Nerd News in Brief

This week, Nintendo announced that the DSi will be released stateside on April 5th. About this news I am ambivalent.

Do I need another Nintendo DS? I do not.

Do I want a new handheld that offers bigger screens and more robust wi-fi at the expense of the GBA slot and with the bloated inclusion of a shitty camera and useless media playback features? Not particularly.

Will I buy the damn thing? Probably.

Apparently, I am what's wrong with the American electronics marketplace.

• Blame the Victim: This week’s edition of Nerd Ink is brought to you by rage. And also the dark side.
• Andre the Giant Has a Posse: Likewise, MC Lars has a street team. Andre’s posse is currently full-up, but Lars has plenty of room on his team, so why not join? You’ll get access to promotional materials and exclusive goodies, and all it costs is a little nerd love.
• Yes, I Realize my Twitter Avatar is Black: Our friends in New Zealand are currently being threatened by a "Guilt Upon Accusation" law which gives ISPs the right to discontinue service based solely on the mere insinuation of copywrite infringement. There are lots of ways to help spread the word, but perhaps the most fun is by taking part in Creative Freedom’s remix project. Details and remix kits are available here.
• Dead, and He Ain’t Ever Coming Back: mc chris recently announced that every song in his back catalog is now available for your listening pleasure on his site. He’s also added a ton of fan remixes, and his album skits are also on the way.
• The Semi-Official Definition: My friend Snipe attended last week’s NYC screening of Nerdcore Rising. She dug it so much that she posted her own review. Give it a read, and, while you’re over there, give the lady some love!
• She’s the DJ, He’s the Rapper: Thanks go out to Zen Albatross for turning me on to my favorite collaboration since the MC Lars/YTCracker album. It’s a new 8bitpeople release that pairs Coova and Bud Melvin, and, of course, it’s freely available.
• As Yet Unattained: A second Nerd Merit Badge has been released. This one celebrates the famed (and elusive) "Inbox 0," and can be ordered right this very second.
• Bromance: I have a musical man-crush on Shael Riley, but that’s okay. Lots of people do. Shael is currently gearing up for a mini-tour, and is practicing his singing whilst playing. Check out his one-man rehearsal of The Grammar Club’s "Bank Holiday" here, then grab an MP3 from Shael’s music site.
• Still Holding: Shael has also leaked some more information concerning his forthcoming solo album Hold Person. Recently he revealed that he had secured Canadian hip-hopper Jesse Dangerously for a collab. In case that was somehow unclear, this is fucking awesome.
• I Take Credit: Likewise, int eighty of Dual Core just revealed that he has joined the bill with Shael at Baba Budans in Cincinnati on March 25th. I’ve also been told that this show, while 21+, is free!
• Rock It: Speaking of, Dual Core has added a lot of great new content to their site. You’ll find a new pair on non-album tracks free for the taking, as well as two new videos. The first is from their recent ShmooCon performance, and the second, also from ShmooCon, includes two freestyles and a surprise encore.
• 8-Bit Brobee: Thanks to a tweet from GabbaFriends, I have spent the week rocking out to this chiptune cover of the Yo Gabba Gabba! song "Dancin’s Easy" by McFiredrill. Hit up 8bitcollective for a free copy.
• Where Everyone Has Gone Before: Church pointed me toward a trio of Star Trek stories this week. They fall easily within the realms of love, lust, and… whatever the fuck this is.
• Closer Than Expected: Also from Church comes a link to "The Search Engine Rap Battle." It defies description, so just watch for yourself.
• Another Rap Oddity: From my pal Antisoc comes this gangsta-ized remake of the traditional theme from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Somewhere, Will Smith weeps. Into a handkerchief made out of money, no doubt.
• Save Ginny: Harry and the Potters have a pair of gigs lined up this weekend. On Friday, February 20th, catch them at Williams College in Williamstown, MA, and on Saturday the 21st, at Bard College in Red Hook, NY. Also, until February 22nd, the band will be doing the unthinkable and actually selling t-shirts via their Web site, so even if you can’t make it out to see them you can still snag one.
• Snake Handler: Also on the Wizard Rock tip, Nagini has released some new music for free through MySpace. Check out her recent blog post to snag the Twin Cores duets album and a pair of 12 Foot Blues demos. Much thanks to Ant for the pointer.
• Rawk: And while you’re perusing the MySpace, hit up the new profile of nerdcore producer/remixer killsaly’s band, Merkava. Currently, the page only features a few synth-and-drum demos from last summer, but new stuff, featuring guitar and vocals as well, is on the way.
• Shiny: We’ll close out this week’s NNIB with a beautiful new video for Marian Call's "In the Black" from her album Got to Fly. It’s by YouTuber macanguish, and feature’s some soulful, sorrowful footage from Firefly/Serenity synched with one of my favorite tracks from the album. Watch. Comment. Share.
  

The Double-Ewe Bee

One of the most amazing things about Nerdapalooza – in addition, of course, to the music and geeky fellowship – was all the stuff that we attendees came home with.

Visual artist KiwiX was the first to acquire an event poster signed by all the featured acts. My photographer friend Denika captured some simply phenomenal photos of the on- and off-stage antics. Schaffer the Darkord and Captain Dan were two of many who got to talk Blender magazine. My best friend Josh got to meet and befriend int eighty of Dual Core. MisterB impregnated a local*. In short, be it a handsome keepsake, a cool story, or a bastard child, everybody came home with something special.

Among my most prized post-‘Palooza possessions are my hand-labeled Zombies! Organize!! demo, Anthony’s press pass (we all traded), my STD and Krondor Krew t-shirts, an enormous collection of free CDs, my own signed event poster (I totally ripped off Kiwi’s idea), and a literal trunk-load of stuff from my pals Uncle Monsterface that includes, but is not limited to, a fine selection of Marty’s sock puppet portraits.

But one of the more rare and wonderful pieces of swag I accrued was a Nerdapalooza special edition ashcan comic written by the Wordburglar**. It details the exploits of Snakor, former snake-themed terrorist turned restaurant manager, and it is one of the most delightfully ridiculous things I’ve ever read. It’s the 80s G.I. Joe with the thinly-veiled Reaganism excised and a healthy dose of self-depreciation inserted in its stead.

Thankfully, now everyone can read Snakor's Pizza in full, vibrant color, compliments of the fine folks at Arcana Comics. Burg tells me that the crew will be updating the project with a new page every Wednesday for the remainder of the year. And the plan is to release the book in a proper physical form at a later date.

Take a look, and spread the love.

*This is simply a joke in poor taste. MisterB did not actually knock up a Floridian at Nerdapalooza.
**Burg is Canadian. Have I mentioned that I really like Canada?

Couples Only

Yesterday evening, the venerable Shael Riley coordinated the second installment of his Doubles’ Dash short-form collaborative songwriting parties. The gist of this hybrid contest/creative freak-out is to motivate teams of two to write and record a lyrical pop song in the span of three hours. This is facilitated via IRC, and, at the end of the event, each of the participant teams share their songs and vote for a winner.

Shael posted all three of the resulting tracks to his LiveJournal last night, and, as they are both freely available and kick-ass, you are encouraged to check them out.

My man Projekt Zero, who presently resides in the storied city of Charlestown in my own home state, found himself abandoned by his partner, but soldiered on to produce "Shael's Going to Fuck Me Up the Ass With No Lube and It's Going to Hurt," a song that is, in truth, far less violent and abrasive than the title would imply.

Shael Riley and Jiggin Jon T, also known as Team Taking a Year Off to Travel, created the catchy and obviously Randy Newman-inspired "Pros and Cons."

And lastly, Injury (who you may remember from a recent collab with Shael) and Suzumebachi clandestinely added Sgt. Rama to their Team Bisquick to craft "Percent Caret Open Parenthesis," which I am told is a parody of Shael’s own "Snow, Love and Sludge."

Listen well, and think back on all the significantly less interesting shit you were doing last night between the hours of six and nine PM Eastern. I, for one, was watching the Gangland marathon on History Channel.

Nerd News in Brief

If Twitter is to be believed, practically every artist in the sphere of nerdcore hip-hop is currently on a boat. Mutherfucker.

But even without invoking Incredibad, it's still been sort of an odd week.

Apparently the general public gets all bent out of shape and shit when their celebrities use drugs or launch into profanity-laden tirades. Thankfully, here-abouts all the entertainers do these things publicly, thereby neutering these particular taboos.

I'm not saying our ways are better. Merely that we are more transparent regarding our vices.

• I'm a Carpool Lane Outlaw: It has long been a dream of mine to have my theme song, Optimus Rhyme's "My Piroshky," play each time I enter a room. Thankfully, this technology now exists.
• NCR in NYC: Nerdcore Rising's two and only NYC showings are this Friday night. (Which is tonight, for those playing at home.). Come see the doc at the Tribeca Film Series, Friday, February 13th at 8:00 PM or 10:15 PM. Grab tickets here. And give Gaby my love.
• Bits & Pieces: Shael Riley has confirmed a pair of dates in locations not NYC. The first, as recently announced by my boy Ant, is March 14th at A&G Ohio. The second is March 25th at Baba Budans in Cincinnati. Has anyone noticed that these are both in int eighty's neck of the woods? I'm just sayin'.
• Neon Nightlife: Groundbreaking chiptune artist zircon has just released the Mass Media Constant EP via Protagonist Records. It's aggressive, electro-tinged drum and bass that Zen Albatross described as "full of breakbeat and win." Peep the hotness.
• It All Makes Perfect Sense: My pal Glenn Case is kicking his February Album Writing Month project into high gear. Check out his tracks "Think it Over" and "Reasons" over at FAWM.org, and then feel really unproductive.
• Fear the Beard: It appears as though the long-awaited live CD/DVD from Jonathan Coulton will soon be seeing the light of day. Boasting audio and footage from last February's San Francisco show, "a bit of documentary/interview type stuff," and an audio commentary track featuring JoCo, Paul and Storm, and Kristen Shirts, this one looks to be a must-buy.
• The Setup: And for those fans who desperately need to know about Jonathan's recording setup, check out his recent interview with waferbaby. Why don't I have a Mellotron emulator plugin?!
• Comic Book Rock: Whilst reading a Village Voice piece about New York Comic-Con, Church came across a reference to geek rockers Kirby Krackle. They write songs exclusively about comics and comic book culture, and their album cover was designed by my underground hero, Jim Mahfood. In short, they are the shit.
• Come, All Ye Faithful: Matt just let me know that the lineup for the 2009 WRock EP of the Month Club is fucking phenomenal! Last year, the project raised $16,000 for First Book and the Harry Potter Alliance, and I can seriously see this year surpassing even that. With acts like Harry and the Potters, The Whomping Willows, The Moaning Myrtles, RiddleTM, and Peeved onboard, this is $60 well spent. Sign up here. Immediately.
• WRock On: Also on the Wizard Rock front, Megan, from The Wizard Rockumentary, and Mark, of WRockers Marked As His Equal, have created a new project entitled From Beneath These Ashes. It's a 2-disk compilation with some 30 contributors split between light- (The Remus Lupins, Catchlove) and dark- (Draco and the Malfoys, House of Black) themed disks. All proceeds benefit Save the Children, and pre-orders can be made via the project's MySpace.
• Bring Your a Game: The Ranger was nice enough to point out that Rhyme Torrents is putting together another quality-controlled compilation. Nerdy Rotten Scoundrels is a heavily hip-hop oriented comp with Ranger, DJ Snyder, Entity, Super Dragon X, D-Form and Poopy Hands at the helm. It's due to be released on March 1st, and with those cats involved you can be damned sure it'll be worth your time to check it out.
• Get 'Em While They're Hot: Random is clearing out his cache of surplus beats. (No, not beets.) MCs are encouraged to visit Ran's Soundclick to peruse the selection.
• That Hocus Pocus Focus Juice: Remember when we all needed that green? Needed that Surge? Antisoc sure does. In fact, he directed me to a Tribute to Fallen Sodas that references the classic YTCracker masterpiece "Surgerunner."
• Extreme Close-up: Earlier this week, MC Lars was featured in G4's Freestyle 101. In addition to bringing the rhymes, he also talked a bit about nerdcore as a movement. Here's what transpired.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 61: Dare Not Speak Its Name

A certain oft-cited religious text tells us that love is patient, kind, and neither envious nor arrogant. What it doesn't say is that love is volatile, complicated, and, more than occasionally, messy.

That's why we have music.

Songs put a human face on what is a fairly spiritual concept. Sometimes that face is content. Sometimes it is incensed. And sometimes it is Patrick Swayze.

Each of these bases is covered herein.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 61: Dare Not Speak Its Name (hosting provided by Antisocial) Size: 49.5 MB Running Time: 54:06

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"

There's a lot of love in this song.

Track 1: Shael Riley – "I'm Yours" / Say Anything... dialog
I actually heard Shael's cover long before I ever came across the Mraz source material. Therefore, I tend to associate it more with him than the original artist.

Z's 1st Interlude: "I wanna know what love is."
I want you to show me.

Track 2: Switchblade Kittens – "Valentine's Day Massacre"
The Kittens recently released their 3rd album, Rebel Princess. Check it out.

Track 3: Party Ben – "All the Single Ladies in Mayberry"
You probably won't see fat dudes on YouTube dancing to this version, but you should.

Track 4: The Grammar Club – "Girl Trouble"
Will The Grammar Club's follow-up release be on par with their debut EP. My sources say yes.

Track 5: Snoopy Come Home dialog / Zen Albatross "No More Oceans"
I really wanted to drop this Charlie Brown sound bite into the ep. Thankfully, it played well into this fantastic track from Zen Albatross.

Track 6: Schaffer the Darklord – "Nerd Lust (Peeved Remix) (live)"
Whether you made the trip to Orlando or not, I highly recommend picking up The Nerdapalooza Tapes. It manages to catch a ton of highlights from a weekend made entirely of win.

Track 7: MC Lars & YTCracker – "Nerdcore Players"
A true player does, indeed, always wrap it up.

Z's 2nd interlude: "For extra credit on this subject, check out YTCracker's 'Hardly Tell.'"
This episode's background music is nYgels' instrumental remix of the aforementioned song. You can grab it on his latest release.

Track 8: Jonathan Coulton – "Shop Vac"
There's just really no way to describe how amazing this song truly is. It's one of JoCo's best.

Track 9: DJ FOX – "Hypnotized Gypsy"
This one was included to help me get in my requisite level of smut for this edition.

Track 10: Metaforce – "Stepmom Fox"
This track also helped on that front.

Track 11: The Whomping Willows – "In Which Draco and Harry Secretly Want To Make Out"
Slash-fic Wizard Rock. I'm kind of surprised we haven't gotten a veritable avalanche of such songs.

Track 12: Ted and the Gooch – "Screw You"
This was a last-minute addition, and I think it caps the set well.

Z's final interlude: "Totally useless insights into the phenomenon of coupling."
I should really incorporate that phrase into my business cards.

Track 13: The Four Eyes – "Dirty Dancing Medley"
This was one of those songs I heard and I knew I had to save for the Valentine's ep. Love me some Four Eyes!

I don't for a minute think that this show will ever teach anybody anything about any subject, particularly love. But it's fun to operate under that pretense.

There's this basic human need to try and pass oneself off as an enlightened expert in matters well beyond one's grasp. I call this the Dr. Phil effect.

Still, while I can't teach you anything about life, love, or relationships, I genuinely think that music – that art – can. Maybe that makes me an idealist or a hopeless romantic, or simply just a run-of-the-mill dumbass, but it's a belief to which I fervently cling.

The romantic verse is a subtle language all its own through which information, especially uniquely personal information, can be disseminated to the rest of our tribe. So whether it's the metaphysical poets or The Grammar Club, it pays to take note. How else can we learn to appreciate each other's passions, or the raw power of each other's heartbreaks?

The Next Level

The history of nerdcore hip-hop is interwoven with the history of the Rhyme Torrents community, and, while the former certainly precedes the latter, let it never be said that RT hasn't done more than its fair share to spread the nerdy gospel. By the same token, it's also been a conduit for beef, hurt feelings, and inexplicable schisms.

But, as Mrs. Garrett learned upon leaving Mr. Drummond's employ for Eastland, you take the good and the bad.

A constant source of static amongst RT contributors since the project's inception has had to do with quality, and, while this issue has been addressed more directly in recent compilations, it remains a bit of a sore spot. The question being: Is it fair to give a new artist rhyming into Audacity via a RadioShack mic a spot alongside the Fronts, Jesse Ds, and Optimuses (Optimi?) of the world?

I could certainly argue that covering the gamut of styles and skill levels inherent in nerdcore is the only way to truthfully portray the movement, but that is neither here nor there. The issue at hand is that many in the community desire more stringent quality control, and they've taken it upon themselves to provide such.

Masters of the Interweb is a nerd music compilation of a different color. Thugmasta J, Madhatter, nYgel, MC_Loki, and wholemilka have created this "quality regulated" project to specifically address the oft-cited issue. Their rallying cry? "Help make Nerdcore History!"

Peep the details:

If you want to submit to what could possibly be the greatest multi-artist Nerdcore Hip-Hop compilation ever assembled, submit your best new and unreleased tracks today!

Dates

February 26th - Official deadline for all tracks.


Quality and Subject Matter

*Vocals need to be clear and crisp and loud against the beat

*No drown-out bass, keep the tracks well balanced

*Bear in mind, complex beats don't always equal good beats

*Keep it nerdy

*File standards: mp3 format @ 320 kbs minimum


Where To Submit Tracks

All tracks must be submitted to this address:
mastersoftheinterweb@gmail.com


Remember, these comps are quality controlled. When submitting, know that we are trying our best to constructively help you improve not only your tracks, but your music as a whole.

After your track is submitted, it will be privately judged by the committee members listed above. Within a reasonable time, you will then be advised whether your song has made the cut or not. If not, you will given some feedback on why not and allowed the opportunity to work out these issues with the song and re-submit. See dates above.

As you can see, the submission date is close at hand, but interested parties are still invited to step up to the proverbial plate (or a similar sports metaphor). I've also been informed by nYgel that the project is open to all nerdy artists, so if your flavor of musical geekery is a little to the left of nerdcore, you're still invited to participate.

This really seems like a worthwhile project, and I'd encourage anyone who's considering submitting a track to throw their hat in the ring (or another similar sports metaphor).

Let those collaborative juices flow!

Nerd News in Brief

Lux Interior died yesterday. I don’t imagine that means anything to many of you, but it comes as a bit of a shock to me. Lux, you see, was the frontman of psychobilly pioneers The Cramps. Founded with his wife, Poison Ivy, in the punk rock heyday of the 1970s, The Cramps combined sexuality, cheesy horror, and old school rhythm and blues to create a musical style that was as much shtick as substance. They never truly managed to crack the mainstream, and I’d argue they were all the better for it.

Whenever I think about nerdy music, whether it be VGM or nerdcore or what have you, I invariably link it with bands like The Cramps. Certainly not stylistically, of course, but conceptually, spiritually. The Cramps are one of a veritable myriad of examples of artists who managed to endure outside the norm. Moreover, their impeccable style and undeniable attitude helped to shape the music that came in their wake.

So the next time you wonder how mc chris manages to maintain a career without the aid of a label or radio airplay, or how Harry and the Potters keep on keeping on even as Wizard Rock is branded a dying concept by detractors after the final book’s release, think about The Cramps. Think about Lux. Still prowling the stage like some vinyl-clad nightmare. In his sixties.

• Post-Punk Laptop Rap Defined: MC Lars’s new epic THIS GIGANTIC ROBOT KILLS is now available for pre-order from Oglio. In addition to receiving the album the day it drops, you'll also score both a free signed TGRK poster and a bonus Wesley Willis poster (in honor of the groundbreaking artist to whom the album is dedicated). With special guests including Weird Al Yankovic, The Aquabats, The Donnas, Nerf Herder, MC Frontalot, YTCracker, Jesse Dangerously, and K.Flay this album is sure to be a punk rock/geeky hip-hop extravaganza for the ages. 
• Classically Trained: On the subject of albums, Ant has just hipped me to the fact that Florida VGM outfit Select Start have put their self-titled release up for free download via their site. Grab it now and instantly class up your music collection. I'm not kidding; download it now.
• Psssst!: I have it on good authority that the new solo album from geek rock superman, chiptune maven, Grammar Club founder, and all around dashing lad Shael Riley is being produced by none other than Jake "virt" Kaufman. For those keeping score at home, this essentially guarantees that the project will be double-awesome. 
• For the Cause: funky49 recently announced that his forthcoming EP will be specifically geared toward promoting Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry. It boasts tracks about both the "Body Worlds" exhibit and their IMAX theater, and lyrical samples of both are available for your perusal. 
• Nerds as Far as the Eye Can See: Are you going to New York Comic-Con this weekend? So is MC Frontalot. You can even meet him at the Dumbrella booth (#1856), where, one can only assume, he’ll be masquerading as a webcomic artist.
• Post Nerdapalooza Depression Relapse: My pal Hex has recently compiled some of his favorite pics from last summer’s Nerdapalooza festival into a fancy slide show. It features robots, zombies, pirates, ninjas, and me... slightly drunk and wholly terrified as I address the crowd.
• Synchronicity: And speaking of Nerdapalooza, Church passed on this link to the blog of nerdtastic podcast Geektroika. Apparently Mattie discovered ‘Palooza via Hex’s new OpenZine interface. I love it when a plan comes together.
• Live From and Undisclosed Location: High-C, of original Rhyme Torrents fame, recently popped up in the strangest of places. Namely AmigaWeb. Turns out High-C is an Amiga enthusiast, and he granted the site a rare interview. Inquiries regarding the goat in question can be directed at High-C c/o Rhyme Torrents. 
• Erised: Paul DeGeorge, one half of Harry and the Potters, is auctioning off a one-of-a –kind copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with special commentary and notes written in the margins. It also features contributions from Melissa Anelli of the Leaky Cauldron, Frankie Franco III of the Pottercast, and, of course, Joe DeGeorge. Proceeds will, in typical WRock fashion, benefit First Book. Bid now!
• She’s got Jayne by Her Side: Marian Call has a number of shows lined up in the coming weeks in both her native Alaska and the great state of Washington. They are as follows: Thursday Feb. 12th @ 5:30pm / The Anchor in Anchorage, AK; Saturday Feb. 14th @ 6pm or 8pm / The Tap Root Cafe in Anchorage, AK; Monday Feb. 16th @ 7pm / The Tap Root Cafe in Anchorage, AK; Saturday Feb. 28th @ 8pm / The Mandolin Cafe in Tacoma, WA; Friday Mar. 6th @ 8pm / House Concert in Seattle, WA; and Saturday Mar. 28th @ 8pm / Wayward Coffeehouse in Seattle, WA (this one being particularly Browncoat-friendly.) Check Marian’s site for full details.
• Mourning the Fallen: At long last, Charlie and the rest of the crew from Mojo Tooth have released the third episode of tabletop-centric web sitcom Dice Jockies. And for the record, I’ve been told the jazz singer was a bit of a diva.

8-Bit is Enough

Hot off the (virtual) press comes a brand new release from the Blue Bomber himself, Mega Ran 9. Inspired by the highly successful retro sequel and licensed by the fine folks at Capcom, this project is the direct successor to Random's fan-favorite 2007 concept album Mega Ran. And just like it's ascendant it's available for free download.

Of course, if you want the full story of Ran's latest 8-bit exploits you'll wanna pony up for the commercial release next month. Therein you'll hear an additional 3 tracks not available in the freebie version.

But in the meantime take a moment and cop the new hotness. Give it a listen, and share your thoughts with Random and your fellow fans at Ran's official message board.

It's an excellent way to remind yourself that true hip-hop can be as nerdy as it wants to be.

The Secret of Geno's Maze

In case you missed it over the weekend, my pal Anthony (AKA: genoboost) from Game Music 4 All released the first of his free monthly downloadable VGM EPs. Hey! Listen! Volume 1 really sets the bar high for the other 11 installments of the series by taking a stripped down approach to geeky mixtapes.

Rather than spend months pouring over dozens of included submissions and trying to coordinate the release of another massive collection – which I can attest is an incredible pain in the ass – Ant is dropping these tracks 5 at a time.

This first mixtape opens with the trippy electro-glitch "woodman + bubbleman" by seal of quality before transitioning into "Take My Hand, Take My Heart," a mellow and romantic instrumental by Lumine Hall. It then kicks the energy back up with ChipTots' Spanish-language rocker "Galeno," a personal favorite, and the punky "Escape Pod" by Alex Atchley. Its final track, "Mega Man Master Spark Mandrill," is an amazing piece of VGM from Tanuki Suit Riot that incorporates driving guitars and bright horns in equal measure, thus ably wrapping up the project's first chapter.

Even the EP's cover art, a piece called "Haiku" by Sasha Palacio, serves as to add to the overall experience and make this mixtape an example of the mythical rock 'n' roll concept all killer, no filler. Should you be interested in contributing to this continuing series, rather as a musical or visual artist, hit Ant up for details, as I'm sure you're interest will be most appreciated.

And if that doesn't slake your thirst for videogame music, be sure to check out Ant's first article at game culture site The Start Screen. Also entitled "Hey! Listen!," this new feature expands on his mission to spotlight bands who are inspired by videogames. The inaugural edition features Brazilian game rockers 8 Bit Instrumental, whose eclecticism is only matched by their formidable talent.

Check out both and spread the word. And don't forget to peep Anthony's own personal blog; it's the only place you can get the scoop on these and the other exciting ventures he'll be undertaking in the coming year well before they make it out for mass consumption.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 60: Buccaneer Banzai

Let's go ahead and get this out of the way; the very idea of pirates rapping is ridiculous.

Of course, so is the concept of a virtual supergroup or a rap album dedicated to a Georgia law enforcement agency or sock puppet rock or mashing up Snoop Dogg and the soundtrack from Grease. Practically everything I support via this site is, on one level or another, a little weird.

I reckon that's sort of my purpose in life. It's my calling. But you probably already figured that part out.

While talking to this episode's special guest, Captain Dan, I came to realize that the experience I had while watching his band at Nerdapalooza last year is exactly what he and his cohorts shoot for in both their live shows and their studio work: having a sort of contagious fun that just so happens to juxtapose pirates and hip-hop.

He brought that same energy to the podcast, and I have to admit that it made my side of the experience utterly enjoyable. I hope it does the same for you.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 60: Buccaneer Banzai (hosting provided by Antisocial) Size: 52.9 MB Running Time: 57:47

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
That Baddd Spellah runs a tight ship.

Track 1: YTCracker – "I am a Pirate"
"Smoke, drink, hack a computer. Drink, smoke, first-person shooter."

1st Interlude: "How fair the mainsails, Cap’n?"
Yes, Captain Dan stays in character for the whole interview. It's kind of his thing.

Track 2: Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew – "Pirate’s Code"
Pirates really did have ship-specific codes on conduct. Though I sort of doubt they were explained in verse.

Track 2: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl dialog / The Curse of Monkey Island soundtrack – "A Pirate I Was Meant to Be"
Oh, how I love the classic LucasArts titles!

Track 3: Tyler Heath – "Zelda Wind Waker: Pirates of Dragon Roost Isle OC ReMix"
The first of 2 amazing selections from OverClocked ReMix.

Track 4: The Aquabats – "Captain Hampton and the Midget Pirates"
Why are there no midget pirates on Yo Gabba Gabba!? It only seems fitting.

Track 5: The Alaskan Pirate and His Salty Seaman – "Pensacola Girl"
As the Captain is from Florida, this track seemed appropriate.

Track 6: Paul and Storm – "The Captain’s Wife’s Lament"
I challenge you to not spend the rest of the damn day singing this song. Go ahead. Try.

2nd interlude: "Sexy, sexy pirate love."
I generally split a podcast into three sets when hosting a special guest, but this time around I decided to stick with the 2 set format so I could get lengthier, uninterrupted interview segments. Please let me know which method you prefer.

Track 7: IrnMnky – "Pirates Encore (Aimee Mix)"
It's been a while since I played IrnMnky, so this provided a great opportunity to drop some more into the mix.

Track 8: The Besties – "Pirate Song"
The same goes for indie poppers The Besties, an act that Matt turned me on to.

Track 9: John Revoredo – "Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion: Pirates of Oblivion OC ReMix"
This second OC Remix served as an opportunity for Dan and I to talk up Oblivion. It's a fine game.

Track 10: Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew – "Rum and Juice"
It wasn't until after I played it that I realized that this is sort of a Scurvy Crew rarity, a non-album track.

Track 11: KABUTO THE PYTHON – "Captain Dan is a Punk"
This is a demo version of the diss track from KABUTO's Shed Skins EP. It's rough, but it's still got all that KABUTO style.

Final interlude: "A novelty act? A concept band?"
Dan really explained the Scurvy Crew project well, and, while I certainly don't expect everyone to dig it, I think it's pretty hard to deny that he and his fellow pirate MCs are genuinely dedicated to creating something that is fun for folks on either side of the mic.

Track 12: Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew – "From the Seas to the Streets"
If you're looking for a fun album with tons of style (and especially if you have a thing for pirates), From the Seas to the Streets is definitely worth your attention. And I can promise you'll be hearing more of it and the Crew's other work here on RFH.

Having the Captain join me on this edition of the 'cast was a lot of fun. I really haven't laughed that much in a long time.

Dan is a great guy who is truly passionate about making music, and he's not afraid to sometimes take that to the next (il)logical level. I, for one, have to respect that. If you can take your craft seriously without taking yourself overly so, you're aces in my book.

I know that the nerdcore scene is a minefield of disparate musical paradigms, but there's an interesting commonality if you dig deep enough. Captain Dan's ceaseless dedication to making music fun is a core belief echoed by a number of other acts I've talked to, from My Parents' Favorite Music to T-byte to Frontalot and YTCracker.

Plus, it really is all about the booty.

The Week in Swag

Twas truly a fine week for free shit here at the House of Z. I mean, it's never a bad week for free shit, but this particular week saw a remarkably fine crop of freebies make their way to my doorstep.

My first care package came compliments of my pal Josh from the Brilliant Gameologists. He'd recently been expounding upon the glories of the Burning Wheel RPG system, and offered to send me some books to get me up to speed for a play-by-post game he's DMing at the BG forums. Included in my starter set was both the core rules book and the Character Burner, and, while I'm only a few dozen pages into the former, I can totally see where he's coming from with regard to his relentless praise of the game. Whereas more traditional titles like D&D encourage players to develop unique quirks and personalities for their characters, Burning Wheel relies upon this as a genuine play mechanic. The way you play your character is influenced as much by his back story, beliefs, and predilections as it is his core stats.

This second of this week's pleasant surprises came from The Scurvy Crew's Captain Dan, who not only sent me a copy of the band's new release From the Seas to the Streets, but also copies of their two preceding albums and the rest of the current Nonexistent Recordings catalog. While you're probably familiar with the piratical rhymes of the Crew, the other two acts presented are equally as engaging but with totally different styles from the work of the Captain. Echo Slightly boasts a smooth electronic feel that's both instantly appealing and summarily relaxing, and Stabilizer is truly eclectic rock at its finest.

With all that said, I reckon the purpose of this post is two-fold. First, it's to publicly thank Josh and Dan for their generosity – Thanks, guys! – and second, it's to point out that if you make friends with these cats they will very likely send you presents.

I'm just sayin'.

Nerd News in Brief

John Updike died earlier this week.

Truthfully, I’m still a little sad about that fact, but burying your heroes is the kind of thing to which every man must become accustomed. I’ll just lump his effigy atop the growing pile – with Carlin and Hicks and Strummer and the like – and go on about my business of stoking the pyre.

His short story "A&P" was the first piece of realistic fiction that ever struck me as the slightest bit realistic. It spoke to me in a way that no short-form work has since, and its reading has become something of a sacrament. It was the story that made me realize, even as a youth, that tales bereft of monsters or magic or superheroes could still be compelling, and, no, not just by leaning of the crutch of blatant sexuality. It set naked before me the simple truth that man is slave to his emotional whims and adolescent urges and that life itself is the canvas on which we paint.

But mostly it taught me that everyone has a story. Even the lowliest of worker bees.

• From the Northern Hinterlands: Nerdcore has been chosen as the "Genre of the Month" by Canadian music magazine SoundProof. While I take issue with some of the information provided – cc rap?! – I’ll let it slide because, as you know, I love Canadians. And speaking of which, the piece also spotlights Toronto-based nerd-centric podcast The Closet Geek Show, which sounds divine.
• Geekarama: Congrats go out to Aaron, of FL nerdcore and geek culture champions A Comic Shop, for securing a regular column at Newsarama. Aaron, in turn, contacted everyone’s best friend Hex Warrior to help put together a piece on nerdy music. And thus the love is shared.
• Everything’s Coming Up Ant!: Congratulations are also in order to my pal Anthony, who’s parleyed the continually mounting success of Game Music 4 All into a gig at gamer/geek culture haven The Start Screen. But Ant hasn’t let this throw off his game, as he recently announced that his plan for ’09 is a new VGM mini-mixtape every month! Excitements. I has them. 
• Wii. Where?: And speaking of GM4A, be sure to check out the site’s feature interview with Alex Neuse of Gaijin Games. It concerns Gaijin’s new WiiWare title Bit.Trip Beat, which is a Pong-style chiptune rhythm game. This is a game that’s been building some great buzz within the community, and this piece just drives home how amazingly cool it truly is.
• When We Were One: I’d also like to wish a happy birthday to my friends at netlabel Pterodactyl Squad! The Squad chose to celebrate its first anniversary with the release of a self-titled album from Atari artist Army of 2600. Give it a listen and enjoy the chippy goodness.
• Disaster-Dong: My pal Matt was the first of many to hip me to this Offworld post about my other favorite netlabel Pause Music. Specifically it concerns Pause’s +PLUS section, which provides free soundtracks from a number of indie games. Collect ‘em all!
• Be Prepared: Matt has also recently turned me on to the concept of Nerd Merit Badges. Technically, there’s only one such badge available at present, but the site seems to be establishing a strong Twitter following to help them decide where to go from there.
• Now *Stay* in the Van!: The 2 Skinnee J’s reunion documentary Get in the Van is currently being submitted to a number of festivals in search of a proper premiere, and the producers need your help. Fans are asked to contact events like The Tribeca Film Festival, South By Southwest, the LA Film Festival, and Cannes to let the submissions boards know how interested they are in seeing the film featured. Is that really so much to ask? 
• I’m Starting to Think it’s His Personal Site: Hey, Church made TechDirt. Again. This time with news concerning the importance of pop culture in the development of childhood imagination. Exhibit A seems to be Potter fandom, so WRockers take note.
• Mouths of Babes: Speaking of Wizard Rock, the scene’s youngest contributors, The Hungarian Horntails, were featured in the School Library Journal. It’s a Q&A with Darius, the older of the band’s two brothers, and he actually interviews better than most artists twice his age. 
• Meryton is a Deathtrap: And while’ we’re on the subject of literacy; please pre-order Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies. It’s a retelling of Austen’s classic that comes exactly as advertised. 
• Grue Rock!: Have you ever wanted to play a text-based, Zork-inspired version of Guitar Hero? Of course you have. 
• Everything Must Go!: mc chris is having another of his famous merch sales. Posters, t-shirts, bags, lighters... shit, pretty much everything for the discriminating mc aficionado is discounted. The supplies are limited and fans are legion, so get on it quick if you want in.
• Needs a Longer Title: Random let me know that, in anticipation of the release of the new Street Fighter title, his friends at Capcom have made available a full set of vocal, effects, and music samples from Street Fighter II for DJs and producers to mix up to their hearts’ content. TrackItDown is hosting the sample set, as well as co-sponsoring a related competition. The 4 best remixers will each win an Xbox 360 and copy of Street Fighter IV, and runners up get copies of the game. For more info and rules, hit Trackitdown.net.
• Not to be Confused with Daryl Hannah: Also from Ran and my boy Ultraklystron comes a mash of Random’s "Splash Woman" and Kanye’s "Stronger." And here’s a vid of Ran’s original track for some comparison. Enjoy the android-y goodness.

The Stuff That Memes Are Made Of

It’s the kind of thing that MC Frontalot might term a very unlikely occurrence: YTCracker, current underground icon and former notorious hacker, getting play on dance floors everywhere and getting love from… cops?!

Crazy, no? But also so very true.

It all started, as these things often do, with a funny idea. A joke, if you will.

Last week, social networking sites like Facebook were abuzz over the discovery that the Dekalb County Police Department – the law in a metro-Atlanta burg just a couple of hours southwest of my neck of the woods – featured a different crunk beat as the background loop for each page of its official Web site. It was at first widely assumed that this music had been slipped into the site by some smart-ass hacker, but the truth is that the beats had been purposefully included by the site's designer, a not unheard-of mistake by first-time webmasters.

YT, at the request of a friend, elected to use these beats to make an EP of his own, and, in some sort of warped ode to the ridiculousness of the entire affair, crafted his lyrics purely out of biographical information available about the department and its officers on the site itself. Ten hours later, YTCracker was the proud father of DCPD Bangerz Vol. 1, 6 tracks of profanity-free, southern cop show goodness.

And it hit. Hard.

It became an immediate sensation, and, for the first time in history, YTCracker began to garner mainstream attention not for some high profile hack from the Digital Gangster crew and not as some ham-handed attempt by a major media outlet to cash in on the growing geek chic, but for simply being the genuinely creative, incredibly funny cat we've always known him as.

Now, not only is the album popping up everywhere, but YT is even in talks with the DCPD itself about a possible fundraiser in the future.

So once again, YTCracker wins the Internet.

It looks like the ensuing traffic may have made downloading this unlikely masterpiece problematic, so, if y'all have any trouble, just give me a yell and I'll mirror. This isn't exactly the kind of shit you wanna be forced to live without.

Download DCPB Bangerz Vol. 1 from ytcracker.com

This is Not a Bomb

About a month ago, my pal Vincent hit me up via Twitter to ask my opinion on a video project he was considering. He had the idea to do a kinetic type vid for the YTCracker/MC Lars/Doc Pop Digital Gangster LP track "911 AM (Rudy Giuliani)" - similar to a George Lopez piece he did as a final project for a motion graphics course he took last semester.

Since that is, as the kids say, my jam, I told him that it sounded like a great idea, and Vince set to work. Over his winter break, he put together the first third of the video, which he recently posted to YouTube. His plan is to finish it up during his next break, and Doc even offered to hook him up with some lipsynch footage to help flesh it out.

So, while you're looking forward to the finished product, here's a sneak preview of the project thus far. Consider it your teaser trailer.

Nerd News in Brief

I was one of the fortunate few who did not contract inauguration fever earlier this week.

Okay, maybe I had a touch of it, but it wasn’t full-blown.

It’s very rare that, in the political spectrum, my team wins. (Come to think of it, this is also rare in the realm of professional sports, but I digress.) Still, I resigned myself shortly after the election to the straight and narrow path of not being a dick. At least with regard to my guy sitting behind the big desk.

It took some restraint, but I managed to maintain my composer even during the ceremony. I simply watched a little footage, made a mental note that I was, indeed, participating by proxy in a damn significant moment in my nation’s history, gave a hopeful smile, and then got back to work.

Maybe I could’ve done with a little more excited flag-waving, but I decided to keep shit low key.

It seemed a good way to go.

• Age Old Question: From Church comes a pair of links in the political vein. The first is from The Daily Beast and purports that Obama is poised to make geeks cool. The second, from Patrol, counters by saying that geeks are already cool. The battle rages on.
  
• Alpha-numeric: Have you checked out the new Letters vs. Numbers podcast? It’s delightful. Seriously. The guys are in rare form, and the musical selections are, as always, top notch!
  
• Brother from Another Mother: Also from Anthony comes news of SpamM’s Earthbound Zero mixtape. It’s a mash-up album centering on music from the Mother series. You can download it for free from the Earthbound Crew site. And you should.
  
• Gooey: Speaking of game music, be sure to download a copy of Kyle Gabler's World of Goo soundtrack from the WiiWare title of the same name. It’s freely available from his site, and our friends at VGMdb have compiled all the track notes on this helpful page.
  
• New Module Me: If you’re more interested in making your own VGM, I will once again recommend Protein[DS]. It’s creator Pierre’s birthday, and, in keeping with tradition, he’s favored us with a new version featuring "a proper graphical user interface for global options and [DScratch] parameters (no more xml editing to test values!), state and recordings save, and a little [DSamples] update." As always, this homebrew goodness is available free of charge.
  
• Cause and Effect: Shael Riley and his all-star band – henceforth known, at least to me, as The Dapper Lads - will be playing a benefit show for the children of Rwanda on January 27th in NYC. Show info can be found over at Shael’s LJ.
  
• Smashed: And speaking of The Dapper Lads – and, yes, I’m gonna call them that until it sticks – Zen Albatross turned me on to a new Web comic earlier this week. It’s called Brawl in the Family, and, yes, it’s all about Smash Bros.
  
• Free at Last: My pal Matt has migrated his own music/geeky culture blog free-geek to a more suitable URL at free-geek.net. Three cheers for logical progression!
  
• All Talk: My (unwitting) podcasting big brother, Tim from Mutant Pop/Radio Clash, was recently interviewed by MIT’s Technology Review for a piece on conflicting aesthetics in the mash-up community. Okay, truthfully the piece is more about Girl Talk’s tepid reception from the more seasoned fans and bootleggers, but it boasts some great insights from Tim, Lenlow, and DJ Earworm. Give it a read and weigh in on the subdued aural texturing vs. rapid-fire meta-mashing debate.
  
• When the Scene Looks the Worst: Taking us out today is a video I can’t imagine you haven’t seen already, but it’s so damn good you need to watch it again. Of course I’m talking about Random’s "Push," directed by John Colombo. It’s from Ran classic album The Call, and he’s even made a version of this track available for free for new fans. Sure, this ain’t one of his nerdier joints, but it’s beautiful and uplifting.
  

Across the Twitterverse

If you’re at all interested in videogame music or even tangentially aware of the amazingly creative community at work at OverClocked ReMix, then the name Larry Oji shouldn’t be unfamiliar. Liontamer, as he’s known in ReMix circles, is a community moderator, project producer, submissions judge, occasional contributor, and an otherwise indispensable fixture in the world of VGM rearrangement and original composition. He’s also the mind behind VG Frequency, another project dedicated to the glorification of game music in all its forms.

In summation, Larry works a fuck of a lot harder than just about anyone else you could think of in the VGM sphere. He is a dedicated pillar of fandom. He is a ceaseless champion of videogame music as a viable art form. He is a machine.

Recently inspired by a Destructoid post about following the game industry via Twitter, Larry took it upon himself to compile a list of game music professionals and enthusiasts also available to stalk follow via the service. In typical fashion, Liontamer’s parameters for inclusion are suitably broad, encompassing everyone from the OC ReMix regulars to game/geek rock crossovers to gamer-friendly hip-hoppers to those of us rooted more on the journalistic end of the spectrum.

It’s really a comprehensive list that should provide interested parties new to Twitter a great place to start, and has even proven an ideal way for an old hand like yours truly to get a better handle on the ever-eclectic and always expanding videogame music scene.  

Take a look for yourself. And prepare to be amazed.

Nerd News in Brief

I know, I know; you just can't get enough of my delightfully rural voice.

And how could you? I mean, I only record, what? Four podcasts a month?

Thankfully, there is a solution.

You can catch me drawling my way through a piece of short fiction written by my good friend Church on a recent edition of Starship Sofa's Aural Delights podcast.

It's a stark look into the future of digital music distribution. And no, it's not slash fic.

• Eat it, Picross!: Zen Albatross – known to some as the micro-musician in Shael Riley's live band – recently posted a really interesting piece over at Racktboy. It's about how Mario Paint kicked off his career as a digital artist, and it's damn well worth a read.
• Fireproof: And speaking of, here's some footage of the guys playing in the MAGfest Jamspace. The rendition of "Bank Holiday" in the second vid is especially cool. Also, this year: no fire alarm.
• Nerd Girls Wanted: Female roleplaying gamers are currently being sought for help with research for a forthcoming book on the subject. This celebration of female contributions to gaming culture needs your help, so head over to Geek's Dream Girl for the full skinny. And yes, guys, we can help too.
• The Balmy One: Big ups to my pal Joey for worming his way into a recent Popular Mechanics post on Guitar Hero/Rock Band hacks. His work comes in at number 7, and shows how to use the Rock Band drum kit as a midi controller in FL Studio.
• My Peeps: And also on the subject of worming one's way into the big time, Church has yet again hit Techdirt. The producer of the film adaptation of The Watchmen recently posted an open letter explaining why Fox – who has stymied the project in every way imaginable – shouldn't make any money off the finished product, but why they inevitably will anyway.
• Lost-core?: Also from Church comes this Washington Post article about concept band Previously On Lost. They get bonus points for having a band name that explicitly explains their purpose. Church even found the related NPR interview, for those who dig that sort of thing.
• I Hardly Even Know Her!: Bangor-area geeks, take heed! This weekend you must attend SnowCon at the Black Bear Inn and Convention Center. Running from 9:00 AM to midnight Saturday, January 17th and 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday the 18th, this homespun con features tabletop gaming, film screenings, and even some live VGM from The Sides Scrollers. Peep the official site for more info.
• In Which Schaffer Wants to Make Love to Me: Announced last week, and hinted about before the fact, is the live event compilation CD The Nerdapalooza Tapes. This collection of cuts from last summer's festival is currently available for preorder for a mere $10, which also grants you immediate access to the MP3 version. I scored an early release last month, and I gotta say that the recording quality is pretty amazing. Plus it manages to hit a lot of the high points from that lost weekend.
• The Sound of the DJ: One of my favorite nerdy producers, the ever-prolific nYgel, has just released a collection of b-sides. The cleverly named Self-titled presents a collection of older originals, remixes, and instrumentals that have yet to grace your ear hole. Plus, it'll give you something to groove to while nYg works on his forthcoming mixtape.
• Find Me Online, Search c64: And speaking of new old music, my boys Dual Core have just made available a pair of non-album tracks on their site. Peep a 2007 collab with the great ZeaLouS1 and the band's intro for the Lotta Linux Links podcast for free right here. Then, immediately thereafter, begin making plans to attend this year's iteration of Washington DC's ShmooCon, as the boys will once again be performing.
• Super, Like Schneider: And while you're checking out all the free goodness, don't neglect this new video from Maja. It's a remix of The Game's "Superman." Check out the vid, and then proceed to his site for a free MP3 download. I've also been assured that Maja is currently writing new material, and plans to hit the studio later this year to begin recording his sophomore release.
• Alive and Wily-fied: Random has dropped a number of interesting teasers of late relating to his new Mega Ran 9 concept album. The biggie, however, is this sneak preview of the phenomenal "MegaLude 9." Listen. Watch. Post comments.
• Early and Often: Please take a moment to vote for The Protomen in Deli Magazine's Best of Nashville 2008 poll. They are your constant heroes. Also, who the fuck else are you going to vote for? You don't even live in Nashville!
• Ninjas and Vampires: And on the subject of other fun things to do, have you tried out Scrub Club's heavily-nerdified text adventure RPG yet? It's called Burst Nexus and is, of course, free to play from your bestest friends in the whole Midwest.
• Dancing Nerds and Gratuitous Monitor Humping: And taking us home this week is another piece of greatness from the Scrub Club family. It's a video for MadHatter's "Overheat" from our brothers and sisters at PBC Production. Much of it was recorded at this year's MAGfest, and features a ton of hilarious cameos. Plus, the song itself fucking slays.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 59: Hindsight

The year-end wrap-up is a fickle beast. That is why I chose to release mine late. And yet still it feels incomplete.

Part of this is because my focus is simply on what are, in my opinion, the best tracks of 2008, and, of course, I’ve already played the shit out of a number of those songs.

Therefore you won’t be hearing Beefy’s "Tabletop" or Dual Core’s "Fantastic Four." You know I love those, as I was quick to play them directly after their initial release. You also won’t hear anything from nYgel’s Free to Good Home mixtape or T.Y.T.’s Jelly Brain. Again, simply because I’ve played them, though more recently than the former.

Hell, I even went so far as to avoid including songs from my own projects (like Old Nerdy Bastard) and those particularly close to me (like the Game Music 4 All comps, to which I occasionally lend my limited expertise.)

And even with those omitted, I still couldn’t cram in all my favorites. Last year saw so many amazing releases that time simply doesn’t afford me the opportunity to highlight each one. So instead I elected to spotlight just a few of my top picks.

Hopefully you’ll reciprocate.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 59: Hindsight (hosting provided by Antisocial) Size: 44.6 MB Running Time: 48:45

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
A classic in any era.

Track 1: MC Lars & YTCracker (ft. Doctor Popular) – "911 AM (Rudy Giuliani)" 

This one is my best-of-the-best. It boasts what is probably my favorite Doc Pop beat of all time, and some great lyrical content.

Z’s 1st interlude: "My New Year's resolution was not to stand on ceremony."
Hey, at least I can stick to it!

Track 2: Optimus Rhyme – "Click-Click" 

TransfORmed is easily Optimus’s greatest single release to date. School the Indie Rockers is my sentimental favorite, but this one is impeccable.

Track 3: MC Frontalot (ft. Jonathan Coulton) – "Diseases of Yore"

Likewise, I also see Front’s Final Boss as a personal best. Even the special guests are top-shelf!

Track 4: The Remus Lupins – "Weasley Clock" 

Despite the doomers who said that the 2007 release of Deathly Hallows would mark the end of WRock, the scene favored us with a number of fantastic releases in 2008. This was one of them.

Track 5: Math the Band  – "Everyone is Embarrassing"

While nothing compares to the Math the Band live experience, this track has an energy all it’s own.

Track 6: DJ Tripp – "Paper Rump"

This M.I.A. track had been a single for a while before it hit as the background music in the Pineapple Express trailer. Still, I love M.I.A., and was just glad to see her get some press. This DJ Tripp mash really punches up the track’s natural Wreckx-N-Effect element.

Track 7: Zombies! Organize!!  – "F-Bombs and 1Ups"

Zombies! Organize!! is probably my band of the year. I understand they are an acquired taste, but they went from a quirky contributor to a GM4A comp to a RFH staple in a matter of weeks.

Z’s 2nd interlude: "In heavy rotation."
Another band I really fell in love with in 2008 was Spheres of Chaos. I’ve got nothing but respect for the Pterodactyl Squad!

Track 8: Year 200X  – "Mega Man 3"

On the other hand, I’ve been a fan of Year 200X for ages, but it wasn't until last year that I finally got a chance to really connect with the band.

Track 9:  Random – "New Grind"

Ran is a class act all around. The 8th Day is another amazing album that walks the line between underground style and nerdy substance.

Track 10: the doyouinverts – "A Little Too Human Tonight" 

This is an act I found thanks to a listener suggestion, and the doyouinverts went on to be one of the greatest finds of ’08.

Track 11: The Mudbloods – "Since March, Since September, and Still"

There’ s really nothing I can say about The Mudbloods that hasn’t already been stated more eloquently by others. Even if you don’t think you like Wizard Rock, you owe it to yourself to check this band out.

Track 12: EvilWezil – "Spastic Surgery"

Pause Records also cranked out an amazing array of chiptune-centered VGM in 2008. EvilWezil is a personal favorite.

Track 13: The Grammar Club – "Balloon Flight (Flighty-Ighty Fo0dNippl3 Mix)"

I’d love to tell you of the glory of The Grammar Club’s forthcoming hotness, but I am contractually obligated to refain.

Z’s final interlude: "My ultimate message."
"Fuck all those stupid fuckers, don’t listen to what they say. ‘Cause they are jerks, and they’re no fun. We’re gonna rock-rock-rock ‘til the end of the day."

Track 14: Uncle Monsterface – "Rock 4 Luv!"

One day, my fellow nerds, I will pass on from this world of digital geekery. On that day – be it due to imprisonment by the FBI for my flagrant disregard of their copy warnings or due to the inevitable zombie apocalypse – I simply ask that you all Rock 4 Luv.

And that is 2008 in a musical nutshell. To my ear, it was probably the greatest nerd music year to date, but I’ll leave that up for individual interpretation.

I know I probably missed a lot of your favorites, so please feel free to tell me what geeky jams rocked your world in the previous year. I'd love to hear them.

Truthfully, I’m a little overwhelmed by the sheer possibilities of ’09. The bar has been raised, but I’m content that many will step up their game accordingly. 

I'll keep my ears wide open in anticipation. Hopefully you'll join me.