The World Ends with Her

Okay, so admittedly, my mind's been on that other site I write for this morning, but that doesn't mean I don't have another heaping helping of musical goodness for you. Remember that forthcoming album from J-rocker/nerdcore hip-hopper/constant cosplayer Rai? That one that's been "coming soon" for, like, ever?

Yeah, well it's still coming soon. But I did get to hear an early version of one of the bonus remixes, and it's pretty fuckin' grand.

If you'd like to hear some new noise from Rai and help her out, peep her piece for Square-Enix's The World Ends with You vocal auditions. Rai's already made it to the second round; if she can make it into the third she'll participate in a live concert with people like soundtrack composer Ishimoto Takeharu, and if she wins she'll actually be featured in the new sequel!

The winners of this round will be partially determined by user votes, so head over to the contest's official Facebook to let 'em know you're on team Raika by voting for entry #5. You can also holler at the project's musical coordinators directly via Twitter: @sem_sep and @ishimoto_t.

The original TWEWY was a phenomenal DS title, and I'm really excited by the prospect of returning to its surreal version of Shibuya. Even more so given that I now have a chance to know someone on the soundtrack!

Join Together (With the Band)

When I first started writing about music here at Hipster, please! one of my main goals was to enable some cross-pollination between disparate communities. I wanted to see the geeky rock crews working with the nerdcore guys. I wanted the VGM acts breaking bread with the bootleggers.

Now obviously this happened, but I'm not foolish enough to think I deserve any of the credit. It's a natural phenomenon, one that simply precipitates as a result of familiarity, and there are a vast and growing number of sites, podcasts and events that exist with that same goal in mind.

Of course I still don't mind helping it along when I can.

This brings me to the newest project from electronic musician/composer/producer r_garcia. If the name sounds familiar that's because it should. Based in nearby Atlanta, Randy is the head of Nophi Recordings, as well as their annual Nophest Music Festival. Oh, and he's also the cat behind that phenomenal Beasties remix on my recent 90s throwback compilation.

Earlier this week he issued a "challenge," which–let's be honest–is really more of an invitation.

I am releasing an EP called No Holds Bard on November 15. The EP will consist of some new instrumental/chiptune tracks + a cover of a long-lost Nerd Parade song (how hipster is that?) + a remix of a song by a really great artist I know. In addition to that, I’d like to include 4 "b-sides" from My most recent album, Resurgens.

The thing is… I’d like to collaborate with some interesting and talented vocalists/instrumentalists on those b-sides. So, my informal challenge to you is: Download the song(s). Write, and record vocals or complimentary instrumentation, and submit them to me via Soundcloud, Email link, Facebook, Twitter, or what have you. 

The "winners" will be included on the EP, expanding it out to a full length! BTW, this EP will be released for FREE in creative commons. I will press a number of Limited edition CD’s as well, and You’ll be given some to sell, give away, contemplate, etc…

Check out his official site for four instrumentals that, in true r_garcia style, hit everything from surf punk to chiptunes, and for contact information. If anyone has got some half-cooked lyrical/melody concepts lying around begging to be fleshed out or is just looking to collaborate with another cool and talented artist, there's never been a better time.

Mr. Popularity

If there's anything that can unseat Invisible Obama as cultural shorthand for just how fucked up things are in this turbulent election year it's Suddenly British Obama. This delightful cartoon president is the spokesman for Marc with a C's latest Indiegogo project, Popular Music.

Marc has done – and I say this with all love and respect to the man – some weird shit in the past, but this one takes the taco! Popular Music is literally an album designed by committee. Marc got in there, folks; he asked the questions. He polled the listening audience and did that market research, and that, in turn, helped dictate the slant of the album.

Now this is a horrible idea, precisely the brand of wonderfully horrible idea that I expect will lead to some of Marc's most interesting output yet.

Mr. with a C is also once again looking to the fans to help with the pressing of a small vinyl run, as well as some physical CDs for the good of those still tied to tangible media. (Poor bastards!) But unlike some projects I could allude to Marc has a definite timeline in place, and your financial support is really just pre-ordering the new hotness.

I mean, sure, there are some pretty crazy incentive items if you're really down to kick in serious dough, but even the lowest sponsorship level snags a digital version of the album. So head over to Indiegogo for the full skinny on how to cop Popular Music, a private Skype concert or maybe even Marc's own keyboard, and keep an eye out for regular updates that afford an even-expanding look behind the curtain.

Clap if You Believe

The last few days have been positively fraught with… Well, I don't want to say tragedy. Grievous inconvenience, maybe? Total pains in the ass?

Yeah, that'll do.

The last few days have been positively fraught with total pains in the ass for my music-making allies. First, Death*Star, who had a pretty sweet PAX weekend show lined up in their native Seattle, fell victim to last minute sponsorship complications. And then my brother Adam WarRock and his travelling companion lost their MacBooks in a wholly unexpected automobile break-in.

Of course, being the resourceful lads that they are, both camps have elected to approach their problems in unique and proactive ways. But, much like Tinker Bell, they could still use a little assistance from the audience.

Death*Star have elected to soldier on with the show their-own-bad-selves, haters be damned! If you're gonna be attending this year's Penny Arcade Expo and would like to party with C3, C0s, Bill Beats, Klopfenpop and Mega Ran – and trust me, you do – it would be positively decent of you to pre-order a ticket or three to their El Corazon gig slated for the night of Saturday, September 1st.

Meanwhile, Euge is planning an even more ambitious solution to his own woes. This Friday he will be conducting a 24-Hour Rap-A-Thon. He'll spend a full day writing, recording and producing original material – as much as he possibly can without forethought, preparation or sleep. All he asks in exchange for this hip-hop Iron Man competition is a little donation money. You can contribute a lump sum or pledge a dollar amount per completed track. After the Rap-A-Thon has concluded, Adam will send a signed burned copy of the results (and some other swag) to all his sponsors.

His friend K will be blogging and live-tweeting the whole event for your entertainment, and, should they surpass the $2,000 needed to replace the laptops, any additional monies will be donated to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

So there you have it folks. Please help those who help themselves.

Your Nerdapalooza is in Another Castle

A cursory glance at the calendar indicates that we're just a couple of weeks out from this year's (unseasonably late) Nerdapalooza. This time around your favorite nerd's favorite nerd festival has once again changed location – to Orlando's twin night spots The Beacham and The Social – and with that shift comes a few more rules and regulations than in previous iterations. But such is the price you pay for the pleasure of experiencing a musical event at a proper musical venue.

Event Director Aaron has gone to great lengths to compile a helpful list concerning rules of conduct and simple dos-and-don’ts. I suggest you give' em a gander, and pay special attention to the all important Rule 621. Learn it. Love it. Live it.

In case you haven't heard, I will not be in attendance this time around. I'm actually prepping for a journey to the fabled O-town with the whole famn damily in October, so I'm afraid as a result this visit had to be sacrificed on the altar of Conserving Annual Leave Days. Y'all know how it is.

Now that being said, my boys will be in attendance. (And in this instance "my boys" does not actually refer to my testicles.)

New homies Tribe One and Adam WarRock will both be there, performing Friday and Saturday evening respectively. I've seen 'em both rock the mic on numerous occasions, and if you happen to miss either set I'm afraid we can no longer be friends.

Sci-Fried is playing an afternoon slot on Saturday. Those cats are – and I don't use this phrase lightly – my brothers. I love 'em, and missing them hurts more than any other single act on the bill. Please scream extra loud for 'em. I know they've got some amazing stuff planned.

My hometown heroes The ThoughtCriminals are going on immediately after. It's their first official showing at Nerdapalooza-proper, as their hotel room gig last year was some hardcore underground shit that must not be spoken of in the presence of respectable ladies and gentlemen.

The TCs have just released a Bandcamp fundraiser project to help them scrape together gas money for next month's trip down Florida-way. The minimum price of The Game Changer EP is nothin', but anything you'd be willing to chip in goes to getting my crew to where they need to be.

I'll be with 'em in spirit, so think of it as a metaphysical donation to yours truly.

Daddy Issues

You know those times when I ask you guys for money? Not for me, of course. I mean, what use do I have for your filthy lucre?

No, I mean those occasions when I point you toward a project that could maybe use some funding or a track you probably oughta pick up.

Yeah, this is one of those times.

A few weeks back my buddy Mikal kHill hit me with a song that he figured would resonate pretty strongly with me. He was right, but that isn’t surprising.

Me and kHill tend to grok each other more often than not, most likely because we’re from the same area, are around the same age and have similar family backgrounds. That family part is particularly relevant here.

Mikal’s known for, well, what you might call musical bleakness. We jokingly refer to him as the Elliot Smith of nerdcore hip-hop, only we’re not really joking. But his latest joint, "Daddy Works" – while not a party jam, by any stretch of the imagination – is tempered with an odd brand of optimism.

It's a song about fathers and children and the sacrifices we make for our art and our dreams, but even you swinging singles should be able to appreciate the track and its cleverly concealed dose of inspiration. So give it a listen; it's two and a half minutes well spent.

Also, and this goes back to the money thing, while the single is name-your-price, any cash you kick in goes directly to pay kHill's travel expenses as he heads back up to Brooklyn for this Friday's epic gig with Adam WarRock and Schaffer the Darklord. So, y'know, dig deep so my brother can get home to his wife and little ones as quickly and safely as possible.

Please Aid These Wandering Adventurers

There are few things more pure and beautiful than nerd metal. In fact the phrase "nerd metal" is rather redundant. Metal in its truest form is nothing more than aggressive nerdery. From the cartoon swashbuckling of Maiden's Bruce Dickinson to the trippy concept albums of Mastodon, heavy metal is our music. Even if the guys making it sometimes go to great lengths to preserve their fragile image as leather-clad shit-kickers.

Pittsburgh's Dethlehem, however, do the honest thing and shed all pretense. They embrace their legacy by not only playing music that is hard, fast and cleverly nuanced, but by actively communing with their undeniable dork side. Dressed as fantasy warriors they take to the stage with their sword hands strong and their collective tongue (gross!) planted firmly in cheek.

Imagine if Dio had their own WoW guild. If Anthrax played your local Renaissance Faire. Now multiply by thac0.

But like any band of adventurers, Dethlehem must occasionally refill their coffers, restock their potions and other wares in anticipation of another grand quest. In this case that means touring.

The crew, being a self-respecting indie outfit, is currently hosting a Kickstarter campaign to help ready the DethleVan for the coming tour season, and you can help. You are their stamina buff.

Reach into your pockets and donate whatever spare gold pieces you may have. And rest assured that it will help Dethlehem in its mission to defend the righteous and punish the wicked.

It will also buy new tires.

Give Dangerously

I have a love/hate relationship with Kickstarter. On the one hand, it's an amazing tool that helps independent artists and creators fund projects with the help of fans, and connecting real fans with innovative and independently-minded acts is something I am all about. On the other, everybody's got one, and it can be a little difficult to hear the call of the truly inspired above all the noise.

Unless you're talking about my boy Marc with a C.

Forgoing the hipster haircuts and impromptu dance numbers that seem all the rage in current Kickstarter information vids, Marc instead went the classic route; he captioned a telenovela.

Fuck yeah, he did!

You got all that, right?

The long and short of it is Marc needs some extra cash to have a painstakingly remastered version of his 2007 opus Normal Bias pressed on vinyl, which any music geek will tell you is the way music was meant to be heard. To that end he is asking for a hand-up, not a hand-out… Wait, no.

Okay, he is asking for a handout, but the payoff is actually pretty sweet. A donation of just 5 bones gets you early access to the digital version of this newly polished album, and bigger spenders can score everything from ultra-rare concert DVDs and personalized CDs to Normal Bias test pressings and his old recording rig. For realsies.

I think you'll agree that it's a more than fair deal. So, if you've got a couple of bucks lying around, why not toss some scratch at your favorite lo-fi popper's favorite lo-fi popper?

Hard Cor

I hear a rumbling from the west, my friends. There is a storm brewing, a musical tempest with over-sized eyes, gravity-defying hair and flamboyant outfits. Surely this can only signify that the otaku army of the Ultraklystron camp is mobilizing!

For Karl himself this means a leak from his forthcoming release Animatic. The track is "Lifecycle," and it concerns itself with ethical living, a subject that's broached less often that it should be within the confines of hip-hop.

ultraklystron - lifecycle by karlrolson

For his longtime collaborator Rai, however, it means something even rarer: a Kickstarter campaign.

The duo is attempting to generate enough capital to streamline the recording, production and distribution of her new album Cor Leonis. With an ultimate goal of 5 grand, it's a pretty hefty undertaking, but anime nerds have nothing if not deep pockets.

In order to help motivate those of the Japanophile set to part with the hard-earned scratch from their Pocky funds, our heroes received a little help from local fan extraordinaire Jarrod in the form of the below handsome video. Give it a look and marvel at the colors of Rai Kamishiro's world.

Literally. 'Cause that shit is orange.

After you've done that, please consider chipping in to help out with the album. She is, after all, the only nerd musician to ever inspire her own religious cult.

Shake It (Like a Cheeseburger)

I've been a big fan of Seattle's heavy-drinkin' hip-hop clique Southside for years now. Thunderball and the boys simply do things differently, they blaze their own trail. From lyrics to instrumentation to… um… promo, Southside always manages to not only be different, but to actually remain entertaining.

Right now the crew is putting the finishing touches on their forthcoming album Science Diction, but they could use some help generating funds for the mastering and duplication of the disc. Now Southside ain't asking for a handout or nothin' – in fact their Kickstarter offers appropriately priced pre-sales of the album and new band swag alongside some other pretty tempting treats. (Shit, dude, if you donate $250 and live in the PacNW they will literally come to your house and play a private show!)

The band's just 4 days out from the deadline, and they're still around $400 short of their goal. So if you can afford to help please do.

Readers unfamiliar with the band or old fans who haven't yet copped it are encouraged to check out the Science Diction promo EP for a taste of the new hotness. And, of course, Seattleites are invited out to the album release party next Thursday, August 4th at Crocodile Café with the big man himself, Billy the Fridge.

You'll wanna be there.

Capital Ideas

So you've already got your tax money in hand, huh? You've paid some bills, maybe bought yourself some nice new duds. Oh, and donated to our Japanese brothers and sisters, of course. But you've still got more cash than you know what to do with, right?

Well, I'm here to help. Or more to the point KickStarter is here to help.

Sometimes artists are long on ideas but short on funds, and that's where fan-sourcing for scratch comes in.

My boy Insane Ian, for example, was all ready to drop his new CD/DVD combo Grand Theft Audio when he ran out of money. That sadly put the kibosh on his plans for an epic collection of live and b-side material, fresh new music vids and other assorted madness. Currently he's about month out from the KickStarter deadline and approximately one-third of the way to his goal, so if you like your music with a healthy dose of comedy you'll wanna consider ponying up.

You naughty boys and girls, however, may be more inclined to help out rocker Americans UK in their latest effort. Departing the world of comic book rock for the land of sassy sexitude, their forthcoming release Luxuria promises "smooth jazz, new wave, easy listening, and bachelor pad music." So it's fitting that the lads are collecting funds for a proper vinyl pressing. With only a couple of weeks left to go Am UK is still 500 bones short, so dig deep, my friends.

If We All Chip In

I am incredibly lucky in that A) I live in an area well outside that ravaged by the recent earthquake/tsunami activity and B) all of my friends and acquaintances in said area have been accounted for. Unfortunately, a lot of other folks can't say that.

In the wake of a disaster of this scale people often feel a marked urge to pitch in, to help out. Some would argue that this is a hollow, self-serving gesture to make the more fortunate among us feel better about ourselves, but I believe otherwise. Instead I see it as a function of human nature, both in our eternal struggle to try an exercise order in a chaotic world and as a perfect example of our innate goodwill to strangers fallen on the hardest of times.

There are lots of ways to give, and I'm not gonna tell you which one is the best way. But what I will say is that a number of artists from the global chiptune community are offering their support in the best way they know how, through music.

Pixelh8 and True Chip Till Death are presently pulling together a fundraiser album of chip music in the hopes of raising donations and awareness for the people of Japan – it is, after all, the spiritual and technological home of the chiptune. The crew isn’t collecting any money directly, but they are asking that you give generously in exchange for the album.

Let me state explicitly that, though it is shortly forthcoming, the compilation is not yet available, but that doesn't mean you have to wait to donate via your charity of choice (the Red Cross, for example.) Moreover, if you're a chiptuner interested in contributing to the project, you are likewise encouraged to holler at @pixelh8 and @TCTD for more details.

Thanks for you kind attention, and the very best of wishes to all involved.

Fathers and Sons and Game Boys

I try not to double-dip between this blog and GeekDad, but this week's episode of our HipTrax podcast contains some info about a project that I think y'all should definitely check out.

By this point you are no doubt familiar with Seattle chip-hop giants Supercommuter. Admittedly, those of us coming at things from the nerdcore side immediately recognize the group's vocalist – Wheelie Cyberman, formally of Optimus Rhyme – but it is equally impossible to discount the contributions of chiptune veteran Andy "Stenobot" Myers to the band's coolly cohesive, techno-organic sound. Interestingly enough, Stenobot recently released an album of his own, and I'll hazard a guess that it's not what you'd expect.

Sink or Swim We'll Go Together is a solo work in name only, as it mines the talents of a number of interesting contributors. You'll likely recognize the dulcet tones of Jen Wood ("Butterfly Wings") from The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights," and former 90 Lb. Wuss frontman Jeff Suffering punks up pseudo title track "Far Too Far." Still, the most interesting aspect of this album is that Andy's own son Julian both provides some percussion and co-wrote most of the songs "in one way or another."

Four-year-old Julian has leukemia, and Sink or Swim We'll Go Together is an album very much about a family's struggle to fight the disease while keeping its own collective spirit intact. It's an amazingly personal album, and from the opening strains of the energetic "Running and Jumping" to the starkly mechanical "Counts," the haunting "Our Bodies Are Fragile" to anthemic closer "Dancing Shadows," it's an amazingly poignant musical study of struggle and hardship and, in spite of it all, hope.

It's available as a free download from local indie label Crunchyco, but more importantly there's also a short-run physical printing that comes with a handmade, hard-bound photo book for a mere $15. All proceeds from the sale of the album go to support the Child's Play charity, because no one understands the hardships facing hospitalized children more than a parent who's lived through it.

I want you to support this cause and to purchase this disc because it's important, but I want you to experience this music because it is beautiful, moving and exquisitely crafted. Sink or Swim We'll Go Together is a chip-pop masterpiece that presents its all-too personal subject matter in just the right light. It neither undersells the important thematic underpinning that childhood disease entails nor does it hide behind its weighty emotional appeal. Herein Stenobot has done what all artists endeavor to do when life takes a turn for the worse – he has turned tragedy into creativity.

Give Sink or Swim We'll Go Together a listen. Not because of what it is, but because of what it does. Because what it does is offer an amazing listening experience. Afterward, if you feel so led, copies of the special edition CD are still available.

Nerd News in Brief

Today is October 1st, or as I like to call it The First Day of Halloween. In addition to my regularly scheduled nerdy musings, I will no doubt be favoring you with tons of ghoulish distractions over the coming weeks.

I mean, it's what I do!

But for now, dear friends, please enjoy this non-Halloween-themed edition of Nerd News in Brief.

• Pretty and Witty and Bright: Though I am probably not their target audience, I have to kick off this month's NNIB recap by giving a nod to the crew over at Pretty Gamer. It's a site with a firm focus on all things she-nerd related. From game reviews to no-food-in-the-house cooking tips to dating advice, these ladies have you covered. They even recorded their own drunkcast, which pretty much assures their hardcore status.
• The Wooden Anniversary: Five years ago our friends Harry and the Potters helped launch the Harry Potter Alliance with an Amnesty International charity show in their native Massachusetts. To commemorate this anniversary (not to mention the rousing success of the HPA), the guys are doing it again. Catch the Potters, The Whomping Willows, Lauren Fairweather and Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills this Sunday, October 10th at The Center for Arts at the Armory. Be there.
• For the Shorties: On the subject of worthy charities, I'd also like to remind you that October 16th is the date of the 3rd annual Extra Life video game marathon. My good friend Jonny Nero (of Epic Default fame) is taking part to raise money for his local Children's Miracle Network hospital, and the brother needs sponsors. A simple $1.00/hour sponsorship goes a long way, so peep Jonny's personal Extra Life page and please consider donating.
• To the Nines: Nerd rapper extraordinaire Conyeezy is presently working on 9 different albums! In anticipation of this marathon of future releases, 'Yeez just dropped a free 9-track mixtape called Appetizers. It contains one track representative of each larger work, and I suggest you cop it immediately.
• Blowing in the Wind: Also on the new release front, Rappy McRapperson and EPP's MC Wreckshin have just released their impressively titled The 2nd Best Mixtape Ever. Ten songs deep and boasting just a bit more than a half-hour of playtime, 2BME covers all the hip-hop bases – from double rainbows to blowin' dudes. Experience the weirdness.
• They're Undeniable: Are you tired of "California Gurls" parodies? Understandable, but please take a look at one final selection. It's my boy Insane Ian's most recent FuMP – a fun freebie entitled "CosPlaying FanGurls."
• Take a Knee: Recently, nerdcore king and famed hacker YTCracker dropped his iPhone from the 27th floor of the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The phone survived the fall, once and for all demonstrating the true power of science.
• My Closing Argument: Thanks go out to Church for pointing me toward this CNN piece on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock that features some great quotes from Brendon Small. Not the least of which is the astute observation that all musicians are nerds.
• Across the Pond: For those who missed it last week, the BBC profiled MC Frontalot, Scrub Club's MadHatter, Nursehella and Adam WarRock. An accompanying nerdcore-centered edition of the Outriders podcast was also released.
• Say it Bold: Star Trek is often the go-to property when nerds discuss the important progressive sociological underpinnings of science fiction. However, in an interesting (and hilarious) piece at Autostraddle, writer Boylio enumerates the ways in which Trek has failed to stand up for the LGBT community.
• Bubblegum Tate: This edition of Geek vs. Nerd is brought to you by the (voice) cast of Futurama. In early September, the guys sat down with CNN Entertainment's Geek Out to discuss, among other things, cool nerds and the gerds of our future.
• Local Color: The San Francisco Bay Guardian also chimes in on the subject of geeks, nerds and what lies beneath – even going so far as to mine the wisdom of resident "super nerd" Doctor Popular.
• LOL Money: As our esteemed Nerd Chieftain of Fiscal Responsible, Church was happy to hip us to this epistle concerning financial nerds. He also uncovered Merle Hazard, "the first and only country singer to write about mortgage-backed securities, derivatives, and physics." Thank him kindly. 
• Labored Day: And in what I promise is this edition's final rumination concerning nerd identity, author Ethan Gilsdorf recently dropped some knowledge at Psychology Today concerning both Dragon*Con and PAX. And apparently he was really excited to give away a copy of his book!
• Indivisible: Thanks to MaryBeth (AKA: Nagini), I am now completely enamored by the new song/video from Grace "Snidget" Kendall. It's entitled "Soren Lorenson (My Invisible Friend)," and it is a special kind of all-ages awesome!
• Lost Like Locke: And I'd be remiss if I didn't also point y'all toward the latest street-level sermon from the White Shinobi himself T.y.T. Check out the new video single "Life is What You Make of It (2010)" featuring Togo.
• Code Monkey: In other YouTubery, my brother DataVortex turned me onto this coder-centric take on "Alors on Danse" called "And So You Code."
• Hangin' with Your Atari: And though I can't imagine you haven't seen it yet, the new Inverse Phase joint "F___ed 6502 (8-bit Cee Lo - F**k You parody)" is total fucking brilliance.
• Dance. Kill. Laugh. Kill.: Closing us out today is a special treat from AlienBoBZ. September saw the debut gig of Seattle's Supercommuter, and Jarod was there to record the show for posterity! You can cop the live audio from Archive.org and check out full video on the AlienBoBZ YouTube channel. Make sure to give Jarod some love for all the hard work.

Kickstart My (Steam-Driven) Heart

MadHatter was a steel drivin' man.

Seems like everyone has a Kickstarter project going on these days – Shael Riley, Random and, most recently, Scrub Club's main man MadHatter.Hatter is looking to kick shit up a notch for his next solo album (the first since his widely lauded 2007 release 8Bit Bullshit), but he needs your help to make his dream a reality... or in this case an alternate reality! #badpun

The proposed concept album The John Henry Complex will blend the ever-popular steampunk aesthetic with hip-hop storytelling. It's a re-imagined tale of John Henry, the steel drivin' man of American folklore, as he fights against the crooked mechanical and entertainment industries as a true hero of the common folk.

MadHatter elaborates saying:

Set in a broken-down, surrogate America during 1894, the music is composed only using instruments available during this time period such as timpani, snare drums, violins, cellos, pipe organs, etc. with accents of industrial clangs, electricity, booms, rivets being struck by hammers, steam hisses, marching, and more. All of the themes deal with the industrial revolution of man versus machine, hard work, racism and slavery, mad science, new world communication, people's basic rights, corrupt governments, and evil corporations.

Featuring seven completely original songs as well as two timeline-perfect covers (Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" and Louis Jordan's "Beans and Cornbread"), this album is executively composed by Pelicaine!einhander, one of the most unique producers in underground Hip Hop from Texas. It also features record scratching (or phonograph manipulation, if you will) by Dale Chase, a quick-rising Nerdcore star and amazing beatsmith from New York.

There will be a few major collaborations with fellow nerdy emcees as well as appropriately untranslated verses from a few international artists on the track "World's Faire."

Also, you should know that this release will be completely radio-friendly to appeal to a wider audience and be playable anytime, anywhere.

Concerning the presentation of this unique project, the goal of the Kickstarter fundraiser is to garner enough cash to press 12" vinyl in period-appropriate packaging "including jackets with custom etching-styled illustrations" by Scrub Club's in-house designer Mr. Spooky.

Of course it wouldn't be a Kickstarter project without contributor perks, and on this end the Scrubs really pull out all the stops. Rewards run the gamut from the typical digital album download and a copy of the physical release to extravagancies like a special guest verse on your own track (from MadHatter or Dale Chase) and a custom-made beat (compliments of Dale or Pelicaine!einhander).

Anyone interested in high-concept nerdcore or steampunk culture should definitely peep the full details. This sounds like a genuinely original album concept, and I truly hope it meets its funding goal. If you feel so lead, please do what you can to help fight the (stodgy, distinctly Victorian) power!

I Don't Wanna Grow Up

"Don't you know there ain't no devil,there's just God when he's drunk."

I love cover songs. And, of course, the ultimate covers project has got to be the classic tribute album.

How the hell are these ramblings relevant? I'm so glad you asked!

Our friends from Game Music 4 All are assembling a tribute to cerebral troubadour Tom Waits. He's an artist with an amazingly eclectic back catalog and an army of talented fans, so I expect good things.

Though GM4A focuses heavily on chip music and VGM, word from Ant is that all contributors are welcome to submit potential tracks, regardless of style. Here's the straight poop from the message boards:

Tom Waits VG Inspired Tribute

this basically means, you can cover Tom Waits in any style you want, from chiptunes, to metal, to techno. whatever. The only thing is, you have to be a VG inspired musician. You do not have to stay within the bounds of VGM though to be part of this compilation.

There are tons of Tom Waits songs you can check out on youtube, or just contact me, I have a ton that I think would make great covers.

Anyone is free to join, but not every song will make the cut. The album is planned to only be 12-20 songs in length. Although if we have a ton of other amazing tracks, we will definitely release a part 2 after the first compilation is released.

To learn more about Tom Waits, you can check the
Tom Waits Library for his bio, and lyrics to all his songs.
You can also, of course, hear music from Tom Waits on places like youtube, pandora, last.fm and any other musical sites, or like I said, I can shoot you some of his extensive library as well.

I really believe that Tom Waits has more than enough material that everyone can find something they would enjoy rearranging.

Also, vocals are more than welcome on this album!

The roster is quickly filling out with top-shelf acts – Action Adventure World, Chiptots, Killsaly, Nagini and Random just to name a few – but there's still ample space for other interested parties. As more than a dozen songs will ultimately make the cut, I would like to encourage all Waits fans to give it a go.

So go pick your favorite gravel-throated classic and have fun with it. Though Tom himself does eschew such frivolity.

The Tasty Trio

Though it never seems to reach a drought level, there is an oddly cyclical nature with regard to new album releases. Sometimes they trickle in a proper pace apart and other times gush forth as if from some unwieldy spigot. I currently find myself heavily into one of the latter periods.

You might think of it as the musical equivalent of the rainy season.

Reviewing all of these new projects is well outside my abilities both as a writer and as a master of space-time – Shit, even a Time Lord can only find so many hours in a day!

Still, over the coming weeks I will make an honest effort to spotlight each new album to truly move me. A few of these will take the form of regular, structured reviews, while others, like today's offerings, will take a slightly less refined approach.

With that said, here are three special selections that are currently getting solid love on my iPod.

King Pheenix – Hero vs. Villain

I'm a little weary of concept albums in general and hip-hop concept albums specifically. They often take a solid idea and over-inflate it, bartering artistic integrity and natural cohesion for sheer length and pageantry. King Pheenix's new Hero vs. Villian sidesteps this by keeping itself to a tight 8 song cycle.

An odd story set in a not-too-distant future where hero and antihero vie for control in the long shadows of a sinister corporation, it's a compelling tale with heavy geek appeal. It doesn't exactly start off with KPX's best flows, but by the time the title track rolls around (three songs in) you've really got to try hard not to feel the energy.

The album seems to lose some steam on a few of the choruses, and the connecting skits do a great job at pulling together the plot but may prove distracting to those just looking to head-bob. Still, joints like the highly aggro "Traitor" and Scrub Club posse cut "Anarchitype Rush" (wherein MadHatter brings the pain while my boy Thunderball momentarily steals the show) are instant classics.

With a closing act that's both epic and enigmatic, it sets itself up for a second chapter that will no doubt channel the same sort of comic book storytelling with an even more polished lyrical sheen. And I can't help but look forward to the next installment of Pheenix's Multiple Personality Theater.

Kabuto the Python – Ill Ron Hubbard

Boasting what is easily the best title of 2010, Kabuto is back with a half-hour of power cobbled together from the remaining scraps of a full-length salvaged from not one but two catastrophic hard drive failures. Despite its highly abridged length it's gotten a serious pop from the community, specifically from my comrade-in-arms Tha Mike who passed to me the following missive:

"Look I'll be honest with you, I consider myself quite the Kabuto aficionado and the majority of everything he has released to date ranges from a good track to I-listen-to-it-multiple-times-daily. Then the Ill Ron Hubbard album was released and after listening to it anxiously and quickly like a kid opening a Hanukah gift, my first reaction to it was I thought he could have done a much better job.

Then I listened again, and again, and again and I started picking out some of the brilliant lines or images that Kabuto creates with his genuine and genius wordsmithness. I can't compare Kabuto the Python to any other artist in the world... past or present but if Parseltongue was a work of art, then this is a masterpiece of Sistine Chapel proportions."

Those are some strong words from the big guy, and I agree to a point. Ill Ron Hubbard is a diminutive beast sporting some of Kabuto's cleverest rhymes to date, and it somehow even manages to pack in a mega-dose of his smart-ass swagger into such a small package.

Still, the very nature of the project means that there are noticeable seams. "Origin Story" and "Rap Loogies," a pair of the album's strongest contenders, seem heavily truncated, and the chorus joke on "Swaggerjacking" wears thin almost as quickly as the quirky hook of "Reggaeton Song."

By far, the most interesting aspect of Ill Ron Hubbard has to be the simple act of Kabuto being Kabuto. The bane of Rhyme Torrents newbs and the most sought-after collaborator of the nerd rap elite, he exists to take the piss out of nerdcore by elevating the craft. And elevate it he does.

Despite its rough edges, cuts like "Reference Desk" and "Blue Harvest" skewer geeky hip-hop by turning its own motifs against it in a way that not only succeeds but shines. And its closing trio "American Song," "What It Do" and the title track combine big beats and lyrical gymnastics that find Kabuto entering an entirely new plane or peculiarity.

There are some undeniable issues with Ill Ron Hubbard, but, much in the same way that summer action flicks only seem outlandish when the popcorn wears off, you'll likely be having too much fun listening to the goddamn thing to notice. And the listening is the important part.

Shael Riley and the Double Ice Backfire – Ultimate Songs from the Pit

I'm gonna cheat a bit and include this one in my list. Obviously USftP hasn't been release yet, so what I'm currently vibing to is a rough mix that's only available to me due to whatever vague journalistic clout I possess.

That being said, this album, much like Epic Beard Man, is a motherfucker.

I was a big fan of the original (cassette-only) release of Songs from the Pit and the Nerdapalooza re-release, swollen to nigh epic proportions with b-sides and alternate takes, was a nice addition, but the 16 tracks of the Ultimate edition truly sound like the project in its adult form.

Old classics like "How to Fire a Gun" and "The Other Side of Memphis" have a nice, new coat of digital paint, but the fact that the original six tracks (the piano-only redux of "Asian Kids Have All the Best Moves" and the cover of "Chinese Ninja Warrior" didn't make the cut) are supplemented with 10 more chip-rock charmers really makes for an appealing package.

Highlights include the crunchy "Boot Straps," the pitch perfect electro-funk deconstruction of faux-nerd pinups "Hobby Model," the amazingly robust "Haters Unite" and off-time banger "Rarest of Elements."

Shit, I could actually go on about this one for another couple thousand words, but I'll cut my impressions short if only to urge fans of Shael and his various musical projects to contribute to this album's Kickstarter support project. He and the Double Ice Backfire sound tighter than ever, and, assuming the fanbase can provide the appropriate capital for its proper mixing and mastering, this could well be their I Fight Dragons-style success story.

The guys are only around 700 bucks short of their initial goal, and every little bit helps. Surely the promise of quirky alterna-rock power ballads with titles like "Personal Space" is enough to motivate you to chip in.

The Coming Gamepocalypse

Contrary to popular belief, Nerdapalooza isn't the only charitable musical geek-out going. In fact, next Saturday, August 14th, my friends from Extra Life Houston are pulling together games, music and madness for the best of causes in the form of Video Game Armageddon.

Yes, kind of like "Video Armageddon" from The Wizard. Only with more awesome. And less Fred Savage.

Part retro game tournament, part concert and all party, VGA is an 18-and-up event hosted at Houston's Numbers, sponsored by Extra Life and benefitting The Children's Miracle Network and the Texas Children's Hospital. Doors open at 7 o'clock in the PM, with the music kicking off at 7:15. And, when I say music I fuckin' mean it!

Local legend and nerdcore pioneer MC Router will be on-hand as will Shoelace, Jus Coz, Sievert, Dirk Strangely and the Hatchetmen, and my main man Jonny Nero Action Hero. All leading up to the night's headliner, my other main man Dr. Awkward.

All this for the crazy-low price of 10 bucks, and the first 250 people in get a free $5 gift card from the fine folks at Games Plus.

And speaking of the games, the preliminaries of the gaming tournament kick off this Friday at Joystix from 9:00 PM to close, and continue Saturday at Player 1 Video Games from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. The semifinalists will duke it out at the event-proper leading, of course, the triumphant conclusion wherein the finalists will face each other on stage with a secret game.

To the winner go the spoils, and in this case said spoils are provided by ThinkGeek and Geek Soap. I believe we can safely assume our winner will be both properly entertained and sweet-smelling as a direct result.

As for regular attendants, costumes are encouraged, with the best one netting tickets to an as-yet unnamed upcoming music festival. So clearly there is something for everyone.

Please come out, support a good cause and give proper love to all my peeps (Jonny, Awk, Jesus from Space City Nerd, et al.) Oh, and take lots of pictures. I have a working theory that everything is actually the exact same size in Texas as everywhere else in the world, and I need photographic evidence to back up my claim.

The Agony of Memory

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

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

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

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

Blankety Blank

That time has come once again, my friends. A time when a young man feels himself nudged ever southward. When the music nerd inside us all is drawn toward Florida. The Sunshine State. The House of the Mouse. America's Wang.

Call it what you will, the simple fact is Nerdapalooza season is fast approaching and, thus, a trip to Orlando, FL is imminent. With this year's festival slated for July 17th and 18th, you still have a little over two months buy your tickets, make your travel plans and pack up your wordly belongings.

Sadly, for some of our dorky brethren, that's far easier said than done. With the global economy, well, I believe the proper phrase is in the shitter, it's difficult for many fans to make this annual pilgrimage. And it is equally hard for many of the potential performers.

To help remedy this, our friends at Game Music 4 All along with Lo Tech (of The Geek Peek Post) established a fundraiser called Get _______ to Nerdapalooza. Sure, it's not the most compelling of project names, but it's proper accurate.

This year the duo is again re-launching the Get _______ to Nerdapalooza effort complete with fabulous raffle prizes, and the artist chosen to benefit from the generated funds is none other than nerdcore's finest palindrome Dr. Awkward.

Now, if I have to tell you what Awkward is all about, you're obviously new to both this blog and the world of studious indie hip-hop, but I will humor you…

Rocketing onto the scene with his debut EP Next Gen, Dr. Awkward easily impressed nerdy heads with his blend of clever lyricism, tuneful hooks and geeky swagger. Joining forces with the Scrub Club collective, the good Doctor continued to ply his craft both around his own California stomping grounds and beyond. (Including a stellar showing at last year's Nerdapalooza.)

His newly released Unlimited is a hip-hop powerhouse with a sharp focus on girls, games and nerd life, not to mention being one of the strongest releases of 2010. Dr. Awkward has continued his hot streak with a number of stellar guest spots, most recently on Beefy's With Sprinkles. (Which came out today; get on that shit!)

Also, Doc got me a signed comic from my idol Jim Mahfood at the Space City Nerd kickoff party in Houston, TX, and if that don't sound like the kind of delightful muthafucker deserving of a little financial assistance to travel cross-country, I don't know who does!

With all that said, the dealio is as follows:

Head over to the raffle page at Geek Peek Post. There you can purchase virtual raffle tickets for a mere $10 a pop for your first ticket, with additional tickets only 5 bones. Not only will each donation get Doc closer to this year's Nerdapalooza, they'll also put you in the running for sweet-ass prizes from the likes of MC Frontalot, Schaffer the Darklord and Marc with a C.

Oh, and there are also two – count 'em: 2 - $100 Visa gift cards up for grabs!

So give some scratch to help Awkward make it to Orlando, and maybe even score some cool shit for yourself.

I believe they call that a win-win.