Nerd News in Brief

You know it's a good week when the geekiest music news is coming from well outside of our little community!

Personally, I love Danger Mouse's idea to release his next album as a blank CD-R. It's a big "fuck you" to EMI and a well-placed warning shot across the bow of a sinking industry. Plus, the novelty of it is nothing short of delicious.

The pay-what-you-want business model is still an unsure bet, but, by packaging the album's visual narrative in the commercial release, DM is making sure that folks get something for their money. In the end, I'll be interested to see how many folks shell out for the album simply as a show of solidarity.

• Change is Good: Church wanted me to remind you that if you're gonna change, change into something awesome.
• The Doctor is In: Also from Church comes a link to this amazing chiptune WhoMix. Complete with video.
• Boldly Go: Wasn't the new Star Trek kick-ass? Apparently it was even remarkable enough to continue to inspire the voice of fandom. In very unlikely ways.
• Tucks His T-shirt Into His Pants: MisterB has just released a song about none other than Nerdapalooza founder Hex Warrior. As you can imagine, it's pretty hilarious.
• Insert Name Here: And speaking of Hex, I've been informed that the Nerdapalooza crew has set up a travel fund to help in-demand artists get down to Orlando for this year's festival. Interestingly enough, this fundraiser will consist of a raffle competition, the rewards of which include a dinner date for two at a local restaurant and ample geeky merchandise donated by supporting artists, groups and organizations. Raffle tickets cost $10 for your first chance and $5 for each additional ticket, and the drawing will be held, not surprisingly, at Nerdapalooza. Details are sketchy at present, but I'll be providing links to relevant info in the near future.
• The Future Soon: The epic Jonathan Coulton concert experience can now be, uh, experienced by everyone thanks to his new CD/DVD combo release BEST. CONCERT. EVER. This bad boy is available for pre-sale right now, so head to JoCo's site for full details.
• Where's Waldo?: The mystery of Steffo's disappearance – or, rather, the mystery of what the great blue fuck is going on with My Parents' Favorite Music – deepened last week at Game Music For All. There are still more questions than answers, but now I'm pretty sure that Steffen, via his time-travelling shenanigans, accidentally created The Adventures of Lolo. Also, he's his own grandpa.
• New Game in Town: And speaking of music of the gamer persuasion, there's a new VGM remix site on the block. RemixSite is a place "for video game music synergy" where artists can share their work with the world and get valuable feedback from their fellow composers. Peep the new hotness.
• The 1 and Only: And on the subject of new hotness, there are a metric ton of amazing new releases from the nerdy hip-hop meta-community. The first is from my FLA-based brother Epic-1. It's his long-awaited full-length simply entitled 1, and it's available as a physical CD, 320kbs MP3 and FLAC file downloads for $10, MP3 and FLAC downloads for $5 and 128kbs MP3s for a buck. Get on that shit!
• He Got It: From the land down under comes The Ranger's new EP Evolution, a release that "kinda sums up [his] life over the last 10 years." And apparently the last decade has been simply fucking amazing. Musically-speaking, at least. Grab this one from RT ASAP.
• The Language of the Snake: KABUTO THE PYTHON's Scrub Club release PARSELTONGUE is also fresh off the virtual press. His full-length features a few joints you've heard and a whole lot you haven't, but you can be goddamn sure that all of it is gold! Head over to your favorite nerdcore label to snag it.
• Level Up: And lest we forget that your boy Random has also dropped his new freebie TeacherRapperHero, his first foray into the realm of the mixtape. Featuring Burg, ZeaLouS1 and tons of other top-shelf talent, it's more of Ran at his best. Hit up his spiffy new site for the DL link.
• Alive and Zombified: Thanks to Luzid for passing on an email he received from Eventful stating that ZeaLouS1 has a new gig lined up this summer. On Friday, July 24, he'll be hitting the stage at The Jumping Turtle in San Marcos. Z1's been quieter than usual lately, so it's great to hear him once again stirring from his California crypt.
• The Battle Rages On: Also on the horizon is the premiere of a new video from Uncle Monsterface. UMF will unveil the vid for "Mashed Potato vs. Vampire" at The Tank in NY on June 6! Of course the band will also be playing their other epic songs all live and stuff, so come for the video and stay for the sock puppets.
• This Diminutive Robot Stores Information: Help MC Lars pick the next single from This Gigantic Robot Kills and win a free 1 gig USB memory stick. That looks like a robot! 'Cause Lars is cool like that.
• Roots: Earlier this month, Lars popped up at the Musical Families blog to answer some questions about how his own mom and pop influenced his musical development. It's a great piece from a really fun blog, and I highly recommend you give it a look.
• Beware Canadia: Jesse Dangerously was profiled last week in the Ottawa Citizen. And while Ottawa may not yet love him as much as his native Halifax, it looks like they are coming around.
• Join the Fight: Chicago chip rockers I Fight Dragons are actively recruiting fans to help them spread their musical message… even though they aren't entirely certain what that entails. Still, it's a good cause and they're a great band, so sign up already!
• My Neck of the Woods: Any of my regional brothers and sisters looking to get their opensource on should hit up next month's SouthEast LinuxFest in Clemson, SC. It is important to note that my bro int eighty of Dual Core will be rocking the after party. So guess who else will be there? Yep; me.
• Mad Skillz: Taking us out is the very same int eighty from episode 513 of Revision3's tech super-show Hak5. Hackers and code monkeys will enjoy watching eighty extract Windows executables from packet captures, but the rest of us will simply skip to the 30:20 mark to hear him perform a preview track from Dual Core's forthcoming (and as yet unnamed) album. Technology is a beautiful thing.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 66: Lovely and Talented

The title of this episode comes from my recent introduction (on that other podcast) of Marian Call, though frankly I use the same idiom around here fairly regularly. It's become a well-worn broadcast meme in itself, and, to be honest, I reckon it's almost a little demeaning if you look at it critically.

I guess the difference is I actually mean it. Whether it's Marian or Switchblade Kittens or Zombies! Organize!!, I really do find their musical contributions exquisite (lovely) and their aptitude notable (talented).

Still, perhaps this simply serves to underscore the unique brand of misogyny that runs rampant in our subculture. Just as women are often marginalized in the mainstream, so do they receive a similar disservice within geekdom. Perhaps worst of all, these geek girls must also cope with the mock surprise associated with being a female adherent to the stereotypical male discipline of nerdery.

I talk a bit about this in this edition of the show, but mostly I just attempt spotlight the female voice – both literal and figuratively – in nerd music.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 66: Lovely and Talented (hosting provided by Antisoc) Size: 45.3 MB Running Time: 49:30

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
If Baddd Spellah was a woman, he'd be sassy dame!

Track 1: I Fight Dragons vs. Imogen Heap – "The Process"
Imogen Heap is, despite her Grammy nods and mainstream accolades, a supporter of nerdy endeavors. Don't believe me? Ask Pixelh8.

Z's 1st interlude: "Yet another mash-up, albeit with a totally different feel."
There are a lot of bootlegs in this ep, but I tried to incorporate examples that used female vocals in different ways.

Track 2: Danzig vs. Missy Elliot – "Wicked Missycat"
Unlike "The Process," which layers vocals, "Wicked Missycat" instead juxtaposes Elliot's rhymes over some melancholy metal. I find the results pleasing.

Track 3: Nursehella – "Keep It Real (Represent My Nuts)"
Sadly, Nursehella has a relatively meager back catalog, but, as scant as it may be, it's truly impressive.

Track 4: 1337 Geek Beat – "Hutzumi"
I haven't played track since episode 16, and oh how I've missed it!

Track 5: 8 Bit Weapon – "Closer (Bitpop Mix)"
I recently reviewed the previous 8 Bit Weapon full-length. As I recall, I said some really nice things. Those also apply to their new Electric High EP.

Track 6: Switchblade Kittens – "She Has a Rep"
Only the Kittens could get away with a concept album based on the works of Meg Cabot. Though the references are lost on me, the songs themselves are pop perfection.

Track 7: Lauren Fairweather – "I Want You to Whomp Me"
Wizard Rock is renowned for its female-friendly slant, and because of that I actively limited the amount of WRock in this episode. I didn't want my selections to be too predictable.

Track 8: K.Flay – "I Rap Nice (UM Stream mix)"
While certainly not nerdcore, K.Flay made her presence known to dorks everywhere via some stellar contributions to The Digital Gangster LP. Since that time I have played a lot of her work around the house, both for my own enjoyment and in the hopes that it will inspire my daughter to become a suburban rap queen!

Z's 2nd interlude: "Interspersed throughout that set you also heard snippets of Majel Barrett-Roddenberry."
Because of this ep's proximity to the release of the new Star Trek re-imagining, this seemed like a obvious choice.

Track 9: Wendy Carlos – "Two Part Invention in D Minor"
Thanks again to Krys for this suggestion. I think it fit perfectly!

Track 10: Little Red Car Wreck – "Static Cling"
LRCW's Motor Like a Mother was the original inspiration for this episode. Thanks, Doc!

Track 11: Zombies! Organize!! – "Crunk in the Mall"
My love of Z!O!! is well established. I find there fusion of nerdcore, art rock and minimalist synth arrangements intoxicating.

Track 12: Echo Slightly – "Echo Slightly"
This one was a last minute addition to the show. Captain Dan sent me a copy of their release Birds Fly South, and I have to say that it's some wonderful downtempo.

Track 13: Marian Call – "I'll Still Be a Geek"
Marian Call is an amazingly talented songwriter, and her voice is hauntingly beautiful. It's not exactly standard fare for RFH, but I hope y'all enjoy it.

Z's final interlude: "I think we should know better."
I am as guilty as anybody when it comes to playing into old gender stereotypes with regard to nerds. Still, I promise to work on it if you will.

Track 14: The Reborn Identity – "Ladykillers"
Ladyhawke? Not so nerdy, but I think there's some geek appeal to her work. Plus, her grocery list of medical ailments (everything from sever drug allergies to Asperger's) should make for a sympathetic case to frail dorks everywhere.

My pal Jason is fond of saying that one manifestation of nerd culture is a flagrant disregard for gender roles. But while it's true that geeky guys may reject traditionally macho endeavors, that doesn't somehow make us immune to sexism. Women are an important part of our culture, and until we can let go of this outdated notion that nerdery is a boys club, then we are just as narrow-minded as our one-time tormentors.

When the mainstream media is seemingly startled by the notion that there are female gamers, comic fans or geeky musicians, it's a little silly. When we on the inside react the same way, it's actually rather insulting.

Again, I know I'm as guilty of this as anyone, but I do think it's time we reexamined how we perceive the ladies in our midst. They are not oddities or conversation pieces; they are our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. And they are every bit as important to our culture as their male counterparts.

The Nerd vs. Geek Debate (and Why We Don't Need to Have It)

As a native southerner, I am well aware of my biological propensity to sermonize. Such is an urge I generally attempt to resist, but it is a ceaseless, underlying yearning. It is, like alcohol or hepatitis, in the blood. But just as I don't appreciate being preached at, I try not to lecture others. Such is a small courtesy, but it's one I endeavor to extend to you as my wholly voluntary audience.

That being said, I am about to mount the podium. You're all welcome to gather up front on the amen pew, to slink slyly to the rear of the sanctuary or to simply walk back out the double doors before I unleash my fire and brimstone. And I certainly won't think less of you for choosing the latter.

I have spent my three decades plus upon this Earth as an outsider, a nonconformist, a nerd. At times, I attempted to curb this inclination and find acceptance by those who would reject me. Likewise, at times I ramped up this inherent differentness as nothing more than a symbolic middle finger to the same. Now in my thirties, I have settled into a natural equilibrium, or, to steal from nerdcore rapper Doctor Awkward, geekquilibrium. I have at long last rectified my most studious tendencies with my more acceptable passions. In short, I am – this time misquoting the 2 Live Crew – as nerdy as I wanna be. No more. No less.

Part of this process, this becoming, is due to a maturing on my part, albeit an admittedly small one. At this stage in my life I am self-aware enough to realize who I am, and I have made my peace with that.

Another aspect, which I also attribute to age, is the fact that I am now too goddamn tired to care what other people think of me. Now this certainly doesn't mean I don't want others to like me, to respect and accept me. (This is ingrained well within human nature itself, and even we proud nerdlingers fall under its sway.) It just means that I am no longer an adolescent bundle of neuroses, your textbook diminutive, underweight, self conscious geekboy. I proudly announce that I have, in fact, grown into a diminutive, underweight, fulfilled adult who simply doesn't have the time or the inclination to wonder if that lady standing behind me in line at the DMV is actually laughing at me.

(And what if she is? Why the hell should I care? That bitch couldn't even complete the written test!)

But be it due to the mellowness of adulthood or my own emotional sloth, the important point here is that I am okay with the person that I am. More than anything, projects like Hipster, please! and Radio Free Hipster are about both a celebration of that and a conduit through which the rest of us war-worn survivors can toast our victories. It's my hope that the positivity we spread and the brotherhood we foster can then somehow radiate to the next generation. Our modern analog, the latter day misfit who is still, as my pal Matt puts it, "get[ting] shoved into a locker."

Thankfully, this is a shared mission; it's something that everyone from fellow bloggers to entertainers like YTCracker has spoken about at one time or another. Simply put, we're trying to lessen the type of bullshit with which we had to cope for poindexters yet-to-come by hammering our shared experiences and passions into a cultural shield. We're telling others and reminded ourselves that being different does not immediately equate with being alone.

With this established, I have recently picked up on a trend that threatens our task at hand. And like the most diabolical of nemeses –Carpenter's Thing, Procter & Gamble's Cavity Creeps, et al – this threat comes from within.

Throughout this missive I have used the terms "nerd" and "geek" (and a handful of other more esoteric words) interchangeably to describe myself, but each day it seems that more and more of our kind are drawing dividing lines between such terminologies. Many are compartmentalizing, not for the simple geeky joy of categorizing, but with a distinctly divisive intent. Geeks, we are told, are cool techies with eccentric passions, while nerds are awkward basement dwellers defined by their social failings.

This argument most recently came to a head within our broader community when dork luminary Wil Wheaton posted a video by the Society for Geek Advancement, a vid, I might add, that he took part in.

In the earliest moments of this piece, G4 talking head and fauxhawk aficionado Kevin Pereira declares that he is neither a nerd nor a spaz. From that point, contributors from Leo Laporte to MC Hammer proceed to "celebrate" geek culture. By scornfully deconstructing it. The underlying theme seems to be that geeks are a tech-savvy breed of snarky supermen. A group so socially enlightened as to place them head-and-shoulders above your common basement dwellers, your spotty comic shop frequenters or even your average man on the street.

And I call bullshit.

What we see hear is a clear example of – to turn our eyes back to my buddy Matt's concise description – cultural appropriation. In this sense "geek" is no longer a relevant label of self-identification, but a brand. Geek is Twitter. Geek is Tumblr. Geek is exclusivity. Geek is pomposity.

Except it's not.

In a follow-up to his original post, Wil, who was incredibly excited about the project at its inception, describes it as something that "was supposed to be about refuting stereotypes and celebrating the things we love, but it ends up feeling like we're trying to convince the Cool Kids that we're really just like them."

There's steel in those words, my friends.

A great number of us have begun espousing the belief that what we do, that what we are, is a culture rightfully unto itself, and we've done so by embracing the names that were used as weapons against us. We took back geek and nerd and dweeb, and we bent them to our own needs. We wore them like badges of honor. But at some point we experienced a schism. We began to add our own precise context to these nonsensical words with no legitimate definition or etymology, and use them to cloister what some saw as our own less desirable elements.

We split up the nerds – a Seussian word used adjacent to "Nerkle" and "Seersucker" – and the geeks – a carnie term for a performer who eats live animals – based on unqualifiable differences instead of uniting them under their obvious similarities. We, in short, became our own tormentors. We decided who would sit at our table and who would be relegated to the far side of the lunch room. We became that guy who shook you down and called you fucking faggot or that girl who defaced your gym locker and made you a laughingstock. We became our own worst enemy. And we did it gladly.

Tor.com's Bridget McGovern, in a recent piece on the I AM A GEEK! debacle, pinpointed what I found so distasteful about that particular example saying:

To be so dismissive of traditionally maligned geek interests and so incredibly smug about our apparent technological superiority at the same time doesn’t celebrate geek culture—it’s just a cheap way of buying up some nice property in the mainstream, at the expense of the quirks, the playfulness, and the ability to be comfortable being different that is the essence of geekdom.

This enduring "geek chic" that the mainstream media has become so fixated upon is key to spreading our message of hope, but it can also prove a destructive element if we lose site of the fact that we are all but defined by some of our most unsavory experiences and inclinations. Whether geek or nerd, we each spent a lengthy season being abused, neglected, isolated. We know what it's like to be bullied and to be made to feel insignificant. We know what it's like to be outsiders. But while this pain is certainly not ours alone, it is also a defining force that we must not lose sight of.

The fact that we came through the fire and yet retained those things that made us targets -- that is our strength. That awkwardness, that social pariah status, may be something that we, as adults, have more or less tamed, but that doesn't mean it was never there. Saying that within out own community person A is B because of strength/weakness C and that person X is Y because of strength/weakness Z not only devalues our shared heritage, it sends an actively destructive message to our younger counterparts. It tells them that not only are they refused entrance into hallowed halls of high school popularity, but that we won't even let them in our own Honeycomb Hideout.

Many of my friends and colleagues prefer to identify as geeks rather than nerds, and that is fine. Our culture is all about personal choice, and if prefer to be called a frog as opposed to a cheese eating surrender monkey due to my Franco-American heritage, there's surely no harm in me picking my own poison. But these same geeks looking down their noses at those insalubrious nerds is another matter entirely.

If we are to accept and celebrate our culture, we must accept it wholly. We can not cherry-pick our accomplishments from a relevant pile of failures and then attempt to pass this abridged history off as the sum of our kind. This is, in fact, the one brand of artificiality that we should rail against.

If you are reading this missive, chances are you were once a discomfited, tongue-tied social misfit who clung to passions and beliefs that set you apart from the rest of the crowd. Because, on some level, everyone is a nerd. Such is the power of our kind; such is the delightful flavor of our culture. And if we are, in this new millennium so rooted in the technologies we helped to foster, to redefine this culture, then let us do it with a fine eye toward making it even more inclusive.

There is no entrance exam for being a nerd. You simply need to be yourself. And if Kevin Pollack or Tay Zonday or Shaq want to be in the club, then they are welcome to join us. Anyone is welcome to join us, whether or not they play D&D or can recite Coulton lyrics from memory or understand Python semantics. All you have to do is be yourself and afford us the opportunity to do the same. Whether you call yourself a nerd or a geek or a freak or a hacker or a gamer or a Trekker or a fanboy or a furry or a LARPer or an otaku is irrelevant. But don’t you goddamn dare try and paint yourself as better than someone who identifies by a different arbitrary (yet intrinsically linked) label!

We are nerds and we are geeks and we are wonderful and quirky and awkward, but we are no better or worse than anyone else. We are, while fully aware of our unique differences, the same.

And we all say Amen.

Walk the Dinosaur

When I first heard that Oliver Hindle (AKA Superpowerless) and Steve Gilkes (of Retro Stereo) had launched a new project, I didn't quite know what to expect. But what I surely didn't expect was whimsical acoustic covers of lyrical internet memes via YouTube.

Still, as odd a concept as it might be to wrap one's head around, the simple truth is that it works!

Scared of Dinosaurs, as the duo is collectively known, only formed in late April of this year, but they've already managed to insinuate themselves into the global geek rock pantheon. Just this month, they were the number 3 most subscribed YouTube channel for UK musicians, and they're currently poised to crack the top 50 for all United Kingdom users.

The loose, impromptu arrangements from their first 9 videos were recently compiled into the free-to-download EP Messing With Antiques. I found it an incredibly appealing little affair from a pair of artists who obviously enjoy both the music making process and each other's company.

Read on for a full breakdown.

1. "We Are Scared of Dinosaurs (Intro)"
   Messing With Antiques kicks off with a breezy, silly track that introduces the band and implores fans to subscribe to their YouTube Channel. It's not exactly nerdy songwriting at its finest, but it's an enjoyable appetizer.
2. "Swine Flu"
   Ripped from today's headlines, "Swine Flu" is an original song about Stevey contracting the global disease du jour. It's of particular note because therein he manages to channel the pained, angsty vocal style of early Smiths-era Morrissey tempered with an ample dose of humor. The back-and-forth between Steve and Oliver adds another amusing dimension to the piece, with its only detriment being some poor leveling.
3. "Chocolate Rain (Cover)"
   Okay, I'll admit it; Tay Zonday's claim-to-fame was a structural nightmare and an over-performed disaster, but damned if it didn't have some fine lyrical imagery! Scared of Dinosaurs parleys this into a folksy piece of blue-eyed soul that makes the song not only listenable, but interesting as well. The vocals are crisp but not over-emphasized, and the guitar accompaniment is delicate and engaging. It's an early favorite.
4. "I'm Too Sexy (Cover)"
   Another cover of less-than-stellar source material, but I reckon that's kinda the point. SOD's take on Right Said Fred isn't their best, but Stevey's vocals bring enough ironic passion to the table to make it notable. Even if it doesn't grab you from the start, hang around for the extended syllables of the outro. That shit's gold.
5. "Crank That Soulja Boy (Cover)"
   Another of the Internet's dubious greatest hits, the original "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" was a slap in the face to music lovers everywhere, but Scared of Dinosaurs' clever deconstruction of the piece may yet redeem it. The motormouth vocal delivery and call-and-reply hook are charming, but the brief instrumental breakdown that leads to Steve's impassioned plea to "Superman that ho" is pure musical bliss. The album's true high point and a welcome addition to any playlist.
   
6. "Never Gonna Give You Up (Cover)"
   This expert RickRoll is only diminished by its proximity to "Crank That Soulja Boy." Musically, it's probably the most solid piece in this collection of lo-fi covers and off the wall originals, though some mic noise mid-song does ruin its inertia. Despite this, Stevey and Oliver both manage to make this one a memorable take on another "classic."
7. "The Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) (Cover)"
   Many of us outside the UK have thus far managed to avoid this disco-crap anthem by the Cheeky Girls, but Scared of Dinosaurs have seen fit to remedy the rest of us of our delightful deficiency. Much in the same way that the duo alchemically transmuted "Chocolate Rain" into a reflective ballad, they reduce "The Cheeky Song" to a plodding dirge. It's certainly enjoyable for those in the know, but folks not familiar with the original may miss the joke.
8. "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (Cover)"
   After a string of 5 humorous, self-aware reinterpretations of sub-par pop songs, Scared of Dinosaurs wind down the album with a rather earnest, straight-ahead cover of Green Day's "Good Riddance." It's a nice addition and the lads sound good doing it, but I sort of miss the smartassery inherent in the album's earlier tracks.
9. "Subscribe Song (Improvisation)"
   Oliver and Stevey close out Messing With Antiques with another original. It boasts an identical melody to the intro track, but it's fun and upbeat enough to warrant revisiting. The lyrics are often nonsensical, but they sound good. And if this EP has any manner of underlying theme, it is easily that charm and musicality can often trump lyricism.

Messing With Antiques is not what you might call a serious musical endeavor. Rather, it is a light-hearted jaunt through some well-worn earworms that's bookended by high quality original tomfoolery from two incredibly talented musicians. It's a delightful introduction to Scared of Dinosaurs as a concept, but also the promise of things to come.

The EP's 9 tracks are loose, demo-y affairs that, despite a glaring lack of production value, still manage to please. This proves that, even when stripped down to their baser elements, Hindle and Gilkes still have ample talent and musical charm to engage the listener. Messing With Antiques is a ridiculously fun outing that's a must-have for fans of guitar-based geek rock, but it also serves to whet our appetites for the duo's coming studio work.

The video for the pair's first proper single, "Repeat Repeat," made its appearance yesterday, and while it forgoes the folksy feel of the songs in this collection for a decidedly more electronic sound it retains all of its musical appeal. They may be Scared of Dinosaurs, but they are certainly unafraid of good-natured musical experimentation.

"Super fresh, now watch me jack. Jacking on them haters, man."

Round 2

Anthony surprised me last Saturday with a pre-release copy of the new Game Music 4 All compilation Here Comes a New Challenger II Turbo. As usual, Ant went out of his way to keep me in the loop as the project came together, and, especially after hearing the tracks featured in March's preview video, I've been especially excited to experience this one in its finished form.

Just like its predecessor, HCNC2 features a staggering number – some 26 tracks in all – of collaborations between videogame-influenced MCs, DJs, producers, composers and musicians of all stripes. But, even more so than the inaugural edition, this year's comp is blissfully eclectic!

Boasting both the usual suspects – Girlz Melon, Superpowerless, Epic-1, et al – and a number of surprising new participants – most specifically Euro bootlegger Norwegian Recycling – HCNC2 excels at twisting the conventions of traditional game music and contemporary pop to its own sinister devices. What's more, the album seems to be at its best when contributors throw caution to the wind and shed their musical inhibitions. (Proceed to "Bizarro Paradise City" for more info.)

Though there's surely a little something for everybody on this release, I found myself most impressed by a number of songs that walk the fine line between the relatable and the surreal. Jay Tholen/Shael Riley masterpiece "Dial-Up Town" kicks off the disc one experience with a meditation on living in the middle of nowhere that's a warbling, maddening, beautiful jumble of pitch-corrected vocals and clippy chip music.

This gives way to later high points like Nanaki's View vs. Girlz Melon's ballsy "Battletoads and Double Dragon Medley," the ridiculously appealing narrative of Nerd Army vs. My Parents' Favorite Music's "Secrets Don't Make Girlfriends" and Zombies! Organize!! vs. Doctor Octoroc's gorgeously-balanced grocery list of technological desires "8 Bit Flashback." The second installment comes off just as hard with The Plasmas vs. 8-Bit Duane's ultra aggressive ode to Contra, the funked up DJ Snyder vs. Dual Core collab "The Flow" and "Mega Man X Medley," an expertly blended chip rock anthem, by Videogame Orchestra and (yet again) Girlz Melon.

From the anticipated (but by no means banal) rap-meets- chiptune fare by Superpowerless and Conyeezy ("Puppeteers") to skillful mash-ups from Norwegian Recycling ("Give Zelda to Me") and killsaly ("Final Solta O Frango Fantasy") to the straight ahead new school hip-hop of Epic-1 and Spork ("Blip)," HCNC2 is a chock full of aural delights specifically engineered to appeal to your inner gamer. It's a mixed bag of styles and colors, but it seldom disappoints and never bores. It will surely prove an excellent addition to your musical library, and should ultimately expose even the most discriminating listener to a staggering array of quality players on the nerdier side of independent music.

Here Comes a New Challenger II Turbo, in all its glory, will be available as a free 320kbps mp3 download and a reasonably-priced, professionally pressed 2-disc CD collection within the coming weeks. In the meantime, be sure to check out the original Here Comes a New Challenger compilation, the Hey! Listen! monthly mixtape project and all the other amazing musical contributions from your friends at Game Music 4 All.

Knowing is Half the Hasselhoff

Over the weekend, Hex announced Nerdapalooza 2009's first headliner. Much to the surprise of the scores of fans following such developments, the big reveal was attached to an even bigger name: mc chris. Fully realizing that this proclamation will be greeted with shock, disbelief and possibly even a modicum of outrage, I felt it pertinent to weigh in with my 2 cents.

The subject of mc's performance at Nerdapalooza was first broached by chris himself. He mentioned it in passing last month in the time between my review of Part One Part Six and our follow-up interview. He told me that he had contacted Hex Warrior with the proposal, but that he had yet to get receive a response. A quick message to Hex uncovered the problem; he had assumed the message was a joke, a prank by someone other than mc motivated not out of disrespect or malice, but rather mischief for mischief's sake. Once this misunderstanding was cleared up, things quickly proceeded.

But how mc chris came to be on the bill for this year's Nerdapalooza is far less important than what happens now that the announcement has been made. Everyone involved, including mc, knows that this event will surely prove to be a gathering of both fans and haters. There are still some people in the larger geek community that are unhappy with his tumultuous relationship with nerdcore proper and any other number of issues that I won't seek to catalog here because doing so would be counter-productive.

Instead I'd simply like to point out that I genuinely believe that mc chris will be good for Nerdapalooza and that Nerdapalooza will ultimately be good for mc chris.

The purpose of this festival is two-fold. It exists to celebrate all the glorious flavors of nerd music and culture, and it also serves as an opportunity to leverage the power of our passions for a greater good. Nerdapalooza supports the community itself, but it also supports the Child's Play charity. mc chris is a fantastic performer and a huge draw, and Orlando is a solid center of his fanbase. His inclusion leads to more interest, higher attendance and more money raised for a good cause.

Just as importantly, having mc chris around will be fun.

His is the music that brought so many fans and fellow artists into the realm of geeky hip-hop, and, nerdcore or not, he is one of us. He's a wonderful addition to an already astounding lineup, and I truly believe that if we all put petty differences aside he will do more than his part to make sure that Nerdapalooza 2009 will be appropriately epic.

And speaking of appropriately epic, I think this is an ideal time to unveil and brand new, ongoing project centered on none other than mc chris himself.

A few weeks back, I was kicking around crazy ideas on Twitter, as I am wont to do, when I issued a tongue-in-cheek challenge dubbed Knowing is Half the Hasselhoff. The crux of which was to motivate producers and bootleggers to mash-up mc chris a cappellas with songs from hairy-chested crooner David Hasselhoff.

After a little prodding, my good friend funky49 stepped up to the plate with a little jewel I like to call "mc Christmas with the Hoff." He's given me the green light to share it with you in the hopes that it will inspire your own mc/Hasselhoff boots.

There's no deadline and the project is open to anyone, so my plan is to simply collect and share submissions until such a time as there are enough to warrant collecting them into a legitimate compilation album/EP.

So, as you're wiling away those summer days, why not partake in a little MC-Pee-Pants-meets-Michael-Knight action? You'll be glad you did.

Download: funky49 – "mc Christmas with the Hoff"

Nerd News In Brief

Though it sometimes feels like work, Hipster, please! is far from a legitimate business venture. I don't have backers or a revenue stream or a business model, but I think I'm slowly beginning to build a little of the ol' brand recognition.

Thanks to the help of Denika, who designed my logos and helped get my new layout off the ground, and the fact that my OCD motivates me to operate the project fairly consistently, I think I have managed to develop a shtick. Now I just need to kick it up a notch.

I was gonna talk to some friends of mine in advertising about how better promote my little endeavor, but, thanks to a tip from Antisoc, I now know that such services are now available over the counter.

My logo has never looked bigger.

• Oddly Specific: Apparently, there is now an entrance exam for geeks. Looks like I'm in the remedial class.
• As in Beer: As a huge fan of Gameboy/GBA-based chiptunes, I've long wanted to try my hand at this unique brand of electronica. Thankfully, such experimentation has just gotten significantly easier for armchair musicians. Groundbreaking artist Pixelh8 has recently elected to release 4 of his own, custom-designed software modules for free. Head over to his site to score his Music Tech Pro Performer, Gameboy Music Tech V2.0, Gameboy Drum Tech and Death Ray Noise Generator. All awesome. All free.
• Mary Bennet, Victor Frankenstein and You: Hey, you know that whole "geek chic" thing the American media's been talking about for the past couple of years? Apparently CNN just found out about it. Way to trailblaze there, guys!
• Number 5 is Alive: Chicago's Independent Music Review recently listed I Fight Dragons as one of Chi-Town's Top 5 Bands You Should be Listening To. It's important to note that this also applies to those not living in the Chicago metro area.
• WTFMPFM?: Has anyone else been keeping up with what's been going on with My Parents' Favorite Music? Last month Steffo's MySpace went all Gothloli -- which is odd in and of itself, but not any more so than Steffen's median level. Then there was some surreal kidnapping story as related by Hex on Talk Nerdy to Me, then this inexplicable YouTube vid and more recently a new Facebook page with references to time travel. So, I guess it's a little like Lost. Only with Japanese chicks.
• He'll Take You There: Alienbobz's Jarod has just added another amazing show to his collection at Archive.org. This one is from last year's Seattle tour stop by my boys Uncle Monsterface. At long last I finally get an audio copy of their epic cover of "Like a Prayer!"
• Unshaven: Those who missed The Grammar Club's new selection on last year's Child's Play charity comp can now catch it at The 61. Enjoy "Underbeard" in all its follicle fantastitude.
• You're Gonna Love My Nuts: I also have to thank the Club's own Shael Riley for being the first to turn me on to "Rap Chop." It's infectious! Addictive even!
• Ultrapowerful: Superpowerless is actively seeking collaborators for a new song. If you can sing/rap, give Oliver a holler.
• I Twittered You: Church filed this one as "Nerdcore Country." Whatever you call it, I want more.
• Our Family Album: Also from Church comes this link to a CIO slideshow of nerds through the ages. Oh how we've grown!
• Ran, Examined: Random popped up in the San Diego Examiner. Ran's got a ton of press lately, but I think this is my favorite interview so far. His modest nature and creative spark really come through. Give it a read.
• All In the Family: My Florida-based brothers (and sister) from Magitek also scored themselves some nice press in recent weeks. Read about the band, it's history and the crew's thoughts on nerdcore over at MadeLoud.
• STD in the Vajay-jay: At long last, the Vagina Deep in Podcast gals have tossed us another episode. This one features Schaffer the Darklord, which, though rather unfortunate with regard to their respective naming conventions, is awesome. There's talk of a new album, some playful banter about cats and, of course, your requisite amount of swearing.
  
• Sorry, Heisenberg!: Bino White knows that the only way to educate America's youth is with threats of physical violence. Ere go he and Riboflava have elected to kick your ass. With science. Peep the video below, and let its delicate strains carry you through the weekend.

God Save the Queen

Whenever I receive a gift from an artist or reader, I always feel led to thank them within the blog itself. Now, this isn’t to brag. (Well, it isn’t just to brag.) Mostly it’s simply to show appreciation via my most public forum possible. Further, it’s because, in addition to the nerdcore or VGM or WRock community, I like to think that there’s a Hipster, please! community.

Just this week, a pair of these community members – both, oddly enough, from the UK – favored me with some amazing gifts, and I really wanted to share.

Talkie Tim, a long-time reader and listener, surprised me with two sets of the new Doctor Who Time Squad figures, which I’ve been lusting after for quite some time. Because of him I have at last fully realized my dream of a Dalek-infested workspace. (On a related note, Tim and his lady friend nose_in_a_book also helped me put together a soon-to-be-unveiled secret project that I think you’ll dig!)

At approximately the same time that Tim’s care package was making its way across the Atlantic, I received a sizable donation from another Brit who I will simply refer to as Chris. Coupled with some residual cash I had floating around in my Paypal, this enabled me to once again upgrade my podcasting rig. And, while I can’t promise that the change in sound quality will be as drastic as it was when I upgraded my tech back in January of 2007, I’m hoping for the best.

When I started this project 3 years ago, it was about my passion for nerdy music and culture. Thankfully, since that time it has become about our shared passion. And whether it’s folks like Beefy and Nikki Nefarious agreeing to be in features, friends like Church and Matt feeding me post ideas or cats like Anthony and Hex helping to spread the word about my hair-brained venture du jour, Hipster, please! exists as much by your whim as mine. And while I certainly don’t expect any sort of compensation for my meager (and largely intangible) services, know that I genuinely appreciate every email, comment, band suggestion, donation or press kit.

It’s a great big world, and there are far more pressing matters to which you could all turn attention. But you choose to come here and hang out with me, and that means a lot.

So much nerdy love to all, particularly to Tim and Chris for the handsome gifts. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have a Sycorax vs. Cyberman death-match to officiate.

Hyper-pensive

Ultraklystron is sort of like James Brown at the end of a classic concert. He announces his departure and makes for the back-stage green room, but he's always got one more musical trick up his sleeve. His latest extended encore takes the form of the fourth estate, a strong, solid album that sees Karl further spread his artistic wings.

Taking its title from Scottish essayist Thomas Carlisle's declaration that the press itself is a fierce social and political force, the album reflects both on Carl's journalistic tendencies and his own experiences with the media since nerdcore has made itself known to the mainstream. It also relies heavily on its own status as a (symbolic, if not wholly literal) swan song. But mostly, like the best of Ultraklystron's writing, it centers chiefly on the artist's own unique personal expediencies.

1. "death won't stop this"
   Karl kicks off the album with a smooth and atmospheric meditation on art, success and moving on. While not his best work, it's a solid starter that characterizes the album that marks, at least symbolically, his departure from nerdcore.
2. "greatest"
   Dark, moody and featuring some aggressive braggadocio, "greatest" is a handsome banger. It boasts a quick, stilted flow that makes it an early charmer. Its ending is sharply punctuated, and sets the listener up for the follow-up.
3. "gothic lolitas"
   This track comes through as a cosplay-obsessed sex rap run through Ultraklystron's traditional PG-rated verbal content filter. It's a convention theme waiting to happen boasting a sharp flow from the otaku MC.
4. "absolution"
   This tribute to the early days of Toonami is solidly in Karl's wheelhouse, and, though it sounds uncomfortably similar to "Broken Sutures" at times, it's hard to resist. The song is about giving love to Ultraklystron's true anime roots (despite some of the stranger turns of the initial Cartoon Network undertaking), and it comes through as reverent and nostalgic. The "first and only interstellar broadcast and exploration vehicle" deserves no less.
5. "dissonance"
   "dissonance" marks a nice musical change-up that stills maintains a solid chorus and some great layering in the vocals. It's rare to hear rhymes inviting constructive criticism, but Karl pulls it off in style. A well executed and damned amazing track for anyone who's ever felt out of place.
6. "outlines"
   A special note to Ultraklystron himself: please do a revised mix of this track with some female harmony vox! Seriously, Karl, the song is crying out for them. Sure, there are a couple of sloppy rhymes and the theme could be seen as a little color-by-numbers for long-time fans, but it's an amazingly pleasing selection that's one or two tweaks away from being an instant classic.
7. "not a criminal"
   It's no "Fuck the Police," but Ultraklystron's narrative concerning his regular border-crossing shakedowns is distinctively personal. I imagine that this song could prove an easy target for those seeking to paint nerdcore as a pale imitation of more accepted forms of hip-hop, but I give respect to Karl for stepping outside his comfort zone and exploring a unique private conflict.
8. "dumb crush"
   A creepy lead-in gives way to an impressive, key-heavy backing track as Ultraklystron ponders the line between friends, lovers and fantasy. It's undeniable, sing-along chorus and clever name-drop of Romance Language make it one of my favorites.
9. "red shift"
   Another frantic rumination on moving on, the album's dominant theme, "red shift" is a mixed bag. While I'm not crazy about the intro/chorus and some of the similes are weak, the beat is nothing short of brilliant. This one still manages to charm despite some flaws.
10. "carcinogenic"
    An amazing composition that features some of Karl's brightest production, "carcinogenic" gets a bit repetitive at times, but makes up for it with some clever name drops (i.e.: Wheelie Cyberman and Jimmy Carter.) This one alludes to Ultraklystron's real-life relationship with Nursehella, and parleys his own raw emotion into an inspirational joint about learned strength and the power of self-worth.
11. "webcam girls"
    Wait; did Karl just say "nice cans?!" Someone get me a lyric sheet! Oh, gams! Okay. Still, this is another track for the ladies, which is surprising (but pleasantly so). Karl pushes himself lyrically with rhymes that are a tad shocking but never inappropriate. It's a fine example of a rapper/producer at his danceable best.
12. "he's a og"
    More proof positive that Karl is a Class-A producer, "he's a og" sees him channel his inner gamer. If there's any justice in the world, this will pop up in the next iteration of Stepmania.
13. "nerd playa advisory"
    Though the beat choice seems a bit odd, it totally works. So well, in fact, that this song manages to be yet another high-point of the album. Karl skillfully deconstructs nerd archetypes and our cultural misogyny in a warning to geek girls everywhere.
14. "animate"
    This track, which boasts a beautiful transition from "nerd playa advisory" is phenomenal on all levels! Ultraklystron seems to channel T.y.T. slightly in the verses, but that stylistic change-up goes a long way in making this track stand out. He reps his crew (Toonzone) and preaches the gospel of his long-loved hobbies, thus making this definitive Ultraklystron with a noticeable kick.
15. "dykmk"
    Above a minimalist beat, Karl once again pays tribute to his muse (his kanojo) in a manner sweetly respectful. While I can't imagine saying that a lady is the Qui-Gon to your Obi-Wan would fly in most relationships, it does seem oddly appropriate in context.
16. "acta attack"
    Karl's indictment of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement starts on a sense of harsh urgency with a beat that's almost too much, but quickly resolves itself into a shit-hot track full of techy rhymes and surgically precise bombast. It's a call to arms for consumers and a warning to a changing entertainment industry. It addresses threats to freedom and privacy in the digital age in a manner befitting a nerdy rapper.
17. "surprise surprise"
    This one's an amazingly alluring change of pace that see's Ultraklystron augment his typical vocal delivery fashion and take on some Optimus-style cyborg rhymes. Sharp and catchy with its double-time bridge and fun motor-mouthery, it starts the album's final descent in undeniable style.
18. "unfamiliar ceiling"
    Above a dense, key-driven beat, Karl again stretches his traditional flow and gets personal. A song for anyone who's ever felt out of place in the public eye or who's ever seen his passions dulled by harsh reality, this one manages to make an uncanny sense of melancholy sound inexplicably inviting.
19. "game over"
    Ultraklystron raps his "last outburst" over an eerie instrumental bed that winds up the fourth estate ably. It boasts tons of clever self-deprecation as Karl explains why he's done with nerdcore, but also promises that he will be the geek equivalent of Jay-Z; that he'll never truly be out of the game. After listening to this album, that is a satisfying sentiment.

Let there be no mistaking that in the 5 years since the release of Revision4920, Ultraklystron has truly come into his own. From guest spots on compilations and collabs with the likes of Nursehella and Rai to the lovelorn concept album Romance Language to the undeniable personality of Opensource Lyricist, Karl has grown: evolved. Yet through it all he has managed to keep his true self – his values and his own unique worldview – intact.

Still, as much as the fourth estate reflects upon previously established themes from Ultraklystron's songbook, it also seeks to expand upon the formula. Therein Karl comes through as both the quirky, anime-obsessed, self-effacing wordsmith that he's always been and as the steady-handed, technologically-minded rabble-rouser that's only been hinted at in earlier works like "Script Kiddie Blues." In doing this, Karl elevates his persona as the slightly geekier answer to the modern American everyman to a noticeably higher plane.

While the fourth estate is still resplendent with the type of esoteric otaku rhymes that fans have come to expect, it also shows Karl bravely stepping into more accessible fare, specifically regarding issues that directly impact the proletariat (the Marxist interpretation of the fourth estate.) Perhaps Ultraklystron's attempts at lyrical evolution don't always totally hit their mark, but the simple act of conceptual expansion lends credence to the belief that Karl Olson is genuinely dedicated to his craft.

As for the album's insinuations that he'll no longer ply this particular craft, this sorrowful news is made less so by the admission in its waning minutes that Ultraklystron will always be around in one form or another.

I, for one, take solace in this, as the fourth estate is, despite some flaws, an enjoyable, stirring, cohesive effort. Production-wise, Karl's never been better, and lyrically, he once again proves himself a uniquely honest, if unassuming, rhyme-slinger.

"Game Over! - Press X to Continue"

Nerd News in Brief

As if losing Bea Arthur and Dave Arneson this month wasn't enough, Matt’s just told me that everybody’s first free (shitty) Web host, Geocities, is also shuffling off this mortal core. Death appears to be the order of the day.

Or maybe I’m just being paranoid. I mean, the rest of us are still in our veritable prime, right? We’re young and healthy and indestructible.

Wait; swine flu.

Damn it!

So once again I end this weekly intro in a state of panic. Palms sweating. Knees knocking. Mind reeling. But at least we have Nerd News in Brief. It'll keep us safe.

• Pray to the Geek Gods: During times of such great duress, we mere mortals typically look to a higher power for guidance. Thankfully, as Church points out, we nerds finally have our own deity.
  
• Would that be Wrilk?: Also from Church comes this link to a spirited discussion from the filk community. Filker meltatum ponders the question: Is Wrock filk? The breadth of the ensuing discussion probably won’t surprise you, nor will the varying answers and attitudes. Still, it’s a fascinating read for those in either camp, and I personally have to give it up to happyfunpaul for referencing the obvious commonality between traditional filk and more modern movements (like Wrock, nerdcore and VGM) early on.
• Special Request: Will the attendance of Sangriaa’s birthday Dork Party please keep me in the loop as pictures and videos of the event become available? I couldn’t make it down, but I needs to see that shit.
• And Another: Also, if anyone would care to nominate Radio Free Hipster in the Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast category of this year’s Parsec Awards, I would be most appreciative. I can’t see as I’ve got a snowball’s chance in Hell of actually winning, but I reckon it couldn’t hurt to try.
• He Has Arrived: Our own MC Lars recently earned a nice pop from Crossfire concerning his latest release This Gigantic Robot Kills. And while others were less impressed, everything seems to be coming up Lars, as revealed in this recent tweet. Nas, Luda and Lars!
• Holla@chaboy: Wanna make it onto the next mixtape from your boy Random? It’s easier than you might think. Just record a little shout out to Mega Ran and you’re already half-way there. See his official board for full details. 
• Continued Resistance: Sadly for those of us in the Carolinas, the Protomen cancelled their proposed Ashville, NC show. Thankfully, the band will be playing this year’s Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, TN. The fest runs from June 11th to 14th, with news of the band’s exact play time forthcoming.
• Hipster, please!: Geek Studies' Jason passed this link along the following summation: "As hipsters appropriate nerdy dress and affectations, so too do they inherit the ruthless mockery." Well said, my brother. Well said.
• More Sociable Than You'd Think: My pal Antisoc has finally released the long-delayed 2.0 iteration of his 2007 album Depressed Nerd. This polished version of the album is now freely available in various bitrates from Soc’s own site. 
• Game Music 4 U: There have been lots of exciting things going on over at GM4A. It’s official unofficial podcast Letters vs. Numbers has been resurrected with the help of a pair of special guests -- Brian of 8 Bit Revenge and Thugmasta J of Magitek -- and with MisterB’s triumphant return to the Internet, there’s more podcast-y madness yet to come. The site itself recently featured a new interview with the brains behind chiptune netlabel Pause, and also acquired a new staff writer known simply as Ma. So it’s looks like good stuff abounds for Ant and the crew!
• Now with More Awesome!: Did you see the latest round of confirmed Nerdapalooza acts? This summer’s fest will be welcoming back Devo Spice (formally known as Sudden Death) and my Ohio-based brother int eighty of Dual Core, as well as debut acts Superpowerless and I Fight Dragons! For those keeping score at home, that’s 4 more great reasons for you to attend.
• As in Beer: Speaking of IFD, you can now register for free tickets to the May 7th I Fight Dragons Metromix Rock'n'Vote Finals at LaSalle Power Co. And once those have been secured, be sure to head over to YouTube to peep the new video for their track "Money" by Boram Encargado Kim.
• The Closer: Lastly but not leastly, here’s another fine bit of YouTubery. It’s the videof or 8 Bit Weapon’s "Closer (Bitpop Mix)," which was directed by Sterling Silva and Jeff Allen. Enjoy it in all its frenetic, robot-laden glory.
  

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 65: No Foolin’

After the unmitigated surprise of the previous podswapped episode, I’m afraid this edition of the show is strictly more of the same. Of course, I guess I can assume - if you’re a regular listener, at least - that more of the same is exactly what you’re looking for. In which case, have I got a deal for you!

Episode 65 hits on some recent high points, new stuff from Hidari and Beefy and Sticks Downey, as well as some older material that has recently resurfaced, like the nerd-tastic Twin Sister and the mysterious Mark VII. It’s wholly devoid of theme, but I do linger on the topics of Japan and Star Wars for a bit, so hopefully that’ll give it some much needed cohesion.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 65: No Foolin’ (hosting provided by Antisoc) Size: 44 MB Running Time: 48:04

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
Beefy and Spellah are like the nerdcore Wonder Twins.

Track 1: The Browncoats – "The Hero of Canton"
Church has been on a Browncoat rock tear as of late, and I have greatly benefited from his recent obsession.

Z’s 1st interlude: "Any man ever got a statue made of him was one kind of sumbitch or another."
Mal Reynolds is a genius.

Track 2: Sticks Downey – "These Monitors Are Frigid"
Sticks Downey is a Portland trio that has completely charmed me with their new full-length When the Belt Changes Hands. "These Monitors Are Frigid" is an excellent example of its unique style.

Track 3: Hidari – "Maybe Baby"
Hidari’s Wine and Chocolate is another fine collection of Japanese language power pop. This track in particular boasts one of my favorite (understated) guitar solos of recent memories.

Track 4: Random Arts Project – "Tokyo"
R.A.P. features my boy id obelus, and its clever productions style takes his free-association flow to a new level.

Track 5: Selfhelp – "Zentraedi (feat. Wordburglar)"
Max Sterling is a personal her of mine. I'm just sayin'.

Track 6: Ultraklystron – "Girugamesh"
Karl’s Desu Desu Desu mixtape is a must-own. Thankfully it’s also a freebie.

Track 7: Yold – "It's Bigger than a Prayer (Dead Prez vs. Bloc Party)"
"If I feel it I feel it, if I don’t I don’t / And if it ain’t really real then I probably won’t."

Z’s 2nd interlude: "Because Japan is fucking weird."
Truthfully, Justin of Hidari (who’s the cat that put together my press kit) is American. But this does not erase the fact that Japan is fuckin’ weird.

Track 8: Beefy – "About Damn Time"
Beef Thompson is no longer a hard-boiled detective. Now he is a space man!

Track 9: D&D Podcast – "Punch Him in the Dickhole!" / Mark VII – "Spherical Rhymes"
Something new and ridiculous meets something old and infectious.

Track 10: Xoc – "Beetlejuice Town"
Xoc’s Cinema 80s collection is pure genius.

Track 11: mc chris – "IG88's 57 Chevy"
Rumor has it that every edition of the Part Six saga will feature another bounty hunter on a vehicle.

Track 12: Twin Sister – "We Don’t Serve Their Kind Here"
It’s like if Blind melon wrote songs about Star Wars.

Track 13: XMark – "Still Alive"
Everyone has their favorite cover of the Coulton classic. This is mine.

Z’s final interlude: "Sort of an odd choice, actually."
As if there is any rhyme or reason to my song selections!

Track 14: Dan Mei & Marc Johnce – "My Life on the Crazy Train Sucks (So What?)"

The magic of the mash-up is its near alchemical gift for making gold out of lesser elements.

I’ve got a lot of residual show themes left over in my notes from last year. One in particular keeps jumping out at me every time I return to the well.

As such, May will kick off with a tribute to the female voice; it will both celebrate this unique musical instrument and focus on women’s very genuine, very important contributions to nerd culture. We exist in what is traditionally a boys club, and while there’s still some truth in that it certainly doesn’t make the ladies involved in the scene any less important.

Should you have any suggestions or requests for this gynocentric episode, don’t hesitate to hit me up with ‘em!

Nerd News in Brief

For years my people have dreaded this day. A day when we at last feel the icy grip of our own obsolescence. A day when our kind is superseded by a laboratory-grown, scientifically enhanced version 2.0.

It is the dawn of the test tube nerd!

Yep, you can grow ‘em yourself. So let us bide our final hours with some Nerd News in Brief.

• FTW: Today’s nerdy affirmation is brought to you by Church H. Tucker. In the end, we always win.
  
• Desu or Not Desu: While I can’t imagine any of you are awaiting its appearance to decide whether or not to buy The Fourth Estate, my review of the new Ultraklystron album is taking a bit longer than expected. But if, for whatever reason, you are dragging your feet in purchasing it, why not peep Karl’s free Desu Desu Desu mixtape in the interim? It is sexy.
  
• The Virtual Airwaves: Thanks go to Dekker for hipping me to a new venture known as 8bit FM. It boasts streaming chiptunes, nerdcore, VGM and traditional game soundtracks 24/7. Give it a listen and pass the word along!
  
• Give Something Back: Did you know that April is Support OverClocked Remix Month? As it comes to a close, why not head over to OCR and throw a little change their way? Think of all the hours of enjoyment you’ve garnered from that particular community. Also, think of djpretzel’s winning smile. Don’t you wanna see it shine?
• You, the People: April is also the month for Wizard Rock People’s Choice Awards nominations. Head over to the Wizrocklopedia and toss some support behind your favorite witches and wizards!
• Pottercore: And speaking of WRock, Harry and the Potters have a new release in the works. Slated for release in May, Priori Incantatem is a 2-disc collection of demo, unreleased, out-of-print and compilation tracks. And to answer your (read: my) burning question, it will feature the songs from your (read: my) favorite Potters EP Scarred for Life, produced by your (read: my) friend Dan Brennan!
• Weaponized: Also promoting a new album is dynamic chiptune duo 8 Bit Weapon. You can currently snag a hand-numbered limited edition copy of 8BW’s Electric High EP in a 5.25" Floppy Disk for $9.95 with free shipping. Outmoded storage solutions be damned! And the musicians among you can also snag the new 8 Bit Weapon: A Chiptune Odyssey loop library from Sony. This purchase comes with a free MP3 copy of Electric High. Bargain!
• Sadly, I Can Only be Awesome in 2-hour Increments: Of all the various flavors of nerdery, one of the most fascinating is the movie nerd. With that in mind, behold Awesome All Day. It’s a love letter to pop culture and niche cinema with a healthy dose of nerd culture. Good times.
• Eve of Destruction: One of my favorite web series, Little Miss Gamer, has recently released a new episode. Peep "Adam and Z," in which LMG looks back on her very first console, at her official site.
• Spillage: Did you see Beefy’s interview with Atomic Town’s Bethzilla? It was riveting, thought-provoking and informative. It was also messy.
• 5 of Those Calls was From Me: Also available on YouTube are a pair of hilarious hip-hop vids, which I discovered compliments of my Texas-based brother Antisoc. The first is a glimpse of what happens when pitch corrections meets current events. The second is Shawshank Redemption in rap form.
• Straight Outta Stockholm: This week, our own MC Lars got some much deserved props from NPR. His track "True Player For Real" was Wednesday’s Song of the Day. He also dropped another freestyle video which, in the face of a forthcoming Australian tour, sees him rap over Men at Work. We’ll end this week on that little gem.
  

Back From the Dead: Catching up with mc chris

What's his name? mc! And what does he do? Blog!

I mean, among other things.

Since he burst into the hearts and minds of freaks, geeks and insomniacs everywhere in the early 2000s, mc chris has been known as a prolific musician and voice actor. And since that time he has added a number of other pursuits to his repertoire. From vlogging to charity work, mc has continued to throw himself fully into every task he undertakes.

Along the way he has attracted the attention of the ever fickle mainstream and, more importantly, continued to cultivate a strong grassroots following by simply doing what he does best: being mc chris.

As spring fully sets in and mc prepares for yet another US tour, he was nice enough to take some time to catch up with me on all that's been going on in the past 2 years.

Read on to learn his thoughts on his most recent full-length, some (minor) spoilers concerning his latest project and how this high-toned honky has been keeping himself amused in the interim.

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It's been a couple of years since we had our last virtual sit-down. Back then you were still working on the project that would become mc chris is dead. What are your thoughts on that album? Did it come together as planned?

Um, I dunno. Some parts, yes. I'm happy with the first half of the record and I'm eh on the second half. I like the skits and freaks. But I wish we would've made a more hip-hop song with Andrew W.K., which we plan to do with this new one. There's always stuff you wanna change.

I think with every album there are some great songs and some clunkers, but that's why the remix contest can be so much fun. And this is no slight to Andrew Futral or Modd Jobs; their music rules, and they both did an awesome job. I just think I could have directed the ship better. But I'm really being nitpicky. I know a lot of people like the whole thing and listen to it on repeat. I'm just a perfectionist and nothing's ever quite like I like it.

The title was very much foreshadowed in the closing moments of your previous release Dungeon Master of Ceremonies. Was the apparent "death" of mc chris symbolic in any way, or was it merely clever lyrical plot device?

I was secretly hoping it would be the end of mc chris, but here I am. Still being him, recording albums, about to tour.

Your most recent release, Part Six Part One, sort of picks up where mc chris is dead left off: in Hell. Yet the songs themselves don't exactly play into this. Any chance that mc's diabolical journey as outlined in the skits will bleed over into your lyrics as the series progresses?

Well, there's thematic bleeds, references to the underground, demons, hell are scattered throughout all the songs. But the skits have their own track they're on. I guess the way to look at Part Six is that it's the album Mr. Chandler, mc chris' manager, wants him to make. It's the sell out record where he does a bunch of bounty hunter songs. That's why you're hearing so many fake songs from the skits on past releases actually becoming songs on this new record.

That's a really interesting point, and it's wholly apparent now that you mention it.

What made you decide on the EP format for the Part Six saga, and, further, how did you settle on such a unique naming convention?

I just wanted to have more releases, more CDs on the table, and I thought the saving up your songs for one big release is kinda stupid. Why not spread it out like a magazine? The money flows a little bit more evenly off tour. I'm really just testin' everything out, learning a lot along the way. I like keeping the album title a secret as long as I can. I plant Blue Harvest rumors and red herrings all over the place. So the Part Six Part One bit is just about adding to the suspense of not knowing.

Part Six Part One sets mc on a potentially restorative journey through the underworld (a la Dante's Divine Comedy). Any hints as to whom and what our hero will encounter along the way?

There will be many callbacks. The mc chris skit mythos is deep and we tap that shit full force. The guy that guest starred today made just a tiny cameo, but we also did a scene that won't appear 'til the fourth record if not the final record. There's lots of cool shit going on. But I will keep my mouth closed.

Since the release of mc chris is dead, you've been very vocal about your young nephew's struggle with cystic fibrosis. You've even gone so far as to set up an ongoing CF charity fund raising effort in his name. How has Murray's disease affected you and your music?

I'm very motivated to tour and make music and go on sites like eBay and YouTube, things I wasn't doing before. So it's affected everything. I try to keep the music this kinda weird thing that has to do with real life but is kinda escapist as well. So I dunno if the subject matter would ever find its way into a song, I dunno about that. I will keep on raising money, and as long as people come to my shows I'll keep that bucket out there on the merch table. So far this year we've already raised over six grand. I had to sell all my toys to do it. Well not all, I'll be auctioning off my G.I. Joes all summer.

What can fans do to support your fight against CF?

Oh, it's easy; they just go to mcchris.com or cff.org. They can add to my amount or go directly to cff.org. It's a PayPal account that goes directly to the main office of the CFF. I talked to them on the phone and they were kinda amazed that a bunch of kids could raise 25,000 dollars in seven months. I'm trying to make ten thousand before summer and have another 25 by Christmastime. In two years mc chris fans will have raised 50,000. And that's beyond awesome. I'm really proud of them for donating. Especially now when no one has money. The disease doesn't take a break so I've got to keep at it regardless of how things are economically.

You've gained a bit of a reputation for being very open with your fans regarding your personal life. Do you ever fear that you share too much, or is the process of publicly blogging your way through the hard times more of a cathartic experience?

I know I share too much and I feel the repercussions from that. I'm not sure how to balance the two, life and net. I've been journaling forever, since I was a freshman in high school and I've always liked being interactive with people. So now I've got this huge audience to talk to and they share their stories and it becomes the music, so it's kinda like how the whole thing works. I like writing and telling my story, I like having a record of what's happened. It's just weird now that people read it. I'd be writing just as much if no one gave a crap.

In recent months you've made numerous mentions of a potential series of your own on Cartoon Network. What's the status of this project?

It's still on their table. But I haven't heard anything. I think they'd like to see something, and I'd like to make it but it's difficult trying to stay afloat when you're not touring. There comes a point where there's too much to do and you have to focus on what pays the bills. I do have lots of ideas about making animated shorts in 2010. And I may try to make a music video this summer. We'll see if there's time. All my weekends are getting gobbled up.

Should the show take off, would that put an end to mc chris as we currently know him?

I doubt it.

It's been eight years since you made an indelible mark on the underground with Life's a Bitch and I'm Her Pimp. As you creep ever closer to that decade mark, do you ever look back fondly on those early days and on your classic material?

Well, I perform the songs when I tour so yes, I look back. I mean I marvel at them; why did they strike a chord with folks, because it's not all that nerdy except for "Fett." It's more pop culture. There was never a popcore. That would've been awesome. But I'm very grateful that these songs were made. "Fett," obviously, is my bread and butter even though I've never charged for the song, outside of Zack and Miri. It was just right place right time. I was the first one to write about him and I was lucky as fuck for having thought of it. It was awesome for Sealab to promote it. It was awesome that people liked it. And the fact that Kevin Smith just kinda swooped in this past year and paid me for it is the icing on the cake.

If it were solely up to you to craft your own career retrospective - a best of mc chris, if you will - which songs from which albums would warrant inclusion?

I would just put "Fett's Vette" on a CD ten times.

And lastly, mc, with new music, a new tour and more work with the Adult Swim crew on the horizon, what are you most looking forward too?

Um, where the story goes. And I guess I mean that about the skits, but about everything as well. I have tons more albums planned. Chandler/Killian is kinda the Man in Black and soon we're gonna start popping up all over the spacetime continuum. If anything, I wanna see how much of that gets made. And I also look forward to how I branch out with videos. I've been having lots of fun vlogging and I'm sure that's going to lead to something. I'm beginning to feel like things would be funnier if you could see them. So I may finally feel compelled to make some visuals to go with my audibles.

Thanks again for the shout-outs, hope to see you at a show. Be sure to tell all your readers to go to mcchris.com for tour dates! Thanks again, Z!

Will do, mc. And feel free to drop by anytime!

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While so many of us who are still chasing artistic dreams in our adult lives flounder on the edge of obscurity, mc chris has managed to break through. He is living the dream; making his way doing what he loves. But, as odd as it is to spell it out like this, I don't think I'd be willing to trade places with him.

You see, while what we witness from the outside is increasingly successful albums, scores of adoring fans and a growing interest from the golden lands beyond our comfy little community, the thing that's easy to forget is that Chris Ward is still just a regular guy. He ain't Puffy Combs. He is not so successful as to be rewarded with the full strength of American celebrity. He is not insulated from the rigors of life by outrageous opulence and a team of high-priced handlers. He is not immune to the day-to-day bullshit of modern existence. He is one man who, thanks to that blessed blend of talent, hard work and good fortune, has managed to leave the 9 to 5 behind for a life as a professional artist. But that path too is rough and winding.

While I can simply be "Z. from Hipster, please!" at my leisure, mc does not have that option. At this point in his life, in his career, Chris Ward has fully become mc chris. It is his unique vocation. All day. Every day. For good or ill.

The life of a rising celebrity is not all wine and roses. It is fraught with opportunity for both triumph and calamity, and whichever turn one takes is executed in clear view of the public.

A lot of people would be diminished by this. They would be compromised. Lessened. But not mc. Through whatever magical process, he thrives. He can not be destroyed, even by his own hand.

For whatever does not kill mc chris seemingly only serves to make him stronger.