Hidari press kit: CDs vampire fangs toys & Pocky!

Japan is a land of madness and mystery. Hidari represents the best of both these aspects.
--Z.

EDIT: And yes, that is Ultraman's Mom. Apparently she has her own action figure.

Apparently, Your Mother is a Horse

While I have been dragging feet with regard to my forthcoming compilation, my pal Anthony and the Game Music 4 All crew have been charging ahead like a horde of cranked-up Mongols. In addition to the recently launched Hey! Listen! monthly EP project, GM4A has just provided a sneak peak at the next installment in their Here Comes a New Challenger series.

Pairing game rockers and chip artists with nerdcore hip-hoppers, HCaNC is, at least to my mind, nigh synonymous with the Game Music 4 All blog. Though the more traditional VGM compilations are closer to the site's wheelhouse, the fantastic juxtaposition of styles and forms inherent in the previous Challenger album truly redefined what a geeky music comp could and, indeed, should be.

With an all-star lineup composed of outrageous musical hybrids like Doctor Octoroc vs. Zombies! Organize!! and Shael Riley vs. Bizarro Stylus, this promises to be another can't-miss collection. Look for a full primer at Game Music 4 All later today, but, in the meantime, peep the promo trailer below.

Really a Revolutionary

mc chris is the favorite nerd rapper of many and probably also the least favorite nerd rapper of a sizable number, but he is undeniably one with which most have a genuine familiarity. And love him or lump him, mc always has something interesting going on. Through his decade-long musical evolution he has experimented with punk, breakbeat and guitar pop, but has eternally remained the same high-toned honky.

Over the weekend, I spent a good deal of time listening to the latter half of his discography, most specifically 2006’s Dungeon Master of Ceremonies and 2008’s mc chris is dead, and I came to the staggering conclusion that I actually prefer his more recent work. (I fully realize that this runs counter to the most exclusionary, esoteric leanings of asshole music fans everywhere, but I say true!) So, when I was offered a chance to hear the first volume of mc’s new EP project, I was happy to do so.

Part Six Part One – which we can at least assume will be a six-part collection, though, knowing mc, we certainly can’t be surprised if it is not – picks up where his previous full length left off. mc chris is still dead, and he finds himself in hell. In typical mc style, this concept runs through the albums 3 skits but doesn’t necessarily bleed over into the EP’s 4 new songs. That being said, there is a topic that does seem to regularly crop up and bind the project together.

P6P1 boasts an urgent, glitchy dance track about how mc chris likes to fuck ("Awesome Fucker"), an epic spy-themed rocker about fucking ("006") and even a skit about fucking the devil ("Dirty Dick") and also abortion. But while this album goes out of its way to be filthy, it does have more to offer than just dirty talk.

Though my thoughts concerning skits are well known by this point, the dialog in two-parter "Deep Space Travel" and "Rocky’s Robot Butler" seemingly serve as the bedrock for the Part Six series. In the style of Dante Alighieri, mc strikes a deal with the Great Infernal One: should he be able to traverse the various levels of Hell, he will be granted one wish. His original leaning, to wish for the robot from Rocky IV, is eventually discarded in favor of bartering for the freedom of his eternal soul. Again, this could serve as the foundation for EPs yet to come, or it could just be mc chris fucking with us as this release is slated to drop in early April.

But putting the prospect of idle bullshittery aside, Part Six Part One’s musical selections are varied, intriguing and stylistically satisfying. "006" and "Awesome Fucker," on which I’ve already elucidated, pair a more traditional mc chris swagger with some interesting musical backing, but the EP’s other two tracks change up the game in new and exciting ways. "Gauges," for example,  is a light, atmospheric meditation on long-distance romances that is easily on par with mc’s classic complicated love songs like "Cookie Breath" and "Arulpragasam."

Yet the release’s real haymaker is the laughably titled "IG88’s 57 Chevy." This borderline crunk-soul hybrid is unlike anything you’ve heard form mc chris before. "Fett's Vette" may be mc’s "Baby Got Back," but this song sure as fuck ain’t "Put 'Em on the Glass!" Far from a formulaic cash-in, it is a self-aware exploration of new styles. Will it end up on a movie soundtrack? Probably not, but that doesn’t make it any less listenable.

If you are a lover of all things mc chris, you have likely already put your money down on Part Six Part One. If you are a sworn enemy of the once and future MC Pee Pants, you won’t even bother to torrent it when it invariably hits Pirate Bay. But if you are a fan of nerdy music that is looking for a really fun (if often explicit) diversion, this EP is tough to beat.

With the final release a couple of weeks away, pre-orders are still available through Indie Merch. It’s a solid EP that is worth the meager $10 price tag. And should you have a little extra scratch to spend left over from your tax refunds, you might also consider tossing some money into the pot for mc's cystic fibrosis charity. Fans have already donated almost $30,000, but the fund can’t reach it’s $50,000 yearly goal without continued assistance.

If you’re looking for another way to help, be sure to check out mc’s YouTube channel for information on his charity eBay auctions. Each week mc chris collects a fine assortment of geeky games, books and related ephemera, and the money raised from the sale of these items goes to help fight cystic fibrosis. This week’s items are all Indiana Jones themed, so check it out. And, in the words of Short Round, hold onto your potatoes.

UPDATE: I've just been informed that Part Six Part One should be available next week. Further, it will be split into 4 parts. The more you know!

Nerd News in Brief

News! I got yer news right here! Belated, obviously, but no less newsworthy!

The biggest of this news, of course, concerns recent announcements for Nerdapalooza 2009. Apparently it's taking place on July 11th and 12th in Florida! Florida, says I!

Okay, that? Not so suspiring.

I do find it interesting, however, that this year's event will go down at The Holiday Inn's Orlando International Drive Resort, known colloquially as that big goddamn Holiday Inn on I Drive. This venue features a number a of convention rooms, several of which have already been secured for Hex's sinister machinations. This extra space also means that the festival will sport vendor booths where both performers and crafters can hock their wares. It's vendolicious.

Of course with the economy in the shitter, Nerdapalooza could no doubt do with some donations to help get the ball rolling. Should you feel the urge to give, give here.

That being said, on to your Nerd news in Brief.

• Geek Ink in Love: While I've spoken at length about Glenn Case's new album, something I haven't mentioned is his new tattoo. It is a love story.
• His Gayest Shirt: Recently Anthony spotlighted The Grammar Club's debut release Bremelanotide over at The Start Screen. It's a fine tribute to a modern classic, with my only complaint being that he didn't explain the title.
• Ladies First: Another fine piece from Ant can be found at Game Music 4 All, where last week he interviewed female VGM artists Nicole Adams and Injury. Give it a read, and then give these talented ladies some love.
• Such Great Heights: And speaking of the greater OCR community, the site's recently release Summoning of Spirits project is another must-own. This 4-disc celebration of the Tales series continues in its grand tradition of taking game music to new and exciting heights. Of course it features all your favorites including the aforementioned Injury and my boy Myf!
• And This Bird You Can Not Change: The 1Ups also got some much deserved press last week via GotGame's "Gamer Soundcheck." Mustin's rationalization of why they don't play the Super Mario Bros alone makes it worth a read.
• Funny Without Being a Joke: The online leg of the San Francisco Chronicle recently asked featured MC Lars 5 questions. In other MC Lars news, you can now purchase his 2003 dorm-room debut Radio Pet Fencing via iTunes, and you can read a nice review of his newly released This Gigantic Robot Kills here. Oh, and don't forget to check out Lars's most recent video podcast for a new video featuring the indubitable Doc Pop. Apparently he knows a lot of people.
• New Science: Thanks go to my pal Talkie Tim for pointing me toward this excellent interview with groundbreaking chiptune musician Pixelh8. Take a look and uncover the real reason why all the best chip artists are programmers.
• Weird Science: funky49 has just released some remix kits for the RAPBASSADOR EP that he recently recorded and produced for Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry. DJs are encouraged to mix that shit up.
• Sun, Sand & Beef: My pal Beefy was recently interviewed by The Ka Leo, an independently produced student paper from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Peep tropical game.
• Chiphead: Meanwhile, my new friends from I Fight Dragons have continued their geeky assault on all fronts. Frontman Brian Mazzaferri was just interviewed by Columbia, SC's Examiner and Chicago's own The Local Tourist. The band also captured some great footage from their album release party. Enjoy.
• The Sorting Hat: In other concerts-you-probably-couldn't-attend news, Jarod (of AlienBobz) has just uploaded his recording of Harry and the Potters July 23rd set in Seattle. Jarod has also promised that audio from the final last Optimus Rhyme show is forthcoming.
• If You Haven't Done it All Year Long: Last week Church turned me on to a pair of videos. Neither are his work, though I imagine he'd be proud to claim both. The first is another fan vid for Trek rockers No Kill I. The other is… well… a "tribute" to Dragon*Con.
• Immunity: While my friend Nikki Nefarious (NSFW) generally photographs the kind of things you might hear described in a Le Sexoflex video, she has recently expanded into hardcore nerdery. You can see her handiwork in the new card game I Drank What? And yes, it was wholly inspired by that single scene from The Princess Bride.
• Collect 'em All!: There have also been a pair of notable releases in recent weeks. The first is the RPM Challenge album from D-Form and MC Gigahertz, The Digital Prankster LP. Likewise, killsaly's dropped a fantastic collection of demos and remixes that, sadly, represents his last scheduled release under that moniker. Snag both.
• Catch 'em All!: And since Nerdapalooza news started us off today, we will end on a similar note. Sorta. In-between sets from Epic-1 to Random at last weekend's Anime Express con, Hex elected to take the stage and perform "an interpretive dance to the extended Pokémon theme song." May it forever be burned into your retinas. Just like it is mine.
  

Podswap 09 - Y’all Into Swappin’?

Every year I am faced with the same dilemma with regard to April Fools’ Day: Should I take part in the expected bullshittery of posting an obviously erroneous blog entry, or should I just ignore it?

Generally speaking, I choose the latter. I mean, how many dead fairies and two-headed ogres does the world really need?

This year, however, I’d like to try something a little different. Thus, I propose Podswap 09. I see it as a logical extension of Drunken Podcasting Month. In September, we get our drink on. In April, we switch places.

Interested parties are encouraged to, first and foremost, pick a partner. Is there a podcast you really enjoy? A podcaster that you admire? Hell, maybe even someone who inspired you to step up to the proverbial mic? Great! Contact him/her. That is step one.

Next you and your new bestest friend decide in which way you’d like to shake shit up, you define the nature of the swap. You could each simply record your regularly scheduled shows as usual and then, rather than dropping them into your standard RSS feeds, add them to each other’s feeds. Likewise, you could change formats, with podcaster A hosting podcaster B’s show and vice versa. You could even split the difference and host both shows together if you feel so inclined, although that does seem, to quote the prophet Eddie Haskell, like an awful lot of work.

The most important thing is that you and your fellow swap-ey post the resulting episodes – in whatever twisted and perverse form they may take – on April 1st.

That all being said, is anybody actually interested?

No Longer Wasting His Time

As a rule, I traffic in weird shit. It is my currency.

People send me weird shit and I post weird shit. Still, even amongst all this strangeness, some things still manage to surprise me. Some stuff is just too fantastical. The below video, for example.

It's for the single "Wasted My Time" by UK chip-rocker Superpowerless, and, if the promotional email I just received is to be believed, it's just won Supe an MTV/Vodafone contest! How cool is that?

This vid will air on the European flavor of MTV on March 23rd. In the meantime, however, I have been encouraged to share it with you. So take a look, give it a listen, then give Superpowerless some love and a heaping handful of heartfelt congratulations. He has earned it!

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 63: Z-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections

I like this episode. I like it a lot.

Sure, it ain't perfect, but it's mine.

Well, it was mine. Now I share it with the world; now I share it with you.

I hope you feel it to.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 63: Z-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections (hosting provided by Antisocial) Size: 47 MB Running Time: 51:25

Show Notes:

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

Sometimes I worry that I take having my on theme song for granted. But I remember the dark days before this theme took hold. It was an age of chaos.

Track 1: YTCracker – "http://www.dekalbpolice.com/meet_chief.html"
"bet you wonder why the chief always smiles / cuz his county two hundred seventy square miles"

Z’s 1st interlude: "Yes, my friends, a request."
I like requests. Send me more.

Track 2: Uncle Monsterface – "Kill Your Boyfriend "
As I stated before, this is one of my favorite UMF tracks.

Track 3: Paradise Dan – "U.R.Perfect"
Dan took advantage of the recent Street Fighter 2 remix competition samples to craft this little gem.

Track 4: Captain Spalding – "All Hands on Deck"
Notice how Spalding drops a sly Optimus Rhyme reference into the intro. That takes stones!

Track 5: Zircon – "Fiberoptics"
Q: What's not to love about this song? A: Nothing.

Track 6: Glenn Case – "Failure is Always an Option"
Glenn asked for song name suggestions for his FAWM project, and I provided this nugget of wisdom.

Track 7: Id Obelus – "Captain Hipster"
I've been pumping Id's The Inevitable Crushing EP since last year. It was well passed time that I share.

Track 8: Smashing Klystron – "Lyricist 1979"
If Karl and Billy Corgan got in a fight, who would win?

Track 9: Nagini – "Doctor Sing Along"
Anthony turned me on to the recently Nagini freebie. Cop it now if you haven't already.

Z’s 2nd interlude: "And I wanna thank my friend Doctor Popular."
The Dr. Zilog cover of MGMT’s "Kids" is another track you'll wanna snag.

Track 10: mcfiredrill – "Dancin’s Easy"
I discovered this via the GabbaFriends blog and through the power of Twitter.

Track 11: Former Fat Boys – "I'M A DINOSAURus (2005 Hard Corey Remix)"
Roar!

Track 12: Coova & Bud Melvin – "Karioto"
From She’s the DJ, He’s the Rapper, which is amazing.

Track 13: Conyeezy – "Roadside"
Yeez hooked me up with this months ago, and at the time it was an exclusive. Now, however, that is sort of doubtful. ;)

Track 14: I Fight Dragons – "The Faster Treadmill"
I Fight Dragons and their esteemed frienemies Hidari are currently helping me with a special project.

Z’s final interlude: "Some choppy transitions and some flawed leveling and some inane chatter from yours truly."
Which, now that I think about it, pretty much describes every episode of RFH!

Track 15: MC Lars – "True Player for Real"
I love that Lars dedicated the new album Wesley Willis. I managed to catch him live a couple years before his passing, and it's a show I'll always remember.

Bonus track: "Leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama" dialog / markslidesquad – "Gimme da Gold"
There was a time when I cringed whenever I heard a southerner saying something ridiculous on television news, but I have long since accepted this shameful occurrence as inevitable.

And that's all I've got, folks.

I'm tapped. At least for the next couple of weeks.

I am currently trying to decide between another theme-less episode for late March or a tribute to female musicians. As always, your input is appreciated.

I'm also trying to cook up something fun for April, but I'll let it simmer a bit before I serve you the details.

Wow. Food metaphors are just lame.

Nerd News in Brief

I have lived too long. There are strange and wonderful portents that lead me to believe that perhaps this is, indeed, the end-times.

Have I gone all Mike Seaver on that ass? I have not.

I am simply pointing out that the nerd world is busting at the seams. Its dorktastic energy is seeping more and more into the real world. There is no hope to contain it.

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.

Oh, but amidst all my walking about main street rocking my brand new "The End is Nigh" sandwich board, I did manage to cobble together a Nerd News in Brief.

Priorities, people!

• The Story so Far: Gather round, children, and hear the story of Mega Ran 9. ‘Tis a harrowing tale of fandom, hip-hop, and triumph. As told by the man himself.
• A Rose by Any Other Name: Compliments of Church comes this piece from WebWire concerning the ongoing geek vs. nerd debate. I understand that many, for whatever reason, prefer the former to the latter, but let it be known that I embrace all once-hurtful language leveled at our people. I’m taking it back!
• The Millennium Falcon for Christmas: Also from Church comes this link to more free music from Sci Fi Songs’ John Anealio. Give ‘em a listen, and give John some love.
• Laughably Interesting: Tiny Mix Tapes has a nice review of the Nerdcore Rising documentary available for your perusal. Give it a read, and then we shall debate whether or not the word "fluffy" was used in a positive light.
• Woke Up With a Monster: My sockpuppety pals from NYC have some fun things planned for the month of March. Catch Uncle Monsterface’s own Marty on Thursday, March 12 at Sputnik as he unveils 9 new Series 2.5 Sock Puppet Portraits. You can also catch the boys in Jersey on Friday, March 13 at Watchung Hills Regional High School’s benefit for Darfur and the following Thursday (March 19) at the Opening Night Party for the Boston Underground Film Festival. If you can attend either of the three, please provide some extra joyful screaming on my behalf.
• Two Times the Power: Meanwhile, my boys from Dual Core also have some exciting things lined up. They’ll be appearing with Shael Riley and MC Plus+ at ToxCity Game Center in Greenwood, IN for an all-ages show on Friday, March 27, at the WVU Institute of Technology’s TechLAN charity LAN party on April 4, and at this year’s Notacon in mid-April. And peep this handsome article about the guys from Cincinnati Magazine. Truly everything is coming up Dual Core!
• Insert Bald Guy/Bowling Pin Joke Here: And lest I forget, Shael Riley will be appearing with Bizarro Stylus at Florida’s Casselberry Lanes AMF Bowling Alley on Saturday, March 21. He’s also been booked at Espresso Yourself Music Cafe just outside of Cleveland for March 18. I listed those in reverse chronological order to spice shit up.
• Making My job Easier: MC Lars saved me a lot of typing by posting his March/April 2009 tour schedule at nerdcoretour.com. UK nerds should pay particular attention to these dates.
• These Gigantic Girl Parts Kill: Lars has also been interviewed at Suicide Girls. Therein the talks about the new album. And does not expose a perky, pierced nipple.
• Start a RIOT: Let me join my brother Anthony in suggesting that all fans of glitch, chiptunes, and awesomeness check out the new Pause Music release from Videogame Orchestra. I’m a big supporter of both II and VGO, and neither has ever done me wrong.
• Video(games) Killed the Radio Star: Speaking of VGM, may I now turn your attention to this wonderful piece from or own Doctor Popular at culture hub the Laughing Squid. It’s all about game-themed music videos. Enjoy it in all its 8-bit splendor.
• I’m a Floating Head: And to take us out of this snow-capped week (at least for those of us along the eastern seaboard) is a very literal interpretation of they Might Be Giant’s "Birdhouse in Your Soul." It is 1990 all over again.
  

The Bald and the Beautiful

I see Hipster, please! as a lot of things. It is a music site. It is a vague cultural hub. It is an at-work time-waster. But what it is not is a moral compass.

Still, sometimes my friends – those folks whose artistic exploits serve as my typical blog fodder – go off and do something selfless, something that gives me pause to reflect. This is one of those times.

Both Grace, the dulcimer-slinging Wizard Rocker known as Snidget (and affectionately referred to around here as "Snidge"), and Matt, my blogging brother from free-geek (affectionately referred to as "Matt"), have elected to take part in this year’s St. Baldrick’s fundraiser. The gist of which, for those not in the know, is as follows: "volunteers shave their heads in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family."

Yep, they are shaving their heads. For money. For a good cause. Instead of just, like, getting really drunk and doing it on a dare like most people.

Now I’m certainly not going to ask anyone to shave their heads, as that is some serious shit, but I will ask readers to considered donating a little money to the cause. Seriously, y’all, do we really want Matt and Snidge to shave their noggins for nothing? Take a gander at this one. Without hair he’s gonna look like just another Charm City dive bar bouncer. Ain't that worth a few bucks? Plus, it’s for a good cause: helping sick kids.

In fact, it occurs to me now that I have a couple dozen Hipster, please! stickers left over, so if you do take it upon yourself to give, whether it be to Matt, Grace, or some other shavee, I’ll be more than happy to send you one as a small token of my gratitude. Just shoot me a message with your mailing addy.

I'd also like to encourage those within driving distance to head over to Fast Eddie's in Centreville, VA on March 15 at 3:00 PM to bid a fond adieu to Matt and Gracie's lovely locks. You get bonus points if you provide me with pics/video.

Donation links:
Grace
Matt

EDIT:
Also adding my pal Colonel Panic to the list! :)

"Darlin' don't you go and cut your hair / Do you think it's gonna make him change?" --Pavement

Freedom's Just Another Word for Not Having to Pay for Shit

Friends, I am currently in the midst of my second consecutive snow day. You see, here in the southeast we don't get much in the way of winter weather, and when we do the populous tends to lose its collective shit. Hell, folks can't really drive here-abouts under the best of conditions, so slapping a coat of ice on the highway is an easy recipe for disaster.

So while my fellow hicks cower in their trailers, hoarding milk and bread like gold and some other valuable commodity that currently escapes my grasp, I have taken this opportunity to compile a handy list of the new (musical) hotness. Here are a half-dozen sites to hit up for fine, free musics. You can thank me by sending blankets. And fire wood.

• Dragons Slain: I already mentioned chiptune/pop rockers I Fight Dragons last week, but I figured some might need another push to sign up for their mailing list and score their EP Cool is Just a Number. Consider yourself pushed.
• The Sounds of the 90s Today: Ultraklystron has put together a 6 song EP in which he mashes his own material up with tracks from Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, and Bjork. It's post-grungealicious.
• Psssst!: Anthony managed to get the second installment of his monthly Hey! Listen! mixtape in just before the buzzer. This time around it features my pal Antisoc as well as XMark's cover of Coulton's "Still Alive."
  
• Speaking Of: Church just hipped me to this freely available collection from The Bearded One Himself. It's 730MB of Coultony goodness from Creative Commons.
• In Case You Missed It: Heartfelt congratulations go out to my pal Glenn Case for completing this year's FAWM. Check out all 14 tracks, including one named by yours truly, over here.
• Sounds Familiar: And lastly (but certainly not leastly), my brother int eighty just let me know that another pair of free tracks have been thrown atop the pile at Dual Core's official site. One of these non-album selections is from the very first Hipster, please! compilation and the other is from GM4A's Welcome to World 2. Enjoy them again for the first time.
  

Nerd News in Brief

Be afraid. Be very afraid! It's only a matter of time before we are subjugated and subsequently crushed by Space Skeeters from Beyond.

Oh, science, why have you forsaken us?

But let us pass the time until our inevitable demise with some Nerd News in Brief.

• Educational Ink: Discover Magazine is currently all up on my jock re: nerd ink. They've even compiled a ton of science-related tattoos for you viewing pleasure. I dig that they did so, but seriously, Discover, quit biting my style!
• Knowledge is Power: The new funky 49 EP Rapbassador is presently available for free download. This release was created to help promote Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry, so checking it out is sort of like giving science a great big hug. You like hugs, right?
• Transformer: The only thing better than Maja's debut album The Amalgam Project is scoring said album on the free. Shit yeah, kids! You can now check out all the greatness at no cost to you. Just head over to Rhyme Torrents for the full skinny.
• They Really, Really Do: By now you've probably taken note of a new band making the rounds through nerd culture blogs. This band is Chicago's I Fight Dragons, and, in case you've missed the praise heaped upon them by my fellows, suffice it to say they are the shit. You can actually score a digital copy of IFD's new EP by joining the mailing list at their site, which you totally should.
• Dance Majick Dance: Friend and supporter of Hipster, please! BSD Punk just released his debut nerdcore effort as MC Goblin Majick. Give it a listen and share your thoughts at the Goblin's blog.
• A Change of Pace: Another new album that, unfortunately, is not yet ready for mass consumption is the long-awaited Testing the Waters EP from My Parents' Favorite Music. I did, however, get to test drive this new project, and found it to feature not only some exciting guest stars, but also a noticeably deeper style of songwriting by Steffo. Look for it soonish.
• Where Ya Been?: And of course the biggest news in nerdcore releases this week is MC Lars's This Gigantic Robot Kills. Cheap bastards looking for a taste can check out the track "No Logo" at the Lars MySpace or the video for "Guitar Hero Hero" via YouTube. But I'm'a go ahead and just recommended you buy the damn album. Oh, and then go read about Lars's favorite book. That's important too.
• Laptops and Star Trek: In a related story, a reference to Lars's new album can be found in this piece about white rappers from Supreme Magazine that Church hipped me to. Whether or not you agree with the crux of his argument, the author makes some valid points. Give it a read, and then we can debate what Lars meant by "I saw nerdcore come/ I saw nerdcore go."
• Vote Canadian: Hip-hop superhero Jesse Dangerously is a nominee for Urb Magazine's Next1000. This is cool and all, but Jesse really wants to make it to the next round (i.e. Next100) in the print version of the mag. To do this, he needs your votes. Get on it!
• Me and My Old Lady: Recently, nerdcore MC and fellow blogger Shawn Who has fallen on some hard times. His family has racked up some pretty hefty medical bills, but he's devised a novel way to lessen the financial impact. Shawn is actively taking on song commission to earn a little extra scratch. So, if you're in need of some custom musics, give Shawn a holler.
• Hex Watches the Watchmen: My pal Hex Warrior is looking for songs about Watchmen. Perhaps he should contact Shawn. 'm just sayin'.
  
• The Other One: Apparently Video Game Orchestra is will take the stage at Boston's Berklee College of Music next month. Wait, not that VGO, an other VGO. This one is, apparently, a literal orchestra, and, though they may not be our friends from Greece, interested parties should probably check it out.
• Up in My Treehouse: In other VGM news, UK folksters Elfonso now have a proper Web site. Anthony mentioned this earlier this week, but they are so fuckin' awesome that I figured it bore repeating.
• In the Beginning: Those fine ladies at the Wizrocklopedia never cease to school me regarding WRock. Why just last week they turned me on to some interesting facts regarding the genesis of the musical concept.
• So Hungry!: Shael Riley makes music. But did you know he also creates inspiring works of sequential art? Consider yourself enlightened.
• DTs Have Never Looked Cuter: We will end this week on a high note. This one comes courtesy of Little Miss Gamer herself. It's the newest episode entitled "Gamer, Interrupted," and it concerns the darker side of Zuma. (Locate chip artist and recent mugging victim Zen Albatross for bonus points!)

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 62: Total Aggro

Nerd rage, ladies and gentlemen. It’s been explored before, but not exactly like this.

This is a journey into sound. Angry, angsty, grimy sound.

We’ve got some hip-hop and some mash-ups and a whole lot of metal, because metal is the traditional music of the angry nerd.

Just ask Scott Ian.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 62: Total Aggro (hosting provided by Antisocial) Size: 49.6 MB Running Time: 54:13

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
That cat Beefy is a bad mutha… What? Shut my mouth?

Track 1: The Lonely Island – "Natalie's Rap (feat. Natalie Portman)"
I know it’s blasphemy, but this is still my favorite track from the Incredibad album. Sorry, Jones.

Z’s 1st interlude: "A real life Fight Club."
Chuck Palahniuk's response to the story in question read: "God bless these kids. I hope they're having a great time. I don't think they'd be doing it if they weren't having a great time."

Track 2: Krondor Krew - "Terminated"
I caught the Kronder Krew live at Nerdapalooza. Great stage presence, but be careful if you’re up near the stage. Crazy ninja sword action!

Track 3: BloodHag – "Ann McCaffrey"
My kingdom for a new Bloodhag full-length!

Track 4: Dr. Steel – "Glutton"

I really appreciate that Dr. Steel can switch from creepy, carnival side-show kid’s music to full-on industrial steampunk at the drop of a hat.

Track 5: HORSE the Band – "Murder"
Whenever I mention chiptunes or VGM to my friends more entrenched in the traditional punk, metal, or hardcore scenes, they invariably ask: "You mean like HORSE?" Well no, not really, but at least it’s a jumping off point.

Track 6: DJ Morgoth – "Shout ABC (Disturbed vs. Jackson 5)"

You owe it to yourself to check out Morgoth’s Mash-up Your Bootz! series. Go ahead. Don’t be frightened.

Track 7: Jesse Dangerously – "Outfox'd"
Warning: Jesse Dangerously will rap your face off. Right the fuck off!

Z’s 2nd interlude: "Channeling that lyrical aggression into the archetypal hip-hop braggadocio. "
And, interestingly enough, Kronder Krew do swing their arms like Ralph Macchio.

Track 8: NESMETAL – "Stage Opening" / "Stage 1"
The Zombie Birthday Cake OST is a must-own. Snag it from Pterodactyl Squad.

Track 9: Super Dragon X – "The Cheater's Anthem"
Let it be written and known from this point forward that the Dragon spits hot fiyah.

Track 10: Year 200X – "River City Ransom"
Yes, I’m still working on that review of We Are Error. No, I have not yet completed it. Yes, I am kind of a slack-ass.

Track 11: MadHatter – "Bullets and Buckshot"
You’ve already downloaded 8Bit Bullshit, right? Just checkin'.

Track 12: Game Over – "Cataclysmic Clash"
Muthafuckin’ Nintendo Metal from the land of Vikings and IKEA. Hells yeah!

Z’s final interlude: "It is simple, if not elegant."
Much like this podcast.

Track 13: Optimus Rhyme – "MC Chipmunk"
I am not a fan of diss tracks, but this shit is fierce.

Bonus track: RevoLucian – "Bale Out"
"You’re a nice guy."

Thus far, 2009 has seen its fair share of themed episodes. With that in mind, the next edition of Radio Free Hipster will be theme-free. I have a lot of delightful odds and ends that I wanna play that don’t necessarily coalesce by way of tone or topic.

If you have any requests – or, for that matter, show ideas you’d like to hear – please toss them my way. I am nothing if not accommodating.

And, until next time, thanks for listening.

Geeking up Lunchtime

I have said many times in the past that I am not paid in the traditional sense for the work that I do here at Hipster, please! Further, I have stated that the means by which I am compensated tend to take the forms of free CDs and, more importantly, nerd love. But it would be far more accurate to say that my most frequent form of recompense is stickers.

Chances are, if I have received a parcel, thank you note, or care package from (or – heaven forbid – actually met face-to-face with an) artist/fellow writer over the past three years, it has resulted in one or more promotional decals falling into my possession. This is a fact I relish, as I come from a more punk rock background where things like stickers and badges are, quite literally, the glue that holds a scene together. The obvious outcome of this, however, is that I now have an entire drawer in my home dedicated to the housing of nerdy stickers.

Over the weekend, Li'l X. and I decided to use these as the raw materials for a little project; we replaced the well-worn magazine collage design that adorned my lunch cooler with the stickers in question.

Now, each afternoon when I dig into yet another peanut butter sandwich at my desk, I do so in the presence of Beefy, Schaffer the Darklord, My Parents' Favorite Music, Uncle Monsterface, and countless others. It helps to dress the proceedings up a bit.

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.