

It's really rare that we're able to coax this caliber of hip-hop so far down the coast, so anyone within driving distance is strongly encouraged to come out join in the fun. Also, be sure to keep a keen eye on The ThoughtCriminals' official site and the band's Facebook event page for further details as they become available.

This is not a (stationary) tour to be missed!

Rolling a Better You

There is something inherently odd about the nerd psyche that compels us to forsake our mortal shells. Whether it be through engrossing ourselves in reading or vegging out playing an MMO, we geeks often neglect pesky annoyances like, you know, exercise and proper diet.

Sure, there are many in this brave new generation of dorks who manage to balance both their D&D campaign and a healthy lifestyle, but I ain't one of 'em. Instead, I find that I must trick myself into being a healthier person.

Earlier this year I embarked on my own Pokewalker Fitness Challenge, leveraging the allure of videogames to help me stay active. Now, long after the conclusion of the contest proper, I still find myself slapping my Pichu-strapped pedometer on each morning. I have integrated a learned behavior (calculating my walking) into my daily routine that positively impacts my overall wellbeing. Sure, some days I only log a measly 5000 steps, but it's a tangible thing that I can wrap my head around.

Likewise, my boy MadHatter recently launched his own nerd-centered fitness game over at Scrub Club called Gain HP. It's an innovative system that relies on allusions to classic RPGs to keep participants, like me, focused on the task at hand.

Players gain experience points for pounds lost, structured exercises classes attended, doctor visits and monitoring real-life stats like blood pressure. This doesn't sound particularly glamorous, but when you replace the words "exercise" with "fighting" and "diet" with "foraging," you unlock an undeniable level of nerd appeal. There's even a saving throw system, inspired by MC Frontalot's stop-smoking plan, for those who can't kick the junk food cold turkey.

Weekly weigh-ins, which are relayed to Hatter himself, allow for regular point-tallying and leveling-up, with a leaderboard provided to showcase the top ten. Thus far in my first week of play I've managed to do, well, okay. I've worked in the requisite 45 minutes of daily exercise for my character class, Monk, and have done a decent job of cutting out the booze and junk food. (Aside from one morning where all we had to eat for breakfast were Pop-Tarts! #nutritionfail) But for me, at least, the important thing is that I'm putting forth the effort, and that I'm doing it with friends.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna take another lap around the building. This Sloth Demon ain't gonna slay itself!

Nerd News in Brief

Earlier this month, Dr. Demento's weekly syndicated radio show went off the air for good. Since 1974, the good Dr. has been sharing not only parody and comedy music, but strange and nerdy recordings of all stripes with the world at large. Sadly, with the recent attempts at streamlining the failing industry, this material was deemed an ill fit for the modern radio audience.

I am of two minds regarding this. First, I find it unfortunate that a broadcasting luminary was cut loose for no better reason than the bottom line. But on the other hand, who the fuck listens to terrestrial radio anymore? It's a sinking ship, and Demento is likely much better off proceeding in the current manner, as an internet-only broadcaster.

This means you can still get your Dr. Demento fix via his web site, unfettered by the whims of mundane America.

• Pac-Man Fever: On the continued subject of nerd history, my pal Brux passed on word of some newly revealed sketches of Toru Iwatani's original Pac-Man design. Look on and be amazed.
• Fully Functional: Speaking of Demento, and thus by extension Weird Al, here is "White & Nerdy." Star Trek style.
• Shat My Dad Says: Also in the Trek vein, Church points out that William Shatner will be directing a new documentary. About himself. I don't even have a joke for this one.
• Zombies Beware: Also submitted without commentary: the axe holster.
• Run for the Hills: Which may or may not play into the new Zombie Fit fitness program. Sadly, it includes parkour. So my ass is out.
• Lusty Lab Coats: Church also directs us toward an interesting item for skeptical nerds. A group of science-minded UK geeks are putting together a (sanitized) pinup calendar to raise money to support libel reform. Anyone familiar with Simon Singh's recent run-in with the British Chiropractic Association surely understands the rationale behind this cause.
• The Many Moods of Koji Kondo: NeatoRama recently put together an astounding collection of covers of the classic Legend of Zelda theme. Our friends I Fight Dragons made the cut, but nothing can hold a candle to the LoZ wedding march!
• King of Kings: Likewise, Topless Robot kicked off the month of June with a list of the "16 Most Gloriously Nerdy Musical Acts." Among those listed were Gwar, DEVO, Stovokor and MC Frontalot.
• The Doctor is In: Earlier this month, Toronto's The Star ran this piece on geek chic and the buying power of the nerd community. Perhaps most importantly, it includes knowledge dropped by my longtime home-skillet, Geek Studies' Dr. Jason Tocci.
• Earth Girls are Easy: And just when you thought I'd gone and presented some genuinely compelling ideas on the current chic de geek, here's a piece from Whitney Matheson's Pop Candy about the god-awful Nerd Girls reality show. I weep for the future of television.
• Step 1 – Annoy the Shit Out of Z.: To balance out the two, here's an explanation of the trend from How Stuff Works. The more you know!
• For the Venn: And to return to another well-worn subject, Antisoc drew my attention to this recent xkcd. I believe it squashes the nerd vs. geek argument once and for all.
• I Summon E. Coli!: I also have to give it up to Church for hipping me to Healing Blade, a fantasy card game rooted in real-world infectious diseases/therapeutics by the fine folks at Nerdcore Learning. Never let it be said that Magic the Gathering can't be out-geeked!
• Charge of the (Dr.) Light Brigade: While the summer nerd music event on everyone's lips is surely Nerdapalooza, be aware that purveyors of the world's only traveling Mega Man rock opera, The Protomen, will also be on tour during the month of July. Look for them with special guests Super 8 Bit Brothers and The Adventures of Duane and Brando throughout the southern US.
• Your Yacht Got Capsizeded: In other new music news, Frontalot has just unveiled the video for his new single "First World Problem" over at the SPIN Magazine web site. It's animated, but not in the same manner as the performer's stage presence.
• The Dogg That Don't Bite: Not to be outdone, decidedly un-nerdcore rapper Snoop Doog has just released a video for his track "Oh Sookie." It's a musical tribute to True Blood's Sookie Stackhouse. Yeah, I'm as confused by this development as you are.
• Heads Up, Glasses On: Also making waves with a new vid is I Fight Dragons. Their bowling alley anthem "Heads Up, Hearts Down" has gotten the Avatar treatment. Meaning, of course, that now it's overly long and wholly derivative. Wait, no; I mean now it's in 3D!
• Trying to Unlock Your Heart: But in-amongst all these fine new specimens of video entertainment, the one that's taking us out this time around is from none other than Seattle comic book rockers Kirby Krackle. It's an animated interpretation of the song "Up, Up, Down, Down" from their debut album. It's all about nerd love, courtship and cannibalism.

Cover Me

It's rare that I get to use the name of a Bruce Springsteen song as the title of a post. I mean, I had one one time that I was gonna call "Tunnel Of Love," but that shit was just too crude.

At any rate, I am coming to you this morning to remind you that we are less than a month away from Nerdpalooza 2010. Are you excited? I am excited!

Last year Hex Warrior and I hatched a plan to introduce a new, albeit understated, element to the festival. We strongly suggested that each participating artist include a cover song in his/her set. Why? Because covers are awesome.

While there was far less than 100% participation – which is totally cool as this is a voluntary program – a number of exciting cover songs did make their way into the weekend's performances. Not the least of which was Krondor Krew's amazing (and wholly appropriate) take on Vanilla Ice's "Ninja Rap" from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze soundtrack.

This year, we're hoping that the performers will continue in this proud tradition, and that fans will encourage them to participate. Nerdapalooza is all about having fun with the other members of our tribe, and this is yet another way to keep things light, informal and amusing.

And speaking of this year's 'Palooza, unlike last year it looks as if I actually will be in attendance. That being said, I am in a bit of a money crunch at present, so if anyone would be willing to donate a few bucks to help me cover gas to get to Orlando and back, I would be most appreciative.

"Help me cover gas."

Well I'll be damned; that title is more appropriate than I thought!:D

Taking it to Another Level

My final holdover review of 2009 is from none other than my old friends Dual Core. (A fact that, I assure you, int eighty has taken great pains to remind me of over the past several months.)

I can't imagine that you haven't already purchased their excellent Next Level LP in the year since its initial release, nor can I imagine you are overly concerned with my impression of the project at this late date. And yet I am going to share it nonetheless. Because, to quote that very famous, very dead scorpion of myth, "it's my nature."

Next Level kicks off with a guitar-fueled tribute to Dual Core's fanbase. From the online fans to face-to-face friends and legitimate financial supporters to pirates spreading the music for free, "For You" is a musical thank you note from c64 and int eighty. It boasts the solid lyricism you'd expect from the latter and an even harder edge on the production by the former. In short, it's the perfect way to kick off a new album.

"Kick Back" was the first sneak-peak track I ever heard from Next Level, and it holds up well even after a year in constant rotation. Pushing forward with 64's more aggressive beats and a cleverly copped vocal hook from Beefy, it's another lyrical mission statement from eighty that makes it an early highlight. This leads us to "Natural 20s," a song that holds a very special place in my heart. Originally created for my long-delayed 20-Sided Rhymes compilation, it's a light-hearted gamer anthem for the tabletop set complete with a shout-out to Jim Darkmagic.

"The Hollow" kicks things back to the console with an atmospheric story-song centered in the world of Marcus Feenix. In truth, it actually relates the narrative in a more concise and properly balanced manner than the game itself, and c64's musical backing is understated perfection. It also blends perfectly into follow-up "I Remember," a joint that sees int eighty and YTCracker reminiscing about the early days of the internet. The background loop is a bit repetitive and the lyrics a tad tech-heavy at times, but it suits the former hackers to a tee. "The Game" ably contrasts the serenity of "I Remember" with a more abrasive instrumental and an expertly rhymed storyline concerning the darker side of modern hacking. Through the tale of Victor, a coder from the former Soviet Bloc who now relies on his skills at identity theft to survive, eighty paints a sympathetic picture of an unlikely protagonist.

The half-way point of Next Level is marked by epic posse cut "Magnificent Seven." Featuring guest artists MC Frontalot, MC Lars, Schaffer the Darklord, Beefy, Random and YTCracker, it boasts "twee-style rhymes" composed via an extended Twitter conversation. Though it doesn't exactly occupy the same hallowed real estate as its forbear (Lost Reality's flawless "Fantastic Four"), it's a definite crowd-pleaser that assures #followfriday will never be the same again.

"Forever" is another amazing piece of high-energy sci-fi storytelling that again contrasts excellently with the starkly realistic "Life's Work," which sees eighty returning to the concept of the unstable and unfair modern workplace, and heavily the introspective "Letter to C64,"wherein eighty reps the DJ like no other.

Next Level begins its final decent with what is, even in the absence of my trademark hyperbole, one of my favorite tracks of all time. "Here to Help" brings back a cat that I've long considered the unofficial third member of Dual Core, Remington Forbes. Atop a silky smooth hook, Remy and eighty relate the woes of end-user support. Suffice it to say that this one hits close to home.

From there Dual Core treat us to the soulful and touching "Painting Pictures," a track that pours all of int eighty and c64's combined musical might into preaching the true power of technological progress. Though the story related didn't exactly happen, it is based on a very real cochlear implant, a true miracle of science and technology.

Rather than straight-up pull together the various musical and thematic elements demonstrated throughout the breadth of the album, closer "Alright" instead kinda goes the other way. Sure, eighty raps directly to the audience about who he is and what he does and c64 brings in a brassy and frenetic beat, but the overall tone of the piece expresses a certain differentness. From the instrumentation to the flow, it stands out among many of the darker-tinged and more cleanly calculated tracks that precede it. Some might see this as a failing in the overall musical cohesion of the project, but, knowing the band like I do, I instead understand it to be a sign.

You see, amid individual album themes and numerous minor recurring elements, Dual Core releases always hearken back to a single unifying concept; the artistic journey of two friends through the infinite possibilities of modern music. From the introductory vibe of Zero One to the feeling of good-natured camaraderie that permeated Super Powers, the statement of purpose that was Lost Reality to the triumphant celebration of success that is Next Level, Dual Core always tell their story. They always encapsulate the moment in time that is the album's creation, its production, its release. From eighty's perfectly-metered delivery to 64's delightful penchant for false stops, Dual Core have spent years refining their sound without watering down the listener experience.

And if "Alright" shifts unceremoniously from the brashness of the primary track to the experimental eclecticism of its hidden follow-up, it's only because the duo is attempting to give us a hint of sounds yet to come. And I, for one, can't wait to hear what awaits us on the following level.

"I'm just giving credit where that credit is due / Everything we've done, I'm giving credit to you."

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 89: The Homecoming Mixtape

My first mixtape-style podcast was inspired by Wil Wheaton's 2007 PAX keynote. He managed to put into words everything I felt about gamers and geek culture, and I couldn't help but fold that into my own project.

When I heard that he was delivering the keynote for the inaugural edition of PAX East, I knew it was the perfect setup for a repeat performance on my end as well.

This time around Wil took a two-pronged approach to nerd evangelism. First, he focused on not just the joys of gaming, but on the truly inspirational force that our hobby has become. Second, he paid homage to the con itself, to the convention spirit that is at the very heart of nerd unity.

This, in turn, inspired a marathon episode that paired Wil's words with the music that we know and love, and I pray to the Geek Gods that I managed to do both elements the very vaguest of justice. At 25 songs, it's twice the size of a normal episode, but I hope that it manages to capture your attention for the duration.

It is a labor of love, and, moreover, a personal tribute to Wheaton, Penny Arcade and all the members of our global family.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 89: The Homecoming Mixtape [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 89.5 MB Running Time: 1:37:5

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
As is tradition, I fucked with the theme song to let longtime listeners know straight-out-the-box that this wasn't an ordinary episode. 

Track 1: MC Frontalot – "Your Friend Wil"
There was really on one track that could kick this one off. 

Track 2: Shael Riley vs. R.h.oZ. – "Music Ruined Video Games"
Whenever I hear the name Jack Thompson, I inevitably think of Shael's "Music Ruined Video Games." This particular version is an obscure twist from an old Remix Fight. 

Track 3: YTCracker – "Wind Song"
And on the subject of mostly harmless geeks, we arrive at YTC. From his Chrono Nurga Vol. 1. A fine example of video game inspired music. 

Track 4: Uncle Monsterface – "I'm sorry (but your princess is in another castle)"
Another natural inclusion given Wil's choice of gamer sound bites. Plus it's hard to make a mixtape episode without the Monsterface. 

Track 5: Mega Ran and K-Murdock – "For the Gamers"
Arguably the most appropriate of all these songs. Wil's keynote was also for the gamers. 

Track 6: PK Mao – "Can't Knock the Hustle (Jay-Z vs. Animal Forest)"
PK Mao's Raptendo 64 is one of those mash-up collections that cross easily into the realm of game music. This one is a highlight, but the whole thing is well worth a listen. 

Track 7: posu yan – "purdieoldays"
And since Wil was talking about world-building, I figured I'd toss in a second Animal Crossing joint. That's a game where I spent an exorbitant amount of time crafting my own little microcosm. 

Track 8: Glenn Case – "D&D at the Public Library"
This one's from my forthcoming 20-Sided Rhymes compilation. It's become my go-to Dungeons & Dragons track, and I consider it one of Glenn's finest. 

Track 9: Sinister Six – "Master of Dice (MasDaMind's Metallica Mashup)"
A second mash-up. Another D&D track featuring the Sin Six. And Metallica. Which leads handily into… 

Track 10: The Four Eyes – "I Come Prepared"
A gamer anthem for those who understand the inherent strength in a set of polyhedral dice. 

Track 11: Marian Call – "I'll Still Be a Geek After Nobody Thinks it's Chic"
Sometimes you need to slow shit down. Thankfully, Marian Call is there for just such an occasion. With a fantastic little ditty about "the geek tribe." 

Track 12: Skull Kid – "Gauntlet Intro"
An arcade throwback to wet your nostalgic whistle. 

Track 13: Israfel – "Pac-Man Glass Cage"
Another OverClocked ReMix. It's impossible to do a gamer-centric show without OCR. 

Track 14: Futuristic Sex Robotz – "Back in the Day"
Closing out this wistful mini-set is an iconic track from the late, great FSR. Apparently they always knew Sulu was gay. 

Track 15: XMark – "Still Alive"
I'm surprised there aren't more covers of this Jonathan Coulton classic. Still, XMark's interpretation is such a solid offering that I find it hard to bitch. 

Track 16: The Smash Brothers – "ff1town.wav/Final Fantasy I"
The Smash Brothers is sort of a who's who of the VGM community. It's an all-star outfit that includes ailsean and virt. This is from their free Bacon EP. 

Track 17: POWERLIFTER – "03.0 - Level 3 (Buffalo)"
Honestly, I've been looking for a reason to include something from electro-chip outfit POWERLIFTER for a while now. This seemed like as good a chance as any, and it actually worked well both within this movement and the show itself. Plus, there's an in-song reference to one of the standout tracks from the original Wil Wheaton mixtape.

Track 18: Dual Core – "The Hollow"
It's got to be difficult to capture the intensity of Gears of War, but int 80 and c64 pull it off. 

Track 19: MC Lars – "Guitar Hero Hero (Beating Guitar Hero Does Not Make You Slash)"
Because no one could possibly draw genuine artistic inspiration from Guitar Hero. No… wait… 

Track 20: Mutherpluckin' B – "Air Guitar"
And on the subjects of video games and guitars, it's the Mutherpluckin' B! 

Track 21: Death*Star – "Looking for Group"
Much like the preceding Lars track, this one is obviously farcical. Still, it's an amazingly solid offering. Easily one of the best from their latest album The Fandom Menace. 

Track 22: The Advantage – "Blastermaster-Stage 2"
More epic game rock guitar! 

Track 23: Beefy – "Give Me My Gun [feat. Dr. Awkward]"
And we begin our final decent with Beefy and Doc Awkward. It's a gamer anthem that just don't stop. 

Track 24: Ultraklystron – "Five to Nine"
We change gears from game culture to con culture with an old school Ultraklystron joint. It remains one of my favorites from his entire back catalog. 

Track 25: Kirby Krackle – "Going Home"
As soon as I heard Wil's opening words, I knew there was only one way to wrap this edition up. Kirby Krackle's "Going Home" expresses in music everything Wheaton says about conventions and geek community. It's also a truly rousing way to sign off.

Flip Your Wig

Consider this a friendly reminder to all my homies in and around Cali that Game Music 4 All's West Coast Wig Out 2 kicks off tomorrow at 5:00 PM at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, CA. Whether you're a native or just someone in town for this year's E3, this is an event not to be missed.

Celebrating nerd music and culture with a heavy emphasis on video games, the show features The Megas, A_Rival, Random with special guest collaborator K-Murdock, WizWars, EvilWezil, Tanuki Suit Riot and Quarter Circle Jab. The event also features giveaway from Capcom and, of course, ample opportunities for geeky fellowship.

So come on down. And give Genoboost a big sloppy kiss.

The Agony of Memory

Though I know he may not find a lot of support around here – what with his recent shift into the all-important nerdcore hater position once occupied by mc chris – I wanted to share with you a brand new video project from MC Lars. It's for his new single "Twenty-Three" from the This Gigantic Robot Kills LP, a song that, as many readers know, recounts the life and death of Lars's friend Patrick Wood.

It's a special production presented by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and obviously concerns fairly weighty, dreadfully important subject matter, especially considering the strong outsider element that historically runs through our community. For anyone whose life has been touched by suicide or depression, it's a somber, almost emotionally wrenching track, but it confronts a significant problem that American society as a whole would prefer not to acknowledge.

So give it a look if you feel so inclined. And, whether you're a fan of Lars or not, you might want to consider following the link to the original YouTube page for more stories behind the other memorial photos featured in the video or to donate to the AFSP.

"You have a choice. Live or die. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. Every time you don't throw yourself down the stairs, that's a choice. Every time you don't crash your car, you re-enlist." --Chuck Palahniuk, Survivor

Suburban Champions

Seattle, Washington is the adopted hometown I've never actually been to.

Okay, that's a little obtuse even for me, so allow me to explain; Seattle is such a hub for contemporary nerd music and culture that I have begun to think of it, despite the fact that I've never actually traveled there, as my kinda place.

As someone who reached adolescence during the rise of the grunge era, I always felt the Pacific Northwest to be this almost supernaturally exotic land. The kind of place I could imagine but never truly wrap my head around. It was a land of flannel and coffee and rain and record stores. A place wholly foreign to me, but one with which I still felt an innate connection.

Some two decades later, Sea-town has been thoroughly demystified. It's not some ultra-hip cabal of Spin Magazine cover men; it's a burg full of dorks and techies and people just like me.

Where once the name Seattle was synonymous with acts like Soundgarden, I now think of it as the home of Optimus Rhyme. Ultraklystron. Kirby Krackle. The Goondocks. Southside. Billy the Fridge. Bloodhag. All unwitting members of my extended geek family.

Recently, a new hip-hop duo has insinuated itself into the proud musical tradition of that nerd mecca. While not exactly new to the scene, Death*Star has, in recent months, made its mark on Seattle nerdcore with a string of high energies shows and the release of their debut full-length The Fandom Menace.

The album kicks off, in traditional hip-hop style, with a skit. It's a too-long Japanese language introduction that doesn't exactly hit the mark, but it's got a certain awkward charm that carries throughout the album. This leads into upbeat banger "Bounce," a track that shouts out both a ton of geek/pop culture touchstones and the band's own nerdcore brethren. It also spotlights the amazing production of DJ Bill Beats, who's in no small part responsible for the discs nigh perfect tonicity.

Fighting gamer anthem "Suburban Champions" is clever and engaging enough, but lacks the strength of the project's early highlight, nerdcore love track "Looking for Group." The guys dig into the realm of the blatantly uncleared sample with "Villain of the Day: Episode 1," a joint that both takes the piss out of Coldplay and reps the likes of Bowser, Mumm-Ra and Vader. Sure, the delivery sometimes falters, but the lyricism is true geek poetry.

This leads to the first band practice skit. I'm notoriously not a fan of skits and this one goes on too long, but it again exemplifies the sort of cockeyed appeal of the C0splay/3PO dynamic. Things pick up again with the West Coast funk of "You're Not Geek Enough for Me," which succeeds despite the questionable vocal counter-harmony in the chorus. "From Dusk 'Til Dawn" brings even more of that energy back, but again loses me a bit on the singing. Horrorcore-lite joint "The Quick and the Dead," however, is a proper return to form that again highlights the true power of Death*Star: amazing beats, inspired lyrics and a healthy dose of the unexpected. The swinging chorus, the unexpected element in this instance, really blew me away on first listen, and it only sounds better on repeat.

"Sunshine" polishes the melancholy Bill Withers classic to a nerdy sheen and continues a hot streak through a shorter (and fucking hilarious) band practice skit and into the self-explanatory "Back in the Day." A perfect transition leads us to "Who Wants to be a Comic Book Villain," a sharply layered track that never quite gels vocally, which is, in turn, is followed by the moody but still slightly off-kilter "Rockman Blues."

The "Tabletop Tragedy" skit is both horribly inappropriate and an instant classic, and it primes the pump for the album's true artistic high-water mark "The Sound of Nerdcore." It's a musical mission statement that says as much about Death*Star themselves as it does the current state of the nerdcore nation. Like our community, it's not exactly flawless but still nothing short of stirring.

The Fandom Menace slows down for its final act thanks to the mellow "IRL," a track possessing a sing-along chorus that actually works beautifully, and the final band practice skit. I won't spoil the latter for you, but it helps set the stage for the album's unorthodox closer. "Second Video Game Apocalypse" is a fully realized concept that suffers a bit from weak delivery, but the boys redeem themselves with final track "Rollin' '20s/Turkey Bacon." Part slang-soaked, time-shifted jazz/hip-hop hybrid, part minimalist bullshit session, it wraps things up nicely and cements what I've come to recognize as the Death*Star sound.

While neither C0splay nor MC-3PO have the most commanding of flows and both occasionally lack a bit of the requisite swagger on wax, the fact stands that The Fandom Menace boasts some amazing nerdcore lyricism and genuinely satisfying beats. Despite some obvious holes, the album is keeper that any nerdcore fan should be certain to explore.

Like their contemporaries Karl Olson and Beef Thompson, Death*Star are nontraditional MCs with a true spark of geeky genius. Not only is The Fandom Menace an enjoyable ride, it's exactly the kind of project that makes me take note of an act and anxiously anticipate its next move. Because even though they live a continent's breadth away, Death*Star and I certainly occupy the same geeky headspace.

"Spend so much time alone my right arm looks like a thigh / got a werewolf on my palm and glaucoma in my eye."

Bumper to Bumper

I've said it before and I'll say it again; I am simply no good at marketing my own projects.

Sure, I mean, it's kinda my job to talk up other people's shit - to hip you to the new Beefy album or the new Superpowerless video - but when it comes to pushing my own wares I always seem to come up short. This is especially true with regard to the Radio Free Hipster podcast.

Because of the, well, let's just call it rebellious nature of the show's song selection process I am unable to leverage the most powerful force in podcasting, meaning, of course, iTunes. As such, it's remained very much a word-of-mouth affair.

This is a double-edged sword as it both limits my audience and (I hope) helps said listeners to feel more engaged by the project. Stylistically, Radio Free Hipster is part pirate radio and part mixtape-for-a-friend, and there's a strange sort of intimacy that permeates both elements.

Last week I received a message from my homey @bonehand of Seattle's thrice-weekly pop culture/comedy podcast The BoneBat Show requesting an audio promo for RFH. His 'cast typically starts with such a shout-out and, though I didn't exactly have one at the ready, I was inspired to pull something together over the weekend.

I actually think it came out rather well, so I figured I'd share it with the rest of you on the off chance anyone else has need of such a bumper. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.

Oh, and be sure to peep The BoneBat Show. I think you'll dig it!

Download Radio Free Hipster Bumper 2010 (for all your RFH-shilling needs)

With Special Guest Star: Me

Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to serve as a special guest on The Functional Nerds podcast with John Anealio and Patrick Hester. As such, I am now a duly recognized member of their Third Nerd Army, with all the privileges and rights associated with such an illustrious position. Recording the podcast itself was a blast, as Patrick and John are both fascinating and engaging cats with which to shoot the proverbial shit, and being able to count myself among the ranks of the show's other illustrious guests is an honor.

My only complaint is, unlike the Kiss Army, the Third Nerd Army doesn't provide its members with wicked-awesome patches to sew on their denim jackets. I'm just sayin'.

In all seriousness, though, The Functional Nerds is a damn fine podcast, and it's one of only a handful of projects that promotes nerdy culture as a cohesive whole. The guys're heavily focused on sci-fi and fantasy, of course, but everything from gaming and comics to music and con life get proper representation. It's truly an equal opportunity geek out.

Theoretically I was invited on to talk about nerd music, and we certainly covered that subject, but it was far more your typical soulless Q&A session. Instead John, Patrick and I drifted between subjects like the importance of Doctor Demento, mash-ups, Yngwie Malmsteen's leather pants, Gandalf the Grey Syndrome, 4-tracks and tales of convention woe.

Suffice it to say the conversation was organic.

As I said, I had a great time recording with the guys, and I totally plan to take them up on their offer to return at a later date. Give episode 12 of The Funcitonal Nerds, which features little ol' me, a listen if you feel so inclined. I think you'll find it entertaining, enlightening and, most importantly, dork as fuck.

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.