Radio Free Hipster Ep. 18: Listen & Learn

Generally speaking, the target audience for a given episode of Radio Free Hipster is people who are my age and are me. Whenever I play something and people actually like it I am pleasantly surprised. So I imagine that this edition in particular may seem a slap in the face to those of you who listen regularly in spite of my fickle nature.

I'm not trying to be difficult, really I'm not, but I got an idea to theme this episode around the concept of educational songs, and I simply couldn't not do it.

I blame the OCD.

A chunk of the tracks I included this time around are resplendent with nostalgia; you could go so far as to say it even has a 1970's public television vibe in places. This just sort of happened. I was, in a very literal sense, raised by television, and sometimes a man misses his mother.

Still, I hope the content of this ep. doesn't frighten away those of you under 25… or those of you who'd prefer not to hear songs about books. Mostly, I hope at least a couple of y'all can get down with this decidedly educational selection of songs.

Download Radio Free Hipster 18: Listen & Learn [mirror provided by Antisocial] Size: 43.5 MB Running Time: 47:36

Show Notes

Intro: Baddd Spellah (feat. Beefy) – “Radio Free Hipster Theme”
Every time I hear this song, I learn a lesson in awesome!
Track 1: MC Paul Barman and The Science Gang – “Learning 101”
Paul is sort of the Iggy Pop of nerdcore hip hop; he is both a creature apart and an early ancestor.
Z's 1 st interlude: “We spend a lot of time watching these vaguely educational shows.”
Okay, so maybe it's not a lot of time, but it sure as hell feels like it.

Track 2: Shel Silverstein – “Homework Machine”
Uncle Shel wrote both children's classic “A Light in the Attic” and the raunchy “Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball.” I dream of one day having that much range!

Track 3: Tom Lehrer – “New Math”
Church suggested I include Tom Lehrer. He actually helps out a lot like that, hipping me to new events and helping me plan things out. One day that fellow is gonna launch his own blog/podcast and blow me out of the water!
Track 4: Sesame Street – “Ladybug's Picnic”
My mom (the real one, not television) and I used to sing this song when I was a kid. Wikipedia tells me this short was animated by Bud Luckey.
Track 5: Braces Tower – “Eleven Twelve”
Braces Tower opened the last ep., and triumphantly returns with this track.

Track 6: Shael Riley - “A Song About Measurement”
Whenever I hear this song I imagine Shael's dad as some sort of strange suburban version of Apache Chief who can change his height at will. I'm just sayin'.

Track 7: Prof. Walter Smith & Marian McKenzie – “The Love Song of the Electric Field”
Sung to the tune of "Loch Lomond.”

Track 8: MC Hawking – “Entropy”
You have no idea how long I've been waiting to play this song!

Track 9: Tom Glazer & Dottie Evans - “Why Does the Sun Shine”
I played this track to set up the next track.

Track 10: They Might Be Giants – “Mammal”
And I played this track for Denika over at Vagrant Aesthetic . I hope she finds it to her liking! :)

Track 11: Former Fat Boys – “Roundworms (Nemertea)”
Created to help a fan study for a bio midterm. I shit you not.

Z's 2 nd interlude: “Subjects near and dear to my heart.”
I have a staggering array of literarily-themed songs in my collection. The latter part of this set contains just a few of my favorites.

Track 12: Ray Charles – “ABCs”
You can find tons of Sesame Street clips here .

Track 13: Lynn Ahrens - “A Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing”
Lynn also wrote and performed my favorite Schoolhouse Rock song ever (and, embarrassingly, one of my favorite songs period) “Interplant Janet.”

Track 14: MC Lars – “Ahab”
My preferred MC Lars tracks always have some element of educational value. “Hurricane Fresh,” for example, helps the listener distinguish between what is and is not fresh .

Track 15: The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets – “Yig Snake Daddy”
My adoration of The Thickets (and H.P. Lovecraft ) should already be known to most listeners.

Track 16: Bloodhag – “Iain M. Banks”
I agree with the sentiment that there's simply not enough punk and metal that promotes literacy.

Track 17: Harry & The Potters – “The Godfather: Part 2”
I believe that this was the first Wizard Rock track to make it into my collection way back when. I still enjoy it.

Track 18: Draco & The Malfoys – “99 Death Eaters (live)”
Church found this exemplary live set by DatM over at archive.org. The entire show is excellent and of surprisingly good quality. Take a listen.

Z's final interlude: “Radio Free Hipster Ep. 19 will be my all-rock extravaganza (though I use the term loosely.)”
That's right, folk, next time I bite the hand that feeds me and exclude nerdcore for an entire episode! Can I do it? Probably not.
Track 19: MC Frontalot – “Untitled track from Elmo's Potty Time”
This is actually a lot more fun with the accompanying video, but this ain't no vidcast.
Special Dedication: To the memory of the late Fred Rogers.
I started putting this podcast together on the fourth anniversary of the death of Mr. Rogers. Coincidence? Sure, but poignant nonetheless.

Dedicating a podcast to Mr. Rogers may not've been the most suave and savvy way to go, but, considering the simple fact that I both blog and podcast about nerdy music, I figured I had nothing to lose. Say what you want about his creepy inflection and surreal demeanor, Fred dedicated his life to doing what he loved, and I think we can all learn a little something from that.

Again, I hope this podcast doesn't alienate anyone. I just felt lead to go in a bit of a different direction. Whether you dig it or hate it, let me know, and don't hesitate to hit me up with song and theme suggestions. As previously evidenced, I'm pretty flexible. ;)