Nerd News in Brief

By rights, I should be decorating the house for Halloween today. Sadly, I am currently in the throes of the kind of virus than only someone with young children can contract.

The whole family's got it. We are now bound by blood as well as mucus.

Which, now that I think about it, is pretty goddamn Halloweeny.

Go us!

• Nerd Ink, the Continuing Adventures: How can you out-geek a Hello Kitty Boba Fett tattoo? Only with the power of the Hawkman!
• Divine Intervention: In what can only be interpreted as a sign from the Geek Gods, the Online Hip-Hop Awards have extended their nomination season. So vote for Random some more!
• Church Submits the Following: A doctorial student from Purdue examines the "hyperhwiteness" (and, to some degree "hypermaleness") associated with nerd culture. Meanwhile, MIT seeks to shed its geeky image by any means necessary. Me? I went to community college, so I am thankfully far below this level of critical analysis.
• WTS: funky49 is looking to sell some music and gaming tech on eBay. If you're currently in the market for an Atari 2600 or a Yamaha TX7 synth, he will fucking hook you up.
• Bend it Like Blip Fest: Highly Liquid is now selling a kit that allows you to add a MIDI input to a classic Casio keyboards. Circuit benders and chipheads rejoice!
• The Real GWB: After a fairly long wait – yeah, like I have room to talk – The Geekly Weekly crew is back with another podcast. This edition includes talk about the new DSi, the Ig Nobel Prizes, the Stephen Colbert/Spiderman crossover, and music from my man ZeaLouS1. Give it a listen.
• We're a Happy Family: And if you're looking for some fresh musical hotness, check out the newly released Nerdcore Family Vol 1. It features MC Topher, T.y.T., 'Moans, MC Lars, nYgel and many more of your favorites. It's also free, so you've got no reason not to love it.
• Stolen Glasses and Pilfered Usernames: And speaking of MC Lars, he and YTCracker recently made an appearance on Revision3's Internet Superstar, the web talkshow hosted by Martin Sargent. He's the American Tom Green. Talk covers everything from their new album (slated for a November 1st release) to how YT scored such a sweet Gmail account.
  
• Zombies! Chaos! Cleavage!: Call is zombie erotica. Call it rancid cheesecake. Call it… disturbing. Whatever you call it, My Zombie Pinup is an interesting diversion. With blood. And boobs.
  
• Sins of the Father: And taking us home this week is the trailer for the new James Potter fanfilm series The Elders' Crossing. It's based on the writings of G. Norman Lippert and is scored by none other than Nina of The Butterbeer Experience. Behold the face of fandom!

Complete Carnage

Vermont is known for many things: Newhart, Woodchuck Cider, Orson Bean (the voice of Bilbo). It is also known, in nerdier circles, as the home of annual gaming and geek culture convention Carnage.

This year's celebration – the convention's 11th – arrives under the auspicious theme "We Go to 11." As such, it has taken on a bit of a musical theme. So, in addition to regular events like CCG, miniature, RPG, and board gaming, attendance will also be encouraged to test their mettle in Rock Band and Guitar Hero tournaments. To the victor of such undertakings go the spoils, but, uh, spoils are sort of hard to come by in small New England towns.

To that end, the con’s venerable Dr. Nik approached me regarding his attempt to secure some handsome prizes from the greater geeky music community. It turns out that Carnage is also looking to screen nerdy documentaries, so, in short, they’re pretty much looking to help promote your projects in the greater northeastern US. But rather than steal Nik’s thunder, I’ll let him drop the knowledge concerning specifics:

Greetings Nerds & Geeks!

I am Dr. Nik. I am not a real doctor, but I play one in RPGs. Currently I am secretary of Carnage Gaming Convention, now in its eleventh year. (http://www.carnagecon.com Nov 7-9th, 2008)

This year’s convention has a "rock n role" theme, because, much like Spinal Tap, this one goes to 11. And to help keep with the theme, we have two console game tournaments: Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

We plan on giving the winners a Rock Band II kit, but we’re currently looking for secondary prizes with more pizzazz than a puny iTunes gift card. This is where you come in.

Are you a nerdcore, geek rock, filk, or Wizard Rock performer? Do you have DVD, CD, or promotional material (T-shirt, sticker, etc) that you’d be willing to donate to help us make a nice prize package?

Time is short, but if you have any swag that we could use as prizes for our Rock Band and Guitar Hero contests, we'd be honored to distribute them to the geeks and nerds participating.

Alternately, if you have any rockumentaries, concert footage DVDs, or other geek culture docs, we would likewise be honored to show them at Carnage 11!

Mail your nerd documentaries or prize support by Oct 31st to:

Carnage Gaming
64 County Road-Hartland
Windsor, VT 05089

Or contact us at info@carnagecon.com for more details.

We promise to send you something special from CARNAGE in return.

-dr.nik-

So there you have it, folks. If you’ve got some nerdy goods you’d like to donate or a geeky documentary for which you’d like to arrange a screening, hit up Nik and the Carnage crew. In exchange, Ben & Jerry’s promises not to make the switch to breast milk.

Those Vermonters looks after each other!

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 53: Monster Manual

If I sound a little rusty in this podcast, it's only because I am.

Taking a full month off between shows gives me a chance to rest, sure, but it also gives me just enough time to lose my podcasting sea legs. Still, this is another Halloween episode, and these types of shows are generally my favorite. What better place to pick back up?

I made some intentionally odd decisions with regard to the track list this time around, but I think it came together quite well.

You, of course, are the real judge. So lemme know what you think, my scary monster and super creeps.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 53: Monster Manual [hosting provided by Antisocial] Size: 44 MB Running Time: 48:05

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
This Halloween, I'm dressing up like Baddd Spellah.

Track 1: DJ Not I – "Dracula's 77 Nation Army"
There are some songs that I hear and immediately mark for certain podcasts. This was such a track.

Z's 1st interlude: "And truthfully, I kinda missed you guys."
Guilty as charged. :)

Track 2: Uncle Monsterface – "Mashed Potato vs. Vampire"
Uncle Monsterface has surprisingly few songs about monsters. I'm just sayin'.

Track 3: The Consortium of Genius – "March of the Skaletons"
I always say I'm going to play more ska on this podcast, but I seldom actually do it.

Track 4: The Ghastly Ones – "Shockmonster Stomp"
This surf track really served as a nice follow-up to CoG, doncha think?

Track 5: Monster Squad dialog / Math the Band – "Fight for Wear Wolf Fever"
"Wolfman's got nards!"

Track 6: Cheekyboy – "Bad Moon Werewolves"
Where is this year's Halloween mash-up comp?

Track 7: The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets – "Six-Gun Gorgon Dynamo"
Because there aren't enough songs about Shub-Niggurath.

Track 8: Godzilla dialog / Heightened Titans – "1 Stomp"
It's nice when 3 top-shelf MCs come together to work on a new project. Real nice.

Z's 2nd interlude: "No pun intended."
mc chris is dead continues to grow on me. I actually really enjoy the skits from this album, which, I admit, is a rarity.

Track 9: Shaun of the Dead dialog / mc chris – "mc chris is dead"
Apparently, he ain't never coming back.

Track 10: Mr. Fab and His Bag o' Heads – "I Want My Mummy"
Y'know, I hear zombies are a lot like mummies.

Track 11: Lords of the Rhymes – "Black Riders"
I gotta get me a fell beast. I hear they're fuel-efficient.

Track 12: Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers – "Abominable Snowman in the Market"
Easily the least scary song of this episode.

Track 13: Richard Prior dialog / Simon Iddol – "Overkill of the Beast"
Simon Iddol actually follows me on Twitter, and I follow him too. Simon tweets links to hot new bootlegs. I tweet Dr. Dre lyrics. It's a pretty one-sided relationship.

Z's final interlude: "The perverse legacy of the Great Old Ones."
And here's a call for conversion.

Track 14: Zombies! Organize!! – "Sweet Sweet Blood" / Army of Darkness dialog
I fear you guys'll get tired of Zombies! Organize!!, as I plan to play the shit out of them over the coming weeks.

And so ends part one of the Halloween Crap-tacular. Was it crap-tastic enough for you? I hope it was.

While this episode was monster-themed, I think the next edition will be focused loosely on the supernatural world, and all that it entails. If you've got requests, please pass them on. We can also swap costume ideas. Just don't dress like the Joker. I sense a disturbing trend.

Random to Fans: Let's Make a Deal!

Image via WikipediaEveryone makes deals – Roosevelt, Faust, Monty Hall – but none as sweet as the one recently offered to fans by hip-hopper Random. Observe:

Okay, I have an announcement to make.

I can't lie, I want to win this Online Hip Hop Award-- and I need the
peoples' help.

I get asked everyday if I'm gonna make a new Mega Ran album.

So, I'll make a deal with you guys.

IF I WIN...

I promise to record a NEW Mega Ran EP (tentatively it'll be titled
"Mega Ran 9") using only the music from Mega Man 9.

Best of all-- it'll be FREE to anyone in my Mega Ran group or members
of my forum:

http://randomhiphop.proboards.com/index.cgi

FREE!!

So, all you have to do is vote for the next 5 days, right here:

http://onlinehiphopawards.com/index.php?page=nominee&nomination_id=1761

And help Mega Ran get into office, and I'll show the love right back.

I haven't even announced this to the world yet, and not sure if I will.

BUT-- You're the first to know.

what are you gonna do with the knowledge? and the power?

let MC guns-hoes-and-drugs win the award?

NO!

you're gonna make the right choice....right?

http://onlinehiphopawards.com/index.php?page=nominee&nomination_id=1761

There were some weird issues preventing me from getting the votes I
needed yesterday, but they seem to be revolved.

remember-- I win, you win.. WE Win.

now tell someone!!

I'm Random and I approve this message.

And there you have it, my friends. We've been bombarded with messages telling us to vote for months now, and, while they were actually far more likely referring to the November presidential election, the same holds true here. Let your voice be heard!

Help out your boy Ran, and he'll hook you up with more Mega Man inspired tracks. That's a fair deal if ever there was one.

Nerd News in Brief

We are, as a nation, totally fucked. I mean, at least from a financial standpoint.

Yeah, we even broke the National Debt Clock.

In case you missed that: that big ass clock in Time’s Square that reminds us how deep our national debt has become ran out of digits!

Soon we won’t even be able to calculate it via traditional means. It will surpass our meager human ability to quantify. Our nation will simply be purple elephant canoe grass stain in debt.

You heard it here first.

• So Dope: Earlier this week I got a pre-release copy of T.y.T.’s new album Jelly Brain, and I must say that it comes highly recommended. I’ll be talking about the release in more detail later, and, of course, playing a few tracks in upcoming podcasts, but, in the meantime, hit up T.y.T.’s MySpace for purchase details. It’s a wise investment.
• Milk & Doo Doo: My pal funky49 is all set to release the video for his new single "Milk & Doo Doo" in style on October 25th at the Hip Hop Soda Shop in Tampa. (Well, with as much style as possible when talking about a song with doo doo in the title.) The video release party will feature live performances from Emergency Pizza Party, Rocket Propelled Geeks, Magitek, redvoid & funky49, and, of course, the premiere of the video itself. Full info available over at funk’s site.
• Fayetteville’s Finest: The always fabulous Oneups will be playing at the Boom Boom Room in Fayetteville this Friday (October 10th). The show starts at 9:30 PM, and the entry cost is $25 or $10 with a student ID. I humbly suggest that you attend, and that you also be a student.
• Alpinekat and the Burg: Nerdcore made an appearance in Canada’s The Globe & Mail this week via an interesting avenue: Katherine McAlpine’s Large Hadron Collider rap. The piece also mentions Front, the Hawkman, and Halifax’s own Wordburglar. Burg says nice things about Nerdapalooza there at the end that can’t help but make attendance smile.
• Lev Watches the Watchmen: Matt has charged himself with keeping Church and me up to speed on the developing big screen adaptation of The Watchmen, alternately exciting us about its potential greatness and cautioning us against Hollywood’s tendency to fuck with classic comics. Still, after he linked me to Lev Grossman’s post about the 26 minute special screener, I can’t help but be a little more excited.
• Music + Comedy: Church hipped me to this great interview with my favorite instrument of Da Debbil Schaffer the Darklord over at The Apiary. It touches on Schaffer’s musical past, his arrival at the term "rappist," and a fun story about performing at a Christian college. Good times!
• Do the Margaret Thatcher: MC Frontalot is currently holding a dance contest. Totally not shitting you about that. All one needs to do to enter is record their own interpretation of the dance mentioned in Front’s new single "Wallflowers," post that sucker to YouTube or Vimeo, and then alert his Royal Frontiness. Fabulous prizes are at stake here, so dance like no one’s watching!
• If I Don’t Tell You Sanny Will Cry: There’s a new edition of Vagina Deep in Podcast available for your listening pleasure. This episode sees Nina and Sangriaa wrapping up their Top 10 Sexiest Guys in Nerdcore list (which, sadly, I did not make), playing some fun songs from across the musical spectrum, and talking about their bajingos.
• Top o’ The Muffin to Ya!: If Drunken Podcasting Month has a winner, it’s the folks from Brilliant Gameologists. This tabletop gaming podcast, which is pretty fuckin’ awesome even when the hosts are sober, put together the vilest, most profane, and completely enjoyable drunken podcast I’ve yet to hear. Do yourself a favor and take a listen.
• Carpool Lane Outlaws: At long last my pal Jarod, of AlienBobz, has favored us with his footage from Optimus Rhyme’s farewell gig pre-PAX '07 gig. 8 tracks are available, with more on the way. To take us home today I’ve chosen "My Piroshky," but be sure to check ‘em all out.
  

To the Victors

The past several weeks have seen the Rhyme Torrents community abuzz with excitement concerning its first ever 2-on-2 battle rap tourney. It was a very ambitious undertaking, given the RT legacy, but I really have to give it up to all the competitors. It was my honor to be among the panel of judges for this competition – although, admittedly, I had to sit the crucial final two rounds out for obvious reasons – and now that's it's all said and done the most dynamic of duos has stepped forward to accept the crown.

Rubiks Dudes, composed of the Midwest's MadHatter and the Northwest's MC Gigahertz, came correct from day one. They managed to bring to each round of musical combat a brand of aggression and humor that translated into a hard-fought but certainly warranted victory. Congratulations to both artists for a job well done. In a contest full of lyrical heavyweights - Myf, Epic1, T.y.T., ZeaLouS1, The Ranger, Maja, etc. – they really managed to prove their mettle.

If you missed this clash of the nerdy hip-hop titans, or if you'd simply like to relive the competition, you'd be a fool not to check out Rhyme Torrents 2v2 Tournament - The Mixtape! It's a free download from DON VITO and the RT crew that's certainly well worth your time.

Rosemary’s Maybe

After my fairly lengthy absence from these Intertubes, I am finally beginning to get back in the groove – a groove which, I have been assured, is in the heart. Thankfully, my return happens to coincide with that geekiest of holiday seasons, Halloween.

Long-time readers of the blog surely realize that this is the time of year that I really shine, but n00bs might not be familiar with my seasonal rituals. Therefore, I shall drop some science.

First and foremost, each October listeners of Radio Free Hipster are promised 2 podcasts wholly dedicated to the spookier side of geeky music. I’ve already completed the song list for part one (Ep. 53); it’s an episode all about monsters and creatures of myth, and it features mc chris, Heightened Titans, Zombies! Organize!!, and Simon Iddol. Part two (Ep.54) looks to be focused on the supernatural, and I’ve got tracks from Mustin and Snidget on tap. Should you have any suggestions of songs about ghosts, magic, or other assorted metaphysical funkiness you’d care to throw into the mix, don’t hesitate to let me know.

I also tend to do a horror-themed feature this time of year, and, while I don’t have anything specific lined up, I’ll see what I can do. Truthfully, I’m so far behind on my interviews and album reviews already that I certainly don’t need the extra work, but, in the spirit of Halloween, I’ll have to see what I can cook up.

In the meantime, expect ample creepiness in the next few NNIBs and various other posts. Pazuzu is the reason for the season!

Nerd News in Brief

Vacations are like cocaine. They cost too much, they’re never as much fun as your friends tell you they’re gonna be, and, when it’s all over, you feel even shittier than you did to start with. Sadly, we just keep taking them. 

We are addicted to vacationing.

I think it’s sort of a cultural thing. All my European friends take these nice, loose, lengthy holidays in exotic locals and actually manage to, y’know, relax. Whereas we Americans try and squeeze a year’s worth of fucking around into one week, exhausting ourselves in the process.

It’s a bad scene, I tells ya. A bad scene.

• Revenge of the Nerd Girl: MC Router recently popped up on G4.com’s The Feed displaying her various and sundry geeky tattoos. There were some comments. They were pretty silly. It is, after all, G4 viewers we’re talking about.
• You Can’t Deny the Force: Thanks to Candi for pointing me toward this trailer for the 2 Skinnee J’s documentary Get in the Van. The film contains footage from the guys’ 2008 summer reunion tour, assorted nerdtastic bullshittery, and, for some reason, Andy Dick. More info can be found at the Fat Rock Productions site.
• Without Irony: On the subject of documentaries, MC Frontalot and Nerdcore Rising director Negin Farsad were featured earlier this month at MSNBC.com, where they talked about the film and nerdcore in general. There’s even a nice little video presentation offered as accompaniment that features Front, Negin, some fans, and hobbits. Always with the hobbits.
• Music + Television, Wizard + Rock: Church wants to let everyone know that MTV has finally got around to shining a proper light on the Wizard Rockumentary. Okay, so admittedly MTV’s piece is little more than a blurb, but it’s a nice blurb about a great project, so check it out.
  
• Dork the Vote: Recently mc chris popped up, if you can believe it, on the official Obama campaign blog! Watch this Warped Tour voter registration vid to see for yourself. He’s near the end.
  
• Dynamic Duos: mc has also announced the openers for his fall tour. Among them are my pal Beefy and Canadian hip-hop titan Jesse Dangerously. Keep an eye on mcchris.com as dates solidify.
  
• Flip Your Wig: My boy Anthony and the Game Music 4 All guys have announced an extra special event called West Coast Wig Out. This all-day concert will features California’s finest nerdy musicians, as well as a number of special guests from faraway locales. Clear your calendar come mid-November, ‘cause this is not a show to be missed.
  
• From the Horse’s Mouth: A few weeks back I had the pleasure of checking out MC Lars at my local dive bar. Lars put on a great show and was a joy to talk to, especially when he started dropping some knowledge re: his various projects. Lars let slip that his new release would boast samples from Therapy? and Fugazi, as well as a number of special guests. He also confirmed that he and D.G. YTCracker are hard at work on a unique musical endeavor of their own.
  
• A Primal Force: Also on the new project front is nerdcore all-star trio Heightened Titans featuring T.Y.T., Whore Moans, and The Ranger. Ranger has promised me an album within the coming month – an offer I plan on holding him to – but, in the meantime, hit up the Titans’ MySpace for a taste. 
  
• Meanwhile, in Robot City: Mega Ran has had a lot to celebrate in recent months, and that trend continues. He’s been heavily nominated as the “Artist to Watch” at this year’s Online Hip-Hop Awards – and you’re encouraged to nominate him too. He’s also recently launched his own fan board, which certainly warrants your attention. Yep, everything’s coming up Random.
  
• UltraK on USB: If you’re looking to get your Karl Oslon on, have I got a deal for you! You can score the entire Ultraklystron back catalog for a mere $25. Yes, Nearly 3 gigs of nerdy goodness on a super functional flash drive. Who could ask for anything more?
  
• Crunchy Newness: On the new music tip, there’s a trio of releases that demand your attention. The first is the dark and techy Anomalous Materials Laboratory by my pal Antisocial. The second is the sinister, seasonal Triple-Six Mixtape from Mad DPS and the Rhyme Torrents crew. And lastly is id obelus’s The Inevitable Crushing EP. The first two are free, while the third will set you back a mere 5 bucks.
• He is the Final Boss: And just because MC Frontalot’s album Final Boss won’t be released for another month doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it now. How, you ask? By pre-ordering from Front’s site you will be granted immediate access to a high-quality digital version of the album to tide you over until your physical CD arrives. How delightful!
  
• A Primer: The lovely Lizz (of Wizrocklopedia fame) has just made available a Wizard Rock Starter Pack over at Archive.org. It’s an amazing collection of live and studio tracks from Harry and the Potters, Peeved, The Whomping Willows, The Parselmouths, The Remus Lupins, and many, many more. Also, it is free!
  
• The Opposite of Horrible: And taking us out today is a YouTube find from Matt. It’s Lauren and Nina of The Moaning Myrtles covering a certain song from a certain Sing-Along Blog. Enjoy.

Gone Fishin'

Hi, folks.

First, I just want to say thank you to everyone for your support during these very difficult last few days. Your thoughts and prayers and condolences have served to remind me that I am, in fact, a full-fledged member of this geeky musical community, and not just the idle observer I sometimes feel myself to be. You have helped me more than you could know, and certainly more than I could properly express. So while thank you doesn't exactly cover the full scope of it, it's all I've got. And I give it to you, my friends.

As I've previously mentioned, the family and I are heading down to the coast for the remainder of the week. It's an annual pilgrimage that we make each fall, and, honestly, I find it fortuitous that it came along when it did, as I can surely use a little idle time.

While I don't plan to be blogging whilst on vacation, I will be making a concerted effort to update my Twitter regularly, so if you want to know the manner of foolishness in which I am currently engaged feel free to check me out over there. Likewise, should you wanna holler at me, I'll be auto-forwarding all my direct messages to my cell phone. So don't be afraid to shoot me a tweet if you feel the urge.

Oh, the glory of the digital age!

On Passing

This is not a personal blog. But it is a blog about nerdy culture as filtered through my own personal experience, and, as such, sometimes my real offline life intrudes. This is such an occasion.

I had originally planned to favor you today with another edition of Nerd News in Brief. There have been interesting developments of late concerning mc chris and Barack Obama, MC Lars and YTCracker, id obelus, and my pal Anthony just to name a few: things that are, at least to my reckoning, solidly newsworthy. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to write about these items at length at this time.

I was informed earlier this morning that my father has passed away. He and I weren't exactly what you call close, but he's my dad and I love him. A good bit of what I am today – both the bad and the good – is because of him. He instilled within me a love of music, a strong sense of self, and a penchant for profanity: the three pillars of projects like Hipster, please!

As I've stated, this isn't an ideal place for my personal emotional wallowings, so I'll simply leave it at that. Only to add that my planned vacation seems to've arrived prematurely and under less than ideal conditions.

Sincerest apologies to all those who have things in the works that I should rightly be promoting at present. I'll get back to the grind once I've had a chance to decompress, and you'll be at the top of the list.

That is to say I'll be back soon with more musings about geeky music, videogames, and Internet culture, and, in the meantime, don't worry too much about me. I'll get through.

Until then, stay well and be safe.

"'Cause we are not our parents, except that we are. So when you're losing what you're holding onto, you've got to let it go. You let it go. Oh, I know. And when I think about how much I didn't know before, it freaks me out to know how much I don't know now."

-- Uncle Monsterface, "Sparkle and Shine"

Wii60 and the Ways of the World

It’s been a while since I just, y’know, riffed around here, so this seems like as good a time as any. Truthfully, I’ve got a number of wholly unrelated things to talk about, so administering to these items a properly measured injection of snark sounds like the best way to tie them all together.

First, I recently acquired an Xbox 360 to keep my poor, lonely Wii company in the den. Yes, the pride of tech-heads circa 2005 – and a machine so delightfully flawed as to have an almost certain chance of revealing its catastrophic defect – is now mine. Huzzah! As such, I have also created one of those newfangled GamerTags that the kids are so crazy for. It is hipsterplease. Because I am not very creative.

Over the weekend I also had a chance to listen to one of those exclusive PAX pre-release editions of MC Frontalot’s new album Final Boss, a CD that not only possesses wicked cool back cover art by my pal Dennis but that was also declared the fucking wickedest Frontalot album to date by one Mr. J. Dangerously. (I know you’re wondering how I got my hands on a PAX release of this album when I did not, in fact attend PAX. The answer: I have covert agents in a variety of international stages of operation!) As per Jesse’s description, the album really is phenomenal. In fact, you should totally score a copy when it becomes available to the general public in the near future.

And speaking of Jesse D., after an almost laughable number of technical difficulties – centering around a primary email account that, as Church and Matt can attest, genuinely loathes humans – my interview with this lyrical titan from the Great White North is almost complete. We talk nerdcore, politics, and Alpha Flight. There also may be a bit in there about kidnapping Weird Al. I’m not at liberty to say. You’ll be able to enjoy the interview in its entirety when it hits the blog in early October.

Why October? Because your Uncle Zed needs a break.

Yes folks, Z. is going on a bit of a (well-earned) vacation next week. Unfortunately, this means there will be no second part to September’s Drunken Podcasting Month festivities. Between my real work, my writing for Wired.com, and all the stuff I do around here, I’m afraid I’m spread a little thin. And rather than rush through a bunch of stuff for the simple sake of getting it done, I’ve elected to cut back production for the next couple of weeks while I prepare for and enjoy my family holiday.

But fear not, for when I return all refreshed and whatnot it will be time for my annual October shenanigans! Yes, two spookerrific Halloween-themed podcasts plus an interview with Jesse plus Christ-only-knows-what-else! I am excited! Do you not see the indicative punctuation?!

Probably the Concussion Talking

I first became aware of Math the Band through their association with two other fantastic geek-friendly groups, Harry and the Potters and Uncle Monsterface. On the good word of the aforementioned – in this case, meaning that Math was joining Monsterface and the Potters on their summer tour – I checked them out, hoping for the best.

What I discovered amid scores of old (free!) demo tracks was a one-man minimalist synth punk machine that could be favorably compared with the likes of Atom and His Package and I Hate You When You’re Pregnant. But while Atom often focuses on slanted observances and personal recollections and IHYWYP plays performance art against ironic provocation, Math seems firmly rooted in making music that’s fun, accessible, and at times a little absurd.

The band that I discovered on stage at the Unlimited Enthusiasm Expo’s stopover at this summer’s Nerdapalooza was a variation on a theme: a three-person setup that transformed those bright, key-heavy numbers into a solid wall of rock ‘n’ roll aerobics. After getting my ass handily rocked off by the spectacle, I approached the trio to discuss the bewildering spectacle.

Apparently truthful flattery goes a long way with Math the Band, because I was treated to a free copy of their newest CD Banned the Math, which I’ll now explore in depth.

1. "Hey Dude! (A Predule)"
   Epic and sweeping, and maybe a little sinister, "Hey Dude!" starts the album on a note of classic misdirection. The sound of this intro track is (almost surely) intentionally misleading, but it’s such a perfect primer that the listener is halfway through the second song before realizing he’s been duped.
2. "Let’s Hear it for Capitalism"
   An amazingly smooth transition from the disparate lead-in track takes us into this fun, pulsing "merch song." Despite the fact that Kevin’s declaration that he doesn’t play instruments and doesn’t have much talent is a lie, this song is both lyrically and musically compelling. The synth lead is sharp and uplifting, and, as advertised, it makes you dance.
3. "LEEEETTTSSS GGGOOOOOOOOO!!!"
   Another silky transition and a well-layered intro, make up for the fact that "LEEEETTTSSS GGGOOOOOOOOO!!!" is a bit too similar to the preceding song. That being said, this is easily my favorite song about exercise. Ever. It skillfully alternates between breezy instrumentation and a good, old-fashioned group scream, lending a lot of power and energy to a song that’s less than two minutes in length.
4. "Blue Skies and Blue Jeans"
   "Blue Skies and Blue Jeans" changes the album’s tone a little, both musical and vocally. It stands out by being as low-key as Math gets (save one later instance). The fantastic instrumental breakdown around 1:10 mark gives this piece true depth, but the hooky, chirpy instrumentation and oddly touching lyrics will keep you interested along the way.
5. "Wear Wolf Fever"
   A full 360 degress from its predecessor, this song (which is one of my favorites from the old demos) could rightly be called a defining moment of the Math the Band sound. With its odd vocal timbre, layered refrain, frenetic music, and surreal lyrics, it’s a sub-two-minute-miracle that proves to be the acid test for determining who is and is not a fan of Math the Band. 
6. "My Algebra Teacher (Sold Heroin)"
   Another perfectly smooth transition leads to fun galloping "bass" and warm synth lead of "My Algebra Teacher." This is the first of two album tracks that contains a reference to the "bottom of the ocean," which is either a clever lyrical motif or an oversight. The classic chiptune feel and predictably fun vocals make it a treat, but the glitchy instrumental outro is its genuine strength.
7. "The Water Cycle"
   This is another standout track that manages to make edutainment interesting, if not wholly accurate. (To my knowledge, motorcycles have little to do with the water cycle.) The musical refrain is used to punctuate the vocals to a particularly interesting affect, giving it an almost call-response style. And while it probably goes without saying, you really can’t go wrong with synthetic handclaps. 
8. "Everyone is Embarrassing"
   Kevin introduced this track live at Nerdapalooza by stating that is was about "my sister who had lice and I love her." On all levels it's both earnest and laughable, and has proven another one of my personal favorites. It's also of note because it contains swearing. I like swearing. In the end, the lyric "nobody’s cool and I still love you" comes through as a candy-coated affirmation. It packs a lot of power for a song scarcely a minute and a half long.
9. "Following All the Rules Is Not a Crime"
   While the vocal delivery is totally unhinged, the musical backing of "Following All the Rules Is Not a Crime" is fairly subdued, which makes for a handsome contrast. The "chorus," as such, is almost touching. But mostly it's weird.
10. "You Can’t Spell"
    Another markedly brilliant song transition leads into what could be construed as the musical equivalent of Kevin losing his fucking mind. There are moments of lucidity, of course, but they merely punctuate the lyrical madness. Calling the project a "one-man band" may be a bit of an oversimplification with regard to the current project, but this is another great minute and a half of blissful chippyness.
11. "Four Square or Square Ball"
    "Four Square or Square Ball" is one of the few moments of the entire album that I find a bit lacking. The sound's simply a bit too compressed for my liking, although there's a great Super Mario World-esque breakdown mid-song that prevents me from skipping it. It also contains an inexplicable transition to "The Star Spangled Banner" in its waning measures. Yeah. At 3 minutes long, it simply serves to drive home the fact that I prefer my Math in short bursts of genius, as opposed to more lengthy musical meditations. Still, the final crisp snare hit leads perfectly into the following cover track.
12. "Upside Down From Here"
    An Atom and His Package cover wasn't exactly what I expected out of Banned the Math, but it certainly works. Boasting all the flavor of the original without quite as much camp, it actually shows a brand of restraint (both musically and vocally) from Math, which I’m opposed to in theory, but it works well in this instance. 
13. "The Alphabet Using Spellcheck"
    Hal 9000 samples, spacey instrumentation, and faint screaming make this the most experimental track on an album that’s nothing but experiments. You'll find the song has burned through half its track time before it really kicks in, but it’s an enjoyable, upbeat ride that must be heard to be understood.
14. "The Order of the Planets from the Sun"
    Another little piece of edutainment, "The Order of the Planets from the Sun" features some almost whiny keys that make this an incredibly fun track. It could be easily compared to the likes of the recent kid-friendly fare by They Might Be Giants, only without the borderline stodginess. Pluto’s orbit is eccentric, as is Math the Band. And yet I love them both.
15. "Homework Sucks"
    Lyrically, this song recalls earlier references to being "under the ocean" and robots, which might be recurring themes. Of course, I could just be paying a little too much attention to lyrical subtleties. In essence, this is anthem centered on the refusal to grow up. Maybe. Again, perhaps I’m paying too much attention. Still, at less than two minutes, it manages to achieve an oddly sweeping air. 
16. "Techno Machine (With a Laser Beam)"
    "Techno Machine" comes off a bit too nouveaux disco for my liking, what with the abundance of staccato vocals and harsh rhythm. It’s one of the few moments only the album that loses me, but at under a minute and a half, it’s a minor inconvenience at worst.
17. "Dinosaurs Were Made Up by the CIA to Discourage Time Travel"
    Another fantastic transition leads to a track boasting what is, perhaps, the best song title ever. It recaptures some of the inertia lost on "Techno Machine," and it integrates an odd stuttering click that’s maddeningly catchy. It also features equations – which only a band like this could get away with without sounding pretentious or totally preposterous – and another genuinely elegant ending. 
18. "Shoeless Wonder"
    "Dinosaurs" trails nicely into "Shoeless Wonder," a song marked by expertly implemented secondary vocals that punctuate and break up its sometimes thick sound. And while I’m glad I finally know "who put the bop in the bop shu bop shu bop," its jarring end is a little bit of a buzzkill.
19. "Third Sunday of October the First"
    Allow me to quote: "I thought that I’d try something different / my band’s gonna sound like a videogame… like The Postal Service but hopefully not as lame." With "keytars and electric beats" sandwiched between crispy layers of whimsy and odd echo effects, I can’t help but say that Math succeeds in the aforementioned task. 
20. "Shark Attack"
    An immediately engaging nonsensical tale, "Shark Attack" is another excellent introduction to the band’s sound that just so happens to show up at the end of the album. It’s got a catchy and capably created melody, a scream-along refrain, and an outro that’s a great in-joke in its own right.
21. "Shark Attack (Reprise)"
    This lilting piano rendition of "Shark Attack" is totally unnecessary and wholly charming. It really drives home what’s great about Math: their genuine enjoyment of the music-making process and refusal to take things too seriously. The vocals are a bit whiny, but it’s still a fantastic end to a fantastic album of fun-loving, absurdist genius.

Math is a band with a healthy disrespect for the standard conventions of pop music, and Banned the Math is a release often devoid of typical verse-chorus-verse structure. But somehow, despite all that, the songs manage to reach the very epitome of catchiness and harmonious charm.

The tracks are, more often than not, tiny nuggets of musical excellence, and through them Banned the Math succeeds on two primary levels. Not only are the songs themselves imminently enjoyable, but the project as a whole is cohesive, well-paced, and solidly engaging. It's one thing to make good songs, but arranging them into a proper album is totally different beast. Banned the Math proves unequivocally that Math the Band does both.

While obviously not for everyone, Banned the Math is easy to recommend to those who enjoy music for music’s sake, as well those with an appreciation for the unusual and the exemplary. I can’t make any guarantees that you’ll enjoy it quite as much as I do – which is a lot – but at $10 it’s a must-purchase for the geeky music lover in you. (EDIT: Looks like you can currently get the album and a t-shirt for $15 via Math’s MySpace. Get on that shit!)

In the end, with their humorous lyrical slant, well-crafted but never exaggerated instrumentation, and emphasis on music as a fun and engaging experience, Math the Band is an easy act to support. So take a moment to check out the album samples, and, if it gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling, kick a couple of bucks to some folks who really deserve it. 

And, if you get a chance, check them out live. It helps you develop a whole new appreciation their unique brand of musical mischief.

"I look around; there's no one left but me. / I take off my headphones."

Nerd News in Brief

So it looks like the Large Hadron Collider didn’t destroy the Earth.

(Or, at least it hadn’t when last I checked.)

So we got that going for us. Which is nice.

Despite the trappings of my simple southern raising, I don’t fear science. Nor do I, as a rule, embrace superstition and hokum. Don’t get me wrong, I adore superstition and hokum – I find them ceaselessly amusing – I just don’t exactly, y’know, believe any of it.

I guess I’m the worst brand of skeptic: the kind who wants desperately to believe in the fantastic, but just can’t seem to find sufficient evidence.

In the end, science is the foot that kicks magic square in the nuts.

• Earth-shattering in its Own Right: This week I interviewed Toren Atkinson of The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets for GeekDad. I’m a big Thickets fan and he’s been on my to-interview list for years. Thusly, it was a pretty fuckin’ awesome experience for me a as fan. Lemme know what you think.
• Beef up Your Musical Gamer Score: Attack Slug has just favored the nerdcore world with another release, and it features the additional talents of KABUTO, T.Y.T., and The Ranger. It is titled Achievement Unlocked, and you can pick it up the album and relevant a cappellas at his site.
• AKA Grover Kent: My pal Glenn Case has hipped me to a new project over at The 61. It’s a tribute of sorts to 61 scenester Supergrover, as well as to his favorite-band-that-no-one’s-heard-of For Squirrels. Thirteen years ago this week that promising group lost several of its members in an auto accident, and earlier this year ‘Grover was diagnosed with cancer. This one is for them and for anyone else who’s had a run of bad luck. Namely all of us. 
• To Beef or Not to Beef: Also helping out his fellow man is mc chris. mc has started a cystic fibrosis fund to gather money for research into the disease and its treatment. In celebration of chris’s birthday, YTCracker donated $33 to the cause. mc chris responded by saying that it was "the quickest possible way to squash beef with [him]. STC is the greatest. "
• Brooklyn Zoo: mc also shared a bit about his recent 60 Minutes interview. It has come to light that MC Frontalot was also involved in the piece, although Front has yet to say anything about the experience.
• Get Inoculated: What Front has provided is a little video preview of the track "Diseases of Yore" from his new album Final Boss. It features Jonathan Coulton. And is awesome.
• Formally Known Food Processor Magazine: You can see Frontalot, Random, and a rogues gallery of other featured artists from this year’s Nerdapalooza SE in this month’s edition of Blender. It has the Pussycat Dolls on the cover. That is counterintuitive.
• Game On: And on the subject of my friend Random, Church points out that Ran topped the charts in this recent Examiner list of the top 10 videogame sampling hip-hop tracks. Suffice it to say he finds himself in good company.
• BAHston: This week Uncle Monsterface returns to its old stomping ground. Sort of. On Thursday, September 11th several "Best of Monsterface Tee Vee" shorts will be featured as part of EXPERIMENTALLY ILL 2 : An Indie Showcase of Alternative Film at the Coolidge Corner Theater. And on Friday, September 12th you can catch UMF’s Marty playing a solo gig at Jamaica Plain's Midway Café. And don’t forget to pahk the cahr at Hahvahd yahd.
• Potter Ink: And thanks to Matt for providing ample information regarding this wicked cool Harry Potter Dewey Decimal tat belonging to librarian and WRock aficionado Becca. It turns out, unsurprisingly, that Becca is one of the Wizrockateers. What can I say? Matt has a marked interest in the naked flesh of Potter fangirls. You heard it here first!
• They Are the World: And lastly, HiTekElvis has just favored me with an amazing vid from this year’s PAX. Apparently, during the artist's panel Blak Lotus, suggested they all sing "We Are the World." And they did. So behold The Minibosses, Mustin from the OneUps, JoCo, Front, Blak Lotus, G Minor 7, The Categorical Imperative, Freezepop, The Darkness of the Hillside Thickets, and Anamanaguchi singing for the children. They are the ones who make a brighter day!
  

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 52: Just Drunk Enough

It's simple podcast math: The more individuals involved in a podcast, the longer it is. Further, the more you drink, the more you talk. These truths are invariable.

Thusly, this podcast is long as shit.

I'm serious.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 52: Just Drunk Enough [hosting provided by Antisocial] Size: 55.2 MB Running Time: 1:20:31

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
I hear Beefy was totally sloshed when he recorded these vocals. Maybe.

Track 1: Space Ghost Coast to Coast dialog / Mary Prankster – "The Bottle's Talking Now"
Matt picked out this most fitting intro track.

1st drunken interlude: "A fake holiday season of my own imaging."
In honor of Drunken Podcasting Month, Matt joined me via Skype and Church contributed via chat. They simply couldn't stand the thought of me drinking alone!

Track 2: Southside – "Vibrate"
Church mentioned that this song should be played before the feature presentation at movie theaters. I concur.

Track 3: Optimus Rhymes – "Obey the Moderator (Remix)"
You can check out the OR video footage I mentioned here.

Track 4: Strange Brew dialog / The Sprites – "Modern Gameplay"
Complaining about new school controller design isn't exactly unusual, but The Sprites sound good doing it.

Track 5: Strange Brew dialog (cont.) / Hayseed Dixie – "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"
I picked this one out. Surprising, no?

Track 6: The Mudbloods – "I Wish You'd Be My Witch"
It's hard not to love The Mudbloods. This song is the reason why.

2nd drunken interlude: "Will you drink to that?"
Of course they will. These boys will drink to anything!

Track 7: Jonathan Coulton – "I Feel Fantastic"
Didn't Matt do a great job introducing this song? Seriously. If I paid him he'd totally get a raise for that.

Track 8: Beefy – "Minimum Wage Slave"
Beefy no longer works two shitty minimum wage jobs, but he's still down for the common man.

Track 9: Doug Stanhope – "He's Just Drunk" / Computerization – "Collars"
Wait, are we implying that it's oaky to get drunk at work?

Track 10: Fountains of Wayne – "Bright Future in Sales"
Yes, I believe we are.

Track 11: Dual Core – "Unplug"
Nobody sings the programmers blues quite like int eighty.

3rd drunken interlude: "There were a lot of work songs in that set, wasn't there?"
Can you tell we're getting sloppy here?

Track 12: Eddie Murphy – "Drinking Fathers" / PC Speaker – "Scheduled Rhymes"
According to PC, nerds have the best drugs.

Track 13: Severely Snaped – "Petrified"
It's like a Black Sabbath cover band fronted by Severus Snape. Don't gimme that look; you're just pissed 'cause you didn't think of it first.

Track 14: No Kill I – "Tranya"
A repeat from episode 20.

Track 15: Eddie Murphy – "Drinking Fathers (cont.)" / myf – "Homebrew"
I am amazed at the number of people who don't know how to pronounce myf's name. It rhymes with "stiff."

Track 16: Catchlove – "Legacy of the Fallen Wizard"
Let it be known: there is no "the."

Final drunken interlude: "Y'all are now my official unofficial co-hosts."
They are. For realsies.

Track 17: nYgel – "1to3for" / Space Ghost Coast to Coast dialog
Feist + YTCracker? You wouldn't think it would work, but it does!

And there you have it, folks: my first official Drunken Podcasting Month podcast. I'd like to make this a yearly celebration, but only time will tell whether or not the concept strikes a chord with the general populace.

I'm hoping to get in another drunkcast before month's end, although my vacation plans may complicate matters. Still, if you want to hear more of my friends and me swearing, making gross generalizations, and otherwise babbling incoherently, just let me know.

We'll be glad to oblige.

Either way, thanks to Church and Matt for pitching in. Gentlemen, it was a pleasure!

The Best Things in Life

Writing reviews is hard.

It really is. You have to listen to the same songs over and over again with the specific intent of uncovering which succeed on multiple levels and which ultimately fail. It's a bit of a daunting task. But I continue to do it. Mostly because people ask me to nicely.

nYgel sent me a pre-release copy of his new mixtape Free To Good Home a while back. It wasn't totally complete, but the meat of the album was in there. In the ensuing weeks I've been treated to additional and revamped tracks, and a more sharpened listening experience over all.

Yet even from those earliest days, even from those less polished versions, the album proved to be an exhilarating experience.

In it's finished form it's truly the kind of thing that one needs to hear to truly understand. But those handful of you who'd like to know my thoughts are free to read on.

1. "First Song 4 Your Mixtape"
   nYgel kicks off the proceedings with a clever reworking of Brand New's "Mix Tape." It has an odd, ethereal feel that highlights the artist’s penchant for the fine art of the bootleg remix.
2. "S@rge (ft. Conyeezy, DJ Zap scratches)"
   The airy intro is followed with a straight-ahead nerdcore number featuring frequent collaborator Conyeezy. I'm a fan of Yeezy, but I admittedly gave him a little grief concerning flow on his contributions to the previous mixtape. So let me explicitly state that this track features one of his best performances to date. His delivery is measured and his swagger properly honed, which serves him well atop nYgel's sharp backing. While the beat is a little simple, the vocals and scratching dress it up nicely.
3. "The Hyphy Dance (ft. T.Y.T., Whore Moans, YTCracker)"
   After keeping things fairly textbook on "S@rge," nYgel again gets a little eclectic on this track, mixing hyper-active clubs sounds with nerdy hip-hop. T.Y.T., Whore Moans, and YTCracker all bring their A games, and it makes for an unforgettable song.
4. "World @ Large"
   By this point in the album, one can't help but notice the release's dual nature: Free To Good Home is both a hip-hop mixtape and a sonic experiment in the field of the underground remix. This song falls firmly into the latter, and takes one of my favorite Modest Mouse tracks in a wholly different direction. Though it's a little long, the only thing this track really has going against it is that it will surely serve to frustrate hip-hop heads who don't generally expect this sort of fare in their mixtapes.
5. "Get Fresh (interlude)"
   Rather than switch things right back to hip-hop, nYgel dwells in the realm of odd electronica for a few minutes more. It's a little strange to have two such lengthy tracks back-to-back on a release of this nature, but, other than possibly undermining a bit of the inertia the album's built up thus far, the song is well-textured and enjoyable.
6. "Rap Fanatic (ft. Jesse Dangerously, Ranger, LogicOne, DJ Zap scratches)"
   "Rap Fanatic" is a blissful return to rap, featuring excellent contributions by each of its featured artists. Once again, the backing sounds a tad thin, but I’ll simply chalk this up as a ploy by nYgel to highlight the featured rappers. While Jesse D and The Ranger both bring really enjoyable verses, LogicOne’s verse is slightly soured by overused vocal effects. And sadly, this song ends a bit too abruptly.
7. "Wicked (ft. Benjamin Bear, Id Obelus, DJ Bizkid scratches)"
   While I love the frenetic beat and I admire the styles of contributors Benjamin Bear and id obelus, this song also suffers from overuse of vocal delay. Still, it's enjoyable, and Bizkid's scratches are probably his most dynamic of the album. Overall it’s an enjoyable song that’s just a little messy.
8. "You Don’t Know About That"
   nYgel again does his best to desecrate a contemporary Billboard chart-topper – this time T.I.'s "What You Know" – to great effect. With a nice blend of sharps hooks, smooth backing, and good old-fashioned pitch manipulation, it’s a fun ride.
9. "1to3for (ft. ytcracker)"
   Easily the album’s thesis statement, "1to3for" is both a masterful cut-up and a legitimate hip-hop track. While some may see it as two songs lashed together, I say it’s the best of both worlds. It’s delightful change-up (between the Feist and YTCracker movements) and masterful use of stereo panning makes it enjoyable despite being a bit on the lengthy side.
10. "Take Your Time (featuring Whore Moans, Legendary Wizard, Conyeezy)"
    Honestly, this track doesn’t exactly kick off with Whore Moan’s best rhymes, but it’s fun and features tons of movement. Plus, it’s arguably a better use of the Jimmy Eat World hook than the original source track. ;) It sounds repetitive after a point and Legendary Wizard’s vocal doubling is a tad much, but Conyeezy comes through with another great contribution. In the end, it's the type of song that manages to make you love it in spite of a few shortcomings.
11. "Happy 2Gether (ft. Whoremoans)"
    Though this lo-fi Whore Moans joint seems a like a jarring change from its forerunner, it too is a keeper. Moans raps kind of fast and the beat is a little repetitious, but the whole track manages to be equally sharp and loose. It spotlights Moans’ exceptional storytelling abilities, and some crazy-ass drums in its final quarter help to kick it up a notch.
12. "Have You Seen Rain (ft. TYT)"
    Fulfilling a similar role as Conyeezy’s "The Wanderer" from Nature’s Outcasts, "Have You Seen Rain" is the emotional core of Free To Good Home. It’s a powerful heartbreaker tinged with hope that’s truly one of T.Y.T.’s best. Sometimes he gets a little ahead of himself with regard to flow – which is, I admit, my only genuine complaint about any of his work – but it comes together in every way possible. nYgel, T.Y.T. , and Fogerty are perfectly matched from the start, and the change-up at the 2:20 mark adds just the right amount of dynamism.
13. "Digital Lyfe (ft. Funky49)"
    An excellent transition leads in to this funky49 joint. While not my favorite selection from his Starblazer album, it’s a great follow-up that ably propels the album forward.
14. "Gayest Shirt (Killsaly remix of nYgel remix)"
    This remix of a remix doesn’t have all the style of The Grammar Club original, but it’s competent and catchy. Plus it features two of my favorite producers and one of my favorite bands, so I’m an easy sell.
15. "Sugar, We’re Slowin’ Down"
    Another amazing transition leads us into a brilliant reimagining of a mediocre radio hit. The way nYgel forces this mall punk number into a ska-flavored offbeat by slowing it down is truly ingenious. It’s a great cut-up with some wonderful glitch elements that may prove too long for some, but not for me. I see it as a testament to nYgel’s ability to wholly repurpose a song to his own diabolical design.
16. "Wake This Up"
    I’ve spent a sizable chunk of this review talking about song lengths, but this track stands out as the album’s longest. It certainly takes Green Day into new territory, but it suffers both because of length and because of its proximity to the all-too similar "Sugar, We’re Slowin’ Down." Still, it’s not without its charms, notably the injection of some totally unexpected mc chris at 3:45 and a very thematic fade-out.
17. "Hardly Tell (nYgel remix ft. Conyeezy)"
    This remix of a song from YTCracker’s new Serious Business EP is a fine note on which to end. It pairs YT’s vocal high end with Conyeezy’s low, which makes for a fantastic contrast. It's the perfect hate song on which to allow the listener to reflect in the mixtape's waning moments, and should prove a fan favorite.
    

In summation, Free To Good Home could be described as having a split personality. It is at once a nerdcore mixtape and a sample-heavy experiment in musical cut-ups, and it does both very well.

It is, in short, the kind of album that's incredibly easy to like.

My only recurrent complaints, things like leveling and pacing issues, are only noticeable when viewing the album as a whole. And even then only slightly so. When listening to it as a regular listener on a track-by-track basis – read: like someone not attempting to review it – you're simply apt to come away with a smile on your face and a few more solid additions to your most played list.

Free To Good Home is a mixtape that shows nYgel's musical growth, spotlights a number of notable contributors, and genuinely deserves your attention. There's something for everyone, and the more open-minded your view and eclectic your taste, the more you'll find to enjoy.

"Be right back, I got to be a man."

Nerd News in Brief

Earlier this week I was quoted by Wil Wheaton.

No shit; a veritable Geek God referenced me! How cool is that?

Now when I say "Geek God," I want you to know that I’m not speaking lightly. Wil is on a higher plain than us mere nerdlings.

Matt and Church asked if that made them a measly 2 degrees away from our dear Gordie Lachance, but I refused to hear it. We are all 1 degree from WFW. He is our benevolent deity of all things geek.

Thy Wil be done. Thy Wheaton come.

Wow. That sounded a bit grosser than intended.

• First Things First: I've made no secret of my sorrow over the break-up of Optimus Rhyme. I've also made no secret of the length's I'll go to in order to procure audio/video footage from their final gig. Thankfully, fellow fan CR_Gus was nice enough to post the entire set (sans encores) to Archive.org so that we all may enjoy it. And I didn't even have to do anything distasteful to see it!
• Return of the King: It is with great pleasure that I announce that my comrade in arms from the house of Nerdcore News has returned! It's so nice to see him again. Okay, not see, per se, as this edition of the vlog is audio-only, but you get the idea. Welcome back, Gabriel!
• Up and About: Also returning to the fold is MC Tanuki. After an automobile accident that put him out of commission for quite a while, Nook is back in the saddle again. Glad to hear you’re back among the lining, brother!
• Trekkies Wanted: Church asked me to put the word out on behalf of the Trek constituents that Floridian photographer Jon Fletcher is looking for Jacksonville area fans. I’m assuming he wants to take your picture. Although I suppose he may just want to use your skin to make a coat.
• When Nerds Collide: As announced at PAX, the soon-to-be released Rock Band downloadale content from MC Frontalot ("Livin’ At the Corner of Dude and Catastrophe") will be joined in a nerdy all-star song pack by tracks from Jonathan Coulton and The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. Even better, the proceeds from the sales of the songs from launch to Holiday 2008 will be donated to the Child's Play charity. In a related story, I totally fuckin’ called it.
• Post-Punk Basic Cable Rap: At long last, MC Lars’s commercial from G4’s new "It’s a Nerd’s World" campaign has hit the airwaves. Very nice! All we’re missing now is Del’s spot.
• Murder in the 2nd: And while you’re kicking around at the G4 site, check out this little jewel. Church noticed that they have a piece about how Dr. Dooom has killed Dr. Octagon. Again. Y’know, ‘cause the first one didn’t take.
• In the Name of Gordon: My pal Antisocial has just completed work on his new album Anomalous Materials Laboratory. It will boast all of Soc’s Half Life-themed tracks, as well as a number of sci-fi-flavored instrumentals. It’s release date? "Sometime in October. Probably very early October."
• No Super-Ego, Just id: id obelus has a new project in the works. It's currently goes by the delightful title The Inevitable Crushing EP, and the touted release date is "soon." This one will feature id's trademark smart and occasionally snarky rhymes, as well as contributions from the likes of Nomar Slevik, Oblio, nYgel, Benjamin Bear, DJ Bizkid, Audio88, Noah23, and LogicOne. And I, for one, can't wait.
• Proper Pronunciation a Must: Also bringing some new hotness to the table is killsaly. Once again ks is putting his mark on an mc chris track, this time "Reese" from the mc chris is dead album. You are urged to take a listen.
• Still Your Medic: And Captain Spalding has added yet another track to his MySpace, “All Hands on Deck.” At long last, nerdcore gets nautical. Not really.
• Where’s Starbuck?: Thanks go out to Matt for turning me on to this delightful nugget of political precision. John McCain is a Cylon. Seriously.
• Meet Your Replacement: Word on the street is MC Loki will be filling the vacancy left in the wake of Shelshocker's departure from the Sinister Six. Now it's only a question of when. Yes, when will the long-awaited Sinister Six project come to completion? Until that time we wait. With baited breath.
• From the Heartland: Also from the mind of Mad Hatter and his Scrub Club compatriots comes the Midwest Nerd Fest. Slated for March 20-22 in Wichita, Kansas, this festival will feature music, games, trivia, and pretty much everything else you can think of. I had sort of been putting off talking about this project until the details had fully solidified, but, as Hatter just keeps adding more and more amazing shit to the mix, I figured it was well past time I mentioned it.
• The Cube, the Cake: Taking us home today is a fine selection from the PAX ’08 stage. It’s Jonathan Coulton and the lovely Penny… er, Felicia Day with "Still Alive." Enjoy.
  

Happy Accidents

I sometimes feel as though I stand alone – much like the cheese – with regard to my musical passions.

You see, I like it when, for lack of better phrasing, shit gets mixed up. I enjoy it when my hip-hop incorporates jazz breaks or my geeky rock borders on ska. I like sonic experimentation. It might not always work, but I admire those willing to take the chance.

nYgel is on a similar page. So much so that he's just released his second mixtape Free To Good Home, an album firmly rooted in the concept of combining fresh, new nerdcore with eclectic, sample-based beats from the most unlikely of sources.

How does this musical mad scientist approach his craft? Read on to find out.

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You first began to make a name for yourself in the Beastie Boys remix community. Would you say the Beasties are a primary musical influence? What are your other influences?

I suppose you could say they are the primary influence, though my music never really sounds too Beastie. A lot of my music really, to me, doesn't seem to sound like anyone else's. It's not like some genre I'm trying to copy; I have an idea and then I go with it. Some of these ideas come out better than others, but it's usually not based off of anything in particular. Though certain artists do make me wish I sounded like them: people like Ratatat and Justice. I sound nothing at all like them, but they really influence me. Of course other "nerd" music as well influences me. but mostly I usually just want to do something the others aren't.

What was your introduction to nerdcore hip-hop?

Well, I'd have to say mc chris. I only knew about MC P. Pants and such from Adult Swim but, that was it until this kid at my high school had me listen to "Evergreen" in gym class one day. I took my Beastie Boys remixing skills over to the mc chris board. Everyone was pretty accepting of me and my mixes, so I called it home for quite a while. But then I got banned and got called a talentless bad word by this DJ who was losing to me in a remix contest, but that's a different story.

My introduction to real nerdcore came when I mentioned on the BBMB that I was one of the few original remixers to still post, and in that post I mentioned funky49. I suppose funky49 checked out the boards, maybe searched his name, I don't know, and found it, felt flattered, and then told me about Rhyme Torrents.

I went there and was very unimpressed, but continued on. I hadn't heard anything really powerful there and was starting to turn away... until CSHC dropped their first single "Nerdcore is Dying." After that things picked up.

What producers and DJs do you admire within the nerdcore community? How about within the larger sphere of mainstream music?

Wow, that's a hard one. I really like killsaly. He's one of the few I would really like to listen to. I obviously enjoy DJ John and Baddd Spellah (though I hated his "Fett's Vette" remix, no offense if you're reading). DJ Inubito of CSHC I like a lot as well.

As for mainstream music I like the Beastie Boys of course, their other producers like the Dust Brothers, Mario C and Mix Master Mike. Ratatat and Justice I've already mentioned. Danger Mouse due to his work with Gorillaz and Grey Album.

Other DJs beside Mix Master I like are like Shadow and such, but I want to mention this now because he needs some recognition for it: DeeJay Zap does the scratching for my tracks, he's an old friend from the Beastie Boys community and he does great stuff.

Also a guy named dj BC. He's very talented too.

Oh yeah! I'm a big fan of dj BC myself.

Why did you choose the mixtape format as the basis for your recent projects?

Well, under my theory, which is probably wrong, it is because producers/DJs (whatever I am) don't release albums. They drop mixtapes. Also because mixtapes usually are more creative and "risky," I suppose you could say. And I think what my mixtapes can do is either give smaller artists a chance to shine beside bigger artists, or offer bigger artists a chance to sorta have fun. When these bigger artists drop tracks they usually put a lot of effort in them, and, to me , my releases are a place for them to let loose. (Take YTCracker's verse on "Hyphy Dance" for example.)

How would you say Free To Good Home differs from your previous mixtape Nature's Outcasts?

I feel FTGH is a big improvement. I don't know how, but it just is.

It is far more sample oriented, and that was my original idea. I was thinking about how the Beastie Boy's second album was roughly 95% sampled music - which actually caused a number of new sampling laws to come into effect - and I started sampling things. Then I decided I wanted everything on the new album to be very sample oriented. All but a few are like that.

Also I don't have many solo tracks, which I wish I had more of, really. I liked the mixture I got from "Last Call" from NO and wanted more like that. Just not with that many people. That'd seem like I was riding off my previous success.

Mostly I wanted to stand out and improve, but still bring what I brought before.

Both projects feature an interesting mix of traditional hip-hop mixtape fare (albeit with a nerdcore slant) as well as remixed and often heavily re-sequenced modern pop and rock tracks. Are you actively trying to redefine the concept of the mixtape, or are you simply trying to put your stamp on the art form?

Not entirely understanding the real concept of a mixtape, I would say I'm just trying to put my stamp on it. I like to give my work variety. If others are like me then they get tired of hearing the same things over and over, and I feel a lot of releases around the nerdy community fall victim to their own comfort zone. I don't really have a direct example, but I think most people find their style and call it that. I want to continually change up my style and still have it be my own.

Is there an underlying theme or concept that ties all the tracks of Free To Good Home together?

They were all made by me, lol. Really no solid concept, it's just the things I created in my final months in Indiana and a few that were leftovers from NO. Actually, I guess, like I said earlier, it's just about it being a heavily sampled mixtape. That was my hope from the start of it, even though some tracks don't follow this theory.

Mixtapes in general draw on a wide and varied group of contributors, and yours are no exception. Do you typically solicit contributors to rhyme over specific, pre-selected beats, or do you tailor instrumentation to match their vocal contributions?

It changes a lot. Last time I made a lot of beats and just hoped to get some people I really liked on it. This time I had a bit of an idea of who I wanted. Sometimes this was who ended up on a track, but mostly it wasn't.

I try to either make a song that really blends with a rapper's style, or, failing that, I try to put in someone who you wouldn't think of on a track. Then sometimes I get asked to remix tracks, like funky49. I usually reject remixes for various reasons. Mostly I don't have much time. (And now I don't have a program to remix with. Why is Sony Acid NOT Mac friendly?!)

You've worked with a number of notable artists on this album: YTCracker, Jesse Dangerously, T.Y.T., Conyeezy. With whom else would you like to collaborate?

Wordburgler! I tried to work with him on this release, but time was an issue. And MC Lars was supposed to be on Nature's Outcasts, but obviously that didn't happen. Both were time issues. Others I want to work with would be guys like Beefy (again). He turned down a track on this one. I can't remember why he did. Lucy Starkiller I want to work with. Which I sorta am. She was supposed to be on this album too. Frontalot and Shael also come to mind. But really most people I want to work with I got, or tried to get, on this one. In a month or two I'll probably have a few more that I'll want to work with.

If you could only pick one song from FTGH to serve as an example of your work to new listeners, which track would it be? Which song most clearly demonstrates the nYgel sound?

I think the "nYgel sound" is so vague none would demonstrate it too well. I really like all the tracks on the album, but I guess "Rap Fanatics" would work. It has a pretty good beat, nothing too catchy, but solid, and then three great rappers. I think any would work well. But again, my style is so varied in my opinion. Play "S@rge" and "Wicked" one after another and that kinda shows what I mean.

Lastly, nYgel, what truly inspires you?

My girlfriend. And you, Z. I want to be in the Nerd News in Brief and podcast more often.

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And so I find that nYgel and I share another commonality, one outside of our shared love of musical eclecticism: we both tread heavily in areas that we do not fully understand.

This is, in fact, sort of a mantra to me: do things that you do not understand.

But unlike my meager contributions, nYgel's musical experimentation charges on through uncertainty toward a kind of natural genius. Toward a brand of musical nirvana that can only come from making the music that you want to hear.

It may confuse neophytes and put off traditionalists, but to me it smacks of authenticity. It bears the true weight of substance.

nYgel, as an artist, is defined by a flagrant disregard for the conventions of popular music, and I, for one, wouldn't have it any other way.